Rehnquist
Two Open Letters tonight:

Dear Chief Justice Rehnquist: In a way, I'm sorry to see you go. I didn't agree with you very often, but I appreciate your respect for the institution of the court. You may have made some poor decisions, but at least you relished the fact that it was within the bounds of your consitutional power to make them. I'm sorry you've died, and I hope you didn't suffer very much.
I'll be even sorrier to see you go if the President bumps up Mr. Scalia or Mr. Thomas, they who are not even worthy of the title "Justice", to fill your spot. Which brings me to my second letter:

Dear Mr. Bush:

Your popularity is sinking apace with the city of New Orleans. You've already got a beastly nomination fight on your hands with Judge Roberts, in a Congress that is going to be caught up in trying to save the flooded mess that comes from cutting FEMA and stretching the Guard like so much Silly Putty. You've burned every bridge for miles, and dammed every river. Chief Justice Rehnquist is dead. Perhaps, now, you'll consider nominating someone who is truly acceptable to most Americans and will sail through the nomination process? Maybe your extreme right-wing backers don't need to be catered to this time. Lord knows you've been trying, and it hasn't made you many friends with the rest of the country. Take this opportunity to go from Mr. Bush to President Bush. Show some sensitivity, and maybe some of that political guile you and your friends used to wield with ease. Make life easier on everyone, at least in this case.

With hope and respect in abeyance,
-Evan Perlman