In the procedure-geek world of C-SPAN, it was the equivalent of an action-packed duel. Two strong-willed members, Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), had a gloves-off moment on the House floor during a debate over the stem cell research bill the House adopted last Thursday.

And the exchange proved to be such good theater that a clip of it was shown at a Republican conference meeting yesterday.

In the floor fight, Frank had the literal high ground, though, since he was presiding over the chamber at the time.

In a move reminiscent of Democrats' tactics while they were in the minority, McHenry made several parliamentary inquiries in an effort to call attention to the GOP's message du jour: that Democrats were unfairly exempting American Samoa from separate legislation raising the minimum wage. McHenry tried asking if American Samoa was exempt from the stem cell bill. Frank dismissed the effort. "That is not a parliamentary inquiry," he sniffed.

Undaunted, McHenry kept trying, but Frank wouldn't recognize him. "So the gentleman will not recognize me for an additional parliamentary inquiry?" McHenry asked. "The chair will say, having heard several parliamentary inquiries that were not parliamentary inquiries ..." Frank began. McHenry continued to press his case, further agitating Frank.

Finally, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) stepped in, with no more luck than McHenry had. He tried raising a point of order noting that Frank himself tried similar moves way back when he was in the minority, but Frank wouldn't bite.

"Comments on the past behavior of the Speaker might be interesting, but they are not points of order," Frank concluded.