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Gridlock And Reconciliation  Floor Speech  Location: Washington,
DC   Mr. SPECTER. On many occasions, the majority leader has
been compelled to file a cloture petition, which is well known
on this Senate floor. I don't believe it even has to be
explained to C-SPAN viewers, even though it is technical and
arcane, because it has been used so often. But in case anyone
new is watching C-SPAN2--or perhaps I should say in case anybody
is watching C-SPAN2--just a word of explanation. If a Senator
places a hold on a nomination, that is a signal for a
filibuster.  Unfortunately, we don't have filibusters. I have
been in the Senate now since being elected in 1980 and I have
been part of only one real filibuster. Had we utilized that
procedure, perhaps there would be fewer holds and fewer moves
toward filibuster. People really had to stand up here and argue,
as Senator Thurman did historically once, for some 26 hours. But
when the majority leader is compelled t