Quote :

"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. See Also: More Updates "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." » Continue reading House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking Update 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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!""

i think this is awesome, and poor nancy is commiting political suicide.

8/1/2008 6:03:00 PM

Wow. I can't wait to go to Congress.

8/1/2008 6:06:37 PM

I love it when they fight.

8/1/2008 6:11:07 PM

The Republicans were implying they were going to turn recess into a publicity stunt for a few days. The Dems should have seen it coming and brought in a pack of dogs.

HR 7046 - Releasing of the Hounds.

I don't care what tricks Republicans pull to make this a political shitshow, they're not getting back either house.

8/1/2008 7:31:57 PM

Hell, I'd love for them to have one or both if Obama is going to be president.

8/1/2008 7:38:11 PM

yet another short sighted political pander


makes for good CSPAN though (if CSPAN had electrical power to cover)



i will say i think it's awesome to see adoption of internet media by these member's offices...big big points for their press sec's

[Edited on August 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM. Reason : .]

8/1/2008 7:52:34 PM

That is hilarious.

Props to them for exploiting the situation for political gain.

8/1/2008 8:59:33 PM

Sounds like the lights and microphones should be off all of the time

8/1/2008 9:03:49 PM

RAWR RAWR RAWR

KING DOUCHEBAG HERE

I LOVE SAUSAGE BUT HATE WATCHING IT GET MADE RAWR RAWR RAWR

8/1/2008 9:06:13 PM

that is sad, truely sad

8/1/2008 9:18:59 PM

Republicans....in the dark....how appropriate.

8/1/2008 11:04:31 PM

best thing to happen on capitol hill in YEARS


it should have gone further. we had a group ready to head on up there after work until they called it off.

they had a real opportunity to make a statement... go through the weekend, order some pizzas, and make this thing a sit-in.

but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Quote :

"Republicans....in the dark....how appropriate."

Democrats... shutting off the microphones of the dissenting voices... how appropriate.

8/1/2008 11:24:59 PM

I agree, this is something I was actually happy to hear about. First things the repubs have done right in awhile.

There wont be much pub over it though.

Just goes to show you that they have more interest in getting elected than doing what is right for this country. Instead of dealing with real issues, they tell you to put air in your tires and go on vacation for 5 weeks. I guess they are scared of democracy.

8/1/2008 11:30:29 PM

Jesus. Talk about grade-school tactics.

I know everyone around here loathes the Republicans, but is there any Democrat around here proud to call Pelosi one of their own? Really?

8/1/2008 11:46:23 PM

"USA! USA! USA!"

8/2/2008 12:27:34 AM

Quote :

"is there any Democrat around here proud to call Pelosi one of their own? "

Her new book is #1250 on Amazon ..with a Bullet!

8/2/2008 1:31:26 AM

Hasnt she said she would allow the vote AFTER november? LOL

The republicans can win with thier energy plan, they need to keep hammering dems on it. She is afraid to allow a vote bc 1. if obama votes against it, it will hurt him and 2. There are enough dems up for reelection that they would probably vote for it so they can keep thier seats, she is scared it will pass.

8/2/2008 8:41:27 AM

Quote :

""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."

ok, i laughed at that mental image.

8/2/2008 9:00:12 AM

Quote :

"“Right now, our strategy on gas prices is ‘Drive small cars and wait for the wind,’ ” said a Democratic aide"

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/energy-bill-out-of-gas-2008-07-07.html

Some background on the energy "plan".


Oh, surprise, Obama changed his position on off shore drilling yesterday. Glad he came around. Although Im sure this is just another democrat empty word promise. Kinda like that sensible gas plan the dems had to lower gas prices in 06. Worked well for us.

Quote :

"In major change, Obama says he'll support offshore drilling"

"I will keep the moratorium in place and prevent oil companies from drilling off Florida’s coasts," Obama said in Florida in June.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/46174.html

[Edited on August 2, 2008 at 9:26 AM. Reason : .]

