"Following the election, Lieberman struck a deal with Democratic leadership allowing him to keep his seniority and chairmanship of the Governmental Affairs Committee. In return, he agreed to vote with the Democrats on all procedural matters unless he asked permission of Majority Whip Richard Durbin."

(from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lieberman )

1)Aren't cloture motions "procedural matters"?

2)Did he ask permission from Durbin to refuse to back the party on THIS procedural matter?

3)Would Durbin actually have been clueless enough to give Joe permission?