What will be the practical outcome of a 8-person Court? No victories for conservatives.

Look at the nature of the court. On significant and politically relevant issues, the court will either split 4-4 or 5-3, never in favor of the conservative position.

With such odds stacked against them, what can they do?

Confirm a nominee?

Take the hit until after November and then try to play nice with Obama so that he might nominate a moderate? (How likely will he do so, they might well wonder, after they have treated him so bad?)

Again, because of their intemperance and hatred of cooperation, they will find themselves in a tight spot.