Seven Republican Senators may break ranks. If you are one of their constituents, contact them and tell them to oppose changing the filibuster rules:

Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, John McCain of Arizona, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and John W. Warner of Virginia.

Some conservative organizations already have broken ranks:

...a coalition of conservative groups, including the anti-union National Right to Work Committee, the Gun Owners of America and the anti-abortion National Pro-Life Alliance, has recently broken ranks. All argue that changing the rules to prevent filibustering nominees would lead to the elimination of legislative filibusters, which conservatives have relied on to protect gun rights and abortion restrictions.

This is one of the most important votes ever. It is not an overstatement to say that this vote may make or break Bush's choices for up to four of the next Supreme Court justices.

For the Republicans to win the vote, they need half of the Senate plus Vice President Cheney. To defeat it, Democrats need the vote of all 44 Democratic Senators, plus seven more -- the one Independent vote and six Republican votes would do it.

Here are more reasons to preserve the filibuster.

Update: Edwardpig has a good rant against Tom Delay's war on the judiciary. [link via Political Animal.]