Floor revolt: No vacation for House Republicans; GOP calls for special session on gas prices; Pence: “Prepared to stay here as long as we can;” Update: Pelosi crackdown?!; “God Bless America”
Scroll for updates…4:05pm Eastern…Pelosi moving to crackdown?!…2:00pm Eastern. 40 GOP congressmen come to the floor. Pence: “We’re prepared to stay here as long as we can”…Live Twitter updates from Rep. John Culberson! “Min Whip Blunt speaking now describing our bill to drill here drill now to get us through the next 10 to 15 years till we can get new tech…12 minutes ago from TwitterBerry…We are speaking without microphones – as though it were 1908 – acoustics of House chamber are good and gallery and you can hear us…Video here…Session ends to the tune of “God Bless America…”
Just got this heads up from a Hill staffer. The Democrats may have gone on vacation, but House Republicans are on the floor today, working on behalf of taxpayers to push energy proposals forward. Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, is busy hawking her miserably performing book–currently ,1726 on Amazon.com:
From: Stipicevic, John
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 11:39 AM
Subject: WHIP FLOOR UPDATEAlthough, 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 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: From the Republican Study Committee, a call for President Bush to convene a special session on gas prices.
Just do it!
Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee (RSC), and Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), former Chairman of RSC, today urged President Bush to call for a special session of Congress after the House adjourned without allowing a vote on comprehensive legislation to develop more American energy and help the millions of Americans currently feeling pain at the gas pump.
The text of their letter is below:
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President,
The House of Representatives has not taken a vote since January 2007 that would expand domestic energy production. All the while, Americans are hurting. Every time they go to fill up their cars, trucks or tractors they feel the pain at the pump. High gas prices are harming the vitality of our families, the elderly, small businesses, and family farms. Each and every American is affected.
Today the Democrat controlled Congress adjourned for a five-week vacation without taking a vote on bipartisan measures that would lessen our dependence on foreign oil by allowing more domestic drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. In fact, they adjourned without even allowing time for debate on the subject of drilling.
On July 14, 2008, you took the strong action of lifting the executive order that had banned offshore drilling. In so doing, you said that allowing offshore oil drilling is “one of the most important steps we can take” to reduce the burden of high gas prices. Now, all it would take is an act of Congress for that drilling to begin.
Since Speaker Pelosi has decided not to keep the House in session to allow this vote to take place, we urge you to use the power vested in you by the Constitution to convene an immediate energy special session of Congress. Under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, you have the power ‘on extraordinary occasions’ to convene the Congress.
We believe that the energy emergency that has increased the pain felt by Americans when they purchase $4 per gallon gasoline is an extraordinary occasion. We urge you to immediately bring the Congress back into session to do its job and give the bipartisan, pro-drilling majority a vote.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Update. 2:00pm Eastern From GOP House leader John Boehner’s office…
In a dramatic revolt against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) refusal to allow Congress to vote on legislation to increase American-made energy and lower gas prices, House Republicans today refused to leave the House floor after Speaker Pelosi adjourned the House for the five-week August break, staying in the chamber to speak directly to Americans watching the historic event unfold above the floor in the House gallery. Even after lights, cameras, and microphones in the chamber were turned off, House Republicans were undeterred, continuing to make speech after speech demanding that Speaker Pelosi listen to the calls of the American people – including those coming from whistling, applauding, and cheering Americans sitting in the gallery – for more environmentally-responsible drilling for oil and gas here at home to reduce the price at the pump. Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) defied the Democratic majority by providing live updates on the protest via Twitter directly from the House floor.
Members participating in the spontaneous uprising included Reps. Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Michael Burgess, John Campbell, Eric Cantor, Shelly Moore Capito, John Carter, Mike Conaway, John Culberson, Charlie Dent, Jeff Fortenberry, Virginia Foxx, Louie Gohmert, Pete Hoekstra, Duncan Hunter, Thaddeus McCotter, Mike Pence, Tom Price, Ted Poe, Adam Putnam, Bill Sali, John Shadegg, John Shimkus, Tim Walberg, and Lynn Westmoreland.
