Chicago Tribune: WASHINGTON -- Stepping up preparations for the possible retirement of Chief Justice William Rehnquist -- perhaps as early as next week -- the White House has narrowed its list to a handful of federal appeals court judges and...

But even then, you still are appointing someone to replace that justice. And while being Chief isn't negligible, I doubt that it's hugely important, except for the potential of a poor leader to generate opposition (e.g., Burger).

I personally very much doubt whether Scalia or Thomas has the temperament to make a good Chief. Rehnquist is a veritable pragmatist compared to those guys.

I think Gonzales's "centrist" label wouldn't prove accurate once he was on the Court and thus not accountable to anyone. Anyone who could endorse a memo on Presidential war powers that didn't even mention Youngstown is unlikely to suddenly find himself a closet liberal.

Thomas is young enough to have a good thirty year run as Chief, though I'm not sure how suited he is to the specifics of being Chief, mostly because I don't know the substance of the job.

It depends on who leaves first. If it is Renqhist, as is most probable, then he needs a strong conservative, but if it is Sandra Day O'Conner or John Paul Stevens, then Gonzales would be an ideal choice.

The Washington Post reports that President George Bush's advisors now pondering a possible Supreme Court Justice nomination may have to decide between pi...