It really does not offend me that race or gender would be a factor in Bush’s thinking. They can be qualifications for the job of a nominee–part of the job description being to get confirmed. The Miers supporters who say that the president is under no obligation to pick the most qualified possible justice may be defensive, but they’re not wrong. We didn’t complain when Bush I picked Clarence Thomas, and we didn’t pretend his race was irrelevant to his nomination, either.