US Senator Jim Bunning needs a lesson on tact. The Kentucky-based Republican this weekend told some of his party that U.S. Supreme Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would likely be dead within nine months. The remarks were made at a Hardin County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Ginsberg announced earlier this month that she had surgery for her pancreatic cancer, but will reportedly be back on the bench today.

The news led some to speculate whether President Obama would have to appoint a new justice sooner, rather than later. But, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Bunning obviously had no qualms about coming right out and saying that may have to happen "very shortly" because of Ginsburg’s cancer. "Bad cancer. The kind that you don’t get better from," he told a group who would love to see a conservative judge take her place. "Even though she was operated on, usually, nine months is the longest that anybody would live after (being diagnosed) with pancreatic cancer."

Conservative and liberal groups are preparing to go to battle over the next Supreme Court nominee. President Bush appointed two judges during his terms — Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, and liberals are hoping they can get another one of their own on the bench. Meanwhile, women’s groups want to see another female in the post — particularly with the loss of swing-vote Sandra Day O’Connor.

Regardless of the political jockeying, the fact of the matter is that Ginsburg’s very much alive and her courage should be applauded.