Mad About You

A less cheerful Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), chairman of the intelligence committee, went to the press gallery. "I thought Halloween was yesterday," he protested. "This is all trick and no treat."

It was clear something was up after lunchtime, because a dozen Democrats took their seats -- an unusual number in the typically empty chamber -- to hear Reid's 20-minute stemwinder condemning the administration. Frist, catching on to the Democrats' plan, huddled in the back with GOP senators. Sen Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) tried to derail Reid. "Would the senator yield?"

Reid ignored him and, two minutes later, sprang his Rule 21 trap. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) leapt up to second the motion. The sergeant at arms was ordered to "clear all galleries." The lights were dimmed. Reporters were told to leave. The precautions were hardly necessary because the senators, rather than discussing sensitive information as Rule 21 envisioned, spent the next two hours bickering -- and rushing outside to give impromptu news conferences before the cameras. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) alone gave three in as many hours.

"Republicans are outraged," Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) reported. "I just ate lunch, and it's upset my stomach."

Frist, after his opening tirade, yielded the microphones to colleagues -- but then returned to denounce Reid a second time. Frist excused himself, saying: "I've got to go figure out what we need to do."

Through the glass door to the chamber, Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) could be seen sitting in the presiding officer's chair, looking puzzled. Reid could be seen sharing a laugh with two colleagues.

As lawmakers raced between the chamber and Frist's office, reporters surrounded Frist chief of staff Eric Ueland. "It was a nonstop rant to build up to a political stunt!" Ueland said of Reid. As he leveled these charges, Ueland turned in a 360-degree circle so that all the journalists could hear him.

"You're spinning!" one of the reporters observed.

By sunset the deal was struck, the lights went up again in the Senate gallery, and Reid went to the cameras to declare victory. Told about Frist's "slap in the face" remark, Reid stood in silence for a long time. "It's a slap in the face to the American people that this investigation has been stymied. . . . That's the real slap in the face."

Reid launched into a tirade nearly equal to Frist's -- until Schumer discreetly tapped Reid on the back. "Do you, my colleagues, want to say anything?" Reid asked.

"You said it all," Schumer answered.