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August 02, 2008
Pelosi Turns Out The Lights But GOP Keeps Talking
Paging Mr Smith. Paging Mr. Smith. Paging Mr Smith. Paging Mr. Smith. Jimmy Stewart was a Republican, he would be smiling down from Heaven at the fight the Republicans put up agsinst the Dems about this.
House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House, turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m., and they are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.
At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on and the microphones were turned on shortly afterward.
But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one was witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.
Only about a half-dozen Republicans were on the floor when this began, but the crowd has grown to about 20, according to Patrick O'Connor.
"This is the people's House," said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."
Democratic aides were furious at the GOP stunt, and reporters were kicked out of the Speaker's Lobby, the space next to the House floor where they normally interview lawmakers.
"You're not covering this, are you?" complained one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans "morons" for staying on the floor.
Update: The Capitol Police are now trying to kick reporters out of the press gallery above the floor, meaning we can't watch the Republicans anymore. But Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is now in the gallery talking to reporters, so the cops have held off for a minute. Clearly, Democrats don't want Republicans getting any press for this episode. GOP leaders are trying to find other Republicans to rotate in for Blunt so reporters aren't kicked out.
Update 2: This message was sent out by Blunt's office:
"Although this Democrat majority just adjourned for the Democrat 5-week vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN cameras have been turned off, House Republicans are on the floor speaking to the taxpayers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican energy proposals.
"All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House floor."
Update 3: Democrats just turned out the lights again. Republicans cheered.
Update 4: Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn, and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.
Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again.
"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring. ... This is a kick."
Update 5: The scene on the floor is kind of crazy. Normally, members are not allowed to speak directly to the visitor galleries, and visitors are prohibited from cheering. But in this case, the members are walking up and down on the floor during their speeches, standing on chairs. The visitors are cheering loudly. Some members even brought in visitors, who are now sitting on the House floor in the seats normally filled by lawmakers, cheering and clapping. Very funny.
Democrats faced a choice here: Should they leave the cameras on and let Republicans rip Pelosi & Co. on C-SPAN, or should they leave the cameras off and let the Republicans have their "tantrum," as one Democratic aide characterized it, with the cameras off? So the cameras are off, but Republicans, and the crowd, are clearly enjoying the scene.
Update 6: Republicans are literally hugging each other on the House floor. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.), not normally known as a distinguished orator, just gave a rousing speech, accusing Democrats of stifling dissent. He referenced President John Quincy Adams, who returned as a House member after being defeated in his presidential reelection bid. Waving his arms and yelling, Manzullo brought the crowd (including a lot of staffers shipped in by GOP leaders to fill up the place), and he left the floor to hugs from his colleagues. You don't see that up here every day.
Update 7: Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.
He then said, "I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan" and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.
Update 8: It's over.
Right at the stroke of five Georgia Rep. Tom Price announced that House Republicans were ending their impromptu protest on the floor of the chamber, ending a five-plus hour rebellion with a round of "God Bless America."
The assembled tourists, aides and members in the chamber gave Price and his compatriots a standing ovation. They left the chamber to shouts of "USA! USA! USA!"
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Wild Thing's comment........
Leave it to the Dems to turn the lights out in DC. I called C-Span and they said the House (Pelosi) will not send the feed to them. That if they did they would have put it right back on.
"This is the people's House," said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."
I would love to give him a bigi hug. Here is his website:
http://mccotter.house.gov/HoR/MI11/Home/
Boehner’s office, they said that the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE is responsible for turning off the mics and the lights!!I
Boehner’s office: (202)225-4000
This needs to be played on every radio station in America this month.
http://johnboehner.house.gov/UploadedFiles/07-30-08AdjournmentVoteJAB.mp3
Mike Pence
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said he was “not leaving until we call this Congress back into session and vote for energy independence.....Mike was one of the organizers of the protest, said up to 40 of his fellow Republicans were prepared to keep the talk-in going. ”
“Gesturing toward the tourists still filling the visitor’s gallery above, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said: “Tell your friends the Republicans refuse to go quietly!”
http://mikepence.house.gov/blog/
Nancy Pelosi is holding this entire country HOSTAGE to her environmental marxism!!
Nancy I'm trying to save the planet email ....
http://www.speaker.gov/contact/
Pelosi phone #
202 225 0100
U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 3
Section 3. He [the President] shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States
Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee (RSC), and Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), former Chairman of RSC, today urged President Bush to call for a special session of Congress after the House adjourned without allowing a vote on comprehensive legislation to develop more American energy and help the millions of Americans currently feeling pain at the gas pump.
