CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Lincoln Will Vote Against Alito

Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat, will vote against the confirmation of Judge Alito.

Arkansas' other senator, Mark Pryor, who is also a Democrat, has not revealed how he will vote on Alito’s confirmation.

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

Democratic Senator Johnson Will Vote For Alito

Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota will vote for the confirmation of Judge Alito to be the nation's 110th Supreme Court Justice.

Johnson joins Ben Nelson of Nebraska as the only Senate Democrats to announce they will vote for Alito’s confirmation. Both senators also voted to confirm Chief Judge Roberts.

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

Murray Will Vote Against Alito

Senator Patty Murray of Washington announced she will vote against Judge Alito's confirmation.

Murray voted in favor of Chief Justice Roberts' confirmation.

Washington's other Democratic senator, Maria Cantwell, has not announced how she will vote on Alito's nomination. Cantwell voted against Roberts.

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

Reed Will Vote Against Alito

Rhode Island's Democratic Senator Jack Reed announced he will vote against Judge Alito's confirmation.

Like Senator Clinton's announcement, Reed's position is no surprise because he also voted against Chief Justice Roberts.

Rhode Island's other senator, Republican Lincoln Chafee has not revealed how he will vote on Alito.

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

Hillary Will Vote Against Alito

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York's junior senator, will vote against Judge Alito's confirmation.

This is not a surprise as Clinton voted against the confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts.

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

Alexander Supports Alito

Tennessee's  Senator Lamar Alexander announced he will vote for Judge Alito's confirmation.

That leaves 23 Democrts, four Republicans and Vermont's so-called Independent Jeffords with unannounced positions.

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

Senator Reid Finally Admits He Will Vote Against Alito

The Los Angeles Times reports Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Announced he would oppose Judge Alito's confirmation.

Reid refuses to rule out a filibuster, which is the only way the Judge Alito's confirmation could be stopped now that there are over 50 votes for his confirmation:

Asked whether he would mount such a parliamentary tactic against Alito, Reid answered, "No," although he refused to rule out the possibility.

Reid also said the confirmation vote was a "vote of conscience," meaning the leaders would not insist upon opposition to him. Nevertheless only one Democratic Senator, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, has said he plans to vote for Alito.

Alito Has The Votes

The Associated Press reports 50 Senate Republicans have publicly committed to vote for Alito. Counting the support of Nebraska's Democratic Senator Ben Nelson, Judge Alito will have the votes of at least a majority of the Senate.

According to the Associated Press, the only Republican Senators that have not committed to supporting Judge Alito's confirmation are Lamar Alexander of Tennessee; Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island; Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine; and Ted Stevens of Alaska.

California Yankee's scorecard still shows 26 Senate Democrats and Independent Jeffords uncommitted. Thirteen of those Democrats and Jeffords voted to confirm Chief Justice Roberts.

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

Afghans And Iraqis Most Optimistic

United Press International reports an international poll done for Britain's BBC says Iraqis and Afghans are most optimistic about their economic future:

In Afghanistan, 70 percent of respondents said their own circumstances are improving, and 57 percent said the country overall is on the way up. In Iraq, 65 percent believe their personal life is getting better, and 56 percent are upbeat about the country's economy, the BBC reported.

According to the UPI, Zimbabweans stood out as the most miserable lot in the poll, with 90 percent saying their country's economy is getting worse, and 84 percent being concerned about their own financial future. Italians were reported to be among the most pessimistic, along with the residents of Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I haven't been able to locate any more details about this poll.

Judiciary Committee Advances Alito Nomination To The Full Senate

As expected, the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably recommended Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate on a party-line vote.

The full Senate is expected to take to vote on Judge Alito's nomination before the end of the week.

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