Not so bad after all

Digby does a good job explaining what just happened, and why it isn't a horrifying defeat that only 25 Senators voted to filibuster Alito, but actually represents a turing of the tide of sorts. He makes the case that this is a sign that the blogs and grassroots, who pushed heavily in the last week for a filibuster that seemed unlikely, are becoming more effective:

The last time we had a serious outpouring from the grassroots was the Iraq War resolution. My Senator DiFi commented at thetime that she had never seen anything like the depth of passion coming from her constituents. But she voted for the war anyway. So did Bayh, Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Kerry and Reid. The entire leadership of the party. Every one of them went the other way this time. I know that some of you are cynical about these people (and ,well, they are politicans, so don't get all Claud Rains about it) but that means something. Every one of those people were running in one way or another in 2002 and they went the other way. The tide is shifting. There is something to be gained by doing the right thing.

Go read the rest - it's worth it, especially if you're feeling wounded over all this.