The protest came just minutes after House Republican leaders delivered a letter to Speaker Pelosi demanding that she call the House back into emergency session this month to deal with America’s ever-worsening energy crisis.
Leadership. Finally.
***
Maybe the Republicans should bring in cots a la Dingy Harry Reid. Jim Hoft says bring ‘em candles. I love it.
More: Pizza call!
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Trackbacks
- Democrats Vacation While Republicans Continue Work on Energy Bill | Skeptics Global Warming
- Suitably Flip
- Wow, If They Keep This Up… « Mountain Shout
- GOP Calls For President To Convene Congress
- The Wizard, fkap: Floor Revolt
- Babalu Blog
- House Republicans Want a Vote! « Axis of Right
- The Republicans are Staging a Revolt on the U.S. House Floor
- Awesome! Republicans Revolt on House Floor Over Drilling for Oil : Stop The ACLU
- Wake up America-GO GOP!!!!!
- Michelle Malkin » GOP revival: Twittering the House revolt; Hoekstra: “Our voices can’t be shut down”
- GOP Smiths go to Washington - UPDATING | The Anchoress
- Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues : Stop The ACLU
- Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues | McCain Blogs
- Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues » Pirate’s Cove — Give No Quarter!
- Revolt On The Hill: Republicans Refusing To Leave House Chamber, Members In Shorts And Sandals | THE HOT JOINTS
- Breaking News: Democrats Leave Town For August Recess — Republicans Refuse To Go Because of OIL CRISIS « Obama Goes To Washington Weblog
- DemsAdjourn, turns off the lights, sound, kicks press out, GOP Stay « POLITISITE: Politics from the RIGHT Side of the WEB
- A reminder that we need solid conservatives in the House « Down the Ticket
- Friday Afternoon Silly Season Theater « The Political Inquirer
- House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking! - Republican Discussion Forums
- Why These Republicans Deserve Your Support
- Call for a Special Session « Memoirs From a Young Conservative
- GOP Called It Quits Too Soon | Democrat=Socialist
- Democrats Begin Vacation, Ignore Drilling « The Sisyphus Files
- House Republicans revolt « Try 2 Focus
- Rhymes With Right
- We cannot be silenced! | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts
- Follow the #dontgo « Blogs for McCain
- PAXALLES
- Republicans Filibuster on Behalf of Americans, Dems go on Vacation(Updates) « The Foxhole
- Democrats Go On 5 Week Vacation. Republicans Refuse To Vacate Untill Energy Vote.
- Right Wing Nation » Blog Archive » GOP Working
- The Dan Lee Report » Blog Archive » Obama says “That’s not the Barry Obama I knew” on Offshore drilling? Flip!
- Michelle Malkin » Rock the House: What should Republicans do now?
- Democrats Go On 5 Week Vacation. Republicans Refuse To Vacate Untill Energy Vote. - Page 14
- The Birthplace of the Process of Illogical Logic
- Republican Uprising « Practically Creative - Weblog of Michael Dozark
- Welcome to the Dark Side « Obi’s Sister
- Republicans stand up… when it doesn’t count! « Cowardly political musings…
- Michelle Malkin » Today was a good day for conservatism
- Don Surber » Blog Archive » Republican sit in
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Categories: 2008 campaign, GOP, Nancy Pelosi
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agreed.
i know in south dakota(?), the people there are pushing for a new refinery, but there’s alot of pushback from environmental groups and their friends to prevent construction.
I know we have the ability to build these in an environmentally friendly way, and building more facilities injects more money into the local economy, creates jobs, and generates revenue for the county and state. Seems like a win for everyone, but yet people dont want it done. Sad.
I have been channel surfing, I did not find a single word either.
