Does ANWR stand a chance?

Will the Democrats unite behind a filibuster and protect this last great wonder? Is there any reason to hope the Cons won't get their way with this ONE THING???! Predictions for tomorrow...please.

I think we have the votes to sustain a filibuster, because there are a handful of Republicans who opposed drilling and/or don't like that it was shoehorned into the Defense Appropriations Bill. Stevens (r-AK) though is threatening a mini-nuclear option, http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/122005/news1.html and I don't think we have the votes to defeat that.

The repubs are targeting select Dems on this too. http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/122005/anwr2.html

Too close to call IMO.

drilling should not be in the defense appropriation bill. Some Senators have said they will vote to support the chair, but will "reluctantly" not vote for a filibuster--among them Gordon Smith of Oregon. Specter says he "will hold his nose" and vote for cloture. Somehow I think he would be voting differently if he were up for re-election in 2006.

Does anyone know if Bill Nelson of Florida will vote against cloture? Yesterday he was not saying. This is very disturbing news, if true, that he is contemplating voting for cloture.

Although your link indicates cloture vote will come first... http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/122005/anwr2.html

"Under Senate rules, Republicans need 60 votes to cut off debate. Even if that threshold is met, they would need a second 51-vote majority to execute a parliamentary maneuver intended to circumvent a point of order against the ANWR provision. Several Republicans, including Gordon Smith of Oregon and John McCain of Arizona, said Tuesday that they would oppose the procedural move."