Update Friday, September 29th

[Stirfry]

[ QUOTE ]
Someone explain why the AL Senator gets 30 minutes to filibuster.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's not filibustering. He's just talking, and if the others were actually done with whatever they are plotting on the sidelines, he'd finish up.

Right now, they're just "passing the baton" around so they can get on TV, get in soundbites, etc, while the others finish up conference legislation, etc.

Realize that no one in the Senate actually *listens* to the speeches from other Senators. It's why C-SPAN is usually barred from panning the Senate or House chamber when a Senator/Congressman is speaking, because the chamber is almost always empty or nearly so.

Speeches on the floor are just grandstanding, while the real work is done in the cloakrooms right off the floor or elsewhere nearby.