It also accomplishes two other RAT objectives, both important:
1) It makes the filibuster of the next nominee easier. The first one is an outrage, but the shock diminishes with repetition.
2) Reid is getting chits from RATs voting for cloture, bet on it. Once Nelson, Byrd, Conrad, etc are safely reelected, they will pay the leadership back, probably by voting "no" on cloture next time around.
The RATs are pros at this, the GOP are babies.
Frustrating to watch isn't it. :-)