Cloture for Estrada

You heard it here first. This afternoon, Republicans in the Senate are going to file a cloture motion in the Senate, which be the beginning of the end for the Estrada confirmation filibuster. Significantly, Republicans are divided on this — some think fighting the filibuster is right, and others think its sets a bad precedent by creating a de facto 60 vote requirement for confirmations. Word has it that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is going to keep filing clotures until Estrada is nominated. Minority Whip Harry Reid (D-NV) says he’s got 41 solid votes against Estrada, which would keep the vote from occuring with or without cloture. More than ever, this is a P.R. battle — the Senate has a boatload of work on its agenda, and the side that can make their opponents look like radical obstructionst whackos is the side that will win.