[lstanle]

"Either McCain KNEW it would not pass .. or he's so arrogant that he just didn't care if it passed or not .. since it's non-binding."

As I understand it, it takes 60 votes for cloture. In this case all those who voted against cloture could have gone about other business. Is this the way it is, or does it only take a vote of 60% of those present to invoke cloture? What is a quorum for a senate vote?

[CyberAnt]

They needed 60 to stop the debate.