Bush's Revival

Thursday, October 27, 2005

When it wasn't likely Miers would back down. When it was almost a guarantee she would be confirmed to replace Sandra Day O' Connor on the Supreme Court. Then, yes then, Democrats were content with accusing Bush of being a crony. They could take shots at him even though in secret they were blowing a collective sigh of relief. Bush could have done much worse. Harry Reid was happy with the pick, and Chuck Schumer couldn't find the words to form coherent sentences. He was shocked. He was expecting a hard-right constructionist. Christmas came early.

But now she's gone and the Democrats are faced with a new reality. Bush, with a newly charged base, might go for that hard-right nominee. Despite charges of cronyism, Democrats knew Miers was their best chance at getting another O'Connor, or perhaps a Souter, or maybe even a Kennedy.

So what do they do now? Attack him, like they always do. After accepting the withdrawal from a "crony" (you'd think that would be a good thing) Democrats began charging him with "caving in to his radical right-wing base."

But Republican senators themselves were reluctant to support her, and Bush realized he made a miscalculation and can start anew; fresh. He can bring the fight to the Senate and energize his base like they've never been before.

Indictments may be looming. The White House is a bit shaken up. But Bush is back in the driver seat and can bring the much needed debate about the proper role of the courts to center stage.