Unfortunately, it seems more likely than not that the filibuster of Alito will come up just short. Ben Nelson, Tim Johnson, and Robert Byrd will vote in favor, bringing our "no" vote count down to 42, and Salazar, Landrieu, Dorgan, and Conrad have all indicated that they are
unlikely to support a filibuster. So, although we still have a chance of prevailing, it is a slim chance indeed.
But, if we can no longer play to win, that by no means indicates we should stop playing altogether.
What if Reid skillfully managed the caucus so that we came up ONE VOTE SHORT of a filibuster.
A one vote deficit means that a certain Republican Senator in the bluest of the blue states could have changed the outcome if only he had voted his conscience instead of toeing the Bush line.
Of course, that Republican Senator is up for reelection next year, and will have a tough tough battle ahead of him, even without the Alito albatross.
So, if Chafee refuses to support the filibuster, and if his support could have changed the outcome, then Lincoln Chafee Alito can be strangled with an Alito noose in 2006. Voting to end the right to choose may fly in Mississippi (although even there I'm not sure I would want that on my campaign poster), but it is political death in Rhode Island.
If we can't stop Alito, we can at least use the battle to wedge out one more Republican Senator in 2006. It's a consolation prize, but a prize nonetheless.