One saavy approach that GWB may take in timing his next US Sup Ct nominaion (O'Connor's replacement) is to wait a few days until the Judiciary committee votes. Assuming the dimocrats on the committee vote on party lines to reject a non-idealogue like Roberts, then he assumes virtually zero political risk in nominating a real conservative. i.e., the dimocrats are saying they will vote against whomever he sends up anyhow. Why try to placate them?
Excellent point.