It’s worth ponderng the possibility that if Miers is withdrawn the damage to the conservative movement will be more lasting than if she’s voted up or down. If she pulls out, the folks who think she was great will blame her conservative critics and attribute any of Bush’s weaknesses as a result of conservative disloyalty. The benefit for the movement is that if she’s confirmed, the debate gets settled eventually. One side will be right the other wrong. But if she’s yanked, there will be no resolution.

Of course, none of this should be weighed very heavily in the argument over her nomination. Helping conservatives bury the hatchet isn’t a particularly strong rationale for confirming her.