WAIT, fox id mentioning it right now, no detail so far
Fox reported ‘they’ will be back. Maybe Sept.
Sure the Clean Air Act of 1990 has made it more costly to build new refineries. But they can still obviously affored it, but why would they want to? Why would they want to increase supply and deflate the prices. They seem to be doing quite fine these days without them.
Fox ended coverage went to new subject.
very shallow and limited coverage of congress.
I see the same old tired arguments on the board by the libs. Well, we don’t have refineries, well it will take too long to develop the oil, well we just can’t do it –whine, whine, whine.
Drilling will bring good paying jobs–to America and Americans. Building new refineries will bring good paying jobs–to this country. Nuclear will create good paying jobs. Extracting coal and the continued development of clean coal technology will bring good paying jobs to America. Collectively a good sound policy will bring us energy independence and maybe we won’t have to send $700 Billion American dollars overseas to those that really don’t like us.
And for the libs that say it will take 10 years, [this is one of their preferred numbers] to build nuclear,drill for oil, refineries to come on line, I say get government out of the way, fast track these industries and as Americans we will get it done in short order. Government is the problem and has been for 30 years.
They DO want to they have spent millions in courts trying to, The left will not allow them to expand capicity in any area of energy.
democrats find it hard to address anything of substance, and at the end of the day they do what they do best, go home.
Some how a group of REA’s were able to get a new super clean coal plant built in ND. There is only 2 sources of this coal known to exist. One is in south south america and one is in WY.
Clinton turned the WY source into a nationl park so we lost our source of super clean burning coal.
I do not know what the plant did to deal with this, but it is running.
Alternative energy powered CFLs. None available – huh?
Because every single time a company even mentions their intentions of building a new facility, the envirowhackos file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit to stop it in its tracks. That’s why.
Peaceful coexistence – burn the coal from the national park, and the occasional roasted elk is lunch for the workers.
Unfortunately, this act is just symbolism over substance. Great theatrics for what? There will be no media coverage. I will say it was thoughtful of the hand full of right of center republicans to try to do something.
Bush should let the congress go home. Then go to town with recess appointments to fill the vacancies in our courts.
Thanks to the mass media, this may have amounted to nothing ..unless the Republicans come back Monday morning.
I’ll say that again.. unless the Republicans come back Monday morning.
I despise Pelosi – apparently a 5 week holiday spent promoting her POS book is more important to the treasonous old bat than this country is.
This is the work ethic I expect out of our elected representatives. Kick ash!
The Democ Rats don’t care if gas hits $10 a gallon, so they will pshaw the whole thing as a silly stunt. It may be a stunt, but it’s no laughing matter. It’s supposed to draw attention to a problem most Americans want handled ASAP. But the majority in Congress suffer from the Obama Syndrome. One symptom is the attitude that if a tree falls in the woods (or if injured soldiers are nearby) and no media are there to record the moment, then it didn’t really happen, so what’s the use?
??? Tourists – OK
House Republicans
Can Stay
They are OUR elected OFFICIALS …
Are they????
Staying?
True the msm is ignoring this.
But there are many good things to consider anyway.
1) the blogs are covering it
2) the party is finally standing up
3) we may get the energy we need
a)save the economie
b)many thousands of jobs
4) less dependence on foreign oil
5) the public may just may learn what the left is up too
and many more
democrats are home working, they do their best work when they are not in washington. maybe voters will take notice and keep them at home for good.
this just in, pelosi took a laxative and accidentally flushed her brain down the toilet.
I can’t believe the exposure this ISN’T getting, and Steve Pergman on Foxnews called it a “sophomore prank.” Wish there was some way I could get to Washington, I’d join them!
Fox has been (sometimes) the only media allie we have and I am suspicious of a couple of their staff who would probably be happier on CNN or MSNBC.
