Locobot

I wouldn't think a lame duck president would be able to pass a supreme court nomination before the end of their term. There must be a precedent for this in our history though, no pun intended. It seems though that that is what Rehnquist is insinuating by leaking this news one week before the election. Rehnquist is the leading conservative member on the court and has repeatedly said he wouldn't retire unless a Republican was the president. So if Kerry is elected I predict Rehnquist's health will take an immediate turn for the worse (although it already seems quite grim for the chief justice) forcing him to retire. If this scenario plays out I would expect senate filibusters through Jan. 20 and, of course, ceaseless whinning from the right.