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so the fox news story was correct then...

In a broad sweeping sort of way, it was partly correct.
And it was partly wrong.

It's an exercise for the reader to figure out which part is which. Hint: "calling for the vote" may mean calling for a cloture vote, then again, it might not. Note that once cloture is PASSED (not offered), the matter becomes the SOLE subject of Senate business until an up-or-down vote occurs.

If you start the thread today, pehaps you could put the date in the title. If the future, it will help us find tidbits, and in the present, it will keep us from posting replies on "no longer LIVE" threads.

LIVE THREAD - Miquel Estrada Filibuster - March 4

Bush can make a Recess Appointment . . . in his second term re-nominates Estrada again, the Democrats (those who are left) would have to contend with his newly established judicial record.
That, I believe, is the ultimate end-game.

I respectfully disagree. The principle issue here is Senate process, not Estrada. Either the GOP stands firm, and gets a vote on the candidate, or the GOP caves and permits a minority of Senators to circumvent the "majority advise and consent" role for judicial nominees.

It is somewhat interesting that the process of Presidential nomination, and Senate advise and consent; for judges below the Supreme Court, are called out in legislation, and not in the Constitution. I think the GOP should be taking a look at 28 USC and considering a bit of clarification; memorialized in the law books with the Democrat party being the reason for the change.

Heheh. It's 10% news and 90% entertainment.

O'Reilly does a sex-related story every show, puffs it out of proportion to justify the presentation.

You hit on the half-baked factual reporting. And, you know where to look for the facts (watch the event on C-SPAN, read the written record, or otherwise research the facts). So naturally, any news show will not hold up.

Hume and company have very good political commentary. So do Kudlow and Cramer. If you havn't heard Kudlow tear Chris Matthews a new a**, you ought to look for it. I caught one exchange last week, channel surfing, and was impressed. Kulow is succinct, and does not back down.

Fox's moring show is the best one on the market. What I mean by that is simply that is is the show that entertains me the best, and gets under my skin the least.

FR Rocks. This is the place to get news.

Y'all have to keep in mind that the function of a newscast is to generate revenue. They claim to be accurate, objective, whatever it takes to get and keep viewers. They get feedback in the form of ratings, which tell them what works, and what doesn't. I believe that those of us who post on FR represent a tiny sliver of thier audience. Sure, they'll take criticism and apply it, but only for the purpose of improving or maintaining ratings. Most of the public doesn't have the time or inclination (probably doesn't have the ability) to look up facts and form accurate perceptions of the world. The function of the news media is emphatically NOT to present an accurate world-view, and anybody who has that expectation is destined for disappointment.

I just read the entire Congressional Record . . . for what Senator Frist has said for last Wednesday . . . and all day Thursday

Wow. Thanks for that. I listen to the proceedings, sort-of, and perk-up fairly reliably when Frist talks. But, I can be distracted or away, so not sure I get all of it. I think there is a possibility this can be won without a vote for cloture. I feel that the GOP understands the stakes, and is determined to see this through, mindful of the political fallout for the GOP, and the nation's business. The adults are in charge.

Time will tell how this plays out.
I believe the spectrum of options is a bit more varied than that (after failed cloture, either 24/7 sessions (on what subjects?) or pull the nomination).

Good memeory. He might have said that. I know the GOP is reluctant to file a cloture motion, and I respect and understand the reluctance. I also sense, as you intimated, that the GOP is willing to go that route, if pressed. My sense is that the GOP is trying to force a vote with behind the scenes activity between Senators, and overt activity in the form of advertisments, letters from President Bush, etc. Also, winning points as the DEMs make total boobs of themselves (heheheh - he said "boobs").

My bottom line guess, cloture motion no sooner than Thursday noon, just before weekend recess.

My 37 year old son is still laughing but like the polite gentleman he is, he sent a note of Congatulations "with a question mark".

He's wondering if his mailbox will now fill with attachments!
Congratulations, BTW.

P.S. My sense is the same as yours, no cloture motion tomorrow. But, if it does happen, it will surprise the DEMs, because the GOP has not telegraphed any such intention, nevermind timing.

I am no expert on Senate rules either, but am learning.

Cloture is the means where 60 members of the Senate decice that one matter will be the SOLE object of discussion, until it is voted up or down. If 60 Senators can't agree on clouture, the matter remains one of (several) matters that the Senate can debate.

One Senator can object to a vote being taken, and thereby keep a matter from coming to a vote, that is, unless 60 Senators over-ride.

Cloture votes have to be "announced" nominally 48 hours before they are taken, by filing a motion for a cloture vote.

Generally, Senate rules give lots of power to each individual Senator, and the process is designed to regulate the amount of debate.

The vote that Senator Frist will introduce tomorrow will be the cloture vote -

Did Frist say this? If so, it is big news. Or, was the reporter speculating. As one poster said above, reading his Magic 8-ball (that's what they called 'em when I was a kid, I guess now they are the DiTech Answer Ball. sigh)

but to declare in advance that you won't do it or to rule it out as a tool is as good as surrendering.

Maybe. Maybe not. So far, I think the GOP has clearly expressed that they would rather not, and therefore haven't ruled it out. But, even if a GOP senator supposedly "ruled it out," the word of 15 senators makes it happen. I can hear something like "In light of the rpesent circumstances, which we did not anticipate, we are calling for cloture LOUD AND CLEAR."

Surrender is the final act, and in Estrada's case, is signaled when the GOP pulls the matter off the floor, but not before.

arcane rule where the Preisident of the Senate (Cheney) can call for an immediate vote?

One other point . . . any Senator can "call for the vote" on Estrada. That has happened several times over the course of the past few weeks. Each time there was a call for a vote, one DEM objected, so debate was continued.

arcane rule where the Preisident of the Senate (Cheney) can call for an immediate vote?

My understanding of the arcane rule, and the example used by the author of the book, was the VP ordering a matter out of committee, and onto the Senate floor. As the Estrada nomination is already on the Senate floor, this tactic is not relevant.

Calling for the vote (on Estrada) is not the same as requesting and obtaining a vote on a cloture motion.

Frist has called for the vote several times, and each time, a DEM Senator has objected.

A motion for a cloture vote has to be filed in advance of the cloture vote, nominally 48 hours before the cloture vote.

At this point, I am indifferent on the need or value to a motion for a cloture vote, and have the feeling the GOP is playing this very well. As you might guess, I am not in the "24/7 now or never" cheering section.

Major Garrett (ahem!) just said the vote for cloture will be on Thursday, and Republicans will lose.

Heheheh. Good (inside) joke. It was a joke, right?

Closing business for the day. Hatch sets out tomorow's agenda, giving time to Dems in the morning, and Dems are admitting they can't promise to get their people there (!!!), then, on to Estrada. Hatch is making crystal clear statments about Dem action on the Estrada matter, and encouraging them to "speak now," intimating that refusal to vote after tomorrow is unreasonable.

Hatch is really fighting fire with fire. It seems the veil of collegiality has a hole or two in it.

I grabbed the opinion online, as Dan Abrams was reading it, and saw right away waht was going on. It pays to go to the source, and not trust any media spin on important subjects. I had to laugh at Rita. Helped a few folks in chat rooms avoid coronary attacks (I think).

Have I said "She sure is one shrill and biter person" yet today? She (Hillary) sure is a shrill, mean-spirited (I almost typed spiri-titted), preachy woman.