Blame the Right Wing, or the Concern About the Concern?

Sessions was not distraught. "I was concerned about the, uh, concern," he said. "Probably she was worried about [it], too."

Cornyn, Miers's friend and most ardent Senate supporter, insinuated that the Democrats were to blame. "I would just say it's part of unnecessary contentiousness and partisanship," he argued. When a questioner pointed out that the objections came primarily from Republicans, Cornyn turned angrily. "There is no Republican senator who opposed the nominee," he said. "Your statement was wrong!"

The growls subsided when Cornyn, an hour later, was asked at another news conference about the possibility that he could be nominated to the high court. "Well, you know, if the president calls me, obviously I'll answer the phone or go see him, if he invites me to come to the White House," he said.

Democrats, though they never committed to supporting Miers, lined up to blame the "right wing" (John Kerry), "the far right wing" (Byron Dorgan), "extreme right wing"(Dick Durbin), "extreme partisan pressure" (Mary Landrieu) and "extremists" (Ted Kennedy).

The Democrats got some help making this point from Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who made a terse statement on the Senate floor. Specter -- the man who suggested the nominee needed a "crash course in constitutional law" -- lamented the "one-sided debate" and the "heavy decibel level against her."

Rebutting the White House line, Specter argued that "the Judiciary Committee carefully did not intrude on the president's executive privilege." His three-minute statement over, Specter left the chamber through a back door, evading the scrum of reporters waiting to ambush him.

Lott, the Senate Republican leader Bush helped to dethrone, was happy to talk. And he didn't have anything nice to say. On Bush's nominees: "I'm not going to just roll over and take everything he sends up here." On Bush's consultations: "I don't think he got enough advice from the right people." On Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for the court: "Forget that!"

Asked why Bush chose Miers, Lott replied: "There is Federalist Paper number 76. I invite your attention to it: Be careful about home state, personal friends, cronyism."

Lott had more to say. He branded Bush's aides "all young and inexperienced" and said senators had nobody to call at the White House.

"Karl Rove can't do it all by himself," Lott said. Then a mischievous grin crossed the senator's face, and, alluding to the CIA leak case, he added: "And he may not be there." Theatrically, Lott brushed his hands as if wiping off dust.