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A good old fashioned filibuster on display in the Senate

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    Sen. Rand Paul brings John Brennan's CIA nomination to a halt for hours to make a point on the Obama administration's use of drones

  • Duration 6:02
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End to filibuster John friends nomination for the CIA.

I will speak.

Until I can knows no longer speak out but I -- wanted to apply here.

If you're engaged in combat overseas.

You don't get to process.

Any -- says well the military.

At some point in time you know -- -- to repel invasions.

But I'm buying.

If that's the standard we're gonna live under we have a great danger not country it's not a monopoly questions for reflect.

Here's.

-- comments from senator -- four.

What I encountered in connection that I expressed frustration to the attorney general.

Over the fact that members of don't yield the floor of the knowledge knowledge of question -- the chair I'd I'd like to ask your reactions.

To the testimony that attorney is senator from Kansas.

Not yielding the floor like -- most Americans would find this.

-- cold season president this time -- entertain a question without you in the floor from senator from north and -- of and -- Kerry's threat to our country I would yield.

-- -- yielding the floor for another question and the surviving my last.

Question before I get to let me just say that you know all the other senators that are -- so I have no home and home.

Two months.

The legality of the authorization to target our walk in Yemen.

Mr.

President I'd like to thanks senator from Texas for coming -- the floor and cheering me up I was getting kind of tired and I appreciate.

Bringing news from the outside world -- Well he's still going with a little help from his friends sent Ted Cruz of course is still on the floor senator.

On now and center -- -- was there earlier senator likely joins us -- there good evening when senator -- party stuck expenses 11:47 AM this morning.

-- -- it's not easy to go that long but he's a fighter and he's doing everything -- -- to make his point for what is the point what does he want.

What he wants is an assurance from this administration from President Obama to the effect it.

He will not authorize any lethal drone strikes on American citizens on US soil and and is -- administration said that they know of my eight there may be or won't do what's administration's response -- -- the administration so far has been.

To give a series of somewhat ambiguous answers answers that don't get to the heart of the matter -- to be effective well we probably won't do that.

What we might not do it it doesn't seem likely that we'll do it but maybe we will under certain circumstances and that.

Has made senator Paul nervous so much so that he -- felt the need to continue this protest through this likely filibuster.

You've gotten into this to would that both feet and the -- and say you know like the word that would imminent how that's used in this -- what's probably that.

That's the way it's used in the white paper released by the Obama administration's Department of Justice which is there an explanation or justification for the program exactly they're legal explanation for how this program works.

Actually.

-- does the concept of -- it makes clear that that doesn't need to be an immediate threat.

And and that's what -- usually stands for and they tried to undo that through this memorandum did you know Rand Paul is going to lead to this filibuster.

I didn't know he's going to do it prior to today really so that this is also spontaneous -- Winfrey you at least that for me at least it was I'm not sure whether -- Rand -- -- yesterday was going to do this but I didn't if you did.

It Liz said wind a lot of Republicans now up and hit four Republicans have been down there asking questions to try to keep the -- go and they ask questions.

But this senator Wyden from the state of organ a Democrat showed up on the floor were you surprised no one.

Not at all I was not at all surprise.

As senator Ron Wyden is a -- principal and he has worked with with me in with Rand Paul on a number of occasions on issues related to the individual liberties of American citizens.

He believes strongly in these issues and so I was not a big surprise when he came to Rand Paul -- If the administration said tonight we're not -- use drones on domestic so well against Americans it ever.

Would that satisfy you can be over the dealer being he would he would end right now if the White House called with that assurance and and I'm.

Do I and I don't know -- how to interpret it but there's probably about six senators have been involved -- so far today given give -- take a few.

What it what do the other members of the US senate think about the drone program domestically against.

US citizens.

Federal you know I've always reluctant to speak for any other senators I I suspect that there are some who were really concerned could have -- remains silent.

Maybe there are others that are concerned about that at all.

You don't find -- -- -- and well.

Silence is an interesting thing not everybody wants participated in a filibuster.

In time I think we'll see a lot more senator the longer this drags on them do the more senators I think you'll see coming to Rand Paul's need.

Not just because -- this is an appealing point but also because it's and it's a point that is popular with our constituents in every state.

And also because we feel bad for Rand Paul -- to speak for that long and anywhere any time in his -- if he sits down in the US -- this is over.

That's right he can't sit down not even for a moment he can't leave the floor not even use the -- not even for a moment.

Hi -- I think the last bear -- a fighter you know what.

Who who who knows that being the record for an individual filibuster in the United States -- is 24 hours and eighteen minutes.

I wouldn't put it past Rand Paul to be able to Africa.

And I should tell you just really Britain that they have when you're speaking he was -- serve pacing back and forth because he could sit down I guess trying to get some more energy -- That's right trying to keep the energy up and trying to avoid the boredom and the monotony of standing in place for ten hours at a time.

What started 11:47 AM Maceda Rand Paul still going out of his -- probably still going he's -- some health ms.

callies.

So I think you said thank you.