With the election behind us, there are many lessons to be learned and facts to be gleaned as Republicans regroup. However, one hard fact stands out among all: The Republican Party must embrace Hispanics and immigration reform or forget about winning back the White House.

It is readily apparent that Republicans are losing Hispanics — the nation’s largest and fastest growing minority group — big time.

Because Democrats dragged their heels on President Bush’s judicial nominations, 14 seats are open on appeals courts or will be by the end of January. Democratic nominees now are a majority on only one of the 13 federal appeals courts, the ultra-liberal U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco. Within four years, Obama could name enough judges to give Democrats a majority on nine of the 13 appeals courts.

On the Supreme Court, five justices are older than 70. The first likely to retire is Justice John Paul Stevens, who is 88. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 75. Justice David Souter, who will turn 70 next year, is known to be unhappy living in Washington. Assuming Obama is re-elected, Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy will be 80 by his second term.