Live-Blogging the Senate II

I have just learned that the vote on cloture for the Priscilla Owen nomination will be held at 12 noon EDT on Tuesday. I'm going to use this thread to continue live-blogging (to the extent possible) the goings-on in the Senate from here on out, until it gets too long.

[Update: The quorum vote passed 90-1 (only Virginia's George Allen voted no, I have no idea why). Now senators are taking a short recess prior to returning to the floor for a session through the night. Frist announced just prior to the call for recess that the vote will indeed be "around noon tomorrow." -- 6:06 p.m.]

[Update: And they're back. Majority Whip Mitch McConnell is up now. -- 6:15 p.m.]

[Update: McConnell, Hatch and Grassley have been engaging in a staged discussion asking each other softball questions to enhance their arguments. -- 6:50 p.m.]

[Update: The Dems took over again at 7 p.m., with Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey leading off. The New York Times offers this evening article, noting (even before the final session of those trying) that a compromise seems to have eluded the Senate. Indiana's Evan Bayh is speaking now, noting the distractive nature of this whole debate. Finally, someone is saying what should be said: that the Senate ought to be discussing real issues, not spending round-the-clock sessions discussing a handful of judges. This is a fine speech, and Bayh is delivering it very well. As soon as I find a transcript of the whole thing I'll post a link. -- 7:18 p.m.]

[Update: Wow. A very impressive speech from Evan Bayh. I wish I could have typed quickly enough to have gotten even a rough transcription of it, but I didn't get there. I'll hunt around though and hopefully have a link to it soon. Jack Reed of Rhode Island up now. -- 7:29 p.m.]

[MAJOR UPDATE: Compromise reached! More soon. -- 7:42 p.m.]

[MAJOR UPDATE: McCain, Nelson, Pryor and others are announcing right now a "magic 12" compromise that will avert the nuclear option. Details somewhat unclear at the moment (I missed some of what McCain said at the outset of the news conference). Nelson: "I'd have to say right now, it's 100%"!!!! -- 7:45 p.m.]

[Thread continues here, above]