No Retreat

From the Associated Press [via Tim Blair]:

President Bush ended his push to put loyalist Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court Thursday and promised a quick replacement. Democrats accused him of bowing to the “radical right wing of the Republican Party."

The near-term partisan implications of the Mrs. Miers's withdrawal are now crystal clear. Democrats are perfectly positioned to attack any nominee as "radical right wing." Given this sure supply of enemies, the Bush Administration will be obliged to garner some friends by choosing a nominee who is, well, right-wing. They will have to find someone with ironclad qualifications, since the fight will be hard enough without unnecessary disadvantages. Even that might not be enough to win confirmation.

Conservatives, with varying degrees of ardor, wanted a fight. They have one.