No, you are wrong. After Rehnquist died Roberts was shifted to his seat. The successor to O'Connor's seat again became open. Alito has now been chosen to fill it. O'Connor will step down from the court as soon as he has been confirmed. Alito is replacing O'Connor.
That's reality, and it has nothing to do with either conservatives, liberals or the moonpeople.
You are wrong again.
From an ideaology and timeline standpoint, Rehnquist was the second opening and Alito is the second nominee. Alito is replacing Rehnquist (forget the Chief Justice label).
You are swallowing the MSM angle.