Ah, the filibuster... the delightful art of parliamentary obstruction, or a way of cruelly delaying a vote on a law you just happen not to like... In the United States, it’s practically a combat sport. In 1957, Strom Thurmond spoke on the Senate floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes non-stop to oppose the passage of a civil rights and suffrage law for African Americans. Despite his best efforts, the law was passed two hours after he concluded his speech.