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 Filibuster vigilantly (12 Nov 2003 at 17:47)
I've always loved the bizarre antics and procedures of the congress, but this one takes the cake. Basically, they are holding an 30 hour all-night session in which there will be only two senators on the floor at any given time: One republican and one democrat. One will complain while the other listens, for 30 minutes, and then their roles will reverse. (As far as I can tell, this complaining is mere filibuster). But if the listener falls asleep or stops paying attention, then the speaker will cause, without objection, some piece of bureaucracy to move forward: The GOP will confirm the president's US Appeals Court nominees (all conservative southern judges and attorneys general), or the democrats will pass some piece of donkey-friendly legislation. Better stack up on no-doze, and may the alertest party win!

Word count: 18329
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t		 ]V[att (callisto.gac.edu) – 11.13.03 13:30:55
Aww, cute! They're having a sleepover! I hope it doesn't break out in one giant pillowfight.
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t		 Tuuur (supercow.kabel.utwente.nl) – 11.13.03 20:25:57
I don't understand this American political folklore.
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t		 Tom 7 (h-66-167-161-17.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 11.13.03 22:35:37
Who does?
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t		 Tuuur (gw-kamst.gw.utwente.nl) – 11.14.03 04:05:57
You mean even those who partake in this happening don't understand what they're doing?
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t		 Anonymous (pcp09148631pcs.union01.nj.comcast.net) – 09.06.04 10:29:07
what the hell does Filibuster vigilantly mean?
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t		 Tom 7 (h-67-100-132-16.phlapafg.dynamic.covad.net) – 09.06.04 10:56:13
Well, if you look up both words you should be able to figure it out pretty easily. It's also a phrase from the They Might Be Giants song "birdhouse in your soul."
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t		 zak (adsl-154-81-135.aby.bellsouth.net) – 11.06.04 18:43:13
although i respect that alot, Id be fired if that were my job, after killing jason off and countless screaming argonauts. I think that song is about lights and birds, it always confuses me
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t		 Anonymous (inet1.kroger.com) – 04.29.05 14:00:55
I think it is actually about a night light . . .
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t		 Tom 7 (gs82.sp.cs.cmu.edu) – 04.29.05 15:32:47
Yeah, it's pretty clearly about a night light shaped like a birdhouse.
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t		 Anonymous (pc0.wagr.wa.gov.au) – 06.14.05 05:27:49
One note spelt L I T E
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