Of course I need to be back on the road this morning so it should be a great news day – since they seem to break while I am away from my computer. But I think there is a good chance John Paul Stevens will announce his retirement soon, followed by Rehnquist.

Erik at Redstate [hat tip: Daly Thoughts] has indications the next week will be “historic”, which could mean for only the third time (I believe, doing this one from memory) 3 supremes will be replaced at one time. Erik has this line

Third, I am reliably informed that certain Senate staffers have been told that the next few weeks stand to be very historic.

This has all the signs of a solid leak since it makes sense how it is coming out as a simple heads up for something big – no specifics. In a Bush administration that sounds about right for leaking anything. And the only reason Rehnquist is holding off is to give Stevens time it appears:

Fourth, I am reliably informed that the John Paul Stevens rumor that all of a sudden got stirred up today is both completely and totally unexpected as of even the first of this week and also accurate. I cannot get my hands around the cause, but several have hinted that Justice Stevens’s health is not good. One said it is believed that Justice Stevens’s health has suddenly begun to deteriorate. The cause is speculation, but this bolt out of the blue does appear to have some substance behind it.

I posted on this here yesterday, but now I see another reason for Rehnquist to be last. It would be sort of show stealing move for another justice to retire after the Chief Justice, and I am sure he has the respect of his peers to be allowed the final new cycle

Has Bush’s two terms been anything but historic? Think of every election cycle he has been through and 9-11. The trend continues.