Link to filibuster video: http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/
Link to article: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/rand-paul-filibusters-brennan-nomination/
Questions to Consider:
- What does this political update tell you about the roles and responsibilities of Senators?
- According to the article, why does Senator Paul oppose the nomination of Brennan?
- Using evidence from the article, identify what is noteworthy about this filibuster.
Share your answers in the comments below for extra homework/classwork credit.
1) This political update on the filibuster in the Senate shows how effective one senator can be. Mr. Paul started out alone simply expressing his strong opinion of the nomination of John Brennan to be the new CIA leader. Now he has developed a bipartisan filibuster which can really prevent John Brennan from becoming the next CIA leader. This shows the power each and every Senator has in the Senate.
ReplyDelete2) Senator Paul opposes the nomination of Brennan because of the letter he received from Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. that said they wouldn't totally rule out the use of drones if there is ever to be another extreme attack like 9/11.
3) What is noteworthy about this filibuster is the thought that if Brennan becomes the CIA leader, then drones can be use to possibly take away American lives on American soil. The article quotes Paul saying, "I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court." From this I inferred that Brennan means drones and drones are dangerous.