One difference between Carter and Obama

is that Obama will get to name someone to the Supreme Court. The appointment of the Souter replacement will not change the court much because the ideological balance will remain 4-4 with Kennedy the deciding vote. The main thing that Souter's departure means is that it is likely either Ginsburg or Stevens will also probably be replaced during the next four years to try to replenish the bench, since Thomas, Alito, and Roberts are all fairly young for the Supreme Court and Scalia is 63, so he has a decent shot at staying through the term. All in all, nothing will change too drastically from the Souter departure unless one of the conservatives has to quit. Then things will get interesting.