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Though the liberal press would have you believe that Bush goes to bed at night worrying about what they, and Senate Democrats, are planning for his next Supreme Court pick, don't believe it.

It is the president's own party that causes him the most concern. Senate Democrats, for all their bluster and rhetoric, could no more stop any nominee that Bush puts forward anymore than they could stop Hillary Clinton from running in 2008.

Bush has shown that he rarely cares what his critics say or do, and instead relies on his instincts, and his principles. But, when members of his own party start to draw political lines in the sand, Bush has at times become concerned enough to broker a compromise.

The New York Times illustrates this years-long, media-driven wish that President Bush--unlike his predecessor, Bill Clinton--can't pick a tie without consulting a poll: "Polls have shown Mr. Bush's approval ratings near the lowest levels of his presidency. And Senate Republican strategists say that since his nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. to the court, members of their conference have grown increasingly willing to disagree with the White House, notably on matters like stem cell research, Mr. Bush's choice for ambassador to the United Nations and the war in Iraq."

That's fine, if it's even true; but on all those issues, Bush has done what he has wanted to do--the press, Democrats, and the Senate's "maverick" Republican wing notwithstanding.

Bush has taken some hits lately, but regarding his court picks, he has done well. There is no reason to back away from a pick such as Priscilla Owen, or someone like Appellate Judge Edith Jones.

Let the political rabble--the media, Democrats, and squeamish Republicans - howl. Bush has the chance to shape the highest court of the land for decades to come and he should take it.

Should all other domestic initiatives fail within Bush's second term, the one item that could singularly define his ability to leave a conservative imprimatur upon the country is the courts.

Bush cannot let the unsettlingly political events of these past few months evolve into a politically expedient yet wrong-headed choice for the Supreme Court.

So, let it get ugly; only let it get done.

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Vincent Fiore is a freelance political writer who lives in New York City. He receives e-mail at: Anwar004@aol.com

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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