"came out of the box so cynically"
And all the time they thought they had everyone in the "box." Way to go Mr. Card, you played the game of blind man's bluff and lost.
Typical conversation:
GW: I'm going to nominate Harriet Miers.
WH Aide: What will the Conservatives think and do?
GW:Who cares. They have to go along, Where can they go?
Having voted for the man as many times as I have been able, (4) I hate to think he would be that cynnical. But this nomination reeks. Especially when there was some doubt (still is) about Roberts.