If the chief justice steps down, it would create the first simultaneous high court openings in 34 years. In 1971, President Nixon appointed Rehnquist and Lewis Powell when Justices Hugo Black and John Marshall Harlan retired.
More:
In his column, Novak said a Rehnquist retirement would enable President Bush to nominate Attorney General Alberto Gonzales despite fierce opposition from the president's own political base.
It's going to get a little hotter this summer (for everybody).
Update (7/9): Even the conservo-blogs grow weary of the "now he will, no he hasn't yet" chatter.
