I'd like to compliment both anonymous sources mentioned in the article (one from each side) for providing a national audience with a concise and accurate analysis of the situation.

Here Here Andrew. Well put. Of course, the clock is still ticking and where is Chafee? He must know which way the political winds are blowing now.....

Indeed Leonard, Chafee is no doubt trembling in fear. He has already lost credibility with both sides. Now he must choose between NARAL and Republican voters. Will the ultimate decision be based on the interests of his constituency, or based on political calculation? The drawn out decision process indicates the latter.

I'm undecided between Chaffee and Laffey. What's so great about Alito? I think I'd rather have someone in the Roberts vein.

John

What is wrong with Alito? Why would you even ask that question? Chafee if he was not the Tin Man from the wizard of OZ! "For the people on the upper east side" If he only had a brain. I think I will start using that parody like Rush Limbaugh uses "The People from Rio Linda" Chafee will vote for Alito if he thinks he will even have a chance to win the Primary.
As it has been stated by John Wayne in the Movie The Sands of IWO JIMA
Life Is Tough But It Is Tougher If Your Stupid

I heard Chaffee was way ahead in the latest straw poll. I want to vote for a winner. Does Laffey even stand a chance. I just want to make sure the party of Lincold ends up in the White House and not Matt Brown :)

To let everyone know it maybe time to take on the Brown Democrats at WWW.BrownDemocratsblog.org it is a place to mold the Blue Dress Society of THE UPPER EAST SIDE

Fred's on a roll tonight. I like the whole "tin man" thing. I think I see a good campaign commericial in the making.

As for Chafee's vote, I almost don't care at this point, which is perhaps his own rationale for waiting so long to let us know what/if he thinks about the Alito nomination. He knows he's basically screwed either way he votes, so he's just trying to figure out the least politically damaging option. It basically comes down to this: which group can he most afford to offend?

I'm still going with my original assumption: unless his vote is required for confirmation, WHICH IT NO LONGER IS, because he's made it irrelevant, then he will vote based on his "feelings," which means, a NO vote on Alito.

I'd be willing to stake a lot of cash that Chafee votes for Alito. If he doesn't, I plan on publishing an open letter to the Bush Administration as well as the Republican National Committee asking them why they continue to support a candidate that does not support them?

Chaffe has become a national joke. This from the Corner:

CHAFEE WATCH [John J. Miller]
If you walk by the Senate's Russell Building tonight, you're bound to see a light in one of the windows, into the wee hours of the morning. It will emanate from Lincoln Chafee's office. The senator is pulling an all-nighter, continuing to review the transcripts to those Alito confirmation hearings. He's going to make a decision soon on whether to support or oppose the nomination. He just needs a little more time.
Posted at 08:18 PM

This guy can get voted out of office soon enough -- he is a disgrace -- tom

Chafee could only wish that this snippet from The Corner find its way into the local media!

Most voters would be glad to know that a Senator was actually reading the hearing transcript rather than voting strictly on emotion and ideology. It's called "doing your job"!

Tom M., if you're trying to help your guy Laffey, you're not doing a very good job of it!

Chafee is in a tough spot, but not as tough as one might expect. He has more to lose by voting for Alito than by voting against Alito.

Most conservatives have made up their mind to vote or not vote for him regardless of Alito. The hardcore pro-Laffey people aren't going to switch to Laffey if Chafee votes for Alito. In fact, he'll get no credit for supporting Alito whatsoeever.

However, the left-leaning groups that would support him in the general election may abandon him.

My prediction: Chafee will vote for Alito.

Not for a politically calcuated reason, but because he feels it's the right thing to do.

Tom M., while I respect you standing up for your old Bowdoin roomdog, one of the reasons Rhode Islanders support Chafee is because he votes without regard to political gain and gives careful consideration to issues. RI is different than your New York stomping grounds in this respect.

Tom M., if I were advising Steve, I'd suggest that the campaign focus on his strengths (i.e., being smart and hard-working) rather than trying to highlight perceived Chafee weaknesses that many Rhode Islanders view as strengths.

Just a thought.

Anthony,
At this point in time, after all the discussion, after all the dirt digging by the lunatic left, after all the Judiciary committee hearings, we all know what we are dealing with in Judge Alito. There is NOTHING more to know. NOTHING!

The notion that Chafee will be making a "principled" decision is absurd. It is precisely a lack of principles that has Chafee boxed in like this and that is what has kept him from announcing how he'll vote at this point in time.

Now, he is merely calculating the political ramifications of his decision. Will said it perfectly - which group can he most afford to offend.

Jim,
If you've ever served on a jury, the judge urges each juror to review every piece of information even if the evidence appears to be overwhelming one way or the other. It's called being thorough and I view it as a positive trait.

Anthony,

That's good spin and I know you'd like to believe that, but ALL the information is known and has been known and now Chafee is merely calculating the political ramifications of his decision.

The dynamic at play here is that a "yes" vote, helps him in the primary, and may hurt him in the general, and a "no" vote hurts in the primary, but may help in the general.

Don't kid yourself, Anthony - Chafee's decision on Judge Alito is PURELY political at this point.

I looked up "the best interests of the country and the best interests of Rhode Island" in my Chafee to English Dictionary. Certainly looks like a NO vote to me!

For those of you who are wondering where Chafee is, you might be interested in participating in this: http://republicansenate.org/?p=286

Anthony:

"he votes without regard to political gain and gives careful consideration to issues."

All your blather about how thoughtful Chafee is and how he is doing his homework would be great if it were December 29th and not January 29th.

The complexity of the political games we all view from our many and varied perspectives is done from the stands not from the floor. The players actually have the power of the vote. Take away that value and you are left with nothing.

Your keen insights and detailed explanations offered as reasons for Chafee’s independence are unfortunately viewed in the same light as the value of your man’s vote… they are irrelevant. And irrelevant like irrational is just plain bad.

A United States Senator is elected by the people as a leader and a representative of his or her constituents. Chafee is neither.

Get real and face the facts.

J Mahn