During the 2000 election, there was much rhetoric about "taking back the Senate" so Conservatives could once again reshape the USSC.
The President declared, from his '04 re-election, he had aquired substantial political capital - so why he is now not willing to expend it upon one held more closely to the conservative right is at the least questionable. If he's reluctant to "spend" that capital NOW on such an important issue as shaping the USSC, what OTHER issue could possibly be more important for which to reserve it?
I'm with you - "There's a monkey's paw on the presidency somehow.."
Exactly. Which leads us to:
1. Bush was wrong, he didn't have the political capital. Or,
2. Bush was right, but then Specter and McCain conspired to undercut him and take it away. (Note to McCain: we all know you're mad at Bush for the last six years, now quit acting like an Italian cardinal. It's getting old.)
3. Bush was right, but he sees a fight coming that he wants to reserve all his political capital for. What on earth could it be?
Bet you that if that last case is the right one, that the fight will be over tax cuts, and/or systematic tax reform to a national sales or VAT tax, or something involving the only thing more precious to his Old Bonesmen audience than Supreme Court justiceships or even life itself:
MONEY.