Paraphrasing Jeff Merkley on Senate floor: The Filibuster was born of racism.

[Stinky The Clown]

Taking us through US history regarding the filibuster.

Demonstrating how the early use was solely to hold black people down.

Much chatter and then he called out McConnell as the greatest abuser of the filibuster.




Again, this is a gross paraphrase and reflects more what I think I heard than what he said.

[Stallion]

1. Interesting Time to Be Watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

[raging moderate]

2. Yes, this isn't the real filibuster, anyway.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington shows the REAL filibuster. What the Republicans are calling a filibuster is really a total mockery of the original filibuster.

[Bayard]

3. I'll have to look for his speech tomorrow

Lawrence O'Donnell said it was one of the all time greats.

[madamesilverspurs]

4. Best moment

was when Merkley turned and looked right at McConnell as he leveled the accusation. Here's hoping Mitch withered a bit under that stare.


.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

5. Jeff Merkley is my Senator and he is great

He did replace one of the supposed moderate republicans.

[PoliticAverse]

6. No actually it was born in an oversight...

The loophole that permits a senator’s right to speak endlessly on the senate floor dates to Vice President Aaron Burr, who declared in 1805 that the Senate need not be burdened by too many procedural rules. Back then a process to end debate on legislation, known as the “previous question” motion, was rarely used, so upon Burr’s recommendation, the senate dropped it in 1806.

...

The first successful filibuster was recorded in 1837, when a group of Whig senators who opposed President Andrew Jackson filibustered to prevent Jackson’s allies from expunging a resolution of censure against him.

From: https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/history-of-the-filibuster