Two weeks ago, Jon Stewart blasted Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for supporting Sen. Rand Paul's (R-KY) filibuster over the use of drones.
Yesterday, Senator Rand Paul embarked on a filibuster to draw attention to the issue of the executive branch's seemingly unchecked power to use drones on American soil. The libertarian Senator spoke for twelve hours, fortified only by the occasional nougat-filled government handout, and brief respites thanks to like-minded Senators who share Paul's commitment to checking executive power. Those Senators... hey, wait a minute, is that Mitch McConnell?
SEN. MITCH McCONNELL, R-KY (3/6/2013): First, let me thank him for his courage and conviction. ... The administration should answer a question. ... Does the administration take the view that a drone strike against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil would be an appropriate use of that weapon?
Simmer down, turtle man. (audience laughter)
(in turtle voice) "I don't think drone strikes should be.... Hurp."
(audience laughter)
Let me tell you something about those other Senators, Cecil. Those other Senators are recent additions to the Senate, so I don't mind them jumping into Paul's filibuster. But you don't get to jump in on the "concern the executive branch might be trampling the Constitution" train. Because if I remember correctly, during the Bush "torture, suspended habeas corpus, see if you can get the Attorney General to sign off on warrantless wiretapping while he's in a coma" years — I believe your response to that was:
Yeah.
But back to Senator Paul. It was a thoroughly entertaining display of moral fortitude. Which sadly came to an end in that traditional way all filibusters must.
SEN. RAND PAUL, R-KY (3/6/2013): I would go for another twelve hours to try to break Strom Thurmond's record, but I've discovered there are some limits to filibustering, and I'm gonna have to go take care of one of those in a few minutes here.
I can't believe this guy can't go twelve hours without masturbating! That's unbelieve.... (listens to earpiece) What's that? What? Oh, he's talking about urination. Yeah. Me too.
Video below the fold.
Jon then
talked with Aasif Mandvi and Sam Bee about possible successors for Pope.
Jason Jones then previewed a
new TV show based on the latest in accidental gun shootings.
Meanwhile, Stephen also
talked about Rand Paul's filibuster, before looking at a
bizarre video from North Korea that seems like a veiled threat to nuke the U.S.
He then talked about the reality show
The Bachelor.
Jon had on New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, and Stephen talked with president of NYU John Sexton.