More and more Democrat senators are coming out against Judge Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court. Their reasons are myriad, shallow and downright silly. The Wall Street Journal is keeping a running tally of the Democrats here. Thus far only Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska has said he will support Alito.

Here's hoping that fewer than five Democrats (and Vermont's Jim Jeffords, an independent) support Alito.

Why? For two reasons: First, that could give Democrats the impetus they need to break the Gang of 14's agreement and mount a filibuster. That would undoubtedly result in the nuclear option and Democrats will have lost that weapon -- even the threat of that weapon -- for all time.

Second, if the Democrats, wisely, choose not to filibuster even though Alito has fewer than 60 votes and thus preserve the possibility of using their veto weapon, it will cause the denizens of DailyKos, Democratic Underground and other left wing sites to go absolutely ape.

You think they're nuts now? Just wait until they think they could've had Alito halted if only Democrats had shown some backbone. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry could have a severe thorazine shortage on their hands.