OK, so here’s my theory on why W selected Harriet Miers for the Court instead of a staunch conservative.

To coin a phrase: It’s the campaign, Stupid.

I’ve never bought the idea that Bush, well educated and a son of power and privilege, ever really bought the message he pitched to the base. Think Cheney and Bush are really anti-gay? Think Yale’s Bush is really against the evil academic elite?

It’s an act.

And this week, W was faced with a decision: Keep going down this path or be more like the person he probably really is and those who he is actually surrounded by.

My take is that W stopped running for office today.

(either that or he just really likes her.)