When I was a girl I remember hearing of Senate filibusters that lasted days while senators were required to stay all night and sleep on roll-away cots.

Well Sen. Harry Reid must remember those days too, as he plans to keep the Senators awake most of Tuesday night to keep forcing votes on a pull-out from Iraq.

The Senate this week will pull its first all-night debate on the Iraq war in advance of a vote on whether to bring home combat troops by next spring, Democrats said Monday.
The rare, round-the-clock session Tuesday night through Wednesday morning is intended to bait Republicans into an exhaustive debate on the politically unpopular war, as well as punish GOP members for routinely blocking anti-war legislation.

“How many sleepless nights have our soldiers and their families had?” said Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Democrats are trying to ratchet up pressure on Republicans who have grown uneasy with the lack of progress and begun questioning President Bush’s military strategy.

Republicans shrugged off the planned marathon debate as political theater. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Republicans “welcome further debate” but that there was no reason why the Senate couldn’t vote sooner.

Democrats want to pass legislation by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., that would order combat troops to begin leaving in 120 days and complete the pullout by April 30. The legislation would allow some troops to remain behind to conduct counterterrorism, protect U.S. assets and train the Iraqis.

Republicans have insisted it take 60 votes to pass—a de facto filibuster threat because it takes as many votes to cut off debate under Senate rules.

With only three Republicans—Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Gordon Smith of Oregon—having promised to back the measure, it’s expected to fail.

Frustrated by the minority’s ability to block its anti-war proposals, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid said he planned an endless night of votes and live quorum calls to force members to the floor in advance of the Wednesday morning vote.

“We’re not going to let everybody go home and have a good night’s rest,” Reid, D-Nev., told reporters.

Republicans shrugged off the endless session as political theater.

It’s a good start, but I’d like to see a real filibuster where no one goes home until a deal is made. I can stay up all night one night standing on my head.

Just as in the last Congress the Democrats tied up all controversial legislation and judicial appointments with filibusters, the Republicans are using the only real tool the minority has in the Senate.

Just as the Republicans took the blame for being a “do-nothing” Congress due in part to the Democratic filibusters, the Democrats will take the blame this time in part due to the Republican filibusters.

The people hold the leader responsible for running a tight ship and most don’t understand why legislation can’t get passed.