The Democrats have decided that there's nothing much worth getting done in Washington. Like their spiritual leader, Bluto Blutarski, they're only intersted in making empty, meaningless gestures. Everyone knows what the Democrats' position on the Iraq war is -- and everyone knows there isn't a darn thing they can do about it as long as they don't have either a veto-proof majority in both houses of Congress or the presidency.

Which is why the Democrats all-nighter plan is so stupid. What does this really accomplish? You've already got the press on your side. Iraq is already the top issue on Americans' minds, so it's not as though this will really raise awareness all that much.

No, what this really is is a test for the Republicans. Just how stupid have the Republicans become if they allow this kabuki dance to proceed?

Cue David Freddoso over at National Review's "The Corner":

It can all be over in 15 minutes, unless the anti-war Republicans decide to cooperate — and why should they?

Right now, there are only 50 working Democratic Senators (Tim Johnson D, S.D. hasn't cast a vote yet this year), and there are only 49 if you don't include Joe Lieberman (who I hear isn't really up for this sleepover, whether you want to count him as a Dem or not).

You need 51 senators for a quorum, in the event that someone makes a quorum call — which any senator can make at any time. So all it takes is one Republican to stay in the chamber, object to anything the Democrats try to do, and then note the absence of a quorum. When the quorum is called, and only 50 senators are present, the Senate adjourns (or at least it can't come out of the quorum call without unanimous consent), and the whole stupid stunt is over before Senator Byrd can even begin his outraged four-hour speech.

This is an IQ test for the GOP. If they can't hold together their 49 votes on this issue, then they're completely useless.