By Dave Andrusko

Justice John Paul Stevens

With the publication of two prominent profiles of pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens over the weekend, not unexpectedly speculation picked up whether the 89-year-old Stevens will retire from the bench before the next term begins in October. Stevens had given another interview in March to the New Yorker dropping hints that a decision would be made in a month.

When it comes to a replacement , there are some givens that don't need a lot of rehashing and a few that are more speculative.

For example, as leader of the "liberal" wing of the Court, Stevens has been a reliable pro-Roe/pro-abortion vote. It is inconceivable that a President as wedded to the abortion agenda as Barack Obama is would nominate anyone who is not true-blue, someone who makes the hearts of the Abortion Establishment swoon.

The only issue is whether the individual is a transparent, full-throated supporter of abortion with a track record, or whether he or (more perhaps more likely) she is an opaque, muted advocate as was now-Justice Sonia Sotomayor whose trail on abortion was hard to track.

Other points of speculation that cropped up in either or both the Washington Post and the New York Times included whether (given how heated the debate was/is over ObamaCare,) Stevens might hold off giving a clear signals, until things had cooled off. Either way Stevens has made it clear previously he would retire during Obama's first term.

Just a quick thought-experiment. When they love you, every idiosyncrasy (see the quirky David Souter, whom Sotomayor replaced) is enduring. If not, there are dark hints you're hiding something.

When you advance the agenda of the old line Media Establishment they find it quaint that you pull lessons from episodes 50 years back in your own life to help illustrate how you came to your decision. When they can't stand you, if you were, like Stevens, old enough that you were in the stands "when Babe Ruth hit his 'called shot' home run in the 1932 World Series" (as was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt!), there would be no end to the demands you "voluntarily" retire.

We will keep you updated on Stevens's decision-making.

Please send your comments to daveandrusko@gmail.com.

Part One