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It may not happen until late last week....there is a certain script that must be followed, and Frist has to be aware of PR as well. As I understand the sequence.. 3. Frist will start the debate, saying that he will limit it to 100 hours..50 for each side..The Dems probably will igore that statement, because they want the chance to trash her in a media spotlight.

4. After 100 hours of debate, Frist will ask for debate to end, and a vote be taken.

5. Dems will object

6.Frist will then file a motion of cloture..which has to be carried ovr 2 more days before it can be voted on.

The Dems might then decide to allow the vote..and the problem "disappears"..

Or they hold fast, and then Frist moves to change the rule...

He could bypass all precursors, and go right for the rule change first, but he won't..so, I think at best it's late next week...and he might decide to bring the Bolton nomination up in the interim... 1. Because everyone will be watching..all the media,a nd many people..if they are petty obstructionists, they will come across badly..

... there is a certain script that must be followed ...

I think there is more than one possible script.

Debate a nominee, then ask for unanimous consent to vote (DEMs cave outright on a given nominee - no rule change)
Debate a nominee, ask for the vote but have an objection, ask for a ruling from the chair (complex parliamentary maneuvering omitted for the sake of brevity)
Debate a nominee, ask for the vote, have an objection, file a cloture motion, the cloture motion passes and the nominee is voted on (no rule change)
Debate a nominee, ask for the vote, have an objection, file a cloture motion, the cloture motion fails, then ask the chair for a ruling, proceed as above

I personally object to the use of cloture, because to me it rings of concession that a supermajority approval is okay for nominees.

There may be other points of realigning the Senate rules for voting on nominees. For exapmle, Rule XXXI which I quoted to you in part, earlier.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1404176/posts?page=439#439 <--

... there is a certain script that must be followed ...

I omitted another possible script - debate the nominee, and file a cloture motion before ever seeking unanimous consent to move to the vote. The cloture motion could be filed at the same time the nomination is brought up for debate. This would bypass the opportunity for an objection at the time of asking for the vote, and substitutes in its place the mandatory vote at the conclusion of time allowed by Rule XXII, or earlier if agreed by unanimous consent.

I doubt there will be a 100 hour debate. Both Owen and Brown have been thoroughly debated already. THey are not the issue, Senate process has become the issue. Sure, there will be some time for talk so the DEMs can refresh public memory as to why they are opposed to these nominees. But that won't take more than a day and a half.