The Democrats are facing significant pressure to devise an effective strategy to oppose US President Donald Trump, all while lacking control of either congressional chamber and the absence of a clear opposition leader.
They might have discovered just what they need. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker took to the Senate floor on Monday evening in Washington to deliver a speech condemning Mr. Trump’s actions. He spoke continuously – except for the occasional inquiry from a fellow Democrat – until the following night, clocking in at 25 hours.
So, how prevalent are such speeches in the US Congress, and what purpose do they serve?
Senator Booker’s speech established a new record for the longest continuous address in the Senate, outpacing Senator Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour oration in 1957 aimed at obstructing the Civil Rights Act.
In 1957, Congress was poised to pass a civil rights bill aimed at making it more difficult for officials in southern states, particularly, to prevent Black citizens from voting.
In response, Mr. Thurmond, the South Carolina senator and staunch advocate for segregation, embarked on what had been (until now) the longest speech in Senate history to oppose the bill.
Mr. Thurmond’s speech constituted a filibuster, which is an extended discourse in the Senate intended to delay or block a vote on a piece of legislation or confirmation. However, despite his efforts, Mr. Thurmond was unable to prevent the bill’s passage.
Supporters of Senator Cory Booker rallied outside the US Capitol as he spoke on the Senate floor.
Senators resort to filibusters when they anticipate defeat, especially regarding legislation they strongly oppose. Lacking the power to halt the bill’s passage, they utilize the filibuster to highlight their dissent. The objective is to galvanize supporters and convey the message, “I stand with you, even if the vote does not go our way.”
In 2016, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, representing Connecticut where the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred, initiated a nearly 15-hour filibuster to compel Republican Senate leaders to permit votes on two gun control proposals.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz also spoke for an extensive 21 hours against Obamacare in 2013. His remarks were not strictly about health policy; he occupied his time by reading the children’s classic, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
Senator Booker’s address was not technically a filibuster; he was not occupying the floor to oppose a specific bill, as Mr. Thurmond did. Instead, he was providing his Democratic colleagues the opportunity to shape the broader discussion regarding Mr. Trump.
Senators often engage in speeches like this when they feel they are on the losing end of an issue, and Mr. Booker senses that the Democrats are currently outmatched by Mr. Trump. They have found it challenging to counter his executive actions, prompting their need to connect with the American public in some manner.
Since taking office in January, Mr. Trump has been “flooding the zone” with countless policies and executive actions, achieving significant success in doing so.
These actions span numerous areas, making it difficult for the Democrats to identify which issues to address on any given day.
Without control of the House or Senate, and lacking a unified opposition leader, there is no singular, prominent Democrat capable of consistently articulating, “This is what happened, this is the national threat, here’s why we’re opposing it, and here’s how we intend to respond.”
Mr. Trump is steering the narrative and the media landscape, while Democratic leadership has struggled to counteract it, despite grassroots frustration from Democrats and many Trump voters alike.
As Mr. Booker remarked during his address: Such moments demand creativity, imagination, and a commitment to perseverance.
There comes a point in a human story that transcends partisan lines when one stands witness to someone expressing their heartfelt convictions, leading to a sense of respect.
Mr. Booker ran for the presidency in 2020 and eventually stepped aside for Joe Biden; I anticipate we will hear much more from him in 2028 as the next presidential election approaches. He is likely to run again.
