Some insights from Senate insiders and veterans: No one wants to be one of 59 on a failed cloture vote. The Alaska senators signaled that cloture was going to lose big. Senator McConnell voted against cloture this morning, but some surmise that he asked some Republicans to join him in voting for cloture on the motion to proceed on Tuesday (and be free to vote however they chose to later) because it was important that the leader win when he takes a position on a procedural matter.

There might not be much appetite in the Senate to tackle the subject again — let the healing begin — but with everyone on record in favor of enhanced enforcement, presidential leadership could deliver some enforcement reforms.

House note: The lopsided vote against the Senate bill by House Republicans (114? to 23) overstated House GOP support. According to a leadership aide, “The President actually had half that number (12?!) in favor of his bill.” And, the president’s team wound up with only 12 Republican senators. Ouch.