The text of their letter is below:
The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President,
The House of Representatives has not taken a vote since January 2007 that would expand domestic energy production. All the while, Americans are hurting. Every time they go to fill up their cars, trucks or tractors they feel the pain at the pump. High gas prices are harming the vitality of our families, the elderly, small businesses, and family farms. Each and every American is affected.
Today the Democrat controlled Congress adjourned for a five-week vacation without taking a vote on bipartisan measures that would lessen our dependence on foreign oil by allowing more domestic drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. In fact, they adjourned without even allowing time for debate on the subject of drilling.
On July 14, 2008, you took the strong action of lifting the executive order that had banned offshore drilling. In so doing, you said that allowing offshore oil drilling is “one of the most important steps we can take” to reduce the burden of high gas prices. Now, all it would take is an act of Congress for that drilling to begin.
Since Speaker Pelosi has decided not to keep the House in session to allow this vote to take place, we urge you to use the power vested in you by the Constitution to convene an immediate energy special session of Congress. Under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, you have the power ‘on extraordinary occasions’ to convene the Congress.
We believe that the energy emergency that has increased the pain felt by Americans when they purchase $4 per gallon gasoline is an extraordinary occasion. We urge you to immediately bring the Congress back into session to do its job and give the bipartisan, pro-drilling majority a vote.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
.
Republicans KNOW the country is FED UP with the attitude of Queen Pelosi and King Reid! This is going to point out IN REAL TIME just who in Congress cares and who doesn't! GOD BLESS THESE BRAVE REPUBLICAN REPS!!!
What is the cost of the Democrat "No Domestic Energy Policy?"
No domestic drilling.
No new refineries.
No new nuke plants.
No new dams for hydro-electric.
No coal.
No shale.
Deplete the SPR.
Let Iran get nukes.
Let Iraq fall to Iranian domination.
No Canadian tar sands oil.
All of that puts the U.S. in a position that war for oil or complete economic collapse will be our only choices. You can't frustrate every source of domestic energy without consequences. Our enemies will blackmail us
to the extent that we are vulnerable to blackmail.
....."Perhaps you and I have lived with this miracle too long to be properly appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction, It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again. Knowing this, it is hard to explain those who even today would question the people's capacity for self-rule. Will they answer this: if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? Using the temporary authority granted by the people, an increasing number lately have sought to control the means of production, as if this could be done without eventually controlling those who produce. Always this is explained as necessary to the people's welfare. But, "The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principle upon which it was founded" [Montesquieu]. This is as true today as it was when it was written in 1748." – Ronald Reagan, California and the Problem of Government Growth, January 5, 1967
....Thank you Mark so much for the article.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 04:55 AM
Comments
It's OBVIOU$ that $pecial intere$t group$ and environMENTAL wackos have bought the DSP - Democratic Socialist Party - and are using OIL as their weapon of choice. String 'em all up!
- Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at August 2, 2008 06:28 AM
It's amazing how the Republicans finally grew a pair now that the Democrats are in control of the House. It's too bad they didn't do this 2 years ago.
Posted by: BobF at August 2, 2008 07:27 AM
Yeah Bob and its about time. This can be a winning issue in November. This is the way to approach it too.
I was shocked when I read this on Drudge, I couldn't believe that our guys actually started to act like they were men, and were finally making a stand.
Bush could help too, by calling a special session of congress to force the vote, but who knows, but the news is out and Peonlosy is on the hot seat...hopefully she gets fried.
Posted by: Mark at August 2, 2008 07:43 AM
We finally have someone running for congress in NY's 20th congressional district that would complement Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) position on increased drilling and less dependence on foreign oil. Sandy Treadwell http://sandytreadwell.com. I am putting a post on my site about his position to lower the price of gas. It is in direct contrast to that of the current congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) who seems to be following the lead of Pelosi & Company. I am seriously considering e-mailing every environmentalist wacko author for a free copy of their books on the subject, so that I might heat my house this winter, starting with his majesty Al Gorbal warming.
Posted by: Bob at August 2, 2008 10:08 AM
Sorry folks, a noble last ditch attempt by the GOP to show their solidarity, but just where was their solidarity when they overruled William Frist's authority and sided with the Democrats over the confirmation of our SCOTUS selections? The GOP when in power fractured, preferring to take a dump on their leader by not backing him, even through undermining his authority, this has been the rule rather than the exception during the entire Clinton-Bush era by our esteemed GOP representatives. It was their actions which speak louder than words that set a precedent of being gutless and spineless before the Democrats.
