The Golden Age of Piracy

The Brian Lehrer Show | Mar 31, 2010

According to Wikipedia the term filibuster comes from an early 17th century word dervived from the Spanish or Portuguese labuage for pirates. "Filibusteros" or, "one who held ships hostage for ransom." At the US Senate website the following definition for a filibuster is posted: informal term for any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions. Today on the Brian Lehrer Show, we look into the history of the filibuster and we weigh its murky future on the floor of the US Senate.

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