About the Rand Paul Filibuster
Roll Call lists 10 Best Moments from the Rand Paul Filibuster.
I’m not a fan of Rand Paul, but I respect him more after this filibuster than before. It was for a good cause, and one which should have gotten much more attention. Indeed, there are a number of other areas where we have handed power to the federal government ostensibly because of terrorism, but unnecessarily in my view.
But it was also a good demonstration of what the Senate, and particularly a Senate filibuster should be about … forcing actual debate. For all the good action on the floor of the House and Senate does these days our senators and representatives could stay home and debate and vote over the internet. The personal interaction seen here should again become part of our deliberative process.
I’m not a fan of the current filibuster rules. I wasn’t a fan when Republicans were in the majority either. The idea of indefinitely blocking a vote on absolutely anything without having to go to any work annoys me. But heading down to the floor for a good, old fashioned talking filibuster? That’s good stuff. It’s people who care fighting about issues that matter.
Now if they’d just discuss some justification for how many Pakistani civilians we kill using drones, I’d be almost happy. But I doubt that’s going to happen.
Senator Paul is to be commended for his actions of the other day in conducting a filibuster in opposition of a illegitimate expansion of federal executive power contrary to the COTUS. His commitment to Constitutional process is his characteristic routine. The nation would be much better off if the rest of the members of the house and senate acted with the same respect for the COTUS.
The normal manner of filibuster has changed. That is fine. Clinging to old outdated methods such as requiring that everyone sit and listen to routine motions, etc. that are irrelevant to the life of the nation rather than taking advantage of modern communication devices, etc. is equivalent to insisting that everyone ride in buggies on the interstate highway. Elected representatives are not put in office to style for the cameras. Voters put them in office to govern.
The use of filibuster as well as other means of blocking efforts to advance the agenda of an administration that is found objectionable by the voters of this nation is to be commended. It forces the administration to negotiate which is a necessary part of governing. It prevents that administration from simply “ruling.”