Breaking News: Justice Stevens Announces Retirement.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

[WeDidIt]

1. And the Teabaggers go nuts!

I hope Obama really drives them crazy with another female liberal.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. Laughing!

[NewJeffCT]

3. Elana Kagan is one of the frontrunners

though I think it's not a small group.

Personally, I think they should float Michelle Obama's name, just to make some heads explode.

[unblock]

25. hillary is the name that will REALLY get freeper heads to explode

[NewJeffCT]

4. Thanks to Justice Stevens

for his long & dedicated service.

[NotThisTime]

8. Yes, thank you Justice Stevens for your service and dedication

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

14. I agree whole-heartedly. Thank you Justice Stevens and may you enjoy your

retirement.

[NewJeffCT]

5. link to CNN story here

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/09/supreme-court-john-paul-stevens-to-retire/?hpt=T1

[OnionPatch]

6. I'm glad he's retiring now, so Obama can replace him

but this won't tip the balance of the court. Oh how I wish one of those conservative asshats would retire. Obama needs to appoint a couple of very young liberals to the court to even begin to balance it out.

[NewJeffCT]

9. the conservative asshats will attempt to hang on

through 8 years of Obama, if necessary. Scalia is still young enough that in 8 years, he'll be in his early 80s and younger than Stevens now. And, he's a bitter partisan enough that he'd do that. Heck, if another Dem is elected to follow Obama, he could hang on through that as well.

Thomas is still younger than Ginsberg.

Only chance of Thomas, Alito, Scalia or Roberts leaving in the next 8 years is death or major physical debilitation like a stroke, and I'm not one to wish that on anybody.

[BurtWorm]

7. I'm glad he did it now .

It's going to be a bitch getting a truly outstanding person on the bench to replace him, but at least he's given Obama time to get a strategy in place. I hope Obama doesn't blow it by naming a "moderate."

[Octafish]

10. So who are the brave ''unreccers''?

Who on DU is so wise as to unrec important news about one of America's bravest liberal justices?

Go to hell, whoever you are.

[NorthCarolina]

13. I believe there are many who fear that

Obama might appoint a right leaning justice to replace the courts most Liberal member who is retiring. Given that prospect, I can understand there may be some apprehension over this retirement.

[progressoid]

15. I certainly have that apprehension.

But I rec'd the post anyway.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

16. So people who fear Obama will appoint a RW judge feel that this news doesn't belong on DU's front pg

?

That's bizarre thinking.

[chill_wind]

17. Unbelievable!

[SidDithers]

18. Why are you so worried about it?...

Who gives a flying fadoo if a post gets unrecc'd?

Sid

[Octafish]

19. Why do you imply it's nothing to worry about? Unrec makes it harder for important news to be seen.

Some people go by the front page and find the more popular posts that way.

[chill_wind]

23. .

[SidDithers]

24. News that's important to you may not be important to someone else...

but, it's been my experience that important news and quality posts do rise to the top.

OTOH, I find hilarious to see an OP that ends up witha +100 rating, with early replies like "What kind of coward would unrec this?" The vast, vast majority of DUer's might agree with and rec the post, but some can only focus on the few who, for whatever reason, choose to unrec.

Sid

[tekisui]

11. KNR!

[pinboy3niner]

12. Ditto!

[kentuck]

20. The Repubs may try to delay it until after the election...

in hopes of having more power in the decision? They will play politics with this once again.

[chill_wind]

21. What a gift to Prez Obama

Anybody remember the West Wing episode about the very elder Supreme in his 90's (and failing health) whose extremely reluctant time came to retire? That's what these recent weeks have reminded me of.

What a momentous *gift* to you, Mr. President. Please, PLEASE use this for the best ultimate good for all, for the many many years to come after you are gone.

[fishwax]

22. He will be missed

:patriot: