Shot Over the Bow: Frist Files Cloture on Kavanaugh

Last night Senate Majority Leader Frist filed a cloture motion on the controversial nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. This action means that, unless Democrats can muster the 41 votes needed to filibuster the nomination, debate will likely occur this Thursday and Friday, with a vote coming at the end of debate on Friday. Republicans see this vote as the opening shot in a ramped-up effort to energize the conservative base for the November midterm elections. Right-wing activists are pushing the Republican leadership to move forward not only with Kavanaugh, but with other controversial picks, including Fourth Circuit nominee Terrence Boyle and Fifth Circuit nominee Michael Wallace, the first appeals court nominee in nearly a quarter century to receive a unanimous Not Qualified rating from the American Bar Association.