The author also misses another big point. A lot of these Republicans in the Senate who vote with the Republicans most of the time are opportunistic jackasses who try to have it both ways. There are plenty of cases where Republicans will cast a cloture vote to let a bill onto the Senate floor where it will be passed under the Democratic majority, but then vote against it on the Senate floor knowing full well that their “opposition” at that stage of the process is both useless and pointless.
THE OLD MITCH MCCONNELL DEBT CEILING TRICK....
Vote for cloture to move the bill forward, then vote against the bill on final passage to fool people back home.
If you haven't heard, Harry Reid pulled the nuclear option (for confirmation votes). Cloture is irrelevant there.
In Obungo's last two years in office, what possible assurance is there that he won't pull the nuclear option for all Senate votes?