As I read the vote tally on the cloture motion something jumped out at me: both of Hawaii’s Senators, Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, both Democrats, both long-time incumbents and both voted, effectively, in favor of allowing Alito’s nomination to be voted on.
Why? Akaka’s and Inouye’s ADA ratings are 95 and 100, respectively, among the very most liberal in the Senate. Akaka’s up for re-election in 2006 but he doesn’t have any serious opposition and, in Hawaii, the “D” next to his name should be enough to ensure re-election.
My take is that these are two old, principled liberals who don’t buy the notion that ideology alone is enough to reject a Supreme Court nominee.
Good on them.
