Post by sometimeman on Aug 1, 2008 16:27:57 GMT -4
THIS IS YOUR GOVERNMENT!!!
August 01, 2008
Categories: Leadership
House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking
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.
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 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
* McCain's camp suffers from a paper gap
* Race issue moves to center of campaign
"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."
ยป 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 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.
See Also: More Updates
* GOP talkathon Part II: Dems turn out the lights but GOP won't go home
* GOP talkathon Part III: No shirt? no tie? No problem
By John Bresnahan 03:40 PM
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I appreciate you guys covering this. Does the Majority party have some type of control over when C-SPAN can broadcast floor coverage or is there a C-SPAN policy that shuts the cameras off any time the House is officially adjourned?
Posted By: Josh | August 01, 2008 at 12:40 PM
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And is there any wonder why Congress's approval rating is in the teens (and no, it's not in single digits (not yet anyway)). Both parties are to blame. They should both cut out this grandstanding and do the people's work.
Posted By: Brian from Va | August 01, 2008 at 12:50 PM
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Great move...
Posted By: LogicalSolutions | August 01, 2008 at 12:51 PM
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Congratulations. You guys are the only ones covering this on the Internet, far as I can tell. You've even scooped Drudge. Wish Rush would pick up on this today.
Posted By: George | August 01, 2008 at 12:52 PM
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I just emailed George W. asking him to please call Congress off of their vacation and back to the floor for a vote to resolve this issue that they keep putting off for purely political reasons. I also emaled Nancy Pelosi to criticize her for her lack of leadership and I hope all of you will do the same. Her behavior is traitorous. She has the position as Speaker to help resolve these types of issues in America as well as our Democratically elected leaders in Congress, they are not there to try to dictate how Americans need to live their lives. If Pelosi wants to "save the planet" thats great but she shouldn't let her own ideals cloud the wil of the people. When the majority of Americans want us to start drilling now then Congress, even Pelosi, should consider this above their own ideals. Instead Pelosi would rather wave her arm to struggling Americans and say, "let them eat cake". What a discrace she has turned out to be. No wonder Congress has a lower approval rating than the President.
Posted By: Rob | August 01, 2008 at 12:53 PM
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Pelosi is protecting Obama . Pelosi is holding off Obama's NO VOTE until after the NOV election . Obama voting against the " will of the voters " will kill his bid .
Posted By: RaZoR VP ROMNEY | August 01, 2008 at 12:54 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
Pelosi does not care,her net worth is $25mil. She does not care about us middle class Dem's change my vote to the republicans.
Posted By: disappointed dem | August 01, 2008 at 12:56 PM
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Maybe Obama is the OLD MAN in the race. Here you go:..."(St. Petersburg, Fla.) Today is Obama's third day back on the campaign trail after his foreign trip and the Illinois senator is showing signs of fatigue. Last night at a fundraiser in Houston, he appeared to mistake his former opponent and current ally, Hillary Clinton, for the controversial pop icon, Britney Spears. "Now we?ve got ads about Britney and Paris," Obama said referencing McCain's new ad comparing his opponent to the young celebrities, Spears and Hilton. "At a time when we?ve got bigger challenges than any time in our history and you?re running ads with Hillary and er ? with Britney and ah Paris in it. I mean come on. The American people deserve better." Whoops, sorry Hil. Earlier Thursday, as Obama prepared to address an AFSCME convention via satellite, the Illinois senator was caught closing his eyes several times before his San Francisco audience tuned in.
Posted By: perception50 | August 01, 2008 at 12:57 PM
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"But C-SPAN 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. "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. Just wow. Not only is Pelosi preventing any vote on drilling, her party is desperately trying to make sure the Republicans who are trying to address this issue are kept in a secret box in the dark with no one hearing about their efforts! This woman is so increadibly selfish and scary!
August 01, 2008
Categories: Leadership
House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking
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.
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 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
* McCain's camp suffers from a paper gap
* Race issue moves to center of campaign
"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."
