Drudge Reports:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/01/26/D8FCHPKO5.html
"More Democrats Get Behind Alito Nomination"
He's reporting that Byrd will vote YES for Alito!
And now Kennedy has stopped to let Byrd speak. Whoa.
I have noticed recently a great deal of deference given to Byrd when he manages to make it to the floor. I think it is just his physical condition they are taking into account.
Drudge also says Mary Landrieu (D, LA) urges against a filibuster, saying the time could be better spent voting on Katrina relief. She's also a member of the Gang of 14.
Maybe the scenario developing is that Lurch will launch a filibuster but cloture will be invoked the regular way, with at least 60 voting for cloture & circumventing the Nuclear Option. Then the RATS can say "Well, we tried."
But if a filibuster is stopped by cloture, doesn't that mean the Senate gets an additional 100 hours for debate? So they talk past the SOTU address.