Conservative core lays bare its distrust of president's judgment

Dallas Morning News | Steve Blow:

"Put aside the debate for a moment of whether she was the best possible pick for the court. Let's consider only whether the president had the opportunity to thoroughly know her views, philosophy and capability. Obviously he did. And yet the overwhelming response from his supporters was: We don't trust you to make that call. In truth, many never did trust him all that much."

A common story. In 2004, Democrats nominated John Kerry, not out of enthusiasm, but because he offered the best hope of victory. George W Bush was that candidate for conservatives in 2000. Bush presented himself as a "compassionate conservative". The base wanted a "conservative" and was willing to go with the "compassionate" side because it offered the best hope of victory. Their loyalty was never to the man; it was to the movement. Now, in the downward side of his Presidency, the movement sees the fruits of its victory slipping away with the nomination of an unknown like Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court instead of a proven staunch conservative. It was no surprise that the movement would turn on George W Bush. What is less predictable is whether Bush will surrender to the social conservatives with his next pick or whether he will maintain his stated principle of not insisting on any "litmus tests" for Supreme Court nominees.