The unemployment insurance bill hasn't received that much attention in the news media, even though extra jobless benefits were at stake, as Republicans slowed down the process.

What a few GOP Senators wanted was the right to offer certain amendments that weren't directly tied to the issue, which is their right in the Senate.

But Democrats did their best to use the rules to hold off Republican amendments regarding the Wall Street bailout, ACORN and more, by using a parliamentary tool known as "filling the tree."

"Filling the tree" refers to a move by the Senate Majority Leader to block amendments by filling every opportunity to offer an amendment.

Reid was able to do that, while at the same time developing an amendment that dealt with the homebuyer's tax credit - and all the while - Republicans were kept at arm's length, unable to bring up subjects that they wanted up for discussion on the floor of the Senate.

Both sides then get to point the finger of blame at each other, as Reid then used three different cloture motions to shut off debate, first on the motion to proceed to the bill, then on the main homebuyer's amendment, and finally on the bill itself.

Republicans responded by forcing Reid to use the entire 30 hours of debate that are guaranteed after the Senate moves to invoke cloture, which took days and days and days, which left the Senate floor in a holding pattern for much of the last two weeks.

This most recent example of how you can slow down work on the Senate floor is one reason why it is going to be so difficult for Democrats to get a final vote on health care reform before Christmas.

On a contentious issue, the Senate is not designed to move quickly, and we are sure to see that in coming weeks on health reform.

The most ridiculous part of course, is how both parties use the rules to squelch debate when they are in the majority and then scream about abuse of power when they're in the minority.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.