Sandra Day O'Connor Resigns: Will Bush Hit Another Trifecta?

Sandra Day O'Connor drops a bombshell: she quits ("O'Connor's Retirement Letter to President Bush," New York Times, 1 Jul. 2005).

The only consolation is that O'Connor, surprising as it may be to Democrats and Republicans alike, is to the right of Anthony M. Kennedy (Jason DeParle, "In Battle to Pick Next Justice, Right Says, Avoid a Kennedy," New York Times, 27 Jun. 2005). Kennedy agreed with John Paul Stevens (a registered Republican in 1975 when he became a justice but he sits on the farthest left end of the court now) oftener (36% of the times) than O'Connor did (33% of the times) from the 1994-5 term through the 2003-2004 term.

"Agreement among Supreme Court Justices," New York Times, 1 Jul. 2005 [Click on the link or image above to enlarge the graphic]

MoveOn, for once, comes up with a petition that I can sign without reservations (signed by 207,223 others as of 2:15 PM today):

It's doubtful that it will do any good, Senate Democrats being who they are (e.g., they failed to filibuster Alberto Gonzalez and six -- Mary Landrieu [D-LA], Joe Lieberman [D-CT], Bill Nelson [D-FL], Ben Nelson [D-NE], Mark Pryor [D-AR], and Ken Salazar [D-CO] -- even voted for the advocate of torture), but it can't hurt, so I recommend that you do as well.

O'Connor's resignation won't be the last vacancy that George W. Bush will fill.

William H. Rehnquist, afflicted with thyroid cancer, missed "44 oral arguments before the court in late 2004 and early 2005" ("William Rehnquist, a Biography," Justice News Daily, 2005) and is unlikely to last very long; and Stevens, who had prostate cancer, is 85 years old, still vigorous though he appears to be.

In February 2002, Bush joked:

You know, I was campaigning in Chicago and somebody asked me, is there ever any time where the budget might have to go into deficit? I said only if we were at war or had a national emergency or were in recession. (Laughter.) Little did I realize we'd get the trifecta. (Laughter.) ("President's Remarks at GOP Luncheon: Remarks by the President to Robin Hayes for Congress and Elizabeth Dole for Senate North Carolina Republican Party Luncheon," Charlotte, North Carolina, 27 Feb. 2002)

Will Bush, one lucky SOB, hit another trifecta?

America was once a revolutionary nation. Prepare to defend your liberty by any means necessary. That should be your pledge of allegiance on the Fourth of July.