I Hope So

The subhed on this story reads "Next chief of the Supreme Court might be Thomas, biographer says". I think Bush would nominate Thomas in a heartbeat, but (1) Bush must win re-election, (2) Rehnquist must retire, and (3) the Senate must approve the nomination. The first event seems likely (by a slim margin, at the moment). The second event probably would follow from the first. As for the third event, Democrats might like to filibuster the nomination, and some would try to do so, but could they actually block a black nominee for Chief Justice who has already served on the Court for 13-plus years? I don't think so. Even some moderate Senate Democrats -- if there are any left in 2005 -- might split with their far-left brethren.