I do not understand why Fox keeps giving airtime to liberals to parrot outright lies and the old disproved anti-drilling rhetoric.
lonewolf:
I don’t mind if FOX lets the libtards blather – it only demonstrates how empty their rhetoric is. Otherwise, how could they call themselves “fair and balanced”?
I believe fox wants to be the “open,honest, unbiased, and fair” news source.
surveys show they are have success.
I am very disappointed in their limited coverage of this important event. In this case they have failed F-.
“They” keep saying that even if we started drilling, we would see a drop of it for 7-10 years. First, think of how the oil ticks will be feeling with their turbans in a twist that we may be no longer relying on them. (Price goes down) Second, even if this is true, then are we not starting something that will benefit our children or grandchildren? If we don’t start now, then when?
It only takes 10 years because of all the lawsuits from the left.
If we pass a drilling mandate it must include a “NO LAWSUIT” clause. Then we can get the oil very fast.
We must also build refineries to refine the oil we drill.
Can we get the Republitards to attach a rider to the energy bill that will actually get the border closed? Maybe plan to keep smuggling of illegal “gasoline” to a minimum or something…
As was said before: pitchforks and torches time. People you know where your congressional offices are in your home states. Rattle their cages.
YOU CAN SWITCH OFF THE LIGHTS, BUT YOU CAN’T SWITCH OFF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE NANCY!
Yes, this was a good thing. But what will come as a result of this? We’ll have to wait and see.
For me, I intend to hammer my democrap representative, Jason Altmire, at a town hall meeting later in August. But, since he’s a freshman and wants to move up the food chain, he will speak like a conservative to us and vote like a San Francisco liberal. Kinda like Specter and you know who. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the dems change course.
????
On August 1st, 2008 at 6:40 pm, Christian Soldier said:
L_O_T_E
Where was he in all of this???
He should have been there on the floor or made a statemnent
no2pcbs1 # 203.
That was Funny!
Absolutely pitiful coverage by the MSM, but it was to be expected. Thanks to the blogosphere for the coverage of today’s revolt in the House.
Finally the GOP has found an issue worth fighting the fascist Democrat leadership to the death on. I was getting the word out in the Squadron today about this and there are a lot of young people in uniform that would really like to get their hands on the obstructionist Democrats right now. Now if I could get my other somewhat worthless Congressman Simpson and the rest of the GOP representatives to join Congressman Sali on the floor this could get interesting.
Because they would maximize their profit by selling products people want.
The Dems and some liberal Republicans just want to shove the US into a marxist-style economy rife with shortages (like this one on oil), get us to feel good about it, make a killing from their personal realtionships with power brokers in DC not unlike the real way the Soviet System worked-and still works today more or less in Russian Federation (but is declining)….and to really top it off-destroy rule of law….like the way Chicago and Washington DC are ignoring the Heller on a basic constitutional right.
The hallmark of the Soviet system was no property rights for individuals and firms, and no rule of law (people just did what they could get away with). This is why their economy was a complete basket case until after 1998 with substantial improvement in those areas.
I find it odd with all the research economic and historical that is out there that college educated liberals would want to put us in such a disasterous situation in the USA.
My fingers are shot now…
Don’t blame the police. They are just pawns in this game.
Because of regulations, the ROI doesn’t justify it. Moron!
Does Harry Reid have a blog or a way of contacting him? He seems to be getting a free pass. He controls the Senate! For crying out loud, he is more responsible than the dim wit, Nancy Pelosi. Blog him.
If his blog is shut down, Google him. He is a total nut job like Pelosi.
Blame the dimwits who keep electing these dolts.
I’m dang proud of these republicans! Keep it up, guys! You are doing God’s work there! THIS is what we want! Stay on it!
Congress giving it to the public without lube. Democrats going on vacation while we are left without lubrication. Get your bumperstickers here.
Let them see where you stand.
(For less then the price of one gallon of ethyle)
The Otherside said:
Why hell let’s just sit on our ass and do nothing, and see where we get…and if they found reserves like that in the lower 48 states, there would be some libs, dems screaming “we can’t touch that sacred spot due to evironmentalism”.
