Supreme Court rumors

(H/T: KvM)

Every year there is the rumor that this Justice is going to retire or that Justice is going to step down. They are not generally worth the spit in my hand.

However, ConfirmThem.com is reporting that O'Connor is the first of 3 retirements to be announced by the end of the calendar year.

The White House has been working under the same assumption for several years — this year will see three retirements, one at the end of term (O’Connor, though they originally though Rehnquist), one at Labor Day (Rehnquist, but they originally thought O’Connor), and one at Christmas recess (most likely Ginsberg, whose health is said to be worse than even Rehnquist’s). It is that third appointment where the digest and all others are unanimous that we will see Gonzales appointed. The President will get two conservatives before Gonzales. Gonzales, being to the right of Ginsberg, will (it is assumed) be palatable at that time.

Now keep in mind that the current makeup of the Court is realistically 4-4 with O'Connor being an unpredictable swing vote. If you want to count Kennedy as a swing vote then it is 4-3 leaning left...but that is debatable.

Provided the Republicans show a backbone that has not been seen in the Senate in my lifetime the Country-saving makeup could be 5-3 with Kennedy as a swing. Considering O'Connor was power thirsty by being the deciding vote over the past few years that could be the cause of her unpredictable nature. With a 5-3 makeup there would be no power in being a swing vote. Thus Kennedy could vote his conscience: to the right.

Like I said, it is all rumor and I will believe the retirements when they happen. Geez, they have been saying Rehnquist would retire even before the impeachment trial of Clinton.