Filibuster is a means of protest. It can be a productive way to discuss the aspects of a prospective law, to buy time for others to acquire the sentiment of the filibuster.
“A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure where debate is extended, allowing one or more members to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal. It is sometimes referred to as talking out a bill,[1] and characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body.”
Rand Paul’s points were brought up during the nomination interview process during which he asked specifically about drone policy. He didn’t hear the emphatic answer that he wanted and therefore pursued filibuster to gain attention to the issues.
This analyst is suspicious about Paul’s motivations because, like his father, he uses the office for personal aggrandizement.
Smoking gun: “Speaking to reporters afterward, Paul said he hadn’t done much preparation for what turned into a rare marathon talkfest.” Politico
Citizens need Senators to act with great precision and purpose as government has no resources to waste. If Senator Paul wants attention, write a scholarly article and publish it so we can read it. It is inconceivable that anyone wants to hear him speak for 13 hours.
“Rand Paul pulls plug on nearly 13-hour filibuster on drones
By PHILIP EWING | 3/6/13 12:33 PM EST Updated: 3/7/13 5:43 AM EST
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul staged the longest talking filibuster in recent Senate memory from Wednesday into early Thursday, railing with his colleagues for more than 12 hours against what they called the danger of drone strikes to U.S. citizens on American soil.
In seizing control of the Senate, a bloc of conservatives led by the libertarian Paul successfully pushed a potential vote to confirm President Barack Obama’s nominee to run the CIA off the day’s agenda.
Paul invokes Hitler during filibuster
Paul began speaking at 11:47 a.m. on Wednesday and finally yielded the floor at about 12:39 a.m. Thursday, having stayed inside the Senate chamber and on his feet for that entire time.
“I would try to go another 12 hours and try to break Strom Thurmond’s record, but there are some limits to filibustering and I am going to have to go take care of one of those here,” Paul said.
Immediately after he finished, Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois introduced a motion to end debate on the nomination of John Brennan to run the CIA.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Paul said he hadn’t done much preparation for what turned into a rare marathon talkfest.”
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