Help me out. How do you filibuster? Does Kerry just say, "I filibuster". Dont we have enough votes already?
The Senate requires 60 votes to prevent a filibuster. Right now, they are not there yet.
Danged if I know. Apparently Alito already has enough votes. :)
The old fashion way. Talk, talk, talk,.......
Using the filibuster to delay debate or block legislation has a long history. The term filibuster, from a Dutch word meaning "pirate," became popular in the United States during the 1850s when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent action on a bill.
In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.