CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Golisano To Sit One Out

Ending months of speculation, Thomas Golisano, the billionaire owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team, said he will not seek the Republican nomination for governor of New York.

The New York gubernatorial race won't be the same without Golisano. He ran for governor as the candidate of the Independence Party in 1994, 1998 and 2002. In 2002 Golisano spent $75 million of his own money only to finish a distant third with 14 percent of the vote.

The apparent Democratic nominee, State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, will face either former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld or former state Assembly Minority Leader John Faso. There is some talk that Spitzer might face a primary challenge from Nassau County executive Tom Suozzi.

Has Bomb Plans

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), report states a "15-page document showing how to cast fissile uranium into metal was 'related to the fabrication of nuclear weapon components.'"

According to the Associated Press, the bomb plans were first mentioned in another IAEA report last year. In that report the IAEA described the plans as showing "how to cast 'enriched, natural and depleted uranium metal into hemispherical forms.'" Diplomats familiar with the probe into 's nuclear program said then that the papers apparently were instructions on how to mold highly enriched grade uranium into the core of warheads.

So much for ian assertions that the purpose of the country's nuclear program is only to generate electricity.

Alito Confirmed

Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. became the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice after the the Senate voted 58-42 to confirm him as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

All but one of the Senate Republicans and four of the Democrats voted for confirmation.

You can see how the Senators voted here.

Snowe Will Vote For Alito

Maine Senator Olympia Snowe announced she will vote for Judge Alito's confirmation.

Only Senator Landrieu has not revealed how she will vote.

California Yankee will continue to track Senators' positions on Alito's confirmation here until we have the final tally.

Alito Vote Watch

UPDATE: Alito Confirmed. I am proud to say that California Yankee's Alito Vote Watch got it right. I also want to convey my sincere thanks to all those who followed this post and especially those who helped with suggestions or tips.

Last Updated 01-31-2006 at 11:45 AM. Originally posted 01-19-2006 at 12:09 PM.

I have been able to trackdown the positions of ninety-nine senators, who have announced how they will vote on Judge Alito's confirmation. This post will be updated as more positions are announced.

TOTALS:

1 UNANNOUNCED: Landrieu (D - LA).

58 FOR: Allard (R - CO), Allen (R - VA), Alexander (R - TN), Bennett (R - UT),Bond (R - MO), Brownback (R - KS), Bunning (R - KY), Burns (R - MT), Burr (R - NC), Byrd (D - WV), Crapo (R - ID), Chambliss (R - GA), Coburn (R - OK), Cochran (R - MS), Coleman (R - MN), Collins (R - ME), Conrad (D - ND), Cornyn (R - TX), Craig (R - ID), DeMint, (R - SC), DeWine (R - OH), Dole (R - NC), Domenici (R - NM), Ensign (R - NV), Enzi, (R - WY), Frist (R - TN), Graham (R - SC), Grassley (R - IA), Gregg (R - NH), Hagel (R - NE), Hatch (R - UT), Hutchison (R - TX), Inhofe (R - OK), Isakson (R - GA), Johnson (D - SD), Kyl (R - AZ), Lott (R - MS), Lugar (R - IN), Martinez (R - FL), McCain (R - AZ), McConnell (R - KY), Murkowski (R - AK), Nelson (D - NE), Roberts (R - KS), Santorum (R - PA), Sessions (R - AL), Shelby (R - AL), Smith (R - OR), Snowe (R - ME), Specter (R - PA), Stevens (R - AK), Sununu (R - NH), Talent (R - MO), Thomas (R - WY), Thune (R - SD), Vitter (R - LA), Voinovich (R - OH) and Warner (R - VA).

