Posted by
Defend America on Friday, August 01, 2008 5:38:41 PM
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.
With the public viewing galleries shutting down for the night, Rep.
Kevin Brady has just invited everyone down to the House floor to keep
the protest going.
It has been quite the scene on the House floor this afternoon, as
GOP staff members have kept the chamber filled with an eclectic
assortment of people.
Boy Scouts, members of the German army, stray tourists and even
members in shorts and t-shirts have all been spotted on the floor at
different times.
While Democrats have privately decried the breakdown in order, Republicans defended the protest.
"You are not witnessing a revolt," said Rep. Mike Pence. "You are witnessing democracy in action."
Rep. Donald Manzullo also delivered a passionate speech, saying today was his late father's birthday.
After relating how his father, an Italian immigrant, came to live in
Illinois and own a little grocery store, Manzullo brought the crowd to
its feet with this line: "The people of this country are rising up and
saying, 'We want our country back!'"
This is great news. Even though this was not televised hopefully the fair and balanced station (Fox News) can cover this story. This protest shows that there is still some life in the GOP and that they are willing to fight for what Americans want because after all this is the people's house. The fact that Democrats tried to close the lights and microphones numerous times just shows you that they will do anything to censor free speech especially having to do with the debate on oil. What is sad is that the Democrats are going away for five weeks and drilling has not come up for a vote yet. The American people are hurting and it is because of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Hopefully the president will call Congress back into a special session to deal with America's energy crisis. If President Bush does do that it will show that he is no lame duck president. This protest is definitely a win for the GOP as long as it is reported somewhere hopefully.