The right aflame

Looks like Harry Reid's finally demonstrated political savvy. The right and far right are outraged over the prez's nomination of White House Counsel Harriet Miers to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on SCOTUS. Here's Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol (aka, courtesy of James Wolcott, as the Cheshire Cat, thanks to his habit of smiling and twinkling even after being told his mother was raped by polar bears):

I'M DISAPPOINTED, depressed and demoralized....

I'm depressed. Roberts for O'Connor was an unambiguous improvement. Roberts for Rehnquist was an appropriate replacement. But moving Roberts over to the Rehnquist seat meant everything rode on this nomination--and that the president had to be ready to fight on constitutional grounds for a strong nominee. Apparently, he wasn't. It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy. Miers is undoubtedly a decent and competent person. But her selection will unavoidably be judged as reflecting a combination of cronyism and capitulation on the part of the president.

And that's just the first paragraph. Ignore the use of the passive-voice ("her selection will unavoidably be judged") and it's about as explicit an expression of Kristol and his ilk's disgust as we're likely to get.