You guys have no solution, but boy do you have another self-fulfilling prophecy to share with the public, huh?
Maybe the libs will get into the driling thing when they find out that their favorite sensual lubricants would be less expensive if they’d just quit stopping companies from drilling…..ya wonder.
/sarc
This is sad and frightening. Pelosi is quelling dissent through coercive force. The Republic is in serious trouble. Bold and decisive action will be required to counter the fascist mob that controls the legislative branch.
Maybe all those seats the Dems are planning to pick up in Nov., in the Senate and House, are not a LOCK after all.
Wouldn’t that be amusing if they lost their leadership position because they turned out the lights and are left in the Dark, GRIN. Yes they are that arrogant and incompetent.
This is the Reid-Pelosi version of democracy at work but might it also be the traditional democrat ritual pulling defeat from the jaws of victory for they have created a political quagmire.
First time I have had a chance to log on since leaving Amarillo yesterday. So I haven’t had a chance to read every post here. That being said, I don’t know if anyone has brought up the following.
Look, I’m no lawyer. I’m certainly no politician. What I am is a truck driver who spent some of the best years of his life in the US Marine Corps. One of those kooks who carries a pocket sized copy of the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution everywhere I go becuase I think it’s good reading.
The beauty of the founding documents, and the absolute genius of the founding fathers, is that you don’t have to be a politician or a lawyer-or even highly educated-to be able to comprehend what is being said. It was written in a manner that the common man of the day could look at it and know exactly what was meant.
Which is why when I read the following, I begin to wonder if anyone in Washington DC has ever seen the same words;
Maybe I am deluding myself. Maybe things aren’t that bad. But it seems to me that since those words were written over two centuries ago, they have never been more appropriate than they are today.
Folks, lgm, only makes these dumb a$$ remarks to get your ire up, no one can be that stupid, especially a schooool math teacher(new math, all answers are right as long as it feels good).
As far as drilling for oil, we best get started or there will be no energy to turn the lights back on with.
This congress is very frightening.They seem to be under the impression we are in Moscow or China.If BHO gets the Whitehouse we will no longer be America,but some Marxist utopia.I’m trying to find the book Obama nation,but no bookstores I’ve been to seem to carry it,gee I wonder why?Here,here Two foot.Our founding father’s are rolling in their graves.
John: “I say we burn the coal, eat the Elk, and use all the books in the Clinton library for musket wadding.”
Reverend Oliver: “Roasted Elk?”
Benjamin: “Yeah… roasted Elk is a fine meal.”
Reverend Oliver: “Good heavens…”
Uh oh……..Lindsay Graham is in cahoots with some other GOP squishes and Dems to form a “Gang of Ten” hammering out an energy compromise.
See what the proposed compromise contains, including a drive to convert 85% of all cars to non-petroleum fuels.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/senate_gangs_new_energy_plan.html
Politically, this makes NO SENSE for the GOP. By caving now Graham et al will take THE major election issue favoring Republicans off the table.
If the Dems make a clean sweep in November do they really think they will deliver on this “compromise”???
Does anyone even bother to notice that this is just ONE MORE STEP toward a command-and-control economy, aka socialism?
Graham should be taken out and strung up–politically, that is.
See there is nothing on the WaPo site or the WSJ on this….
Twofoot:
I couldn’t agree more. We need a shakedown in DC.
Not that bad? Perhaps, but its heading there. Things cannot go on as they are.
AHHH_
RINOS and L_O_T_E_S_
Gang of ten-
reaching across the AISLE…
GETTING ALONG…GOING ALONG
BTW-=WHERE WERE THE SENATORS YESTERDAY TO BACK THEIR FELLOWS IN THE HOUSE AGAINST SS NANCY P?????!!!!!!
someone sure likes to shout here. A lot.