Alito Gets Filibustered

John Kerry announced it today: he's going to filibuster Sam Alito, and it looks like Kennedy is on board, as well.

Of course, he has to realize he doesn't have the votes. Three Democrats (Nelson, Byrd and Johnson) have already announced they're voting for him, and several others (including Harry Reid) have said they won't support a filibuster. So what explains Kerry's move?

The answer, obviously, is politics. If it were a matter of principle, Kerry would have announced his decision before the outcome were certain, thus making it more likely that the filibuster would succeed. The only thing to be gained by a filibuster at this point is a soundbite that Kerry can use to court votes and dollars from the insane far-Left, and he seems hell-bent on getting that soundbite. Well, I certainly don't have anything against Kerry shamelessly pandering for the crazy-vote on national television, while trumpeting a lost cause. It won't slow down the nomination at all, and it alienates him (and his ideological chums) further from the vast majority of Americans who want Alito confirmed. Also, it get the Daily Kos crew whipped up into a psychotic frenzy, which is always exciting.