Bush announces replacement for O'Connor

The newest SCOTUS nominee:

President Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court on Monday, turning to a lawyer who has never been a judge to replace Sandra Day O'Connor and help reshape the nation's judiciary.

"She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice," Bush said as his first Supreme Court pick, Chief Justice John Roberts, took the bench for the first time just a few blocks from the White House.

[...]

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid was complimentary, issuing a statement that said he likes Miers and adding "the Supreme Court would benefit from the addition of a justice who has real experience as a practicing lawyer."

At the same time, he said he looked forward to the "process which will help the American people learn more about Harriet Miers, and help the Senate determine whether she deserves a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court."

Reid had personally recommended that Bush consider Miers for nomination, according to several sources familiar with the president's consultations with individual senators. Of equal importance as the White House maps its confirmation campaign is that the Nevada Democrat had warned Bush that the selection of any of several other contenders could trigger a bruising partisan struggle.

So, something of a moderate. This is a huge surprise:

Mier contributed money to Al Gore and the DNC back in the late 80s. That may mean she's just like 8 billion other formerly Democratic southerners. But if Bush's base wants to get all riled up about it, that's good too

She's also 60 years old. As Kos says, it's time to sit back and watch the religious right get all riled up. They must be in a state of shock right now.