Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) on Thursday took a timeout from a critical four-hour debate on plans to arm and train Syrian rebels to celebrate the Baltimore Orioles, a team that just clinched the top spot in the American League's eastern division.
"I want to talk about the Orioles," she said on the Senate floor. "This is in no way to minimize the debate going on now."
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) interrupted the Senate's debate on Syria to celebrate the Baltimore Orioles. On Thursday, she wore orange to celebrate her team's first-place spot atop the American League East. Mark Wilson/Getty Images
"I just wanted to take a little bit of a breather here," she added.
Mikulski tried to create a segue from the Syria debate and the Baltimore Orioles by noting that the Senate today will pass not only the Syria bill, but a short-term funding bill that funds so many good things in America, and said it's a good time to "remember what's so great about our country."
"And of course, baseball," she said.
Mikulski predicted that "this our year," and said she was excited as the prospect of playing the Washington Nationals in the World Series. The Nationals are the best team in the National League's eastern division.
"I am hoping for this," she said. "Three cheers for the Baltimore Orioles who earned this fantastic title, and we won't stop until we have a pennant flying high off of our stadium."
Mikulski said the Orioles have excited the entire city of Baltimore, and said many of Maryland's residents are wearing the team's black and orange colors as they head to the playoffs.
After speaking for about six minutes, Mikulski allowed Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) to speak on the floor about the Senate's pending vote on whether to authorize the arming and training of moderate Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State.
While Mikulski's speech might seem out of place before a major Senate vote, there appeared to be plenty of time for it. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) started the four-hour debate in the early afternoon, after which the Senate was silent for several minutes before the first senator arrived to speak.
Debate throughout the afternoon has been punctuated by dead spots, although more senators were expected to speak before the planned vote in the early evening.
