well, i certainly give souter credit for sticking it out until obama came in to preserve such balance as there was. and i also take heart that, properly chosen, ie young, the new "balance" will last for a while. i fully expect ginsburg to leave during obama's tenure, and stevens is rapidly approaching 90, which is old even for scotus. i am a little worried about a possible "moderate" appointee that might temporize on gay rights issues. if i want to tease myself a little, i wonder if he would have the stones to nominate a *gasp* gay candidate. i could forgive a world of slights to see a gay man or lesbian on the supreme court