Justice David Souter announces retirement, sets off court battle

NPR broke the story last night that is putting Washington in a tizzy and starting off what will most likely become a full scale partisan war on capitol hill.
As if the financial crisis, banking meltdown, swine flu, Chrysler bankrputcy, defense spending overhaul, budget battle, a senatorial party switch, and two expensive wars weren't enough to keep the new administration and congress more than busy into the foreseeable future; the announced retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, 69, at the end of the summer has dropped a bomb on a city that is already humming at or past capacity.
Although he was appointed to the court by George H.W. Bush in 1990 and was once declared a "home run" for conservatism, Souter has tended to vote with the liberal wing of the court. At 69, he is well below the usual age that justices tend to retire, and the timing of his announcement will cause more and more speculation, and will continue to keep all eyes on the Obama administration's plans well into the summer and could also inadvertantly sidetrack some of Obama's legislative agenda. The new choice could also reinvigorate a depressed GOP, as well as burnish or tarnish Obama's bipartisan credentials either depleting or replenishing precious political capital.
Republicans have already started sniping at potential replacements and the cry of "activist judges" by an angry conservative base could become a possible headache for Democrats eager to get to their domestic agenda while the wind remains at their back.
The Vice President, who, as chairman of the judiciary committe, has presided over 6 confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justices and is a veteran of these capital hill slugfests will carry the administration's banner into battle and will be the go to guy and coach for a young administration eager to avoid a nomination fight.
Despite a hefty packing of friendly democrats in the Senate, especially after the switch of Sen. Arlen Specter and the not-if-but-when swearing in of Al Franken possibly by summer, it could still be an uphill battle for Obama if he wants to avoid a cultural war with Republicans. Especially at a time he's trying to mount huge legislative accomplishments and continue to maintain goodwill amongst the majority of the America public going into his second 100 days, despite one of the most crowded political environments in modern history.
Fox News has a list of possible nominees HERE