SCOTUS: Pre-emptive Strike??

The folks over at StartChange.org have launched DraftPrado.org.

The premise is simple. No need to wait until the vacancy on the SCOTUS happens and let Bush make the first move. Campaign now for a consensus candidate. They think Prado is a moderate judge that should be acceptable for both sides as the next SCOTUS nominee.

more below...

I don't know enough about Prado to have a strong opinion on his qualifications. He was first nominated by Reagan, then Bush and passed the Senate unanimously in 2003. He's a Texan, Republican, and Hispanic. He currently sits on the 5th Circuit. He seems to indicate Roe is settled law.

So for the sake of argument, I'm going to trust before verifying, that he is a pragmatic and acceptable solution as a SCOTUS judge. But,  I'm more curious about the politics of it and what others think.

1. Can it work? I have my doubts Bush would nominate someone the Dobson crowd would disapprove of. So it may not work in the end. But I like the idea of a grassroots movement getting the jump on Bush being able to start the debate on an actual judge. Not that I expect him to listen, but I love the idea of the people telling Bush who they want, a judge he's already nominated to boot. The longer the debate, the more Dobson, Perkins, Robertson get air time on TV... Which I always think is a good thing for Dems.

2. Is waiting on Bush better for Dems? The more I think about it, I don't see many positives. I've learned the WH is slick enough to pick the right one for their agenda, that puts dems in a awkward position to fight. I.E. Gonzales, Ashcroft or now maybe Owens, Brown, etc. The only upside in waiting on Bush is dems might be able to make a more convincing case on how controlled Republicans are by Dobson, etc. Of course this is based on, I'm just assuming the fight, and media obsession, will be on when the official announcement comes of a SCOTUS retirement.

All I really know is the SCOTUS make up is a big ass deal for our nation, both for our values and our politics. I think the focus is more passionate and attached on the right than it is on the left. Many people on the right, this is their single issue vote.  If Bush and a Republican controlled Senate cannot deliver, there are going to be some cranky and bitter wingnuts. Which we can only hope translates to obviously a sane and fair SCOTUS but hopefully an added plus of lost GOP votes. At least I've heard lots of threats from freeper types, not sure if they'll really follow through, they always have a scapegoat to rationalize. But if we could get support for this guy to actually make national consideration and dare I dream confirmation, it could undercut a lot of the GOP base and loyalty.

We stopped the nuclear option, is this the best strategy to fight a wingnut on the court without a filibuster? What do you think? Can it be a winning strategy? Will you sign the petition?