Just a few possibilities that will work no matter who gets the nod....
Q. So what do you make of this announcement?
A. Well, the question of the hour is whether this latest move from the Bush administration will be enough to take the spotlight off of the growing scandals surrounding Karl Rove and other top advisors. It may do that for a little while, but this scandal is just too big, it's got too much momentum. It's not going away.
Q. Well, that might not be such a bad move on the Administration's part?
A. That's true. I've hardly heard a word all day about Karl Rove.
more below the fold
Q. Yes, but what you do you think of [appointee's name here]?
A. Well, we just don't have enough information yet. You know, this administration has been talking a lot lately about "not prejudging the process" - so that's what we're going to do here. There will be plenty of time to find out as the confirmation hearings go forward.
Q. Do you think the Democrats will filibuster?
A. Well, the nomination has to make it out of committee first - so it's far too early to speculate. We need to give the process time. But given what we've been learning over the past few weeks about the behavior of this White House, we will have to investigate [his/her] qualifications very thoroughly. Clearly, they've demonstrated that we can no longer take them at their word.
Q. So, what you're saying then is that the controversy over Karl Rove will cast a cloud over the confirmation process?
A. Absolutely, and for good reason. After all the Rove controversy is just part of much larger pattern, that goes all the way back to the deceptions that led us into Iraq. The public is fed up [Cite ABC poll if necessary]. So we really wouldn't be doing our duty to the Constitution or to our constituents if we didn't scrutinize their nominations with extraordinary care. Whoever takes over this latest vacancy on the court will still be sitting there long after Bush is gone and Rove and his cronies have been brought to justice - so we have to be careful. Back to you, Aaron...