Did McConnell just get and read a copy of the FBI report? Is that why he invoked late-night cloture?

[NewsCenter28]

Why make a move at this at 10:00 P.M. EDT? I think something is afoot. Do you think McConnell has seen/read/or been briefed on the FBI findings and that is why he just teed up the Friday cloture motion now, of all hours to do it?

[elleng]

1. Maybe, and/or maybe getting pressure from some of his 'friends'

to start the show soon.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Just saw this tweet from Amy Klobuchar

Link to tweet

[idcdu]

3. McConnell is hereby banned from convening a Senate meeting by orders of the People of the U.S.

until a full and unbiased FBI investigation is complete AND a full report is released to the public, not hidden away from everyone.

We, the people, demanded an investigation, and We, the people, demand the report be in public, or McConnell will not be allowed into the Chambers. We, the people, should risk arrest to contain an unprincipled and unethical man from serving the oligarchs, not the people of Kentucky.

We, the people, demand the arrest of the Republicans refusing the "advise and consent" duties of their job.

[john657]

5. Yeah, good luck with that. n/t

[reACTIONary]

10. I think its what you might call....

.... aspirational

[madaboutharry]

4. What do you think is afoot?

Because my take is the republicans don’t care what is in the report. They’re going to squeeze Collins, Murkowski, and Flake with all they have to get this creep on the court.

[mythology]

11. That's my opinion

McConnell, while not being the tactical genius some people seem to think he is, is smart enough to realize how utterly poorly this is playing out. He is smart enough to realize that dragging this out makes it less likely Kavanaugh is to be confirmed, but also that if Republicans lose the Senate, they may not get anybody confirmed at all and the seat remains open indefinitely as payback for Garland.

It's not like Kavanaugh is going to get more popular the more people come out to confirm he's a liar, a lousy drunk and a serial sexual predator.

[FBaggins]

6. This was just the deadline in order to line up a final vote this week

He had to move for a cloture vote by the end of the Senate day this evening so that the actual cloture vote could be held first thing Friday morning... allowing 30 hours for debate and a final vote on Saturday.

All so that he can get the "vote this week" that he promised.

It doesn't say anything about the report or even that he has the votes (though it seems likely that he does).

[NewsCenter28]

9. OK thanks for the update FBaggins!

I know you understand these things inside and out. I figured it was procedural but I suddenly had a panic attack that he had just come from a meeting with Wray where Wray told him that their good buddy, Kav, was all in the clear and McConnell in unbridled treasonous joy rushed from that little Federalist society pow-wow of a meeting to schedule the cloture vote immediately. My paranoia was starting to run away with me there.

As far as having the votes, I don't think he does have the votes and won't ever unless the FBI report looks damn good for Kav.

[FBaggins]

14. Unfortunately - I think he has the votes unless there's a landmine in the report

And they lined up the investigation to make that likely.

Right now, the oddsmakers are saying the most likely result is 53 yea votes... and the overall odds are 3:1 against us.

[Takket]

8. since the investigation is a sham..........

i certainly hope the FBI NOTED in its report that's its hands were tight and the report is incomplete because of it. make sure the public knows they weren't allowed the time or resources to do their job

[PubliusEnigma]

12. He had to file now for a vote to happen on Friday. Whether it actually happens or not.

[RockRaven]

13. The causality is other way around. Report was delivered today so cloture vote could be Fri.

People need to wake up when it comes to Rosenstein and Wray and the FBI. They might not be totally in line with Trump when it comes to Russia, or even starkly in opposition. But that in no way bears upon their views on Kavanaugh.

This FBI report is half-assed, hand-cuffed, and hamstrung. It isn't being kept secret because it reveals all of Kavanaugh's dirty secrets. It is being kept secret because of how shoddy and incomplete it is.