[sphinx]

The standing rules of the Senate permit unlimited debate. Any Senator may continue talking as long as he wishes, and the Senate will not vote until everyone is done, and consents to a vote, or invokes cloture, which requires 60 votes, to close debate despite the objections of a minority.

There are terminological subtleties at work here. When a Republican minority insists on extended debate and refuses to permit a vote, it is "filibustering" and "obstructionist." When a democrat minority refuses to permit a vote, the press merely asserts that it takes 60 votes to pass a bill.

[afraidfortherepublic]

So, the recent vote on Keystone XL was not a vote on the Bill, itself, but a vote on cloture? IOW, the Bill is still “live” and could be voted on if they find one more vote?