We have the enemy within, each doing their own 'diplomatic tours', negotiating their own agendas with the enemy in open violation of the Logan Act and those simpering assholes in the GOP only whimper and whine in protest. Going along to get along when the entire notion of bipartisanship extends only to GOP capitulation to Democrat demands, the Democrats never give, only take. Not a damned thing has changed, Congress just said F'you to the public at large when they left this session without addressing the energy problems they have let fester.
They have put their needs above the needs of the country. I view this no different than soldiers in battle being left out to fend for themselves while their leaders head to the rear for a hot meal, showers and a beer party.
The GOP now grandstands and expect me to respect them, it's too little too frigging late for this bunch of RINO's to garner my respect. Honorable my ass!!!
Posted by: Jack at August 2, 2008 12:06 PM
Dittos to Jack's comment. Too little, too late. In a more perfect Republican world, President Bush would grow a pair and call for an immediate special session of Congress to deal with the "current" energy crisis. Harry Truman, the last president to exercise this power in 1948, knew when "enough is enough".
Congress needs to do three "critical path" things to deal with the energy crisis. They are: (1) open up all potential oil and gas sites for exploration and extraction, (2) eliminate unnecessary regulations preventing the building of new refineries, and (3) eliminate over-restrictive and obstructionist regulations that are preventing the building of new nuclear power plants.
The following bipartisan plan that some are proposing for when Congress returns in session in September is a disaster. As written, it limits drilling while opening the door to a massive Al Gorean and impractical non-petroleum based socialist big government control of the energy industry while taxing and destroying oil company activity in the United States.
Senate's Gang of 10 offers an offshore drilling plan
Compromise would open some areas to exploration
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5920512.html
Realisticly, Congress will do nothing or pass some partial bipartisan compromise that makes matters worse.
Posted by: Les at August 2, 2008 03:02 PM
All the Repub posturing sounds good, but only these conservative blogs are listening. This was a major rebellion, but what percentage of the American public was informed about it?. As the others have said, this kind of fight should have happened years ago when Repubs held the Congress.
I also do not expect Pres. Bush to call a special session of Congress which would be the right thing to do.
We lose again!
Posted by: TomR at August 2, 2008 03:27 PM
Darth, good one and the added $ are perfect. Love the quote for this too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:30 PM
BobF, yes it sure is too bad. Becuase this was awesome what they did.
This is one of those if only's for sure. Plus I hope this puts those that are rino's to shame in their districts and show people even more how important it is not to have rino's voted in over and over again.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:32 PM
Mark, I agree so much, they need to push this in this election, as it is a big issue and they can use it against the dems for not being for it. And yes Bush needs to stay strong about this and work with these Rep. that finally became real men.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:35 PM
This story got buried in today's edition of the WaPo. Doesn't that figure? The WaPo is a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party.
America is in for a really rough ride, with the mainstream media pounding away on their leftist agenda.
Posted by: Always On Watch at August 2, 2008 07:36 PM
Bob, LOL love your idea, that is great!
I am so happy for you too that you have another good person in your district. It is so hard when we keep getting icky rino's and nothing else.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:40 PM
Jack, I know what you mean. Like after the battle is lost the soldier comes in and shoots up the trees and yells we will not let you win. But it ends up to be a lot of shooting and yelling for naught. I see what you mean.
I still am surprised though in a jaw dropping way what happened. I was thinking maybe, just maybe this will wake up the giant these men can be if they would just keep this kind of thing up. The only thing stopping them from being real men is their own weakness.
I don't think Bush will come through. He spoke out and that was good, but to do more like he could do and call a special session, I just can't see him doing something that ballsie (spelling). I can see you and all the other guys on here doing that, strong men that stand tall in character, but not George Bush. sad but that is how I feel. Too many let downs.
I pray it will happen but I have my doubts.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:45 PM
Les, yes oh how I wish it would happen again. This is so important!!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:53 PM
Tom, good point and true too. I know Rush had it live on his show and kept going back to it yesterday and maybe others did too. I think Mark Levin did some things with it as well. But yes that is preaching to the choir kind of thing and yes I forgot they did cover some of it on Fox. But it isn't like this morning they are still talking about it. waaaaa
They are back on Obama and how wonderful he is (NOT).
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 07:57 PM
Always On Watch, yes, it sure was exciting yesterday, gosh I loved it and hoped it would continue on into the weekened and longer.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2008 08:00 PM
