No Confidence Vote Update

From mcjoan

From 4:30 until 5:30 p.m., the Senate will resume debate on the motion to proceed to S.J. Res, 14, relating to Attorney General Gonzales, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 14. If cloture is not invoked on the motion, the Senate would immediately proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 6, the Energy legislation.

While an up or down vote on no confidence would likely pass, we probably won't have the pleasure since it's looking more and more likely that the cloture vote will fail (60 votes required.) The idea that we'd actually get an up or down vote on this was probably wishful thinking to begin with, alas, but it will be interesting to see if any Republicans do vote to end debate. Specter who's been a strong critic? Collins and Sununu, two endangered New England Republicans up for re-election next year?

UPDATE: Arlen Specter will vote to invoke cloture (h/t TPM Muckraker):

I come down on the side that the interests of the country and moving for improvements in the Department of Justice is to make a candid statement that I have no confidence in the Attorney General – which I have said repeatedly, it’s no surprise – and I am going to deal with this resolution on the merits and vote to invoke cloture.

Paul Kiel at TPM's take:

Republicans have no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, but they're not going to vote that way, because that would hand a victory to Democrats. For his part, Specter is a reluctant supporter of the resolution, he said -- but don't expect others to follow him.

UPDATE2: Cloture vote failed 53-38. Lieberman voted NO, seven Republicans voted YES including Lieberman bff Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Gordon Smith, Arlen Specter, Norm Coleman, Chuck Hagel and John Sununu.

Abu G To Face No Confidence Vote on Monday

From CNN's Ticker:

The Senate will hold a “no confidence” vote on embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this Monday, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, announced.

In a statement released Friday, Schumer said if all senators followed their conscience, “this vote would be unanimous.”

“However, the president will certainly exert pressure to support the attorney general, his longtime friend,” Schumer added. “We will soon see where people’s loyalties lie.”

Considering I've thought Gonzalez's resignation has been imminent a couple times now, I won't even dare to speculate but you gotta wonder, is a no confidence vote really something Gonzo wants on his wikipedia entry? Watch for one of Bush's patented "I have full confidence in..." statements. If there is none, Gonzo may be a goner.