I don’t envy the political environment and scrutiny the next nominee to the Supreme Court faces from both sides of the political aisle. Conservatives, however, appear ready to unite and get behind the President, relieved that Harriet Miers has stepped aside.

Who will be the next nominee? Hugh Hewitt was one of the first to step out, suggesting that it makes sense to nominate "a judge who has recently been vetted and FBI-checked." In a hurry (before the upcoming abortion cases), Judge Michael McConnell is his prediction. Otherwise, Michael Luttig or Edith Jones are "obvious choices".

Charmaine Yoest has a survey everyone should take and lists a number of excellent choices in a post that begins:

Ironically, the President this next time needs to nominate a divisive figure: someone, that is, who is drawing fire from the right quarters.

Or actually the Left quarters.

Someone whose name is not anywhere near Harry Reid's short list.

Updates:

Patterico, who has come down off his ledge, seems enthusiatic:

"It’s time to look forward, not back. I sincerely hope that the President nominates a solid judicial conservative such as Michael Luttig or Michael McConnell. Such a choice will do much to heal the deep rift in the party. Conservatives can unify and rally around a nominee of true excellence.

P.S. We’d rally around Edith Jones, too. Or Janice Rogers Brown.

The SCOTUSblog suggests finding a John Roberts clone, "an individual with undoubted qualifications, an intimacy with constitutional doctrine, and a most affable personality. The lesson of Roberts' relatively easy confirmation as Chief Justice seems more vivid now. With all of the President's other troubles now, that may be quite an attractive prospect."

Check out the Open trackbacks at StoptheACLU - It goes without saying that we want a justice who will not put up with the ACLU's shenanigans.

Why the Next Supreme Court Pick is So Important .. Is water a beverage? - Myopic Zeal.

See After Miers at Pro-Ecclesia

• Harriet Miers Withdraws - Oct 27, 2005
• Miers' 1993 Speech Draws Fire from Pro-Life Groups - Oct 26, 2005
• Harriet Miers' Controversial Speech - Oct 26, 2005
• Harriet Miers on Abortion - Part II - Oct 26, 2005
• Bloggers Oppose Miers' Nomination - Oct 24, 2005
• Harriet Miers and Girls, Inc. - Oct 21, 2005
• What Bloggers are Saying about Harriet Miers - Oct 21, 2005
• Harriet Miers - More from Olasky - Oct 21, 2005