The Next Choice

The Washington Post reports this morning that President Bush could name his choice for the second Supreme Court vacancy as early as the middle of next week, rejecting a call from Senator Arlen Specter to hold off on a nomination until next summer in order to minimize what he sees as potential fireworks over the next nominee.

The Times basically concurs on the timing point, writing in its piece on the same topic that Bush could make the pick "as early as the court's opening days in October." Elisabeth Bumiller writes there that Bush is "focused on Hispanics, African-Americans and women to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor."

Of course, that's what they all said last time too ... the president surprised us then, and he could well surprise us now. I do expect this nominee to be either a woman, an African-American or a Hispanic - what I'm more worried about is whether the nominee will be like Judge Roberts, or someone of an entirely different ideological ilk. Can lightning strike twice?