While Mike Lee and Rand Paul were great speakers, it should be noted that Marco Rubio was outstanding. Waking up early this morning, as he was last night, giving a passionate defense of the free market. He might have stepped out of line with his amnesty bill, but at heart he is a conservative. Here are his early remarks:
To be clear, this was not technically a filibuster (though, I guess it depends on who you ask), but a lengthy floor speech. It seems that Senator Cruz knew it would be coming to an end around noon today before the day's business began, and before Cruz joined Rush Limbaugh on his show.
The Republican argument against what Senator Cruz undertook is that it makes no difference. The continuing resolution to fund the government without Obamacare wasn't going to pass, and no one wants to shut down the government in order to prevent Obamacare from being implemented.
All that might be true, but many of our elected officials have been appointed to fight this monstrosity of a law with every ounce of their being. Senator Ted Cruz did just that. We might be stuck with a terrible law that destroys jobs, is incredibly expensive (make that ridiculously expensive), puts the government between the doctor and the patient, and the American people overwhelmingly don't want, but we're not taking it lying down. That's what the likes of John McCain and Lindsey Graham don't get. No, we don't want the government shutdown, but we will not go quietly into the night on this law. We will fight, and we will be heard. We will #MakeDCListen.
Here are some of the highlights:
"I intend to speak in support of de-funding Obamacare until I am no longer able to stand, to do everything that I can to help Americans stand together and recognize this grand experiment three and a half years ago is quite simply not working."
"Millions of people are asking for accountability, truth, the truth about Obamacare is it's failing the men and women of America. It is time, quite simply, to make D.C. listen."
"Hardworking American families are struggling and their life has become harder and harder and harder. And madam president Obamacare is the biggest job killer in this country. The American people want to stop this madness and so do I."
"I would say standing here after 14 hours standing on your own feet. There is sometimes some pain sometimes some fatigue that is involved. But you know what there is far more pain involved in rolling over."
"This is the first time I've seen when Republican leadership is actively whipping the Republican conference to support Harry Reid and give him the power to enact his agenda. I'm quite confident is not what Texans expect of me.
"This fight is not about personalities. Look, most Americans could not give a flying flip about a bunch of politicians in Washington. Who cares? You know, almost all of us are in cheap suits with bad haircuts. Who cares?"
"Mr. President if the representations that so many members of this body make to the American people were true: that Obamacare is terrific, is wonderful, then I would think the President would be eager to have it kick in before the election. If it were a good thing, you would want the good stuff to happen before the election and not after the election."
"Although I am weary there is still at least strength in my legs to stand a little longer….if the majority would consent to allow me speak until the conclusion of my remarks and then begin the next legislative day and have the prayer at the conclusion of those remarks. If the majority says no, then my time will end at noon under the rules of the senate."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) summed up the effort as such:
"For lack of a better way of describing this, it has been a big waste of time."
Because he doesn't get it. And neither does most of DC.
UPDATE:
Thought this image should be included:
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