One more vacancy. Yikes

U.S. Chief Justice Rehnquist dead at 80

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist died on Saturday at his home in Arlington, Virginia, after battling thyroid cancer since October, a court spokeswoman said.

A leading conservative, his death created a second opening on the nine-member court, following the announced retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in July. It came just a month before the court opens its new term.

President George W. Bush is expected to name another conservative to replace Rehnquist and among the possible candidates are appeals court Judge J. Michael Luttig and U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the president was informed of his death shortly before 11 p.m. (0300 GMT on Sunday).

you mean Georgie was woken up from his beautiful slumber??

Bush is to make a statement on Rehnquist's death at the White House after attending church on Sunday morning.

Oh, goodie. I can't wait to hear what pre-packaged, bullshit-laden garbage he's got on tap for us Sunday.

I shudder to think what kind of nut he picks to replace Rehnquist.
Roberts was just the tip of the iceberg. He was chosen as an easy lob to the Congress who, as expected, made the usual noise, but will comfirm him without much problem. Roberts was given the nod most likely because he was a big help in FLA in 2000.

I'm guessing he'll pick a true nut job-religious freak with corporate lobbyists coming out of his/her ass.

Then again, Bush doesn't have too much "polictical capital" right now, so who knows. He's polling worse than Nixon, has a failing war, and will continue to be viewed as the guy in charge when the government fucked up big time coming to the aid of its own citizens in the South.

We shall see..