If there is indeed relief on the part of conservatives on the Miers withdrawal, it probably won't last that long.  If the President gives the conservative punditry a Janice Rogers Brown, or a Luttig, or one of many other qualified conservative nominees, are the warriors of the 'conservative crackdown' now willing to put as much energy and pressure on a weak Senate as they did on the President with the Miers nomination?

Out of control spending, inside—the—beltway power games, low or no accountability for defense spending, etc. ad nauseum.  Let's face it: the World's Greatest Deliberative Body is a mess, and the Gang of 14 is the least of our worries.  I would personally love to see a solid constitutionalist on the court, but the battle has just begun.  It's time for the Ann Coulters, Bill Kristols, et al to wade into this den of iniquity and get it done.  Otherwise, this is all for naught.

Doug Hanson   10 27 05