8/2/2008 9:18:22 AM

Quote :

"Democrats... shutting off the microphones of the dissenting voices... how appropriate"

You have absolutely no idea what the Republicans did from 2000-2006. Read this V

Quote :

"Last year, Sensenbrenner became apoplectic when Democrats who wanted to hold a hearing on the Patriot Act invoked a little-known rule that required him to let them have one. "Naturally, he scheduled it for something like 9 a.m. on a Friday when Congress wasn't in session, hoping that no one would show," recalls a Democratic staffer who attended the hearing. "But we got a pretty good turnout anyway." Sensenbrenner kept trying to gavel the hearing to a close, but Democrats again pointed to the rules, which said they had a certain amount of time to examine their witnesses. When they refused to stop the proceedings, the chairman did something unprecedented: He simply picked up his gavel and walked out. "He was like a kid at the playground," the staffer says. And just in case anyone missed the point, Sensenbrenner shut off the lights and cut the microphones on his way out of the room."

Quote :

"I remember one incident very clearly -- I think it was 2001," says Winslow Wheeler, who served for twenty-two years as a Republican staffer in the Senate. "I was working for [New Mexico Republican] Pete Domenici at the time. We were in a Budget Committee hearing and the Democrats were debating what the final result would be. And my boss gets up and he says, 'Why are you saying this? You're not even going to be in the room when the decisions are made.' Just said it right out in the open.""

Quote :

"In one legendary incident, Rep. Charles Rangel went searching for a secret conference being held by Thomas. When he found the room where Republicans closeted themselves, he knocked and knocked on the door, but no one answered. A House aide compares the scene to the famous "Land Shark" skit from Saturday Night Live, with everyone hiding behind the door afraid to make a sound. "Rangel was the land shark, I guess," the aide jokes. But the real punch line came when Thomas finally opened the door. "This meeting," he informed Rangel, "is only open to the coalition of the willing.""

Quote :

"To ensure that Democrats can't alter any of the last-minute changes, Republicans have overseen a monstrous increase in the number of "closed" rules -- bills that go to the floor for a vote without any possibility of amendment."

Quote :

"Of the 111 rules introduced in the first session of this Congress, only twelve were open. Of those, eleven were appropriations bills, which are traditionally open. That left just one open vote -- H. Res. 255, the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005."

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12055360/cover_story_time_to_go_inside_the_worst_congress_ever/1



[Edited on August 2, 2008 at 10:00 AM. Reason : .]

8/2/2008 9:59:15 AM

Obama's whole legislation philosophy is about compromise and what he said basically amounts to "I will nod sympathetically as you rant about offshore drilling and then put that in the bill if that's what I have to do to get something that actually works" more than "I will drill every offshore"

8/2/2008 11:27:16 AM

8/2/2008 11:40:37 AM

I haven't seen any coverage of this from the major news networks. Either way, it won't end well for the democrats. They are blocking a hugely popular measure while congress' approval rating is awful, and their rock-star poster boy is flip flopping on the same issue. I guess since "change" is his slogan, he can change his position to fit the political needs of the day.

8/2/2008 12:12:35 PM

Quote :

"I haven't seen any coverage of this from the major news networks. Either way, it won't end well for the democrats. They are blocking a hugely popular measure while congress' approval rating is awful, and their rock-star poster boy is flip flopping on the same issue. I guess since "change" is his slogan, he can change his position to fit the political needs of the day."

It's pretty ridiculous to criticize Obama for this when McCain has moved across the political spectrum not once, but twice in his career.

8/2/2008 12:16:41 PM

Quote :

"First things the repubs have done right in awhile."

8/2/2008 12:26:32 PM

Obama was strongly against drilling LAST MONTH. He knows he can make an empty promise bc Pelosi wont let anything happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX1kpq0YCjk

good video

8/2/2008 4:55:32 PM

Quote :

"It's pretty ridiculous to criticize Obama for this when McCain has moved across the political spectrum not once, but twice in his career. "

Im sorry, it was not just a month ago, but he has changed his tune within THREE DAYS.

