Anyway the whole point of this exercise is to make the minority back up their threats of endless debate. Instead of threatening filibuster they are going to have to actually filibuster, which is a substantial difference. And when the votes for cloture come around, the self-styled waverers of the minority party, who are claiming in television interviews that they oppose Bush's policies in Iraq, will need to finally put their vote where their mouths are. If they truly oppose Bush's policies then they will have to vote for cloture and allow the full body to vote on the measures.

It has been slightly ridiculous that the majority has allowed certain members of the minority to distance themselves from Bush without forcing them to actually put it in writing.

I’m not sure what you mean by this. The overnight session won’t force a vote on the amendments. They just need to continue the debate or show a lack of a quorum. No different from any other day session. Also the Republicans won’t be force into limited speech since there will unlikely be a agreement between the minority and majority parties as is the case in most sessions.

Hopefully the Republicans will use this opportunity to bash the Dems on Senate floor.