SENS. PLEA WITH O'CONNOR TO RECONSIDER

Story:

Four senators -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- sent a letter Thursday to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor asking that she reconsider her decision to retire.

In a copy of the letter obtained by CNN, Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-California, Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, urged the 75-year-old jurist to return to the court as the chief justice of the United States to avoid what could be a messy confirmation fight over her successor.

"As United States senators with the constitutional responsibility of 'advice and consent,' we would strongly recommend to President Bush that he nominate you as chief justice," the letter said.

"You are an extraordinary jurist who has served on the court since 1981. You possess moderation, dignity and integrity, and have demonstrated the highest standards of legal excellence.

"We believe such a history-making nomination by the president would demonstrate leadership that unites Americans around the shared values of liberty, the rule of law, and the preservation of our constitutional freedoms.

"We hope that you will give our request the serious consideration it deserves, should there be a vacancy for chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court."

Not sure if this will go anywhere, but I sure wouldn't mind. We've moved into some strange bizarro world in which Alberto Gonzales is considered moderate. I'd like a ticket out of that world, if possible.