Rand Paul Speech Live: Filibuster Now Nearly 10 Hours Old

In what has become a true tour de énergie on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Rand Paul has been speaking for nearly 10 hours in a classic, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-style talking filibuster during what was supposed to be a painless and uneventful debate on the confirmation of John Brennan as CIA director. 

But Rand Paul had different ideas.

At 11:47 AM, Paul took the floor of the Senate and warned his colleagues that he planned to speak for "hours" to voice his concerns about the Obama administration's use of drones, particularly against American citizens, and especially those on U.S. soil. 

At issue was the response Paul received on Monday from Attorney General Eric Holder regarding Paul's question on possible targeted killings of Americans on U.S. soil: 

"It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States."

Paul has said he wants to ensure that the administration does not claim the authority to kill Americans without due process.