Chaffee, Collins, Ensign, Smith, Snowe, Stevens , Vitter and Voinovich

[kentuck]

all Repubs, have not yet voted. They have 48 Yays. They need 3 more votes. Which three are most likely? The old Coot, Ted Stevens, probably wants to cast the 51st vote to put Alito over the top. Ensign, Smith, and Vitter are on the fence. Chaffee, Collins, and Snowe would like to have a "safe" vote against him. That's where we stand at the moment.

Of course, we still have Jeffords, an Independent, to vote and several "moderate" Democrats, including Mary Landrieu and Mark Pryor...

(edited to add Voinovich and to change Pryor name to Mark, not David)

[neverevergivein]

1. and don't forget, they really only need 50 n/t

[kentuck]

3. That is true...

Cheney can break a tie.

[papau]

24. The GOP has public commitment statements fron 51 GOP Senators

Only a Filibuster can stop Alito

[Todd B]

2. I'm watching C-SPAN..

..it looks like Voinovich hasn't voted yet either, unless I'm reading it wrong.

[kentuck]

6. That's right !

I had forgotten about the traitor, Ben Nelson.

[Todd B]

10. Yeah, what's up with that?

I was watching the roll call and it looks like it would be party line (so far) except for Nelson, what is wrong with him?

And, additionally, what is with Republicans? Can they quit being politicians for one second and not vote yes simply because a Republican nominated someone? Argh. I hate politicians.

[abbiehoff]

8. Voinovich has occasionally shown a bit of backbone.

I wrote to him about why he should vote against Alito, but I don't really expect him to.

[annabanana]

14. It was he who slowed the steamroller Bolton down..

in committee...
(a principled reaction, although it came to naught)

[pacalo]

4. Stevens & Landrieu are using their votes as bargaining chips, imo.

[annabanana]

16. He can HAVE his damn bridge if he votes no.....eom

[finecraft]

5. I don't think Vitter has ever been on the fence

He'll vote for him.

[WI_DEM]

7. the three most likely would be Chafee, Snowe and Collins

but I doubt we will get any of them. Maybe Chafee. As for Landrieu, she might--since she is pro-choice and a woman. But I'm dubious about Pryor.

[0007]

9. Hmmm.....I hope indeed Pryor gives to the party.

Patty Murray just said "NO" but that was a given.

[Justitia]

18. Landrieu has become considerably more anti-choice

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BC037760&type=category&category=Abortion%2BIssues&go.x=8&go.y=8

Noticeable shift towards anti-choice since she's been in office.
I would never count on her vote as reliable.

[debbierlus]

11. Call them....

At this point, I am begging.....

[Armstead]

12. I think those tallies on the screen are preliminary

Thgey're not the official vote, just a count of Senators who have committed themselves

[kentuck]

15. They can change their vote anytime before the final buzzer...

But I think it is probably pretty much the way it is going to go...

[Innocent Smith]

13. no one has voted yet

That is just a running total of how they intend to vote. They can't actually vote until debate ends and they get past cloture.

edit: fixed typos

[SPKrazy]

17. Wish it Was David Pryor, Instead It's Mark, his Son

Who plays wayyyy to conservative for me

but he beats the alternative, a conservative R kind of Senator in Arkansas

[kentuck]

20. Thanks, I changed.

I knew that! :mad: :)

[sandnsea]

19. Smith is not on any fence

The only way he'll vote no on Alito is if the Republicans decide they don't want this to be a party line vote. He is a pawn who does exactly what he's told.

[kentuck]

21. My hunch also.

And Vitter would do likewise, I would guess?

[sandnsea]

23. Vitter? Louisiana?

No, I don't think he's on any fence either. :)

[orleans]

22. these are just preliminary votes

they'll need 60 to turn him lose on the supreme court

we'll need only 41 senators with a spine to stand up for america and stop sniveling about their own job security and filibuster!

[Wordie]

25. Those "Y"s aren't for actual votes. They haven't voted yet.

Those are indicating a declaration that the Senator is going to vote one way or another. If you look closely, you'll see that almost (all?) the Republicans have already declared; many Dems have not.

And none of those anticipated votes necessarily say anything about whether they'll filibuster.