House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking (Drama on the hill)

[Wretched Excess]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0808/House_Dems_turn_out_out_the_light_but_GOP_keep_talking.html


read this, 5 paragraphs aint nearly enough




Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John 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 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 have been turned on as well.

But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis 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 now, according to Patrick O'Connor.



** thread name changed to by WE to conform to Breaking News Forum Rules **

[Jim]

part II


"This is the people's House," Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. "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?" complaing 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.

[Jim]

part III

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 camera's have been turned off, House Republicans are on the Floor speaking to the tax payers 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."

[TheSarge]

It's about damn time the Republicans across the river from me did something like this.

[Willow]

I hope to God the Republicans hold a press conference every 15 minutes, this is hilarious!  Go Republicans!

[Willow]

oh, btw, The Senate is still in session.

[Chris_]

"You're not covering this, are you?" complaing one senior Democratic aide.

From Instapundit:

[youtube=425,350]Z0FcNNeuf0E[/youtube]

[Splashdown]

It's about damn time the Republicans across the river from me did something like this.

I've said it before, Sarge. The congressional Republicans only show balls like this when they're in the minority. It's really frustrating.

[Rebel]

"You're not covering this, are you?" complaing one senior Democratic aide.

From Instapundit:

[youtube=425,350]Z0FcNNeuf0E[/youtube]

This wasn't today and it wasn't the House.

[Airwolf]

Now if only this would produce something.

[JohnnyReb]

JohnnyReb keeps humming, "Turn out the lights, the party's over......."

[formerlurker]

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have posted that I wish someone would tell Pelosi to just STFU.    Just add another notch to that list.

This little sophomoric demonstration of hers is just another tricky day for the pathetic Democratic party.     She may control the House, but she sure as hell doesn't control the lights or the power to the microphone.   

[Willow]

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have posted that I wish someone would tell Pelosi to just STFU.    Just add another notch to that list.

This little sophomoric demonstration of hers is just another tricky day for the pathetic Democratic party.     She may control the House, but she sure as hell doesn't control the lights or the power to the microphone.   

well drop a note into the suggestion box, while they are taping her eyes shut at night they could use a little extra for the mouth! 

[BlueStateSaint]

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have posted that I wish someone would tell Pelosi to just STFU.    Just add another notch to that list.

This little sophomoric demonstration of hers is just another tricky day for the pathetic Democratic party.     She may control the House, but she sure as hell doesn't control the lights or the power to the microphone.   

Hopefully, the Dems who go back to their home districts will get an earful from their constituents, and maybe they'll be inspired enough to amke a ruckus, but not to actually do anything . . . so the polls can shift radically against them in late October, and again on November 4th.

[Chris_]

Pelosi: "Drilling Is a Diversionary Tactic-- It's a 'Decoy' "

SPEAKER PELOSI: This is a diversionary tactic from a failed energy policy…

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But if you feel you have the better arguments why not give a straight up or down vote for drilling?

SPEAKER PELOSI: Because the misrepresentation is being made that this going to reduce the price at the pump. This is, again, a decoy, this is not a solution.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well but if you’re right, why not let it be debated out and have the vote?

SPEAKER PELOSI: We have a debate very single day on this subject. What you saw in the Congress this week was the war dance of the handmaidens of the oil companies. That’s what you saw on the Republican side of the aisle.

[youtube=425,350]kP6WRJUowMA[/youtube]

  crusty old b*tch.

[Chris_]

If McCain doesn't ride this to the Wire House with LOOOOOOONG tails for the rest of the (R) then he is, indeed, senile.

[Airwolf]

Pelosi: "Drilling Is a Diversionary Tactic-- It's a 'Decoy' "

SPEAKER PELOSI: This is a diversionary tactic from a failed energy policy…

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But if you feel you have the better arguments why not give a straight up or down vote for drilling?

SPEAKER PELOSI: Because the misrepresentation is being made that this going to reduce the price at the pump. This is, again, a decoy, this is not a solution.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well but if you’re right, why not let it be debated out and have the vote?

SPEAKER PELOSI: We have a debate very single day on this subject. What you saw in the Congress this week was the war dance of the handmaidens of the oil companies. That’s what you saw on the Republican side of the aisle.

[youtube=425,350]kP6WRJUowMA[/youtube]

  crusty old b*tch.

Its been two years Skeletor and you have produced nothing in that time span. When even George Stephenopolos is asking you why are you not allowing a vote on the issue of drilling in our own country then maybe you should actually answer the ****ing question and stop changing the subject.

Then again maybe Skeletor should keep on acting like a spoiled brat. It's only hurting the Dems by doing this. The longer she plays this out the worse it'll be for Barry in November.

[Chris_]

California Democrat Nancy Pelosi may be trying to save the planet — but the rank and file in her party increasingly are just trying to save their political hides when it comes to gas prices as Republicans apply more and more rhetorical muscle.

But what looks like intraparty tension on the surface is part of an intentional strategy in which Pelosi takes the heat on energy policy, while behind the scenes she’s encouraging vulnerable Democrats to express their independence if it helps them politically, according to Democratic aides on and off Capitol Hill.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12304.html

You heard it.  The Democrats want the country to suffer so they will benefit politically.

[Chris_]

And Boehner comes out swinging...

“My message to Democratic lawmakers is this: if you’re really for increased American energy production, then prove it by putting it in writing. Sign the discharge petitions House Republicans are circulating that will force votes on energy legislation Speaker Pelosi refuses to bring to the floor. And sign onto the American Energy Act, our ‘all of the above’ plan to increase conservation, innovation, and American energy production, instead of doing the Speaker’s bidding by voting against bringing it to a vote. If you aren’t willing to put it in writing, you’re fooling no one. You’re siding with the Speaker of the Drill-Nothing Congress and radical special interests that favor higher gas prices, at the expense of energy-strapped American families.”

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/270058.php#270058

[Airwolf]

Ohhh yeah thats going to leave a mark.LOL.

[Chris_]

Pelosi indicates openness to offshore drilling vote

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday night dropped her staunch opposition to a vote on offshore oil drilling in the House.

Republicans, reacting to high gas prices, have demanded a vote on additional oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf, where drilling is currently blocked by a moratorium. Until now, Pelosi (D-Calif.) has resisted the idea as a “hoax.” But in an interview on CNN’s Larry King Live, she indicated that she was open to a vote.

“They have this thing that says drill offshore in the protected areas,” Pelosi said. “We can do that. We can have a vote on that.”

She indicated such a vote would have to be part of a larger package that included other policies, like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which she said could bring down prices in a matter of days.

“It’s not excluded, let’s put it that way,” Pelosi said.

[NHSparky]

I saw about five minutes of that interview before I became so disgusted by her blatant LYING and King's refusal to call her on it.  How this guy ever gets the viewership he does amazes me.

[JohnnyReb]

You heard it.  The Democrats want the country to suffer so they will benefit politically.

uuuuuh....ain't that what Roosevelt and the Dem's did to America and Hoover? Gave'em a 20 year run........but back then, Al Gore hadn't invented the internet yet.