Bah

We're boned.

That's pretty much my only thought right now.

There are a couple ways that this can turn out ok, though. First, if Rehnquist also steps down, at least we'll know what's at stake when it comes time to replace him. We need to fight for both spots, but if he retires, there is a certain flexibility in Dems ability to maintain the ideological balance of the court.

Second, and here's my fatalism: If Bush gets his ideological cronies on the court, then we might just see the constitutional crisis necessary for true reform to this country. When the Supreme Court tries to roll us back to 1791, the country won't stand for it, and we'll get some amendments out of it.