HOW DO YOU THINK HE'D RULE ON GITMO?: (via Emily B):

What Bush Is Going to Do, I Think (Lawrence Henry, 7/8/2005, American Spectator)

Whom will President Bush appoint to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court? We can find the answer in his character and in his past actions. [...]

[B]ush will not make a needlessly provocative appointment. No Janice Rogers Brown. No Miguel Estrada. No Robert Bork, as some have puckishly suggested. He will nominate someone new, who has not yet been in the public spotlight. He will make sure of no Linda Chavez slipups. As William Kristol has suggested, Bush will appoint someone personally attractive, because of the need for sympathy in the bruising confirmation fight which will inevitably follow.

The conflict aversion, however, will have to come to an end. Kenneth Starr told a meeting of the Massachusetts Family Association that the way to make public officials do what you want is to "Make them fear you." So far, Bush has not made anybody, Democrat or Republican, fear him.

If he can make his own Senate caucus fear him, he'll make the appointment he -- and we -- want.

I will also make a dark horse pick here, though the man is over 60, a supposed disqualifier. Ted Olson. Bush loves a surprise.

Mr. Olson would be great, but seems more likely if the President has multiple picks than if he might be the only one Mr. Bush gets to make.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 8, 2005 01:59 PM