What Rand Paul Accomplished in a 10 Hour, 31 Minute Stand Against the Patriot Act
U.S. Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky and presidential candidate, listens during a campaign stop in Atkins, Iowa, U.S., on Saturday, April 25, 2015.
Photographer: Daniel Acker/BloombergJeb Bush was spending the evening in New Hampshire, stumping for votes in his as yet undeclared campaign. John Kasich was in New York City, working over donors for his as yet undeclared campaign. Senator Rand Paul, the presidential candidate who has pledged to smash “the Washington machine,” was on the floor of the U.S. Senate, asking the world’s greatest deliberative body to actually show up and deliberate the renewal of the Patriot Act.
For 10 hours and 31 minutes, Paul and three fellow Republicans joined seven Democrats to debate terrorism, privacy and the Bill of Rights. The Kentuckian promised not to rest "as long as my legs can stand," daring President Obama to end bulk data collection, and attempting to delay the debate on Patriot and the USA Freedom Act—the legislation that divides civil libertarians. From time to time, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden would take the floor to praise Paul and explain why the anti-terror law could not be rushed through.