Rats: "Here's our chance to get a strong leftie since we are still - in power - as far as the Senate is concerned..."
If Rhenquist would have been the first, the 'Rats would probably have let a strict constitutionalist through since it would have not forced the change of the filibuster rule nor would it have changed the balance of the courts. But O'Connor is as often on the left as on the right and is often the swing vote. They will fight hard to make sure that she is replaced with another "moderate" or even a hard leftie.
"Rats: "Here's our chance to get a strong leftie since we are still - in power - as far as the Senate is concerned..."
RINOS- Here is yet another chance to roll over and have our bellies scratched.