West Wing- The Stackhouse Filibuster

Connections:

1. They talk about how Stackhouse is reading off of a recipe book while talking. This connects because when you filibuster, you can really talk about anything you want because the ultimate goal is to waste as much time as possible.
2. The episode mentions bipartisanship which is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system such as the United States, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise.
3. They use the phrase "you keep the floor as long as you can hold the floor." to describe the rules of a filibuster.
4. Oftentimes revisions must be made to the bill in order to please the person conducting the filibuster.
5. The filibuster has been a part of parliamentary strategy for over 150 years.
6. It mentions that Stackhouse stalled the voting on the bill for over 7 hours, which is the ultimate goal: killing the bill
7. The episode calls Stackhouse a parliamentarian which is a consultant who advises the presiding officer and other officers, committees, and members on matters of parliamentary procedure.
8. After the person is done with the filibuster, they can opt to yield questions from the Senate floor

Questions:

1. What is the longest filibuster in U.S. History?
2. Do you think a filibuster is a fair way in trying to get what you want?
3. Do you think the concept of a filibuster will ever make its way out of American politics?
4. What is the success rate for filibusters?
5. Are most filibusters to try and get a bill passes, or to stall it out in hope to kill it?