ICYMI: Duck Dynasty wisdom from Ted Cruz

At hour 6, Cruz took an odd turn by reading his young daughters a bedtime story via the Senate floor cameras. The freshman Republican said his book of choice, Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham," was a favorite of his as a child.

At hour 8, Cruz said he has no doubt President Obama sleeps well at night because he is committed to his principles, which Cruz argued are deeply harmful.

At hour 11, Cruz noted that most senators were sleeping through his all-night filibuster-like speech on the Senate floor. "It’s a late night. I’m going to venture to say most members of the United States Senate are home in bed, asleep, while America lives the nightmare."

He also referenced the “wacko bird” comment – stemming from Arizona Sen. John McCain’s dismissal of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s filibuster about drones – from earlier this year, saying he’s a “proud wacko bird” if that means fealty to the Constitution.

Cruz also rattled off quotes from the show “Duck Dynasty.” "... Redneck rule number one – most things can be fixed with duct tape and extension cords …”

At hour 12, there was a "Jeopardy"-like exchange between Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, with both senators asking questions such as how long the Hundred Years' War lasted (116 years); what color a purple finch is (crimson); what a camel-hair brush is made out of (squirrel fur); and where a Panama Hat comes from (Ecuador). They stretched the analogy to ObamaCare, arguing it was presented as something different than it really was – i.e., a “penalty” versus a “tax.”

At hour 14, Cruz acknowledged he's had fatigue and pain but said it doesn't compare with the pain of not fighting ObamaCare.

At hour 15, Cruz took a swipe at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other senators who rejected his defunding strategy. "This is the first time since I’ve been in the Senate that I’ve seen Senate Republican leadership whipping a vote … so that Harry Reid can turn around ... and fund ObamaCare and gut the House resolution."