Well, loyal readers, here is my latest prediction ... one that will send White House and Capitol Hill aides scurrying to their keyboards and cell phones ...

Mortimus Squid's Astonishingly Accurate Prediction #6:

There will be another Supreme Court vacancy this year ... and the resignation will be from the Court's liberal wing ... most likely Stevens or Souter. 

Yes, my friends, and the resulting confirmation hearings will be high drama as this could be the pick that radically alters the balance on the Court.

I am not unaware that top staff in the White House regularly monitor this space ... and even now they are likely re-studying their short list of nominees in light of my prediction.

That short list no doubt includes the following names (in approximate order of likelihood):

Karen Williams

Miguel Estrada

Maureen Mahoney

Michael McConnell

Consuelo Callahan

Diane Sykes

Posted by ElephantMan

Why Souter? He's not THAT old (66), and I haven't heard anything about his health (but you're much more in tune with judicial issues than I am).

Personally, I wonder if ANY of the left-wing justices would be willing to step down knowing that Bush would get to appoint there replacements. Personally, I think that, regardless of age or health, they may hold their seats until the next election in hopes that a Democrat wins. My personal opinion is that we won't have another vacancy in the Bush term unless Stevens dies, and that the most likely candidate for retirement would be Scalia (though there have been rumors about Ginsburg's health).

Posted by Anonymous

You're right about Ginsburg ... she has been ill ... though I think she has been doing fairly well recently.

Some think that Souter, though he is not all that old, has no desire to stay on the court indefinitely ... and there have been rumors that he would like to return to New Hampshire.

Stevens is an interesting case ... you would think philosophically he would try to wait till he could be replaced by a Democrat. Interesting thing is, he was appointed by a Republican, still considers himself a loyal Republican, and has apparently expressed the desire to retire during a Republican administration. (Figure that one out.)

Plus, these guys ... like the rest of us ... have more to their lives than politics and ideology. Health, family, desire to do other things in the last years of their lives ... all come into play.

I don't have any inside information ... just sifting the rumors and applying the trademark Squid instincts. :-)

Posted by Anonymous

I love your schtick, Squid. Very entertaining.