but the situation is dynamic.

I agree with you that there is tremendous advantage in making them all vote.  Nothing focuses attention like trying to figure out what votes will be easiest to defend in November or in two years.

This is a subtle distinction, rather too subtle for me to follow.

The Democrats in the "probable yes" category, along with John McCain, should be more forthright: Bayh and McCaskill especially.  I have little respect any more for Rockefeller.

A shame to say it, but Mary Landrieu of LA would not be much of a loss, if she loses, as many predict she will.

Collins and Snowe of Maine continue to confirm my opinion that these women should be Democrats, and either would be great in the White House as our first (?) woman president.

Minnesota is going to be very interesting this year.  Notice how the intelligent Brooklynese Norm Coleman -- but at heart a mean jerk -- is cleaving left.

And Sununu of NH, also very intelligent and similarly objectionable, may do the same.

George Voinovich of Ohio is arguably the most interesting Republican (personally, not politically) in the Senate right now.  And perhaps the one that I would most like to go to a bar with.  Along with my native state's Arlen Specter (who fence-sits as a matter of principle).  And of course the excellent Richard Lugar.  I have little regard for the Republican brand, considering it generally a sign of grave moral deficiency; and so it would be great to schmooze with any of the small number of those who may actually have something worthwhile to say in their defense.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.