Kennedy had the solid conservative credentials that everyone is clamoring for. (Wasn't he the replacement for Ginsburg, who was the replacement for Bork?)
In fact, if the Kennedy of then had been nominated instead of Miers, all of the elite conservatives would be happy. They'd think they had their guy.
Instead, Kennedy changed when he got lifetime tenure. Are their sleepers out there? You bet.
I had one guy put some lady lawyer named "Mahoney" on the list of acceptable conservatives who are supposed to be FAR BETTER than Miers. I looked up her on google and hidden in one of the links was the info that she was the lawyer who LED AND WON the Michigan State Affirmative Action case for the Democrats. Asked how that squared with her conservatism she replied that she was very comfortable WITH the result.
Sleeper?
Hmmmmm.......
We need friends on the court. Not enemies.