obama supporters, with hindisght are you glad kerry lost in 04?

[Brittain33]

It's unfortunate, but I have to say yes. Nothing new to add; President Kerry would have fought Congress to a standstill, Santorum and Allen would be fighting it out in the primaries to challenge him for reelection. Conservative Republicans had an opportunity to govern free of the shackles of Democrats and people can judge fairly the effect instead of thinking "if only..." and continuing to hold out hope that a Republican sweep would make everything better.

[Brittain33]

No.  Had Kerry won, he would have appointed replacements for O'Connor and Rehnquist, and possibly Stevens as well;

Assuming that the Senate still goes 55-44-1, what kind of nominees does Kerry get? I could envision an impasse that only ends when he appoints a conservative and a moderate liberal at the same time, or putting a senator like Orrin Hatch up there to assure a vote.