Imagine if she had mentored and sponsored a younger replacement in 2000 and then retired in 2010. Where would we be?

Now that Skeletor has died with no one obvious to replace her, the Judiciary Committee will probably grind to a halt when it comes to confirming judges.

She was a public servant that worked for a long time on your behalf.

California’s governor will name a replacement for the remainder of her term.

Democrats no longer have a clear majority in the Senate. This has all sorts of complications. I believe it will still take 60 votes to replace her in Judiciary which Republicans won’t give them. Probably the main reason she stuck around to begin with. Biden has to be careful with his nominees if he can get through any at all. Gawd help us if a SCOTUS member dies. The call for Menendez to step down will quiet a bit.

That last paragraph is all sorts of reasons why she should have retired 15 years ago (at 75!) When voters would have easily voted in her (possibly even hand picked!) protege.

We’re now left a mess because someone with an ego didn’t retire when they could have. Wait this is starting to sound familiar. Thankfully the consequences aren’t likely to be as dire this time.

15 years would mean that you would miss her vote for Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, plus Obamacare. We can play what if all day long.