Michelle Malkin » Breaking: Pelosi reportedly moves to shut down House revolt; Tourists fired up!; Pence: “We will be here through the break”

Breaking: Pelosi reportedly moves to shut down House revolt; Tourists fired up!; Pence: “We will be here through the break”

By Michelle Malkin • August 1, 2008 04:03 PM

Keep scrolling for updates…Waiting for 4:30pm…Tourists are fired up in the gallery…Rep. Hoekstra reports them chanting “Vote! Vote! Vote!”…Culberson and other GOP House revolutionaries livestreaming on Qik…Culberson press conference: “All we did is ask for a vote”…Pence: “I’ve never been prouder of the Republican leadership. I’ve never been prouder of the rank-and-file”…WSJ: “Joined by a bevy of staff and summer interns, the Republican lawmakers donned mostly straight faces for an afternoon of speechifying without microphones, C-SPAN or their Democratic counterparts. “How many of you remember the Boston Tea Party?” Republican Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona asked the raucous crowd. “This is the Boston Tea Party!”…4:44pm Eastern. Pence: “We will be here through the break.”

Via Rep. Pete Hoekstra’s Twitter:

Shame! Shame! Capital Hill police working under strict orders to shut Capital down at 430 pm today. Speaker Pelosi wants this shut down now 16 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Maybe she thinks a censorious crackdown will boost her sagging Amazon.com ratings?

Like she says: Know your power.

***

Until C-SPAN turns the cameras back on, we’ll have to rely on GOP staff to get out video of their bosses’ speeches. (Flip has an e-mail link to contact C-SPAN. Go here.)

Here’s the floor speech of GOP Rep. David Davis of Tennessee (video here):

“We need an American energy plan and we need it now. The American people are hurting, young families are hurting, senior adults are hurting, small businesses are hurting, Vern from Jefferson County, Tennessee is hurting.

“Vern is an Iraq War veteran. Vern has to drive from Jefferson County all the way into Knoxville. It is costing him over ninety dollars a week to drive to work. He makes eight dollars an hour and is trying to become an electrical apprentice. Vern told me he may have to go on welfare. Vern has a young family and is an Iraq War veteran. Vern wants to do what’s right by his family; he’s already done what’s right by America.

“This Congress needs to do what’s right for Vern and other young families in America, senior adults in America, small businesses in America.

“We don’t need anymore excuses; we need to vote on meaningful energy legislation. We need to do it now. We don’t need to go home, we need to take votes. I am willing to stay here today and vote.

“We voted this week. We had time to vote to go home, and we ought to have time to vote to bring down gas prices at the pump.

“The American people demand it. They demand it now.”

***

The Washington Post calls the GOP House revolt “bizarre.”

No. “Bizarre” is Democrats whining about high gas prices and then taking a vacation and doing nothing, nothing, nothing to solve the energy crisis about which they whine.

Guess a 14 percent approval rating isn’t low enough for them.

Snark from WaPo blogger:

Bizarre Scene on the House Floor

UPDATE 4:15 PM: There seems like a decent chance that this spectacle will end around 4:30 p.m. That’s when the galleries are officially supposed to close and when the Capitol typically closes to tour groups. In theory, Republicans could keep up the fight even after the hundreds of visitors have filtered out of the chamber, but members usually like to have some kind of audience. A progressively smaller group of reporters is hanging around until the bitter end, as many journalists have already left the Capitol for a traditional bout of last-day-of-session drinking. Capitol Briefing, of course, is very pleased not to be sitting on a bar patio somewhere enjoying the sunshine and a beer. He’d much rather be here listening to the 78th consecutive speech about gasoline prices.

UPDATE 2:40 PM: Capitol Briefing will admit to never having seen anything remotely like this in 10 years of covering Congress. As “The Phantom Session” continues, the chamber is packed with tourists, and the line to get in the galleries stretches down the stairs inside the Capitol. What appears to be an entire troop of Boy Scouts is sitting in the chamber. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) apparently went to the airport to go home but then turned around and came back. He walked into the House a few moments ago wheeling his suitcases behind him, prompting a huge round of applause and high-fives from his colleagues.

***

4:22pm Eastern. John Culberson’s Twitter is “over capacity!”

Remember Nov. 7, 2006:

“The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history,” Pelosi
said.

4:45pm Eastern. Police have shut the Capitol building off to tourists. GOP revolt leaders are holding a press conference.

5:20pm Eastern. Examiner editorial page editor Mark Tapscott:

“Why aren’t all House GOPers on the floor? Here they have a golden media moment to frame the energy issue and capture the public’s attention in an unexpected way. We should be carrying kerosene lamps to them for lighting, getting video cameras to them and they should be demanding that Democrats come back.”

Posted in: GOP, Nancy Pelosi

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#101

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:05 pm, SHoward said:

Ya know, going back home to the district is an important part of teh job, Rusty, but come now. Sticking around during a time of unusual circumstances, like excessive energy costs during a near recession, would not be unprecedented at all.

I do think the Repubs made two mistakes — there weren’t enough of them on the floor and they gave up too soon. They needed to be on the floor of the house while san fran nan boards her jet for home. There’s a photo montage!
#102

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:05 pm, pakurilecz said:

Lets not forget the shenanigans that Reid pulled when the Senate “recessed” had one Dem senator come in so that the President couldn’t do any recess appointments
#103

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:06 pm, SHoward said:

“teh” = “the”

If I had a buck for every one of those I type into Indesign, I wouldn’t have to work any more….
#104

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:22 pm, Ignatius Reilly said:

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:06 pm, SHoward said:

“teh” = “the”

If I had a buck for every one of those I type into Indesign, I wouldn’t have to work any more….

