Who holds the record for the longest filibuster? This is a gem.

[expatriot]

I know this has probably been stated and restated here in the past few days/weeks but it is so beautiful it bears repeating:

"The record for the longest individual speech goes to South Carolina's J. Strom Thurmond who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957."

-History of the US Senate: Filibuster and Cloture.

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.htm

[enigma000]

1. What party did Thurmond belong to then? n/t

[hughee99]

8. Another interesting fact...

at the time it was Sen. Strom Thurmond (Democrat - SC)

[Solly Mack]

2. Mr. "Turn the page" - Strom would read even that part of his

script during a filibuster - even when just giving a speech. He'd read down to the bottom of the page - get to "turn the page" and then read even that.

[Mistwell]

9. Ha!

That's pretty funny.

I have always heard about someone reading names from the phone book, I wonder if that was him as well.

[Chimichurri]

3. what a pig! Nice legacy he has there.

[onenote]

4. one of the reasons that I have mixed feelings about the filibuster

Its history isn't pretty. It was used to block civil rights and election reform legislation for years and years. Still hoping that Alito can be blocked, but not without qualms about the reaction a filibuter might get from the general public that doesn't pay very close attention to things. The hoped-for reaction is that they start to pay attention and help swing the tide against Alito. I fear that an equally likely reaction is that folks who don't pay close attention to Senate rules, etc. will wonder why it is that a minority can block a majority.

onenote

[Little Star]

5. Trust me

Those people don't pay attention to anything (I know some just like you describe). Sometimes "we" over think things. We need to do what is right and stop thinking of reasons to give up imho. :shrug:

[Sparkman]

6. The BLACK MINORITY blocked the majority, by protesting their slavery!

that's right, when all the WHITE landowners and their STUPID white trash KKK lynch mob minions were advocating slavery and 2nd class citizenship and HANGING innocent black men and women without cause, BLACK men and women who were in the extreme minority rioted and protested and refused house negro priviliges. Who was right then, and who is right now? "Speak truth to power, at any cost."

[Sparkman]

7. Dr. King"We begin to die the day we remain silent about things that matter

Don't you get it?! Democrats may be considering POLITICAl EXPEDIENCE, but liberals must speak the truth to be the voice for the powerless and to protest the ABUSES of the majority, the wealthy, and the comfortable. That's more important that avoiding the tough fight.