Just A Few Days Ago, Obama Called Offshore Drilling A "Scheme." Obama: "Now the latest scheme is well, we're going to drill offshore. Now, I want to be absolutely clear to everybody about this. If I thought that I could provide you some immediate relief on gas prices by drilling off the shores of California and New Jersey, I understand how desperate folks are. I met a guy who couldn't go on a job search that lost his job, couldn't go on a job search because of the high price of gas. Just couldn't fill up his tank. I met a teacher in South Dakota who loved her job as a teacher on an Indian reservation, she had to quit because the drive was too far, it was taking up too much of her paycheck. I know how bad people are hurting. So If I thought that by drilling offshore, we could solve our problem, I'd do it." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7/30/08)


Not to mention the BS stories he states in there as an additional laugh. Like the teacher who loved her job, but gas was taking up too much of her paycheck. Now she has no paycheck, thank god she is a teacher with superior logic that she is spreading to our youth.(well used to be). I guess raising her tire pressure didnt help her that much either.

8/2/2008 5:01:16 PM

Haha you are such a cunt

He said explicitly in his statement that he still doesn't believe it will work but if people are gonna go that crazy about it then whatever let them have at it

8/2/2008 5:04:33 PM

Quote :

"He said explicitly in his statement that he still doesn't believe it will work but if people are gonna go that crazy about it then whatever let them have at it "

Now THATS leadership there.

LOL, and you called me the cunt.

8/2/2008 5:12:31 PM

Yeah man everyone who makes a compromise on anything for the sake of getting actual effective shit passed is a loser and cannot be trusted

8/2/2008 5:14:11 PM

Quote :

"compromise on anything for the sake of getting actual effective shit passed "

So now drilling will be effective? LOL

Its one thing obama is consistent on its change.

8/2/2008 5:21:27 PM

No, wind and solar will be effective

Drilling is what has to be thrown in there to get it approved by idiots who won't take no for an answer

8/2/2008 5:22:28 PM

Quote :

"Now THATS leadership there."

see this is where a lot of you right wingers fail in my opinion...a lot of you are those "damned if you do, damned if you dont" kind of cynicists

8/2/2008 5:28:21 PM

action, if wind and solar were the answers you would see more of it currently. Agree? Its just not available alternative at this time.


DNL, you missed my point. Its entirely one thing to change your opinion about something when the facts change. Shit, I used to like W before his spending spree. Like mccain said, its a different discussion when gas is 4 dollars vs. 1.50(about drilling). However, what action suggests is that now obama has said he would allow for drilling even though he doesnt think it will work bc people are going crazy about it. Thats not leadership, its being a follower.

A leader stands for what he thinks is right and tries to persuade and lead others to that cause. imo

[Edited on August 2, 2008 at 5:36 PM. Reason : .]

8/2/2008 5:36:03 PM

If he were to say "Offshore drilling is now the cornerstone of my environmental policy because that's what people want" then you might be right. But if he can't get his alternative-based energy plan passed without it, then it doesn't do any good for anybody, so he said he'd consider adding it if that's what it takes. I mean I'll concede that if there aren't any spills it probably won't hurt anything, but it's not going to solve anything either. But there's no guarantee that there won't be spills.

So the question is really whether it's worth that risk in order to get an actual good energy plan passed

One of the biggest problems is that if we do start drilling people will say "Okay we're drilling, oil crisis over" and then consumption will go way back up, thereby making us totally screwed even faster

[Edited on August 2, 2008 at 5:52 PM. Reason : .]

8/2/2008 5:47:32 PM

you do realize that the republican plan calls for alternative energy too, not just off shore drilling. But we cant vote on that either.

8/6/2008 1:23:47 PM

Quote :

"No, wind and solar will be effective Drilling is what has to be thrown in there to get it approved by idiots who won't take no for an answer "

Wait, wind and solar are effective but more drilling isn't? I'm all for wind and solar as they become more and more cost effective, and I don't think more drilling is a magic bullet by any means, but how are wind/solar "effective" and increased drilling "ineffective".

On this and other issues, you seem to have a habit of toeing the left-wing line while thinking things through just enough to sound like you know what you're talking about to the ear of the casual right-wing observer listening to Rush Limbaugh in his singlewide trailer...but not enough to actually have a well-thought out position after considering all sides as objectively as possible.

