Rand Paul: I Thought About Using a Catheter

Ultimately decided against it, filibustering senator jokes
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 7, 2013 12:43 PM CST
Rand Paul: I Thought About Using a Catheter
This video frame grab provided by Senate Television shows Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. speaking on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 6, 2013.   (AP Photo/Senate Television)

Rand Paul's obviously not that committed to fighting the White House policy on drone strikes against Americans on US soil ... because if he was, he could have used a catheter yesterday, and could thus still be filibustering away. "I did think about it," the senator joked to Glenn Beck today after the host asked Paul, a doctor, why he didn't use one. "I've put them in before, and I really decided against it." So his filibuster ended after 13 hours, because he had to pee. (Amusingly, Paul's office confirms to the Washington Post that the catheter comment was a joke.)

Paul now holds the record for ninth-longest Senate speech, USA Today reports. The longest speech ever was Sen. Strom Thurmond's protest of the Civil Rights Act, which went on for more than a day. How did Thurmond accomplish it? Vanity Fair explains: He took steam baths for a few days in advance, so his dehydrated body would absorb more fluid, thus eliminating the need for a bathroom break. Plus, a 1957 report indicated he was able to go once, when a break was taken so the Congressional Record could be updated. (More Rand Paul stories.)

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