I think Martinez may be closer to Souter than to any conservative elected in the last 10 years. He has holds on appointments and votes against the President. Aren't we all glad that we can see the real conservatives before they are elected or appointed. /pro H. Miers rant off
It seems to me that the GOP/RNC is unwilling or afraid to support conservatives in Senate races. Martinez is a result of that long standing unwritten policy.
Conservatives don't get support or funding and are regularly "discouraged" by party operatives from running for senate seats.
The administration shares the blame in as much as it does not get support from the senate. Bush's people have had a hand in this effort to keep consevatives out of the senate. And, in a move as brilliant as jumping in crap, they are directly responsible for all the grief from Spector.