Bush faced a dilemma with Chaffee, and also with Specter. If they get defeated in the primary, the challenger may go down to defeat in the general election.
I know it's a tough road dealing with the RINO's, but imagine how much tougher things would be if the democrats held the majority. We would lose committee chairmanships (because they certainly wouldn't do any power sharing) and the ability to control legislation that is brought to the floor. They would immediately have started show trials in every committee, you know.
I am honestly not bright enough to figure out a solution to this problem. We can't afford to lose the RINO's as things currently stand, but working with them is darn near impossible.
Isn't it odd that I sit here in the Midwest and make note of this problem, but somehow Krauthammer and George Wiill act like all Bush has to do is submit a conservative nominee and presto, we will triumph over the democrats? It makes me a little dubious of their opinions, to say the least.
Well, they aren't dealing with that argument very extensively at all, as far as I can tell. But, I have to assume that they believe the President could win a Senate fight to change the rules and crush a filibuster that would inevitably result from nominating someone like McConnell or Owens. I haven't tried to read the tea leaves or count votes so I'm not sure who's right and who's wrong and much would depend on the PR campaign.