Huh? I don't understand your thinking. Ford
was a Republican President. His administration
had much in common with our present Commander-in-Chief,
except that HE vetoed Congress numerous times. I refer
you to his bio:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gf38.html
Don't know why Stevens would wait until 2008. I doubt
he'd get a more comfortable match. Trying to be the
OLDEST USC Judge before dying/retiring isn't much
help to the Nation, let alone the GOP.
You're the one who doesn't seem to get it. It doesn't matter that Ford was a Republican; what does matter is that Stevens is and has been a staunchly liberal justice, and he will want his replacement to be liberal well. Stevens may be 85 years old but he is not senile, and being replaced with another staunchly liberal justice is not likely to happen during the current Administration.