What kind of a nominee will Bush put forth -- what do you think?

[Goldmund]

You KNOW Rove will have to sign off on whomever Bush nominates, and you KNOW that the present scandal he's embroiled in will be one of the considerations in whom he chooses.

So, will he, aware that he doesn't have much political capital to bargain with, put up somebody less controversial? Will he try avoiding getting into yet another political storm -- knowing that Fitzgerald holds the steering wheel of Traitorgate, not CNN and FAUX?

Or will he do everything he possibly can to shift the attention of the media away from Rove and Scooter, and start a long ideological fight?

[bryant69]

1. I think he's going to want to shore up his base

Nominating anybody but a religious zealot to the court is going to drive his base nuts so that's what he has to do.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Goldmund]

3. I agree

However, his base isn't just the fundies -- they are just the most vocal part of his base. His base is also the corporatists and war-on-terra jingoists. And they have signaled time and again that their patience with fundyism is wearing thin.

[wtmusic]

2. If they stay true to form

(and there's no reason they wouldn't) they'll put forth a wingnut and call him/her a moderate. What's to lose?

Very interesting study on negotiation I read some years back. Those who presented seemingly ridiculous demands at the start, on average, ended up with better results than those who presented "reasonable" demands.

[dogday]

4. They are hinting a woman

I see the two radical extremist Janice R. Brown or Priscilla Owens. I am just speculating mind you.....

[longship]

5. I still say Olson.