N.Y. Times: Alito Can't Be Stopped

"After Alito�s testimony, Democrats still dislike him but can�t stop him.�

That�s the Friday morning headline in the New York Times as even the liberal Gray Lady concedes that Samuel Alito will be confirmed as the newest member of the Supreme Court.

While Democrats signaled on Thursday that they would not support Alito, "they saw little chance of blocking his confirmation, even with a filibuster,� the Times reports.

Senate aides said they expected the Judiciary Committee to split along party lines when it votes on Alito�s confirmation, according to the Times. The committee has 10 Republicans and eight Democrats.

Democrats believe it is unlikely they could muster enough support for a filibuster, which according to an earlier agreement between Democrats and the GOP, is allowable only under "extraordinary circumstances.�

After Alito�s testimony, President Bush was confident enough regarding his confirmation to call him from Air Force One and congratulate him. Bush told Alito that during the questioning the nominee had "showed great class.