I just read this NY Times article, and I think this is comical, mundane, and pointless. The article is about the Patriot Act - it’s going to expire in 2005, and republicans want to extend it indefinitely while democrats want to amend it. One republican aide said:
What’s the problem with holding the bill up by discussing amendments if it won’t expire until 2005? If they have ways to “improve the bill,” why not promote them unless the democrats offer their own amendments? It’s obviously a veiled threat, but you think they could find a better veil. It just comes across as ridiculous.