House Republicans, No lights, No cameras, but lots of Action

This is GREAT!  Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi blocked a vote on offshore drilling, meaning no action was taken on gas price concerns before the August break:

For weeks, pressure has been mounting in Congress to approve more domestic oil drilling, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held the line, using her power to block a vote on offshore drilling.

President Bush has made almost daily calls for Democratic leaders to take action. House GOP leaders, citing a new poll showing that a slim majority of Californians now favor offshore drilling, issued a release Thursday saying "even (Pelosi's) own California neighbors oppose her efforts to block new drilling far off American coasts." GOP lawmakers are so disgruntled they're urging Bush to deny Congress its August break by calling a special session on energy.

Pelosi, who vigorously opposes offshore drilling, is obviously afraid to let the House even VOTE on the matter.  She figures it's a lose, lose either way it goes.  So out go the lights, off go the cameras, and off goes Pelosi and her fellow Democrats. Then it gets better.  Michelle Malkin has the details:

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 UPDATE

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 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.

Rep. Kevin Brady returned:

...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.

As did Rep. Mike Rogers who spoke on the floor in his shorts!  Since the C-Span cameras were turned off, Twitter to the rescue, as Michelle reports:

My main post on the House GOP revolt is here and I’ll keep updating it. But I’m breaking out a separate post on the Republicans’ very savvy use of Twitter to circumvent the Democrat blackout and overcome the absence of C-SPAN cameras– and their outreach to conservative blogs to spread the word.

This is the change we’ve been waiting for, Beltway GOP.

Finally!

As I mentioned earlier today, John Culberson is Twittering the speeches on the floor.

So is Pete Hoekstra, who reports that GOP Rep. Mike Rogers spoke in his shorts. Heh. More:

Mike Rogers (Mi). Speaking in shorts. Heard what we were doing. Came back. He wanted to be a part of it. 19 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Standing applause for last speaker. People on the floor cheering wildly. They love it. They’re into it. 25 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

For other updates or tweets check johnculberson. 28 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

A lot of policeman assembling off of floor. What does that mean? House is full. 29 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Thanks for tweeting with me. Thanks for new technology. Real shame Speaker turned off lights, mikes, C span. Our voices can’t be shut down. 38 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Michelle is continuing to update. 

Others blogging:  Hot Air, Patterico (Kim Jong Pelosi!), Power Line, Gateway Pundit, and Mark Hemingway at The Corner who reports that the GOP has "wrapped up their protest session":

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.

Way to go GOP!  It's about time!

Comments

[Scott Allan]

WOOHOO!!!! Now that's what I'm talking about! I'm just bummed that they actually adjourned. I'd like to see a 24 hour sit-in.

[linda]

That should've been on the news--Demwits leaving town and Republicans working! How could Nance spin that? ha

[Don]

Pelosi has shown that the is part of the problem rather than being a leader who finds the answer to to the problem.

[Scott Allan]

Yet someone keeps voting for these morons.

[Julie]

Morons voting for morons. And it's for sure Pelosi is no leader. I cannot believe such incompetence in the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. I do hope the House Republicans keep this up. It's the right thing to do. We need a vote on this.