Rehnquist has Died
NYTimes obit here. Whatever else he accomplished, he likely wanted to be remembered for leading a quiet, smart, thoughtful conservative court. Instead, I'll remember him as having been dragged along on a loud, brash, mocking, ultra-conservative revolt in Washington, forced to preside over an offensive, needless impeachment that no doubt caused him some embarrassment, and compelled to decide a Presidential election by stopping the count of votes. I could be wrong, but always got the impression he would have preferred to undo the power of the federal government a bit more silently than the politics of his era as Chief Justice allowed.

Not sure of the rules, but I can't imagine Bush rushing through a replacement in time for October. Can they make decisions with 8?