The title asks it all, she doesn't have to retire, she could hold out. She's the "moderate", but thought now would be a good time to voluntarily retire?
This reminds me of Colin Powel's "moderate" credentials... why on earth then, would she leave, how could she? She's abandoned her country to give the wrong man more SCOTUS selections than he ought to have and her decision plays to that not only incidently but directly, intensionally.
She was somewhat dismayed by Bush's choices? Really? Why would she be surprised? I'm not here assuming these people, these justices and senators, are as stupid and witless as they pretend, "who knew Bush wouldn't choose well?" Oops, fooled again, but I thought you "can't get fooled again"!?
Where has she been? What is she thinking..? because to me it looks like she WANTS an activist conservative SCOTUS.
I'm serious. Do we like her on the court more than she liked herself there? Evidently so. She must be thinking, "I'm a bit too moderate and level headed, I think the most errant and lawless president in decades should replace the likes of me with some good old boys."