GOP filibuster

Republican senators blocked a vote on a bill to provide aid for small businesses, using procedural tactics to stymie President Obama's election-year agenda. Each side accused the other of playing politics.

While the extension of jobless benefits may pass at some point, there's no doubt that both parties see political gain in keeping the bill stalled. Indeed, it seems every major player in the debate has a political agenda that has all but crippled action.