Anthony Kennedy is a 69-year old associate justice of the Supreme Court, appointed by Reagan. He is a mainstream conservative on most issues, although is thoughtful enough to disagree with the hard-core from time to time.
For example, he wrote the opinion that declared execution of minors to be "cruel and unusual punishment" - citing growing national and international consensus.
Why, then, is the right going after him?
Some guesses after the flip.
Let's imagine that Rehnquist retires this year. Who would be the choice to be chief justice?
Clarence Thomas? Give me a break.
Sandra Day O'Connor? She is 75 years old. She seems to be looking forward to her own retirement, and might not desire an elevation to the chief justice position.
A judge from a lower court? Possible, but Bush may well be thinking about Earl Warren, who was appointed directly to chief justice by Eisenhower, and turned out to be more liberal than expected. He may want to have a known quantity in the top position.
That leaves Kennedy and Antonin Scalia.
The right would love to see Scalia be chief justice. If Kennedy is the main alternative, he must be marginalized in order to increase the likelihood of Scalia's elevation. Therefore, on any decision that Kennedy has been in less-than-complete agreement with the radical right he should be blasted. The right wants Bush to know that Kennedy is unacceptable to the wingnuts, and therefore Scalia is the "right" choice.