So now it's Roberts for Chief Justice. Guess I really have to throw out that crystal ball -- as some of you know, I've been predicting Clarence Thomas as Bush's choice for Chief Justice for nearly three years now. Maybe Thomas's exercise regimen didn't meet with the president's approval.

With regard to the new vacancy, this strikes me as silly:

Bush, with an ambitious agenda that includes more tax cuts and Social Security overhaul, doesn't have enough power on Capitol Hill right now to take on another fight on the Supreme Court, [pollster John] Zogby said.

"He is a resilient political figure -- down but not necessarily out -- but he's got to pitch this one, the Supreme Court nominee, right down the middle," Zogby said.

Oh, please. He may feel he needs another stealth zealot -- i.e., a second Roberts -- but I wouldn't count on even that. He's not going to pick anyone to the left of far right. He just doesn't do that.