[Miss Marple]

I didn't decry them. I merely told you what the President thinks, and opined that I could understand it given the behavior of some (the vitriol of certain pundits over the Harriet Miers nomination comes to mind).

If a conservative candidate is popular and electable, I doubt that the Beltway will have much say. It's up to the candidate to gain the grass-roots support and get himself nominated. Blaming the Beltway is a cop out.

[Mr Rogers]

the vitriol of certain pundits over the Harriet Miers nomination comes to mind

Would the vitriol be anything like claiming her opposition was sexist?