NOW IT BEGINS

The early retirement of Justice David Souter will afford Mr. Obama his first chance to pack the US Supreme Court, putting radical his stamp on America for decades. As predicted during the campaign, today's President could end up filling two or three vacancies over a two-term stretch (heaven forbid). Not that Souter's at all conservative... a bad pick by Bush 41.  Message to the reasonable "Originalist" members of the Court: Please stay there... and stay healthy...for a long time.