He sounds like he would be a different kind of senator than, say, Lindsey Graham. Here’s Senator Graham’s Stevens’s retirement statement:
“While I disagreed with many of Justice Stevens’ decisions, I respect his long service on the court. I look forward to reviewing the qualifications and record of the President’s nominee to replace Justice Stevens, the leader of the liberal bloc of the court. I expect the Judiciary Committee hearings on the next nominee to be civil, deliberative, thorough, challenging, and informative.”
Graham, of course, voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor.