[CharlesWayneCT]

Actually, Roberts was withdrawn for the O'Conner seat, and then nominated for the Rehnquist seat.

Then Bush refused to nominate a replacement for O'Conner until after the Roberts nomination was completed.

Then he waited a couple of weeks, and then nominated Miers.

That went for a while, then she withdrew in no small part because Specter/Leahy held a joint press conference where they essentially called her unqualified and sent her questionare back to her for a re-do, the first time they said that that had ever happened.

Then he nominated Alito, but he took some time for that as well.

Specter just complained that the committee didn't get to shoot down Miers (he didn't say it that way, he said she was taken out by talk shows, instead of by the committee).

[Mo1]

Your's is a more detailed account

[CharlesWayneCT]

I wonder if they will call a week off, and then request that the NSA hearings start since they are waiting for the Alito vote.

[Cboldt]

A quick timeline of events relating to SCOTUS nominations in 2005. There really weren't many gaps where President Bush waited to announce a decision.

• Jul 01 - O'Connor announces retirement.
  Bush says he'll nominate a successor after meeting with G-8.
• Jul 19 - Roberts nominated to be Associate Justice.
• Sep 03 - Chief Justice Rhenquist passes away.
• Sep 05 - Roberts nominated to be Chief Justice.
• Sep 12 - Roberts Committee Hearings begin.
• Sep 22 - Roberts voted out of Committee, 13-5.
  Leahy, Kohl & Feingold are the "crossovers."
• Sep 29 - Roberts confirmed by Senate. Roberts sworn-in.
• Oct 03 - Miers nominated to be Associate Justice.
• Oct 27 - Miers nomination withdrawn.
• Oct 31 - Alito nominated to be Associate Justice
• Jan 09 - Alito Committee Hearings begin.

I think part of the DEM attitude today is follow-through to their expressions on the Miers/Alito switch. The negative reaction to Alito is due in part to being "deprived" of Miers. Of course, Alito is probably to "the right" of Miers, so objection is to be expected anyway, but some Senators who might accept Alito in their hearts are now hemmed in by past reaction, or by the exercise of pique and revenge.