Friday, August 01, 2008

"Lights? We Don't Need No Freakin' Lights!"

Exhausted from their labors, the Democrats adjourned Congress for the month of August, melting into the shadows until September.

This do-nothing Congress is a disgrace.

Congress in the dark
The Republicans were not happy. So as those in charge killed the lights and the public address system, many of them stayed in the dark after the mandarins called a halt to the proceedings and left town.

Rebellion! Politico has the news and updates as this progresses. Or at least they have the story until the Dems manage to get the police to make the press leave their usual outpost:

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 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.

[…]

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 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 bid for presidential reelection. Waving his arms and yelling, Manzullo brought the crowd (including a lot of staff 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.

Here are further updates:

Dems Turn Out the Light but GOP Won’t Go Home

No Shirt? No Tie? No Problem

Be sure to read Michelle Malkin’s take on this revolt.

At last, the Republicans show some spine. Will it do any good? I think so. Anyone who shows these people for what they are by definition have done some good.

9 comments:

MauserMedic said...

Long overdue, but I'm glad to see some Republicans with the spirit of insurredtion, even if it is Insurrection Lite.

Paul said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fortress said...

Heh, ah...it's been so long since something like this happens. S#!+ I'm surprised one of those guys didn't bring a camera in on their own and stream the whole thing to youtube wirelessly....oh wait, I doubt any of them would have the expertiese to do that, much less think of doing that.

Though you'd think they'd know at least one or two Bastard Operators from Hell that could do it for them.

Cobra said...

The demsheviks are pushing this country to the brink of civil war.

Joanne said...

Democrats control the lights....that is too funny. Just wait, if Obama gets into office, it will be lights out at 9:00 p.m. every night for all Americans - except for the rich who can buy carbon points...you know Obama, Gore, and the like - as part of Obama's energy plan.

JohnLobenstein said...

Which ROP is really the most dangerous to our country's future? The Religion Of Peace or the party of Reid Obama Pelosi.

Henrik R Clausen said...

Which ROP is really the most dangerous to our country's future?

My European-side $ 0.02:

None of them. They are all distractions from the real problem, that ordinary citizens do not stand up and participate in democracy.

We need to take back the original meaning of the word, 'Rule by the People', not 'Rule by the Elite'. The current situation isn't all that different from the Russian Oligarchy situation. Except that approval ratings of Putin and the Russian government is way higher than those of Bush and the US Congress.

But then, the US has a great constitution and extensive freedom that is largely curbed in Russia. That's something to build on, and the blogosphere is an important part of reconstructing democracy.

spackle said...

It actually makes sense. If Ms. Pelosi and her ilk get their way the senate and congress will revert back to candlelight and a loud voice to be heard. She is just a real fan of 18th century America.

It might actually be good. Can you imagine Ms. Pelosi's shrill voice at loud decibels? She would clear out the room in 2 seconds flat.

laine said...

Gee, such an un-RINO- like thing to do, to take a winning issue for the right that resonates with the public (energy costs)and speak eloquently about it in Congress. Oh yeah, the microphones are off, the press banished and the Wicked Witch of the West has left the building. Never mind. They're like kids goofing around after teacher's gone.

What a bunch of stumblebums the Republicans have been. Even if their only interest is getting themselves re-elected, they have blown every opportunity. When they act like conservatives, they get conservative votes and at least have a fighting chance. When they choose Democrat-lite, they lose votes from their base and gain none from Democrats who always vote for the real thing. This isn't brain surgery.

Black and white, Christians, atheists, pro and anti abortion factions, rich and poor, they are all impacted by energy policy which drives the nation's economy! (All the above groups except the rich who employ servants are also impacted adversely by illegal immigration, even legal Latinos).

Newt Gingrich laid out a winning platform. Why on earth didn't the Repubs adopt it? Aping the Dems got them nowhere except a 12% approval rating...