Well if you look at it through that lens, who else was in the queue who was willing to get this proctoscopy via backhoe? I don't see anyone reporting that "Miers seemed very upset and disturbed about the hubbub." If Rehnquist had waited a few more months before shuffling off this mortal coil, we'd still be in this spot.
Give me a break. The SC is the top of the top for lawyers. That is a sorry excuse since there are legions of more qualified people with a track record.
No one planned on Rehnquist passing when he did, but GWB used it as an opportunity to keep the court status quo, if not move to the left. If anything, it was his opportunity to move it to the right, which he did not do.