The Sunshine Empire

With the retirement announcement of Justice John Paul Stevens this week, some interesting political dynamics are emerging. With the fights over Sonia Sotomayor and the epic health care reform battle, the question arises if President Obama is in the mood for another knock down drag out fight with the Republicans. This is especially important given the gains that the Republicans will make in the fall midterm elections. With regards to Senate Republicans, many of them are facing heat from hyperventilating Tea Party people who will view any vote for an Obama nominee as treachery and could lose primary voters. At the same time Justice Stevens was a reliable liberal, so any Obama choice of a liberal would not change the make-up of the court at all. In fact, nominating a centrist would move the court even further to the right. As it was written today, if Republicans stoke partisan passions to stand up against an Obama SCOTUS nominee, another win would poke holes in the Republican momentum for the fall. It will all be fascinating to see unfold when President Obama makes his second pick in a year for the high court.