Start of Something?

Federal Senator Conrad from North Dakota met with Judge Alito yesterday and says it is unlikely he would support a filibuster.

"I think it is unlikely, absent some new information, some bombshell that comes up in the process, that I would support a filibuster," Conrad said Wednesday, after meeting with Alito in his Washington office.

Conrad is up for election in just in '06 and it seems he has come to his senses about the Alito nomination. The cynical side of me thinks he realizes supporting a filibuster could spell troubles or at least a good talking point for an opponent the next 361 days, however the optimist in me hopes that it is a combination of this fact plus he realizes that Judge Alito is an excellent judge who will not legislate from the bench even if this leads to a decision that may be contrary to his own personal views. Is this the start of the moderates sending a message to their party that a filibuster is not the answer? We can only hope so.