I think the best thing that could happen is for long-winded Kerry to BORE the American public to death. The people will get tired of the Dem obstructionist antics. Alito already has the popular support in the polling out there. I say let 'em do it and pay the consequences.
Actually, the best thing would be for a member of bored public to throw something hard and heavy at him and score a direct hit. I remember reading it somewhere that German Burgomaster von Guericke in 17th[?] century had a large pocket watch, which was a complete lemon. After spending a lot of money on useless repairs, he went to a city blacksmith and ordered him to whack it with a mallet. The watch after that started working OK, and the accident was inscribed in a city chronicle as a useful guidance for, among others, schoolmasters. I do not know whether the story is true or not, but it well might be. And so - who knows? - it might work again, even on Kerry.