Supreme Court Rumors

Yesterday, while driving around running errands, I was listening to Tony Snow on WLS here in Chicago. Snow was saying he had heard rumors that, in addition to CJ Rehnquist, that John Paul Stevens was going to retire as well.

This morning I picked up the same rumor at Townhall's C-Log blog.

Stevens' retirement, like O'Connor's, could be a big win for conservatives. And here's why I think so:

A Rehnquist retirement is a big risk for conservatives. Rhenquist has been a solid conservative jurist. When/if he retires, Pres. Bush has to find another judge who will be as reliably conservative -- not an easy task (can you say David Souter). So, if Bush's replacement of Rehnquist is not a solid conservative, that's a net loss.

O'Connor and Stevens, however, have (to great disappointment) been anything but conservatives -- despite having been nominated by Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon (respectively). So, if Bush's replacement of either/both of these justices turns out to be a solid conservative, that is a (big, BIG) net gain for conservatives.

Stay tuned.