Bush has more than Democratic filibusters to worry about for his next Supreme Court nomination:
As President Bush moves to fill the second vacancy on the Supreme Court, he faces a new challenge in finding a jurist who can not only withstand Democratic scrutiny but hold together the support of Senate Republicans as well.
Polls have shown Mr. Bush's approval ratings near the lowest levels of his presidency. And Senate Republican strategists say that since his nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. to the court, members of their conference have grown increasingly willing to disagree with the White House, notably on matters like stem cell research, Mr. Bush's choice for ambassador to the United Nations and the war in Iraq.
The GOP seems fractured...moderates like Chaffee and Snowe indicating they wouldn't support a staunch conservative, and far-right types like Brownback exxpecting a fellow far-right extremist.
I can just see Bush appointing an ideologue, a pander to the religous right, only to see a solid Democrat block and a handful of moderate (i.e., sane) Republican senators give a "down" on the much-trumpted "up or down" vote.
And the GOP would have no room to complain...if the "up or down" vote goes down, they got what they wanted.
Then again, if it's someone like Priscilla Owen, I'd be inclined to be sympathetic to a filibuster...
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