O'Connor's view

SR.com reported Sandra Day O'Connor heard about President Bush's nomination for her replacement on the Supreme Court while she was returning from a day of fly-fishing in Idaho. Her first words were unequivocal: "That's fabulous!" she said. She immediately described John G. Roberts as a "brilliant legal mind, a straight shooter, articulate, and he should not have trouble being confirmed by October. He's good in every way, except he's not a woman."

Is she suggesting some sort of sex-change operation?

She said she was almost sure President Bush would not appoint a woman as a replacement for William H. Rehnquist because she didn't think he would want a woman as chief justice. "So that almost assures there won't be a woman appointed to the court at this time."

Does she think that a woman would not be able to do the job of Chief Justice? Also when Rehnquist retires, there is nothing to prevent him from nominating an existing associate justice to the CJ slot, and a woman to the vacated associate justice slot.