[NinoFan]

No loss for our side in the sense that Souter was as liberal as Ginsburg. His first two years were moderate, but after that he followed his predecessor Brennan. A loss in the sense that this spot will go to a young lib.

[HoosierHawk]

A loss in the sense that this spot will go to a young lib.

Not too young, I hope.

[The Pack Knight]

Actually, Souter is more liberal than Ginsberg, by most measures. I'd say Ginsberg is actually only the 3rd most liberal Justice on the court, after Souter and Stevens.

This is really isn't much to worry about, as it was fairly well known that Souter is sick of Washington and wanted out, and I highly doubt his replacement will move the court to the left. The other two most likely to leave the court are Stevens, because of his age, and Ginsberg, because of her cancer. For the record, I really do hope Ginsberg gets well; by all accounts, she's a very nice lady, and I've always found her to be very intellectually honest for a liberal. Besides, I wouldn't wish her type of cancer on anyone, and she's been awfully tough keeping up with her bench schedule during treatment.

[Aroostook25]

No loss for our side in the sense that Souter was as liberal as Ginsburg.

Souter voted against the 2nd Amendment in the Heller case. In that respect, Obama will be replacing an anti-2nd Amendment justice with another anti-second Amendment justice -- unless he nominates Janice Rogers Brown (we can only hope)

[DoughtyOne]

Yes that’s the real problem. We’re getting a young one no doubt.