you on with michael barone. >> caller: thank you for taking my call. i was listening to different calls and it seems the republican party -- first of all sounds -- >> we are going to leave this recorded segment of washington journal, you can watch all our programs online, c-span.org, now to live coverage of the u.s. senate. tates are district judge for the western district of kentucky. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is it, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of justin reed walker of kentucky to be united states district judge for the western district of kentucky shall be brought to a close? the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule.

host: our guest is michael barone.e is a former washington post editorial staff writer. he is the co-author of the almanac of american politics and currently a senior fellow at the american enterprise institute. his work is available online. you, not know this about you have traveled to all 50 435 congressional districts? guest: i perhaps rank with the c-span bus and getting around the country. when i started writing this almanac on american politics, i was the lead co-author and it occurred to me that i had not ever set foot in most congressional districts. i set about in my travels to make sure that i did and eventually when i landed at pitt stevens airport in alaska in february 1998, that was my 50th state and 435th congressional district. i have kept up with redistricting so that when they change the boundaries, i make sure i have been to all of the district once again. host: our guest is michael barone. before we get to your calls i want to get to your reaction to this editorial in terms of where it leaves senate

"the washington post" quoted what can be called the michael barone rule on process arguments.ess arguments are insincere, including this one. as democrats build their case even in the face of republican obstruction, what becomes of the gop defense? they sure are having a tough time making the agent that what trump did is a-okay. joining me to talk about that is associate professor of political science at fordham university. by the speaker saying she won't go ahead and take a vote, a lot of people are like why not? you've got the votes. about 225 people on the record saying, yes, impeachment inquiry. but i put it to you not taking a vote means she doesn't have to make her conservative members walk the plank but they still get the same exact effect. they're having people come forward and listen to their subpoenas. do they even need to take a vote? >> i don't think they need to take a vote on this inquiry. in the rules, that's not the case. the house has a rules committee where they come up with these things. there is nothing that says the democrats or republicans actually have t

you on with michael barone. >> caller: thank you for taking my call. i was listening to different calls and it seems the republican party -- first of all sounds -- >> we are going to leave this recorded segment of washington journal, you can watch all our programs online, c-span.org, now to live coverage of the u.s. senate. tates are district judge for the western district of kentucky. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is it, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of justin reed walker of kentucky to be united states district judge for the western district of kentucky shall be brought to a close? the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: vote: the presiding officer: are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote? seeing none, the ayes are 50, the nays are 39, and the motion is agreed to. a senator: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cornyn: madam presid