The Senate just voted to end debate on the reconfirmation of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chairman. By a vote of 77-23, the motion for cloture passed, thus all but assuring a second term for Bernanke.
Depending on how you look at it, the margin is either pleasantly comfortable, given the speculation late last week that Bernanke might not get the 60 votes necessary to stop a potential filibuster. Or it's an embarrassing humiliation for both the chairman and President Obama, since it's been a long time since a sitting chair received so many nay votes while seeking reconfirmation.
UPDATE: The final "up-and-down" vote for confirmation: 70-30. Seven senators who voted to end debate declined to support Bernanke for a second term. According to Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the 30 nay votes was the most ever a Federal Reserve chairman nominee has ever received.
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