UMD Libertarians

A bit long but worth reading

Pelosi and the dems won’t let off-shore drilling up for a vote even when 70%+ of Americans are demanding it. Plus, she doesn’t want to force a vote on Obama because she knows it could be political suicide for him. 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 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 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 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.

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."

The scene on the floor is kind of crazy. Normally, members are not allowed to speak directly to the visitor galleries, or visitors are prohibited from cheering. But in this case, the members are walking up and down on the floor during their speeches, standing on cheers, 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 an 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 re-election as president. 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 chaber 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 he house floor with the sign while the crowd cheered."

wow how childish, and these are supposed to be our representatives?

The dems are scared. Remember, they are the party best represented by an image of a dog chasing the car. They don’t actually want to catch the car, ’cause they wouldn’t know how to drive it anyway. They just want to keep chasing it, and convincing Americans to do the same by voting them into power. Dims have been in control for four years now, and have done jack shit in the way of hope n change.

They’re afraid that either way they vote on this drilling thing, it’ll end up looking bad for them. Let’s see if they can hold their breath till mid Nov.

Yea it clearly is. The Democrats keep shutting off the lights, cameras and are even trying to prevent reporters from making it anywhere near the Republicans who have decided to stay behind.

Everything is ok, it’s supposed to be a vacation!!!!
part 2

Dems turn out the lights but GOP won’t go home Part II

Here are the latest updates on the continuing GOP protest on the House floor:
The House adjourned about three hours ago, but GOP lawmakers, outraged that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats went home for five weeks without allowing a vote on offshore drilling, have refused to leave the floor. Even though C-Span can’t show you what’s going on (C-Span is prevented from showing what’s happening on the floor when the House is out of session), Republicans are holding an unprecedented session on the House floor. They have brought in dozens of their members, who are walking up and down the aisles making speeches. They have packed the floors and galleries with staffers. When Capitol Police tried to remove reporters from the gallery, Republicans stopped it from happening. The crowd has repeatedly broken out in chants of "Vote, vote, vote!" There’s several dozen Cub Scouts sitting on the House floor in seats normally occupied by members.
Update - A GOP staffer just informed me that post-adjournment protests by the minority party are not unprecedented. The Democrats did it back in 1995, when the Republicans were in control. Democrats placed a big photo of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) wearing a diaper in the Speaker’s chair. Republicans note they are being more respectful this time.
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who was on a place headed home, headed back to the Capitol, walking onto the floor dragging his luggage. He got a standing ovation.
Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) called it a "new Boston Tea Party!"
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said he was "not leaving until we call this Congress back into session and vote for energy independence."

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."
I don’t see how anyone can be proud of the democrat party.
I’m sure this isn’t a stunt to score cheap political points over some meaningless bullshit.

of course it is thats why its so awesome

probably not

Love how they take a vacation in the middle of an important issue at a point where their approval rating is at an all time low.

How many 5 day work weeks have they done this year?

It’s not important if you don’t agree with it.
I wonder if they are using flashlights and telling ghost stories
Good for them! Pelosi and the dems in congress right now have to go. They are lazy and don’t care about this country.

the camp fires and smores makin is gonna start soon

besides the fact that some may not agree with it, you have to admit it’s wrong to not allow a vote or come to a compromise on somethin 70% Americans are in favor of.

not neccesarily, but, in this case, yes

this is far from the first time scheduled vacations have fucked up votes or forced votes without reading bills, etc.

Doesn’t matter, it’s an election year, each side will use this as posturing to get thier guy elected and then be the saviors of the free world…I’m not saying it doesn’t suck, all of them could give two shits about the average working person, it’s not directly affecting those in congress so why wouldn’t they go on vacation?

i like that qualifier. basically "if the democrats do it, it’s wrong. if republicans do it, it’s fine."

they both fucking suck

? Are you putting words in his mouth?

I understood that to be about the issue at hand, not the parties involved.

yeah thats exactly what i meant

You’re right. The Dems are quite childish in their refusal to debate & vote the overwhelming will of the people.

Fucking Marxist trash.

Wouldn’t be surprised if if he was there if not for the fact that he would protest the way the government is being run

GOP talkathon Part III: No shirt? No tie? No problem

No shirt? No tie? No problem.

Michigan Republican Mike Rogers returned to the House floor in shorts and sandals to take his turn at the podium, as the Republican talkathon continues on the House floor, hours after the chamber formally recessed for the week.

Looking like he was ready for the links in a pair of cargo shorts and a short-sleeve shirt, Rogers said he was preparing to drive back to Michigan when he pulled a U-turn and headed back into town.

"I had gotten in my car to drive home and I realized I didn’t have enough money to pay for the first tank of gas," said Rogers.

Republican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah was also spotted on the House floor in shorts and sandals.

Rep. Kevin Brady returned to thunderous applause when it was announced he had gotten off of a plane right before takeoff in order to deliver a speech. He said the day had turned things completely upside down.

"Normally they clap when I am leaving here with my bags packed," he said with a laugh. "Not the other way around."

As of 3:30, the speeches continued, with no sign of letting up.

he is sharing a sleeping bag with canteen boy

in an unrelated news story:
Nancy Pelosi’s book has been an immense failure
I was wrong radio has picked this up and been running with it for the past hour or so…

I’d love to see her have to work at one of her companies; she blocks unionization with a vengeance in her hotels, resorts, restaurants, vinyards, and the golf course she partly owns.

Yet Organized Labor, being the sheeple they are, back her 100%.

I don’t think that oil drilling and gas prices constitute ‘meaningless bullshit’.
intresting… is there any links to pictures/videos/radio coverage
It is interesting that this isn’t on CNN’s front page….

Hmmm…. what were you telling me about CNN, that’s right! It ISN’T liberally biased.

It’s going to work, because Pelosi & Company are proving how Elitist & out-of-touch they are.

Blitzer just brought it up for a whole minute.

because you don’t know anything that wasn’t spoon-fed to you.

I’m pretty sure that the protest against the way democrats feel they can just not vote on any issue they disagree with is the more important message here. But then again I like reading between lines.
pete hoekstra’s liveblogging it on twitter

Protip: Gingrich did the same thing to the Democrats in 1995

But cry about it some more, guys
They were well-compensated for their time.

70% of Americans are fucking retarded. I’m glad they left.

It’s the traditional break time. And a month or two isn’t going to change anything with the oil drilling issue.
this allows Obama to skate by saying he’s for drilling, but without actually having to vote for/against it.

it’s all a plot!

I don’t get a break when my work isnt complete. Neither should they.

Taking 5 weeks off after only having 3-4 day work weeks is bullshit. I don’t care if it is the norm.

pretty pathetic

the seminal

citing open secrets.

Christ.

the numbers may be right, but the conclusion is absolutely retarded.
*sniff sniff*

do… do you smell that?

i don’t know, but… it… it almost smells like SOUR GRAPES!!!

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