But the point of order allowed Republicans to force a vote on one of the most unpopular aspects of the Democratic program.

The scorekeeping device allowed Republicans to show $18 billion less in spending than they would have otherwise.

This change - accomplished not through rules but by fiat - may allow Republicans in the Senate to get their nominees confirmed.

Most important, it has allowed Republicans to speak the language of populism.

We liberals adjusted to circumstance, and we allowed conservative Republicans to believe that we were the force for change.

The vote Thursday allowed Republicans to air their views on the issue without facing the prospect of losing the amendment fight.

That social tolerance has allowed moderate Republicans to stave off challenges from the conservatives who have gained power in much of the country.

With Democrats controlling the chamber for the first time since the war began, they did not allow Republicans to present amendments to the resolution.

They had allowed Republicans to control the language of the debate, and that had been their undoing.

Grant had supported a patronage system that allowed Republicans to infiltrate and control state governments.