Have you ever been humiliated, rightly or wrongly? Did you not say, do, or think things that were based solely on the emotion of humiliation? Are you not human?
You're asking Bush to be a robot. He's a human being, and human beings can do some strange things when they've been humiliated.
Bush is the president though. Presidents are supposed to be above that for the good of the country. Would he nuke a country just because he is pissed off by them?
If he behaves with emotion or humiliation, what will that will totally destroy the Iraq war support and it will have all be wasted. It will bolster the leftist charge that Bush did it all for revenge. Talk about giving the left ammunition.
Bush will not take out any ire with a new nominee. He knows he doesn't need the aggravation. But, I don't suspect he'll do much to advance them.
No, I think Bush will wait and pick another area of policy in which to differentiate himself from the fringers.
Bush is not going to allow himself to be a captive to any particular part of the GOP.
Reagan didn't do it, and Bush won't either.
" You're asking Bush to be a robot. He's a human being, and human beings can do some strange things when they've been humiliated."
Sure. Keep in mind thought, that if W uses this as an oppty for revenge and appoints Gonzalez, the ensuing war which could rip the party to shreds won't be the fault of those who oppose the nomination - the fault will fall squarely with Bush.
If he can't put the country over his bruised ego, he doesn't deserve the job, and he should step down, too... if he feels his only alternative is to nominate another liberal to the SCOTUS.