Ok now comes the question why.....

[Egnever]

Did Daschle make kerry Edwards and Lieberman miss the debate when he knew that he was prepared to stop it without needing them.

Or is this debate limited to a certain amount of time that will require another vote today?

It sounds as though he has more procedural violations lined up waiting. Was it really necesary for them to be there? They all voted against cloture so it apears as though they were unaware of the plan that Daschle is using here.

[sangh0]

1. I read about Daschle's plan to delay

yesterday, so I doubt that Kerry and others were in the dark. My guess is that the Dem candidates returned to emphasize the importance of this vote.

[JI7]

2. keep gop from pressuring others

they had to unify and try to get people on their side, and keep those not strongly on their side from going the other way. a lot happens behind the scenes. sadly they weren't able to get enough to stop it.

[Egnever]

3. good point

I hadnt thought about the need to do some wrangling in the background.

[Donna Zen]

4. Lieberman

is in NH campaigning today. He never was going to be at the debate and he is not in the Senate to the best of my knowledge.

Just last week Lieberman complained when Clark was going to miss a debate. Lieberman threw a fit and told the press that missing a debate for a fundraiser looked bad. Clark's fundraiser had already been moved once because the DNC had moved the date. When the DNC moved the debate a second time, it seemed for a while that the fundraiser could not be moved. (now moved)

If you are still following this crazy tale, the ending goes something like this: Lieberman is whinging again.