I think Stephens or GInsberg will have an easier time retiring now that the Dems control the Senate.
And IMO if Bush and the GOP minority have some balls, they can still get a good pick.
Best bet would be a senator like Jeff Sessions. Chuckie Schumer wants to be on the Supreme Court, so won't want to set a precedent of opposing a member of the "club".
They need another John Roberts, i.e. someone with a record, but not too much of one, who is incredibly smart and makes the D's look stupid during questioning.
If we have one or two more Roberts waiting in the wings, we'll be fine. If not, we're in trouble, because we can't get another Alito.
I agree, Stevens and Ginsburg didn't want to retire before, now you can imagine them taking the bait...Bush staffers, Janice Rogers Brown or Miguel Estrada are who you're looking for...If Schumer vetoes one, send up the other, if he vetoes again, make a big deal of it before the election and leave the seat vacant.
They can. A few Democrats will vote for someone like Alito or Roberts if they want to hold their jobs.