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I don't think I'd call Sutor a "liberal". Sure he's voted to the left on social issues but so would much of middle America. He's also voted with Scalia quite a bit early in his tenure.
One thing Bush did with the Roberts appointment was to pick someone who had rock solid credentials, that even while conservative, would be appealing to the mainstream. Alito perhaps less so.
I'd wager Obama will follow the same thread. He's not going to make a pick simply for ideological reasons (i.e. Meyers) but rather look towards someone of substance.
Ultimately, if Obama does make several appointments during his administration he knows part of his legacy will be defined by how he helped to shape the court.
Also, considering how the Right, and especially those pesky evangelical conservatives look towards the Judicial branch as the keeper of all that is evil (i.e. Roe v Wade) I fully expect any of Obama's nominations to be branded as the spawn of Satan by the Republican leadership.
-spence
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