A couple of weeks ago, I chuckled when I heard that Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R) was threatening to read the entire Senate Health care bill, aloud, into the record.  I was aware of the rule that says any Senator can demand this but, frankly, never thought it would happen.  When it was announced that the bill was just over 2,000 pages long, I figured that was that.

I was disappointed.  A marathon reading is something most people never get to witness outside of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  I wanted my chance to see it.

Fortunately, Joseph Curl at the Washington Times has just run a story that brings me new hope.

According to the Times, not only is Coburn still threatening to read the entire bill, but the Senator may actually do it three times.  Senate Rule XIV (paragraph 2) actually gives him the right to turn his marathon into a triathlon, stating “Upon demand of a senator, these readings shall be on three different legislative days.”

Readings.  Plural.  Curl has done the math, and at a minute a page, it will take 34 hours to read the bill once.

Can we really be heading for an epic 102 hour Senatorial standoff?  Can I be that lucky?

Will anyone watch it all?

Maybe…..

- Robert Laurie