The blogosphere has been abuzz today over the news that Harry Reid is prepared to force the Republicans into an “up-or-down vote on the Levin-Reed amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that will transition the mission in Iraq.” Bob Geiger reported earlier today that Reid was challenging “Republican colleagues to put up or shut up on the notion of an up-or-down vote.”

In making this move (based on my understanding of Senate rules), Reid is invoking the provisions of Rule 22 (Precedence of Motions) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which provides, at the Majority Leader’s discretion, up to 30 hours of debate if a filibuster is initiated — as the Republicans will most certainly do, knowing that Reed-Levin may very well have the 51 votes needed for passage.

Sixty votes are needed to achieve cloture (end debate) and move legislation to a full, deciding vote.

Reid will be using the provision of Rule 22 that allows for up to 30 hours of continuous debate once it’s made clear — in this case, by Republicans trying to avoid an up-or-down vote on Reed-Levin — that there is a desire to continue debating the issue.

In other words, the Majority Leader is saying “You want to debate? We’ll stay all night and debate.”

“I would like to inform the Republican leadership and all my colleagues that we have no intention of backing down,” said Reid this afternoon. “If Republicans do not allow a vote on Levin/Reed today or tomorrow, we will work straight through the night on Tuesday. The American people deserve an open and honest debate on this war, and they deserve an up or down vote on this amendment to end it.”

Reid could hold the Senate in continuous session overnight Tuesday and into midday Wednesday unless Republicans agree to a simple-majority vote on Reed-Levin.

Senate Democrats will then be prepared to take to the floor and speak all night and, if their Republican colleagues do not remain in the chamber, invoke ongoing quorum calls and other procedural maneuvers to force GOP members back to the Senate floor.

Good for Harry Reid for drawing a line in the proverbial sand, on the Senate floor, it reminded me of the day he forced the Republican-controlled Senate into an unusual closed session on November 1, 2005, using Senate Rule 21. It’s been a long time since the Senate has seen a good old fashioned filibuster. The American public might learn a thing or two if we do.

Reid’s full floor statement is available here. Dick Durbin made a plea on the Senate floor today as well, calling on the Republican obstructionism on the war. Watch the video here:

There’s discussion in the blogosphere at Left In The West, Peace Like A River, Hullabaloo, Newshoggers, The Anonymous Liberal, Open Left, and Cliff Schecter. Memeorandum has all the buzz.

Stay tuned for the showdown in the Senate…

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