[Edited on August 6, 2008 at 1:46 PM. Reason : i mean, you're every bit as bad as treetwista or hooksaw...just more polished in your delivery]

8/6/2008 1:44:52 PM

The political reporter on the Boortz show indicated that the speaker of the house turns off the TV lights and microphones at the end of every session of congress and said this was a non-story.

8/6/2008 1:49:04 PM

^you cant be serious?

8/6/2008 1:50:10 PM

Quote :

"No, wind and solar will be effective Drilling is what has to be thrown in there to get it approved by idiots who won't take no for an answer"

let me know when someone invents a wind powered or solar powered airplane

tell me how effective wind and solar are gonna be for something like an ocean liner or an 18 wheeler

8/6/2008 1:53:37 PM

well, the idea is that if we greatly reduced oil consumption for everything else, it would reduce our demand and thus the cost of using oil in applications such as those.

8/6/2008 2:01:57 PM

^^^^^Haha, well alright then. I guess "ineffective" wasn't the right word.

I guess my point is basically that drilling won't be a magic bullet too, but a lot of people seem to think it will be. What I mean is that the amount of oil we get from drilling is like 3 or 4% of our usage, which I suppose will help some, but won't drive the price of gas down appreciably. Plus, that money could be better spent researching ways to increase wind efficiency or improve the nanotechnology that goes into solar panels. I know the common thing to say to that in TSB is "They're oil companies not alternative energy companies," but I know at least Shell and BP like to advertise their commitment to wind/solar/geothermal/biofuels and the more they act on it the better. Anyway, if they can really do it without having any spills and people know that it's not accounting for 100% of our oil supply then okay, go for it, but I don't see it as a real solution even in the short-term.

But yeah ^ is absolutely right

[Edited on August 6, 2008 at 2:22 PM. Reason : .]

8/6/2008 2:21:23 PM

Quote :

"^you cant be serious?"

Of course I am serious. I hadn't even heard of the issue when they talked about it during the 5 minutes I listened to Boortz this week. That is exactly what the reporter said and he seemed pretty sure of himself. Perhaps that is why the major media outlets haven't picked up the story? I don't give a shit either way.. This is just more jerk off fodder for the Hannitys of the world.

8/6/2008 2:46:45 PM

Everyone in the house is also allowed to to speak for 5 mins. The repubs had put in their requests to use that time, she denied them the opportunity to speak, basically silencing the majority. This is from the same bitch that had a plan to cheapen gas, and promised to rule with civility and bipartisonship. Rember that?

Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the dimly lit chamber is a “vision of the future by the Democrat Party: The lights are out, there’s no power, and the air conditioning is gonna go off soon.”

Love that quote.

[Edited on August 6, 2008 at 3:14 PM. Reason : .]

8/6/2008 3:02:11 PM

Can't we execute these fuckers and bring in a new batch?

8/6/2008 3:19:02 PM

would they be any better?

8/6/2008 3:26:40 PM

Nah, just fresher.

[Edited on August 6, 2008 at 3:37 PM. Reason : or is it "more fresh"]

8/6/2008 3:37:12 PM

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

Quote :

"Pelosi’s gambit rests on one big assumption: that Democrats will own Washington after the election and will be able to craft a sweeping energy policy that is heavy on conservation and fuel alternatives while allowing for some new oil drilling. Democrats see no need to make major concessions on energy policy with a party poised to lose seats in both chambers in just three months — even if recess-averse Republicans continue to pound away on the issue."

Pretty well sums it up there. Pelosi isn't stupid, she's just a self serving cunt.

It's running out the clock. If they can hold off with just temporary measures until the election, they they can enact their own energy policy.

Strike one for the democrats.
Yet another down for the American people.

Why do both parties have to constantly remind me why I hate them?

8/6/2008 3:39:48 PM

For the better part of a decade, Republicans completely ignored the Democratic members of both chambers of Congress. I say kudos to the Democrats for giving them a taste of their own medicine.

8/6/2008 3:42:12 PM

Quote :

"Pelosi isn't stupid, she's just a self serving cunt."

you're 1/2 right

8/6/2008 3:44:14 PM