Anybody paying attention to what's happening in Congress at the moment?

[hill billy]

It doesn't really apply to gun laws but it involves legal so what the heck.
This is still updating...


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.


Continued....


House of Reps Part 1

Part 2
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[hill billy]

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.

Uodate 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 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 he house floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.

[hill billy]

Updates continue here


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, who returned to thunderous applause when it was announced he had gotten off of a plane right before takeoff in order to deliver a speech, 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 speeched continued, with no sign of letting up.

[sorensen440]

bunch of childish baystards those dems

[hill billy]

Front page

http://www.c-span.org/

Call Speaker Pelosi at 202 225 0100. Demand vote on energy legislation.


And a video

http://qik.com/video/147257

[sorensen440]

theres a link on fox to watch live as well

[hill billy]

GOP Talkathon Part IV: Come on Down

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!'"

[Gator Monroe]

The Dems should be summoned back !

[hill billy]

theres a link on fox to watch live as well

Couldn't find it, do you have a link?

[GenLee]

This is awesome......

[CCWFacts]

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.

If Congress authorized offshore drilling today, then maybe it would decrease pump prices by a few pennies per gallon (at most) ten or 15 years from now. It certainly won't do anything for the economy, for energy prices, or to save consumers any meaningful amount of money at the pump.

[dfletcher]

It didn't get much press, but Pelosi recently stated the President should open our national oil reserves as a way of lowering fuel costs. In short, she acknowledged that increased supply would lower the cost of gasoline at the pumps. The President's response was to lift the ban on offshore drilling which, one would think, would also have the effect of increasing supply and lowering fuel costs. It seems to me this paints Pelosi into a corner - increased supply = lower fuel costs, but she is against drilling for that supply.

No wonder she wants to turn out the lights.

[jarios]

What a circus.

This really shows what a circus the government system has turned into. Gotta give the Republicans props for not backing off. I had a feeling this might happen ever since I read about all the bills Pelosi and crew have been childishly killing.

[sorensen440]

Couldn't find it, do you have a link?

It was in one of the latest news links but its dead now

[sorensen440]

The Dems should be summoned back !

Bush has the power to do that from my understanding