Fili-what?

The Filibuster:

A Filibuster is the term used for an extended debate in the Senate which has the effect of preventing a vote.
Senate rules contain no motion to force a vote. A vote occurs only once debate ends.

The term comes from the early 19th century Spanish and Portuguese pirates, "filibusteros", who held ships hostage for ransom

It is what makes the senate what it is.

Now, the Republicans are trying to outlaw the use of the filibuster saying that the Democrats are using it in an unprecedented way and disrupting the judicail system and creating a crisis. 98% of Bushes appointees have been approved or confirmed. Of all of the confirmations the Democrats used the filibuster only 10 times in the last 4 years. Orin Hatch during the Clinton admin, led the Republicans in filibustering the efforts of then president Clinton to appoint judges. During that time 35% of the appointees were denied, as opposed to the 2% denied these past four years.

Last year, Republicans held 51 seats and never mustered more than 55 votes in their attempts to end filibusters of the 10 disputed judges whose nominations reached the floor. Now they hold 55 seats, five short of the number needed to halt a filibuster. If they are unable to attract enough Democratic support to overcome a filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has warned, he may seek a rule change that would bar filibusters of judicial nominees. Democrats have vowed to bring the Senate to a standstill if he does so.


So, as if it weren't obvious enough, this is one more example of the Monkeys on the right to control the fucking entire US government that will then give them unchecked power and liscence to wreck the world!!!! Fuck it all to hell!!!!