Death Watch

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, conservative as he may be, apparently loves the court more than conservatism, so he failed to retire during the first George W. Bush administration, despite his advanced age (now 80) and ill health.

Conservative groups held a briefing last week at the National Press Club and promised to spend more than $20 million promoting whomever President Bush nominates to replace Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, should the ailing chief justice retire at the end of the court's term in June, as many expect.

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"The odds are certainly in favor of a resignation, but I also know how much he loves the court," Mr. [Ralph G.] Neas [the president of People for the American Way] said in an interview, before showing off his organization's waiting war room. "If the doctors give him a green light to work for another term, I think he'd do it in a minute." (Elizabeth Bumiller, "War Rooms (and Chests) Ready for a Supreme Court Vacancy," New York Times, 20 Jun. 2005)

I suspect that at the top of conservative prayers these days is swift progress of Justice Rehnquist's thyroid cancer, leading to his rapid decline or death.