Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you, but I wanted to check with my Dad first so that I would be sure to not put words in his mouth.  So, here's the email he sent to me in response to the question:

Say,

I would have voted NO for Alito and NO for the filibuster.  I disagree
with Alito's stands. I'm sorry he got confirmed and I'm well aware that
his impact on the SC will be longlasting.  However, the Republicans played
by the rules and the Constitution.  They got the votes for their majority
and their President fairly (at least, mostly fairly) and we have to accept
that.

I take some responsibility for the Democrats' failure to keep more in tune
with the American people.  The issues are all on our side, but we continue
to give the Republicans free and unopposed reign in the rural areas of our
country where they have been successful in painting us as having no
"family values".  We, as a Party, have been remiss in ceding this
important group of voters to our opposition, and now we as a nation have
to pay for it with this kind of Judge.

I am not going to allow that to happen in my race.  I am going to give the
rural areas the time and respect they are due.  We Democrats have no
reason to fear country folks.  They have a strong grasp on the American
values that are the core of our Party.  They will be with us if we go to
them and ask for their support.

yd