[justlurking]

Ginsburg if honest would say: “I don’t plan on retiring before 2012 unless it looks like Obama will lose. In that case, if a republican wins, I’ll do my best to live until a Democrat is elected again.”

You beat me to it.

I think she'll retire quickly at the end of 2012 if it looks like Obama is going to lose, or if it's even going to be close.

If she waits too long and doesn't think a new nominee can make it through confirmation before Obama is "retired", then she'll try to hang on until 2016 or even 2020. But, she'll have to be wheeled in and propped up like Weekend at Bernie's.

[proudpapa]

The last thing Obama and the dems will want is to go thru the nomination-approval Senate circus right before the 2012 elections.

For that very reason, I suspect Ginsburg will retire before this year is over.

OTOH, I’d be willing to give her the Josef Albers painting if she can hang on until 2013!

[kennedy]

I think she'll retire quickly at the end of 2012 if it looks like Obama is going to lose, or if it's even going to be close.

If she retires at the end of 2012, there is too much risk that 40 Republican Senators will find the stones to block Obama's nominee to replace her and let the next President fill the seat.

If she does not retire at the end of the 2011 term, then she is either going to retire sometime late in Obama's second term (probably in 2015) or, if Obama loses, try and last until another Democrat is elected.