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Democrat Halts Senate for Eight Hours

By ALAN FRAM

 

WASHINGTON (AP) - It took just one angry Democrat to bog the Senate down to a slow crawl in a preview of what is likely to be a week of partisan fury.

 

The No. 2 Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, stayed on his feet and spoke for more than eight-and-one-half hours on Monday.

 

His rambling remarks covered some of President Bush's controversial judicial nominations, the weak economy and a reading of several chapters from a book Reid wrote on his tiny hometown. And they prevented the Senate from getting work done in anticipation of possible adjournment Nov. 21.

 

Mostly, Reid's marathon was sparked by anger over Republican leaders deciding that the Senate will spend 30 consecutive hours this week discussing four judgeship nominations that Democrats have blocked. Democrats say they were not consulted on the decision and that the Senate should do more serious work if lawmakers are to end this session soon.

 

 

``We cannot be taken for granted,'' Reid said. ``We cannot be thought of as nothing.''

 

 

The day began on a contentious note when Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky - his party's No. 2 leader - called remarks Reid made last week ``callow, petulant'' and ``quite unsenatorial.'' Reid had accused Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and other top Republicans of exhibiting ``amateur leadership,'' and called the planned debate on judges ``a carnival.''

 

 

Reid, who turns 64 next month, leaned on his desk at times during his prolonged speech but remained on his feet the entire time. Had he sat, he could have lost his right to the floor.

 

 

As the evening wore on, Reid held up a glass half-filled with water to explain how he was able to speak so long without leaving the Senate chamber.

 

 

``I've been pretty careful in my water intake today,'' he said.

 

 

Besides discussing issues, Reid read at length from ``Searchlight, the Camp That Didn't Fail,'' a book he wrote on Searchlight, Nev.

 

 

The back and forth underlined the partisan discord that typically mushrooms as a session of Congress draws to an end, particularly with elections looming next year.

 

 

To finish their work, lawmakers must complete nine of the 13 routine spending bills for the new budget year. Republicans would also like to finish major Medicare and energy legislation.

 

 

House leaders decided Monday to cancel all votes this week because there was little that chamber can do until those agreements are reached. But the Senate, lagging behind the House, decided to keep working.

 

 

Democrats agreed that, to speed work, the Senate could take the unusual step of scheduling votes Monday and Tuesday. Normally, lawmakers would have gone home Tuesday for Veterans' Day functions.

 

 

But then, at the insistence of conservatives, Republicans scheduled 30 hours of debate on judges, to begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

 

 

McConnell took to the Senate floor to say the GOP would not be thwarted.

 

 

``We've probably been together about as long as we ought to be this year,'' he said of a session originally scheduled to end by Oct. 3. ``But the job is going to be finished.''

 

 

Reid finally ended his remarks shortly before 10 p.m. when Frist appeared. Reid apologized to him for his ``choice of words'' in criticizing Frist's leadership.

haha, maybe he took lessons from strom thurmond.... :shifty

the good ole filibuster.....if i were a politician, I dont think I would ever run for Senator...I'd get bored to easily. House of Reps for me

Senate for me. There isn't anything more entertaining than a filibuster (though this specific example fell well short of the usual time aimed for).