And the Rovian Play Begins (by Matt Singer)

Things look like they're going wonderfully, right? The White House is in retreat, withdrawing Harriet Miers' nomination, folding on the Gulf Coast wage cut, and getting nervous about impending indictments.

But here's what this Supreme Court move this morning more likely indicates: a classic Karl Rove move. When times get tough, Karl turns to smoke and mirrors to distract people. Nothing threatens to distract the Administration's liberal critics and soothe their social conservative base more than the nomination of a hard-right Bork-style individual to replace Sandra Day O'Connor.

So they pull Harriet's name just in time to be ready to announce a new pick to suck the oxygen out of the media coverage of Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation.

Whether this will be effective is anyone's guess. Since, as rare as Supreme Court fights are, indictments of senior advisors are even rarer.

But the VLWC would do well to keep in mind that the more we hammer Rove and Libby, the less the White House can rely on their political acumen in that Supreme Court fight that we now appear poised to face.

Let me just add a few more things. For those relatively new to this blog, I fill in occasionally for David when he needs someone. I have my own site at Left in the West. I've decided to ignore the Ohio Senate race for these next two days, not because I disagree with David on the issue, but because I think a couple days of reflection rather than arguing may be good for all of us who have chosen to take sides in this primary as well as for everyone who hasn't. Also, if you're interested to know my conflicts of interest, they're highlighted prominently at the top of my site.

UPDATE: More proof? Hotline reports that the White House can send up the next nominee as soon as this afternoon and mid-next week at the latest.

UPDATE 2: Credit where credit is due. Diego Rivas connected the dots earlier today. As did Ezra Klein. It looks like time zones worked to Ezra's advantage. Still, I think I'm the only one who used the term "Rovian Play" to describe it.

--Matt Singer

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