ยป 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 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.
See Also: More Updates
* GOP talkathon Part II: Dems turn out the lights but GOP won't go home
* GOP talkathon Part III: No shirt? no tie? No problem
By John Bresnahan 03:40 PM
comments (917) | post comment | permalink
Digg This! digg this Shown on del.icio.us del.icio.us I've Reddit reddit Add to My Yahoo! Bookmarks Yahoo! Add To Your Facebook Facebook
Add To Google Bookmarks Google See Whos Talking About This on Technorati Technorati more:
Please leave your comments below.
name:
IP Address: Recorded on submit
comments
Comments
I appreciate you guys covering this. Does the Majority party have some type of control over when C-SPAN can broadcast floor coverage or is there a C-SPAN policy that shuts the cameras off any time the House is officially adjourned?
Posted By: Josh | August 01, 2008 at 12:40 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
And is there any wonder why Congress's approval rating is in the teens (and no, it's not in single digits (not yet anyway)). Both parties are to blame. They should both cut out this grandstanding and do the people's work.
Posted By: Brian from Va | August 01, 2008 at 12:50 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
Great move...
Posted By: LogicalSolutions | August 01, 2008 at 12:51 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
Congratulations. You guys are the only ones covering this on the Internet, far as I can tell. You've even scooped Drudge. Wish Rush would pick up on this today.
Posted By: George | August 01, 2008 at 12:52 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
I just emailed George W. asking him to please call Congress off of their vacation and back to the floor for a vote to resolve this issue that they keep putting off for purely political reasons. I also emaled Nancy Pelosi to criticize her for her lack of leadership and I hope all of you will do the same. Her behavior is traitorous. She has the position as Speaker to help resolve these types of issues in America as well as our Democratically elected leaders in Congress, they are not there to try to dictate how Americans need to live their lives. If Pelosi wants to "save the planet" thats great but she shouldn't let her own ideals cloud the wil of the people. When the majority of Americans want us to start drilling now then Congress, even Pelosi, should consider this above their own ideals. Instead Pelosi would rather wave her arm to struggling Americans and say, "let them eat cake". What a discrace she has turned out to be. No wonder Congress has a lower approval rating than the President.
Posted By: Rob | August 01, 2008 at 12:53 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
Pelosi is protecting Obama . Pelosi is holding off Obama's NO VOTE until after the NOV election . Obama voting against the " will of the voters " will kill his bid .
Posted By: RaZoR VP ROMNEY | August 01, 2008 at 12:54 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
Pelosi does not care,her net worth is $25mil. She does not care about us middle class Dem's change my vote to the republicans.
Posted By: disappointed dem | August 01, 2008 at 12:56 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
Maybe Obama is the OLD MAN in the race. Here you go:..."(St. Petersburg, Fla.) Today is Obama's third day back on the campaign trail after his foreign trip and the Illinois senator is showing signs of fatigue. Last night at a fundraiser in Houston, he appeared to mistake his former opponent and current ally, Hillary Clinton, for the controversial pop icon, Britney Spears. "Now we?ve got ads about Britney and Paris," Obama said referencing McCain's new ad comparing his opponent to the young celebrities, Spears and Hilton. "At a time when we?ve got bigger challenges than any time in our history and you?re running ads with Hillary and er ? with Britney and ah Paris in it. I mean come on. The American people deserve better." Whoops, sorry Hil. Earlier Thursday, as Obama prepared to address an AFSCME convention via satellite, the Illinois senator was caught closing his eyes several times before his San Francisco audience tuned in.
Posted By: perception50 | August 01, 2008 at 12:57 PM
abuse iconREPORT ABUSE
"But C-SPAN 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. "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. Just wow. Not only is Pelosi preventing any vote on drilling, her party is desperately trying to make sure the Republicans who are trying to address this issue are kept in a secret box in the dark with no one hearing about their efforts! This woman is so increadibly selfish and scary!