There have been several articles written on liberal blogs recently complaining about how Alito seems destined to be confirmed to the SCOTUS (c.f. posts here, here, here, here, or here).
I’ve got to say that I’m in the camp that Alito is a done deal.
Perhaps energy from the left side of the aisle would be better spent on using this frustration as a potential campaign issue for 2008…and to finding ways to preserve Justice Stephen’s health until at least 2009.
You see, Justice Stephens is going to be 86 this year. While there is no mandatory retirement age for a SCOTUS justice, it seems likely that either President Bush or the winner of the 2008 election will be appointing a replacement for Justice Stephens.
Other SCOTUS justice’s ages, BTW: Ginsburg will be 73 this year. Scalia and Kennedy will be 70. Breyer will be 68, and Souter will be 67. Thomas will be 58, Alito 56, and Roberts 55.