The Sinister-sounding Rule 22

Seriously. It sounds like a launch code or something.

WASHINGTON -- Democrats forced the Republican-controlled Senate into an unusual closed session Tuesday, questioning intelligence that President Bush used in the run-up to the war in Iraq and accusing Republicans of ignoring the issue.

"They have repeatedly chosen to protect the Republican administration rather than get to the bottom of what happened and why," Democratic leader Harry Reid said.

Taken by surprise, Republicans derided the move as a political stunt.

"The United States Senate has been hijacked by the Democratic leadership," said Majority Leader Bill Frist. "They have no convictions, they have no principles, they have no ideas," the Republican leader said.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Reid demanded the Senate go into closed session. The public was ordered out of the chamber, the lights were dimmed, and the doors were closed. No vote is required in such circumstances.

Rule 22 lets Reid do this. Good for him - it's about time that Democrats brought the spotlight back to the fact that Bush lied his way to war. Of course, a better time would have been before November, 2004. But whatever. There's always mid-terms.

Maybe next, Harry Reid can tell his clones to eliminate the Jedi.