[Irene Adler]

Does anyone think that this whole Estrada nomination was deliberately done by Bush in part to get Hispanics mad at the Rats and increase Republican voting by Hispanics? My guess is that Bush would have been delighted if Estrada had been confirmed but that, on the other hand, he is not too unhappy to see Rats get tarred with the brush of being anti-Hispanic. Moving Hispanic voters into the Republican camp is pretty clearly a long-term plan of Bush's. I think the Estrada nomination was an early stage of the plan. I have seen one survey that shows that a significant percentage of Hispanics are quite aware of who Estrada is and what has happened to his nomination.

I really think this whole event was deliberate on Bush and Rove's part. Bush is looking at future significant Republican gains in a large and growing subpopulation of the U.S. If we could garner even half of the Hispanic vote, I think we would be in darn good shape in a lot of important states for a long time to come. Bush knows that. Remember, he has a Harvard MBA. The Harvard MBA program emphasizes strategic planning. I teach basic strategic planning in an intro. to management course on the university level. I believe I can recognize what Bush is trying to do regarding the Hispanic vote with the Estrada nomination and in a lot of smaller ways like giving speeches in Spanish.

[FITZ]

I don't think Republican race pandering is going to work. Should we support Bustamante in California now because he's a hispanic? The democrats will -- plus Bustamante comes from Mexico, Estrada didn't --- that's going to certainly appeal more to the voters from Mexico.

[kegler4]

"My guess is that Bush would have been delighted if Estrada had been confirmed but that, on the other hand, he is not too unhappy to see Rats get tarred with the brush of being anti-Hispanic"

I could be wrong but I thought I read that the Democrats recently joined in confirming a Hispanic nominee. How does that fit in with being anti-Hispanic?

[over3Owithabrain]

Seems to me Bush could have fought harder for Estrada and appointed him during recess. He still could have made the point that the Democrats were blocking him, and by appointing Estrada appeal to Hispanics by showing how he sticks by them. Instead Bush and the Senate let this good man twist in the wind, because they are too feckless to stand on principle.
Sure, what the Dems did is disgraceful. But it surely is not surprising, that's who they are. But letting evil triumph by refusing to fight is even more shameful.

[steveegg]

I don't think part of the plan was to have this happen.

[Gritty]

I really think this whole event was deliberate on Bush and Rove's part.

Then kindly explain what is the strategy of Bush and Rove allowing Pickering, Owens, Pryor and Woods to twist slowly in the wind?