KCRW's Left Right & Center: Souter, Specter and Swine Flu

Well, if there's news containing an "s" word, it's likely included in our latest show -- a lively round up of lots of news. Souter leaves SCOTUS -- are the issues in replacing him only going to be gender and liberalism? How about age -- should this be a lifetime appointment?

On Specter: Tony thinks this means more procedural votes work in favor of the Democrats, and that Pennsylvania is still a 5-point Democratic state, although the burbs and the blue collars have switched their party allegiances. Bob and Arianna say this solidifies the GOP's rank as minority party. Whatever happened to Reagan's big tent?

And Matt says the bugaboo about taxes is intellectually dishonest, with the boomers set to retire, taxes must rise to pay for Social Security and Medicare. Then a discourse on banking, hedge funds, pensions and bondholders on the eve of stress test results.

Finally, credit cards and bankruptcy. While Arianna contends that the bankers own the Senate, Tony contends creditor nations are stable, debtor nations are chaotic... and cheers the bankers on.