Draft Scalia?

Whoever thought there'd come a day when the Democrats would launch a "Draft Scalia" campaign for Chief Justice of the United States?

What an odd spectacle. And what an odd admission. It's hard to avoid the obvious conclusion: Bush's habit of appointing qualified minority candidates for top spots in his administration is having a profound effect on American politics -- or, at least, top Democrats seem to believe it is having such an effect.
Thomas' appointment would fit a natural progression. Appointed by the first President Bush in 1991, Thomas has since become a leading champion on the court of strict construction of the Constitution. Asked what kind of judges he would appoint in the future, Bush has consistently held Thomas (along with Scalia) up as an example.
Nothing would be less surprising than for Bush to seek to elevate this man.
And how similar this is to Bush's relationships with his two most prominent minority cabinet appointments to date, incoming Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and incoming Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. These are not token candidates. Bush is not using them as instruments to paint a cabinet that "looks like America." These are his confidants. These are the people he trusts. These are the people he respects.