All this wild-arsed speculation is mind-numbing. I wish all these pundits and pundit wannabes would all just STFU and wait for a nomination, and then react. Pre-acting to something like this seems like peeing into the wind to me.
Reality
The W.H. floated Miers the weekend before she was announced. The W.H. is likely doing the same here. Every name mentioned should be responded to, and what's more, the W.H. WANTS our reactions to stave off another situation like before.
Some of it IS Gossip, but not all of it.