The Republicans Make ‘Em Think It’s Hell On The House Floor Over Gas Prices

by John Hawkins | August 1, 2008 4:11 pm

“I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” — Harry Truman

The most incompetent Speaker of the House in American history, Nancy Pelosi, packed up her 22%[1] approval rating and went on vacation with the rest of the Democratic Party in tow.

Meanwhile, the plucky Republicans stayed on the House floor to protest Congress going on vacation without taking action on gas prices. The Democrats, being closet fascists at heart whose first impulse is always to try to prevent the other side from being heard, have gone to great lengths to try to keep the GOP from telling the country the truth about how the Democrats’ actions are leading to higher gas prices at the pump[2],

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 A. 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 they 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 was 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, according to Patrick O’Connor.

“This is the people’s House,” said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). “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?” complained one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans “morons” for staying on the floor.

Oh gee, hope the word doesn’t get out about this story somehow!

Ooopsie! Too late[3]!

Update #1:

“I just heard that the House G.O.P. wrapped up their protest session at 5:05 by singing “God Bless America” and left the chamber with the crowd chanting, “USA! USA!” Unbelievable.” — The Corner[4]

This has been the first day it has been fun to be a Republican in months…