The key numbers: 72-25 for cloture. Hopefully this will throw a major monkey wrench into Kerry's 2008 campaign.

As I wrote last Saturday:

...Just when I think [John] Kerry has reached the bottom, he finds a new low. The specter of Kerry being the Democratic party presidential nominee for 2008 sends me looking for a crucifix and a silver stake.

Good will come of his folly, though, if the enough Democratic senators repudiate him and his unprincipled action to enable the cloture motion to pass by 70+ yes votes. Unfortunately, a number seem to be bending to the wind of opportunism and pandering (such as Feinstein) and appear determined to jump off the cliff. This could become as much of a defining moment for the Democratic party as for Kerry.

Regardless of how Justice Alito votes on specific cases, his successful elevation to the Court (following the Miers fiasco) bodes well for the future of our country's political process.

Absolutely, CT.

It's almost certainly going to help point the Court back in the direction of the Constitution and such things as fundamental rights and states' rights.

The liberals probably cannot see either as a very pleasant prospect, as all told, this will restrict them from rewriting the law, via legislating from the bench, to suit their own agendas.