To fight or not to fight, that is the question

Digby has some insights on the merits of the fillibuster that I think I agree with.

The chattering classes are all very sure that the Democrats have made a grave mistake on Alito. According to reports in the press, many insider Democrats believe this too. I believe they are wrong. This may look like a ragged strategy in some respects, but it is good for us to be seen doing things that have no obvious political advantage and for which we can legitimately claim to have taken the moral high ground. Yes, the tittering congnoscenti will flutter their fans and whisper that Democrats are witless and dull, but in this case we are talking directly to the people not to them. They have no idea anymore that a world exists out here where poltical calculation is beside the point.

Regardless of how this comes out in the end, and we don't know until the votes are cast, this may be seen as a defining moment for the Democratic Party. When a calculating political creature like Dianne Feinstein rushes to support a filibuster rather than reaffirm her opposition once conventional wisdom says a filibuster will fail, is meaningful. Democratic politicians (if not their moribund strategists) are feeling the pressure from the people to do the right thing.

John Avarosis, over at Americablog, is far more skeptical. He thinks the Democrats shouldn't do this unless they combine it with a massive media campaign to explain it to the public, something they are clearly not doing. He's afraid the Dems may end up getting the same treatment people gave the Republicans after the Schiavo affair.

Although I agree with the need for a media campaign, I'm inclined to support the fillibuster even without it. While it is true that the polls show majority support for Alito, I really don't feel that this support is very enthusiastic (apart from the extreme right) or very well informed. Because of that, I doubt people will care that much one way or the other, and the fillibuster shouldn't do the Dems much harm politically, even if they lose. At least they will have stood to face the enemy, rather than turning to flee before the first shot, as they have been inclined to do in the past.

And, even if I'm wrong, I don't think we can go down on this without a fight. If it comes back to haunt us, so be it.