The Supreme Court ruling on abortion crystallized one truth: the Court is definitely intertwined in the partisan struggle that has fractured the country since Bush entered office. Political ideology and influence has found its way into nearly every governmental institution: the EPA, the CIA, the FBI, the military, the FDA, FEMA, and the Justice Department, to name a few. But now we clearly see the end result of politics as it plays out in the Supreme Court.

Typically, Americans do not relate their election choices with anything having to do with the high court, but this recent ruling with a razor-thin 5-4 margin should go a long way towards waking them up to this reality. And that includes the I'd-love-to-change-the-world-overnight Nader crowd.

At age 87, John Paul Stevens is likely next to go. Given the GOP minority status in Congress, he'll not retire any time soon, but his age dictates the time is coming. Obviously, a huge decision comes with the next president and voters should be extremely aware of the stakes.