Democrats and Republicans predicted that Alito's fate would probably be decided by the so-called Gang of 14 -- senators from both parties who cobbled together a compromise in May that averted a showdown over judicial nominees ... Privately, senior Democratic staff members doubted that the seven moderate Democrats in the Gang of 14 would consider Alito's strongly conservative record -- or the fact that his ascension to the court could tip its balance -- as the sort of extraordinary circumstances that would allow them to support a filibuster.
"I don't think Democrats are going to say filibuster unless they are sure they want to filibuster and they have the votes." |