[Rick Lee]

I'm not sure which debate you're referring to, but both sides do this all the time. Since few floor debates are any real debate at all, one party sometimes does this to keep the other from getting a lot of tv face time and making long-winded speeches. It's not like those floor debates ever change anyone's mind. At the most, they give the whip more time to count votes or browbeat members to voting the right way. Go sit in on a committee meeting one day, one you know is important but won't be televised. Sometimes only three senators or members show up. Then go to a controversial confirmation hearing that will be televised and they'll all be there.