I agree with you that those will definitely be all out war. However, I think the 4 liberals will do their duty, unless health issues absolutely overcome them, and wait until GWBush is gone from the presidency before they retire.
O'Connor, though, is the swing seat in the 5-4 Court. More often than not, she has voted as a liberal. There will be more blood in the water over O'Connor than any we have ever seen....to include Thomas.
If the President could appoint a strict constructionist that America already knows to be a wonderful person, that would make it that much more difficult for the Rats. (The war would then default to the Rehnquist retirement.)
Maybe the Kelo eminent domain case will turn out to be good after all. Now the country ia awake to the mischief that a liberal court can do to private rights.