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(Image source: C-SPAN 2)
BY ZACH TOOMBS
Rand Paul’s now hours-long filibuster started with a simple pledge.
“I rise today to begin to filibuster John Brennan’s nomination for the CIA. I will
speak until I can no longer speak.” (Via CNN)
And so commenced an old-fashioned political stand meant to protest U.S. drone policy — stretching
from noon eastern time well into the night. (Via YouTube / Killalot57)
And, needless to say, there were many “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” references to
be had.
“Will the senator yield?” “No sir, I will not yield!”
(Via Columbia
Pictures)
But, oh, it occasionally got weird. Paul’s points were often poignant, but also bordered
on the bizarre.
There was his re-interpretation of “Alice in Wonderland” …
“We think, you know, Alice never fell down a rabbit hole. Of course she didn’t. She’s
not real … But there is a question, has America the beautiful turned into Alice’s
Wonderland?” (Via C-SPAN)
And taking U.S. policy on targeted killings to what he saw as its logical conclusion.
“Is objecting to your government or objecting to the policy of your government, sympathizing
to the enemy? … Are you going to drop a drone, a Hellfire missile on Jane Fonda?”
But Paul also got a little help from his friends. Though never officially yielding the floor,
the senator did pause for extended questions. Ted Cruz of Texas read off a list of Tweets
and asked Paul if he was aware of the social media buzz.
While Florida’s Marco Rubio referenced an awkward moment during his State of the Union
response.
RUBIO: “I know you’ve been here a while. Let me give you some advice – keep some
water nearby. Trust me.”
And, for those wondering if Paul had continued his filibuster — IsRandPaulStillTalking.com
had a quick answer.
Of course, for as many strange quotes came out of Paul’s filibuster, it dealt with
a pretty serious issue: the targeted killing of Americans on U.S. soil — and whether
the government has a right to carry those out.
A memo from Attorney General Eric Holder said, in extreme circumstances, it was an acceptable
use of drones. Of course, that wasn’t the statement Paul was hoping for. (Via Talking
Points Memo)
Even with John Brennan’s confirmation vote already delayed, Paul says he won’t finish
his filibuster until he hears something different from Holder or President Obama.