41 42 AGAINST: Akaka (D - HI), Baucus (D - MT), Bayh (D - IN),Bingaman (D - NM), Biden (D - DE), Boxer (D - CA), Cantwell (D - WA), Carper, (D - DE), Chafee, (R - RI) , Clinton (D - NY), Dayton (D - MN), Dodd (D - CT), Dorgan (D - ND), Durbin (D - IL), Feingold (D - WI), Feinstein (D - CA), Harkin, (D - IA), Inouye (D - HI), Jeffords (I - VT), Kennedy (D - MA), Kerry (D - MA), Kohl (D - WI), Landrieu, (D - LA), Lautenberg (D - NJ), Leahy (D - VT), Levin (D - MI), Lieberman (D - CT), Lincoln (D - AR), Menendez (D - NJ), Mikulski (D - MD), Murray (D - WA), Nelson (D - FL), Obama (D - IL), Pryor (D - AR), Reed (D - RI), Reid (D - NV), Rockefeller (D - WV), Salazar (D - CO), Sarbanes (D - MD), Schumer (D - NY) Stabenow (D - MI) and Wyden (D - OR).

Akaka, Daniel- (D - HI) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Allard, Wayne- (R - CO) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Allen, George- (R - VA) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Baucus, Max- (D - MT) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Bayh, Evan- (D - IN) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Bennett, Robert- (R - UT) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Biden, Joseph- (D - DE) Voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Bingaman, Jeff- (D - NM) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Bond, Christopher- (R - MO) Announced he supports Alito’s nomination.

Boxer, Barbara- (D - CA) Announced she opposes Alito’s nomination.

Brownback, Sam- (R - KS) Announced he will vote for confirmation and voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Bunning, Jim- (R - KY) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Burns, Conrad- (R - MT) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Burr, Richard- (R - NC) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Byrd, Robert- (D - WV) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Cantwell, Maria- (D - WA) Announced she will vote against confirmation.

Carper, Thomas- (D - DE) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Chafee, Lincoln- (R - RI) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA) Announced he supports Alito’s confirmation.

Clinton, Hillary- (D - NY) Announced she would vote against confirmation.

Coburn, Tom- (R - OK) Voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Cochran, Thad- (R - MS) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Coleman, Norm- (R - MN) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Collins, Susan- (R - ME) Announced she will vote for confirmation.

Conrad, Kent- (D - ND) Announced he is leaning toward voting for Judge Alito.

Cornyn, John- (R - TX) Voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Craig, Larry- (R - ID) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Crapo, Michael- (R - ID) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Dayton, Mark- (D - MN) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

DeMint, Jim- (R - SC) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

DeWine, Mike- (R - OH) Voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Dodd, Christopher- (D - CT) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC) Announced she will vote for confirmation.

Domenici, Pete- (R - NM) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Dorgan, Byron- (D - ND) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Durbin, Richard- (D - IL) Announced he would vote against confirmation and voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Ensign, John- (R - NV) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Enzi, Michael- (R - WY) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Feingold, Russell- (D - WI) Voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Feinstein, Dianne- (D - CA) Press reports indicate she will vote against confirmation and voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Frist, Bill- (R - TN) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC) Voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Grassley, Chuck- (R - IA) Announced he will vote for confirmation and voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Gregg, Judd- (R - NH) Announced he would vote for confirmation.

Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE) Announced he supports Alito’s nomination.

Harkin, Tom- (D - IA) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Hatch, Orrin- (R - UT) Voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Hutchison, Kay- (R - TX) Announced she will vote for confirmation.

Inhofe, James- (R - OK) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Inouye, Daniel- (D - HI) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Isakson, Johnny- (R - GA) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Jeffords, James- (I - VT) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Johnson, Tim- (D - SD) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Kennedy, Edward- (D - MA) Announced he would vote against confirmation and voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Kerry, John- (D - MA) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Kohl, Herb- (D - WI) Announced he will vote against confirmation and voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ) Announced he will vote for confirmation and voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Landrieu, Mary- (D - LA) Voted against confirmation.

Lautenberg, Frank- (D - NJ) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Leahy, Patrick- (D - VT) Announced he would vote against confirmation and voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Levin, Carl- (D - MI) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Lieberman, Joseph- (D - CT) Announced he will vote against Confirmation.

Lincoln, Blanche- (D - AR) Announced she will vote against confirnation.

Lott, Trent- (R - MS) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Lugar, Richard- (R - IN) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Martinez, Mel- (R - FL) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

McCain, John- (R - AZ) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY) Announced he would vote for confirmation.

Menendez, Robert- (D - NJ) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Mikulski, Barbara- (D - MD) Announced she will vote against confirmation.

