Did a filibuster happen if no one being opposed had to bat an eyelid?

Let’s give Senator Booker, and his helpers, an A+ for effort. Hell, let’s give him an A for content (I’m making it easy for myself, a deeper critique of Democratic messaging, even when I agree with their ostensible message, is exhausting.) But, do we give him a passing grade for timing?

Filibusters of the old fashioned floor-holding variety are effective in certain contexts:

1. To put something meaningful into the public record otherwise being censored (The Pentagon Papers).
2. Running out the clock, preventing something from happening against an immutable deadline.
3. As a knock-down drag-out every-last-iota demonstration of resistance and delay, after all other methods have also been exhausted short of an actual vote, to something inevitable that one is opposed to — causing inconvenience and trouble for those insisting on making it happen.

Senator Booker made a lot of John Lewis’s call to “good trouble,” and put his own effort in that light last night. What trouble is he causing?

What scheduled business of note is being filibustered? Not a lot happens on the Senate floor most Mondays. What happens on Tuesdays doesn’t usually start until much later in the afternoon or evening even.

I feel like a lot of wheels have been spinning and energy spent while Republicans had dinner, went to sleep, are having breakfast meetings, and generally do not have to care.

Did a filibuster happen if no one being opposed had to bat an eyelid?

I guess if it continues meaningfully into this afternoon or even evening, then yes. Maybe the Democrats have something up their sleeve.

Updates: 1 April 2025 1029hrs: Senator Mark Warner suggests Booker will indeed continue for hours. I should add, I have clamored for meaningful full-throated filibusters in opposition to discriminatory, inhuman, fascist policies repeatedly. It seems that usually when they might actually land, punches are pulled. I am both appreciating the energy and content and puzzled about the efficacy of this effort; 1201hrs: He’s still going, with a little respite for a rule-imposed break for a prayer. A++ for effort, for sure. And maybe we’re getting into the space where something gets disrupted; 1337hrs: Alright. This is seriously sustained. I am happy to have my cynical turn be pierced. There may be some hope for the Senate Democrats, if only from the psychic benefits of having done this and been cheered on; 1914hrs: I’ll happily reaffirm my wrongness.

3 April 2025 21:39: Yeah, no, I wasn’t all wrong. Let’s do a 25 hour stunt and then make zero fuss over the majority confirming a con-man to run Medicare.