I actually think that there were two possible outcomes. One of them involved killing the filibuster. The other was widespread unrest from all corners of the United States - the kind that that comes from all political alignments, the kind that police and untrained thugs roleplaying as peace officers are wholly unequipped to handle.

I can see how that would be unappealing to a career politician who values stability at all costs. After all, a military junta would mean that he would be out of a job with no other marketable skills. Poor guy would probably have to sell one of his properties to get by.