Two Peas In A Massachusetts Pod

From the Boston Globe with hat tips to very occasional reader DanK and Right Nation, liberal Massachusetts' Senators John Kerry and Teddy Kennedy are pushing for a filibuster of Samuel Alito despite several Senate Democrat members of the "Gang of 14" saying that they will not support a filibuster of the nominee.

As the floor debate was continuing Thursday, the leaders of the filibuster attempt -- Massachusetts Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry -- were trying to drum up support in their caucus for blocking Alito.

They were counting senators like Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Debbie Stabenow on their side. Other senators, including ranking Judiciary Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Charles Schumer of New York, head of the Senate Democrats' fundraising arm, did not say Thursday whether they supported the effort.

"There's some division in our caucus," Kennedy conceded. "It's an uphill climb at the current time, but it's achievable."

It is a proud moment when a Michigan man must lay claim to Senators such as Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, but can still poke fun at another state for having elected what are even worse embarrassments to public office.