As a point of parliamentary procedure, what was tabled was the house amendment to a senate bill. You are correct that tabling that amendment avoids debate and cloture. Reid has offered a senate amendment, and then introduced a cloture motion to limit the time for debate on the senate amendment. Cloture motions always take 60 votes, McConnell offered to take the cloture vote tonight, and Reid said "no" he wanted a simple majority vote. The count on (and reasonably so, I think) public ignorance.
Anyway, if the notion to table had been rejected, then the house amendment would be amenable to debate, or other motions such as to postpone, etc.
This reminds me of the whole episode with Obamocare. Backroom deals and polticial theater. And now more TV news entertainment which looks like they’re doing something.
What’s the difference between a clouture vote and simple majority? Since Reid declined the clouture vote then he knows he doesn’t have the 60 required. That much I get....