House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking(More info)

Politico ^ | August 01, 2008 | The Crypt

[vietvet67]

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.

[ArmstedFragg]

What a coincidence. Instapundit is one of the first blogs to break the story and their (usually very dependable) site is now down. It'll interesting to see if it's a DOS.

[Mr. Peabody]

I like it. Our reps should do more teach-ins like this.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Postman]

I read earlier that this is not Bush’s style. The President may have greater tolerance for letting the scum on the left walk all over his face and tear his reputation to shreds than most people but I am getting damned sick and tired of watching him count the days down to retirement....He doesn’t have ths spine to get involved in some long overdue political hardball????

[editor-surveyor]

"Bush should call Congress back into session"

Exactly, but he doesn't have the balls to do it; he wants Nancy to love him.

[Postman]

Could he mean “”’s?

[SkyPilot]

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.

Good for the GOP who at least had the fortitude to do this.

I only wish it lasted longer.