Their tactics often work. We got Fort Worthless Jim, They got Newt Gingrich, Livingston, and now Tom Delay. If they don't filibuster Alito they will have a chance to make it work with future appointments.
Not now and not in the near future.
This tactic means there is a chance that the parental notification law or end of life case will be decided by then.
I still would think not but the extra week means there is a greater chancde O'Conner's vote might be the difference in those cases.