The votes of most members of both parties are accomodated when necessary. The member's constituency is a factor, the position of the member's local media, the safeness of the seat......or it could be a number of other Machiavellian things like behind-the-scenes vote trading on pork issues.
There were NO surprises on this Roberts vote. None, nada. Only, perhaps, to a portion of the public.
This MO, unfortunately, destroys many illusions and idealism concerning the Senate. But, remember, The U.S. House of Lords is the most exclusive club in the world......and the members consistently do what members in a lot of private clubs do.....promote their own business (in this case, political) interests.
Leni
I respectfully disagree, and to prove Graham knows exactly how the Senate works, please read what he said about the Democrats.
"... we're already talking about the next nominee in code. Senator Kohl, who voted yes, is talking about the balance of the court with O'Connor. Senator Feingold has mentioned he may not be too receptive to Justice Brown..."
"It is not easy for you, Russ. I know you are a prominent player in the Democratic Party. This is not easy for Senator Leahy. It is not easy for Senator Kohl. It will not be easy for those who choose to side with Roberts because they're trying to drive down the vote numbers because of the next person to come. "
"Politics is rearing its head like it has not done before.."
No doubt in my mind Lindsey Graham "gets it".