I won't believe an AP wire story telling the country, and the world for that matter, that President Bush was caught off guard by this resignation.
In the long term, Bush has known all along he would most likely get two SC picks. In the short term, he's known for several weeks, O'Connor did not rehire her staff for the fall court term.
Every other news source is telling us (ad nausum), both sides have been gearing up for SC resignations. Oh the msm might have been caught off guard it was O'Connor who retired first, and it coming today, but I don't believe for a minute Bush didn't know this was coming.
We will have a long wait...he won't pick a justice until after July 8:
"The White House said he would not decide before returning from Europe July 8.
Bush will consult with Republican and Democratic senators about his selection, and will talk with them on the flight to Denmark next Tuesday and during his stay Wednesday through Friday at the summit of leading industrialized nations, in Gleneagles, Scotland, said presidential spokesman Scott McClellan."