It has not cost them that ability.
There are still 55 Republican Senators.
51 of them can still vote for Bush's judges.
If they choose not to, it's a choice of their own free will.
...or a lack of will, or a demonstration of cowardice, or a lack of principle. We wait to find out which.
Then they'll be choosing to be a minority party again.
Most of them like to get re-elected. Others like to well thought of by their friends. Schiavo has made this more than just a partisan battle that the Republicans can win. Now its rationality vs emotionality.