Just imagining a senator (Biden?) coming to the floor and saying,
"I'm seeing all my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talking about how Judge Alito is qualified, how he's been through a long confirmation process and has answered 700 questions and how to deny him a vote or to oppose him would be so unfair to him. Well, no offense to Judge Alito, but this isn't about him. My hurting Judge Alito's feelings may be unfair, but that is nothing -- NOTHING compared to the potential harm that could come to millions of other people if this judge's brand of law becomes the norm in our highest court. So pardon me for not worrying so much about Judge Alito's feelings. And pardon me for not worrying so much about my fellow Senators' feelings. But you know what? The real world impact is the question here. And I'm not going to give the man the courtesy of an up-or-down vote if it means that Americans will not be given the "courtesy" of their civil liberties. And for that reason, I will vote "NO" on cloture as well, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same."