The filibuster - basically, in the Congress of American politics, a member can stand and speak for as long as he can, until he totally loses momentum. Now, since babbling is what politicians do best, why not stand and deliver for as long as you can to delay a vote, while your cronies go shore up support for what you want? This actually happens, and is still allowed under the ruleset of the Congress. It's extortion of a person's time, in a very real sense.