Souter’s Exit Gives Obama First Opening

Justice David H. Souter, a reliable member of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing, reportedly plans to retire.

For a double benefit President Obama might well nominate Joe Biden for this post.



SPECTOR SWITCHES PARTIES

President Obama received a 100th day present of sorts as Pennsylvania's moderate Republican Senator, Arlen Spector, announced that he is joining the Democratic party. In theory this gets him closer to the 60 votes needed to forestall a Senate filibuster.

Senator Spector is no stranger to switching sides. He started in Philadelphia politics as a Democrat, switching to Republican when District Attorney there. More recently, after opposing the Bush warrantless wiretapping he did an about face on the issue, betraying those who praised him for protecting civil liberties.

Spector's defection makes the Republican's big tent look more like a pup tent.

Although his support is never certain, The Democrats will undoubtedly welcome Spector into their party. However, it is unlikely that they will ever bestow on him the Congeniality Award.


NEWS AND COMMENT

On MSNBC, Pat Buchanan has been attributing the incidence of swine flu and other ills to the steady influx of Mexicans immigrating to the U.S. across our porous borders.

To respond to this serious problem, let's have Mr. Buchanan and Lou Dobbs go to Mexico now for an extended fact finding missio