I urge you not to feel the need to correct such trivial typos as this…you just rachet up the pressure on all of us [grin].

Some typos are a little embarrassing and sometimes I will even stoop to correct one of my own, which are numerous. But everybody knows that teh=the and that you know how to use and spell this word.
#105

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:31 pm, Fat Jolly Penguin said:

It’s things like this that make me a little less regretful for hitting the Republican checkbox on my voter registration.
#106

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:32 pm, ajmontana said:

#40 That’s like voting between…
“liver” or “liver and onions”
#107

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
#108

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:44 pm, martin.musculus(jr.) said:

My understanding, (pls correct me if I’m mistaken):

Pres. GWB is the Chief Ex., the police are under his control…

…if that is the case then:

President Bush, countermand Pelosi’s orders
#109

On August 1st, 2008 at 6:50 pm, CO2 Producer said:

Buncha children.

I can’t hear you lalala!

(hands cupped over ears, eyes squeezed shut)

Goodbye! Lalalalalala! See you in five weeks!

The Democ Rats don’t want to anger the 11% (?) that still approve of them.
#110

On August 1st, 2008 at 7:23 pm, Boomer said:

I really wish someone would throw a bucket of water on this Wicked Witch of the West. Then we could watch her botox infused body just melt away!
#111

On August 1st, 2008 at 10:47 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

This is FANTASTIC! It’s like the amnesty sandblasting fight except this time accompanied by peasants with pitchforks and torches chanting in the gallery!

This could be the start of what many of us have been wishing a long time for, a voter revolt! We could very well see a big Dem victory in November that deposes Pelosi and Reid. That would be a great development because Schumer (for Reid) and Hoyer (for Pelosi) is a major shift towards pragmatism. Neither are effective leading their parties as their membership keeps winning conservative seats.

If this isn’t a signal to Obama and McCain that they are going to fail with their left-wing globalist plans, maybe we ought to send them another one at the conventions.
#112

On August 1st, 2008 at 10:57 pm, Christian Soldier said:

Nan’s new name:

SS Nancy P
#113

On August 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 am, erikwhittington said:

I heard it’s down to 9% “approval” rating…
#114

On August 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 am, DBNinKY said:

Going back to your home district is an important part of the job. Constituent services is the name of the game for Reps.

Not only is that a ridiculous argument, it’s kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Constituents contact their reps when there is need, they do not want or desire a personal interface.

Hypocrites.

As a Democrat, neither you nor your party are in a position to judge any Republican.
#115

On August 2nd, 2008 at 7:48 am, sfcmac said:

The Democrats and their propaganda wing (aka the MSM) will criticize this as a ’stunt’ without chastising the Dems for their do-nothing behavior.

Every proposal put before the Democrat-controlled Senate and House, that will help to put an end to our dependence on the OPEC bastards by drilling our own resources, has been met with refusal.

I hope hundreds of Americans show up in the chamber to witness the Republicans dedication to their constituents and the lack of integrity on the part of the Democratic party.
#116

On August 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 am, sfcmac said:

Though the Republicans made their point, it’s too bad they didn’t plan on doing this for the entire 5 week ‘vacation’. That would be a great way to prove the Democrat’s priorities; leisure comes before the importance of doing their job. The Republicans showed some spine….for awhile, anyway.
#117

On August 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 am, Pasadena Phil said:

This could be a breakthrough for Dems too. Pelosi has been unable to coral the new, more conservative Blue Dogs since taking over as Speaker. This could be the opening the Blue Dogs need to change leadership.

The reason Pelosi froze this bill was because the bill was certain to pass because of its popularity among the Blue Dogs and others. That would have been a stern rebuke of her leadership and she was not being offered a face-saving way out. I look for the Blue Dogs to break this stand off which would be a great development for not only the lower ranks of the GOP, but for the equality elitist Democratic party. We may be witnessing the end of Pelosi regardless of what happens in November.

Rep. Donald Manzullo yesterday:

“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!’”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0808/GOP_Talkathon_Part_IV_Come_on_Down.html?showall
#118

On August 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 am, Viper1 said:

Prepare for the next revolution… this may be how it starts..
#119

On August 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 am, Boomer said:

I am disappointed the GOP members went home too and did not spend the next 5 weeks keeping an active presence in OUR house. I don’t care if they just sat in there and read the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, or read from any books or poetry in the same manner of the old classic Mr. Smith goes to Washington. For a brief few moments I had hope something would change. I agree with on-my-soap-box I feel like I need a shower too.

I am not sure if I will stick with calling her royal heinous Queen Pelosi, The Wicked Witch of the West, Reichfurher Pelosi, or as my wife suggested Comrade Peloski. Any way you look at it until this evil obstructionist woman is thrown out as Speaker of the House our Republic is in great peril.
#120

On August 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm, atheling said:

On August 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 am, sfcmac said:

Though the Republicans made their point, it’s too bad they didn’t plan on doing this for the entire 5 week ‘vacation’. That would be a great way to prove the Democrat’s priorities; leisure comes before the importance of doing their job. The Republicans showed some spine….for awhile, anyway.

I thought they said they would be back during the 5 week break. You don’t expect them to stay over the weekend, do you? Or overnight?

Does anyone know if they will be back, as the caption says?
#121

On August 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm, Rob said:

The ACLU’s Congressional Scorecard has given Pelosi a lifetime rating of 93% for her voting record on civil liberties.

Well, there ya go…
#122

On August 4th, 2008 at 11:17 am, Yashmak said:

Constituent services is the name of the game for Reps.

-Rusty

It seems to me that what they are trying to do is exactly that. . .serve their constituency. This is the first time in weeks I’ve been proud of our congress. . .at least that portion that has stayed on to do its job.