Did George Cry Uncle?

Bill Kristol weighs in on Bush's Supreme Court pick and more or less calls George a pussy:

"It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy... Miers is undoubtedly a decent and competent person. But her selection will unavoidably be judged as reflecting a combination of cronyism and capitulation on the part of the president ...What does this say about the next three years of the Bush administration -- leaving aside for a moment the future of the court? Surely this is a pick from weakness. Is the administration more broadly so weak? What are the prospects for a strong Bush second term?"

I'd say having spent all of his political capital, the prospects are "W"eak. Then again, there might not even be such a thing as "the next three years of the Bush administration":

...a new theory about ("Plamegate" Prosecutor Patrick) Fitzgerald's aim has emerged in recent weeks from two lawyers who have had extensive conversations with the prosecutor while representing witnesses in the case.

They surmise that Fitzgerald is considering whether he can bring charges of a criminal conspiracy perpetrated by a group of senior Bush administration officials. Under this legal tactic, Fitzgerald would attempt to establish that at least two or more officials agreed to take affirmative steps to discredit and retaliate against Wilson and leak sensitive government information about his wife. To prove a criminal conspiracy, the actions need not have been criminal, but conspirators must have had a criminal purpose.