It's now up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (and Democrats) to pass the
budget and debt ceiling deal that keeps the nation from defaulting on our debts next Tuesday, when we bump up against the current ceiling. He's got
some challenges from his hardliners, but mostly from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) who smells a great fundraising opportunity here for his presidential campaign.
He's got to do something to try to stay relevant in this campaign, so he started what he's calling a filibuster . . . at Fox News. Of course. And of course, like all of Paul's gab fests, this is not a filibuster. A filibuster stops a bill from proceeding. This bill will proceed, although thanks to Paul's promise to demagogue it, that won't happen until one o'clock Friday morning. It will get at least 60 votes, the votes needed for it to move on to final passage, and it will pass. Possibly in time for all the senators to be home in time to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters Saturday.
Paul isn't filibustering a deal that keeps the country from defaulting on its debts. He's campaigning for president on the premise that the debt ceiling, default, and potentially wrecking the global economy are appropriate hostages to take to get your way on . . . something. Planned Parenthood defunding? Obamacare repeal? Who knows? He's not been really clear on that, he's been too busy competing with Ted Cruz to see who could be more destructive. (Speaking of whom, he'll be there, too. Eventually.)
1:27 PM PT: Earlier this afternoon, Paul has spent about 20 minutes on the floor on this. So far he hasn't come back. So much for his grand stand.