I don't believe that an R next to a Senator's name is necessarily a hedge against filibusters. Granted, even the Northeastern RINOs lurch far enough to the right to meet the John Breauxs and Zell Millers of the world on economic issues, but they are flat out worthless on judges and social policy, aren't they?
If this Thune guy gets a high rating from conservative watchdogs, or if he really is the only one who can take on Daschole, then I guess he gets to go for it. It just sucks that our party can make such an egregious error in judgement and we can't do doodly squat to make em pay for it.
Not true. Estrada, Owen, and all of the others have gotten 100% of the R votes, even Chaffe and Specter, along with the votes of Millar and Breaux and one or two other Dems.