Sandra Day O’Connor

So on the subject that is sure to preoccupy us for months to come, my first thoughts:

1. We all eventually move towards the political center. O’Connor is a case in point. When she was appointment, she was a certified rightie. Today she’s being mourned as a moderate swing vote. Judge William Brennan is another. In the realm of politics, well, Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon of Israel, The problem is that it takes quite a few years to break in each new Justice. And when they start young, like Justice Thomas, it can take forever. Someone needs to invent a rapid aging system for judges. Something like a curing process, that can be applied before they take office.

2. Women have a much healthier attitude towards life and work than men do. Evidence O’Connor. She’s been on the court for 24 years, she’s 75 years old, she decided that it’s time to make a change, enjoy retirement, perhaps take care of her husband and enjoy her grandchildren. Contrast to Rehnquist, who despite ailing with thyroid cancer, insists on staying on hanging on to his post by the skin of his teeth.

3. Totally white hair, like Her Honor has these days, looks so much better than gray hair (reference her confirmation hearings).