Murkowski, Lisa- (R - AK) Announced she will vote for confirmation.

Murray, Patty- (D - WA) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Nelson, Bill- (D - FL) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Nelson, Ben- (D - NE) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Obama, Barack- (D - IL) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Pryor, Mark- (D - AR) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Reed, Jack- (D - RI) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Reid, Harry- (D - NV) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Roberts, Pat- (R - KS) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Rockefeller, John- (D - WV) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Salazar, Ken- (D - CO) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Santorum, Rick- (R - PA) Announced he supports confirmation.

Sarbanes, Paul- (D - MD) Announced he will vote against confirmation.

Schumer, Charles- (D - NY) Announced he is leaning towards voting against confirmation and voted against recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL) Voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Shelby, Richard- (R - AL) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Smith, Gordon- (R - OR) Said he expects to vote for confirmation.

Snowe, Olympia- (R - ME) Announced she will vote for confirmation.

Specter, Arlen- (R - PA) Announced he will vote for confirmation and voted for recommending confirmation in the Judiciary Committee.

Stabenow, Debbie- (D - MI) Announced she would vote against confirmation.

Stevens, Ted- (R - AK) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Sununu, John- (R - NH) Announced he would vote for confirmation.

Talent, James- (R - MO) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Thomas, Craig- (R - WY) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Thune, John- (R - SD) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Vitter, David- (R - LA) Announced he will vote for confirmation.

Voinovich, George- (R - OH) Press reports indicate he is committed to supporting confirmation.

Warner, John- (R - VA) Announced he would vote for confirmation.

Wyden, Ron- (D - OR) Announced he would vote against confirmation.

Connecticut NAACP Contests State's No Child Left Behind Suit

The Connecticut branch of the NAACP is requesting permission to intervene in the state's lawsuit against the federal No Child Left Behind education law. The civil rights group said the money being spent on the litigation could be spent on more teachers and other resources to improve equality in education.

"The bottom line is, the concerns with No Child Left Behind shouldn't be used as an excuse to not provide equity in education to these children, and they deserve a seat at the table," state NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile said.

Connecticut became the first state to try to block the 2002 law when Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed the lawsuit in August 2005, in U.S. District Court in Hartford.

I agree with the NAACP. The money Blumenthal is wasting on this litigation would do more good if spent on trying to improve underachieving schools. I also agree that Blumenthal's lawsuit distracts from the fact that there is an unacceptable gap between how white students and their minority counterparts perform on standardized tests.

Bayh, Dorgan, and Rockefeller Will Vote Against Alito

Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana, Byron Dorgan of North Dokota, and John Rockefeller of West Virginia all announced they will vote against the confirmation of Judge Alito.

That makes it 57 for and 41 against with only Senators Landrieu (D - LA) and Snowe (R - ME) failing to reveal how they will vote tomorrow.

California Yankee will continue to track Senators' positions on Alito's confirmation here until we know the final tally.

Cantwell Will Vote Against Alito

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell announced she will vote against Judge Alito's confirmation.

Cantwell voted against Kerry’s attempt to block Alito’s nomination by mounting a quixotic filibuster.

With Cantwell’s announcement there are only five Senators that have not revealed how they will vote tomorrow:

Bayh (D - IN), Dorgan (D - ND), Landrieu (D - LA), Rockefeller (D - WV) and Snowe (R - ME).

All but Bayh voted for the confirmation of Chief Judge Roberts. Judge Alito might still receive sixty votes for confirmation.

California Yankee continues to track Senators' positions on Alito's confirmation here.

Senate Defeats Democrats Desperate Attempt To Block Alito

The Senate voted to end the Democratic effort to block Judge Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court by filibuster.

The needed 60 votes were mustered to approve a motion to end debate.

A confirmation vote is set for Tuesdays at about 11 a.m. Alito will receive more than the required simple majority to be confirmed.

UPDATE: The motion to end debate passed by a vote of 72-25. Not voting: Ensign, Hagel and Harkin.

Menendez And Lautenberg Will Vote Against Alito

New Jersey's Senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, announced they will vote against the confirmation of Judge Alito.

California Yankee continues to track Senators' positions on Alito's confirmation here.