Posted on 08/08/2008 5:57:07 AM PDT by SE Mom
There’s a very odd mood among House Republicans this week. Rebelling against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s adjournment of the House last Friday, Reps. Mike Pence (R-Ind) and Tom Price (R-Ga) had a sort of Howard Beale moment. Beale, the mad newscaster in “Network," asked his audience to throw open a window and shout, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more.”
Pence and Price refused to leave the House floor and began the open revolt against Nancy Pelosi’s “Drill Nothing” Congress. Five days into the revolt -- as I saw yesterday in the Republican cloak room and on the House floor -- dozens of House Republicans and thousands of tourists sitting in the chairs of the congressmen on the House floor -- the Republicans are excited and Americans seem to be responding.
This is a key moment in the 2008 campaign: the Republicans, if they stick to their guns, can wrest victory away from the Democrats not only in Congress but perhaps the White House, too. Pelosi has handed them the perfect lever with which they can move the nation.
The small revolt against Speaker Pelosi’s refusal to allow a vote to enable offshore drilling -- and relieve the gasoline price burden on American consumers -- that began when Democrats adjourned the House for a five-week vacation has energized Republicans like nothing since the great revolt against the amnesty for illegal immigrants bill last summer.
According to Republican Whip Roy Blunt, about twenty members have been on the House floor every day since Friday, and more than one hundred members are either already here or promising to come back next week.
When I last saw Mike Pence, he was on the House floor talking about the Democrats’ priorities. His chart shows what Pelosi believes the House should spend time on instead of voting on offshore drilling: vital issues such as declaring “National Train Day” and praising the “International Year of Sanitation.” Pence and Price are leaders. They attracted a lot of attention from their fellow House members.
I asked Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) how she felt about it yesterday in a not-too-quiet moment in the Republican cloakroom. The mild-looking former school teacher told me, “I’m jazzed. Friday night, I was driving home at eleven o’clock at night and got home at midnight…I told my daughter on the phone my adrenaline is pumping so much, I don’t know if I can go to sleep tonight. I’m just jazzed by this.”
Foxx, getting ready to speak on the floor, said, “You know, Thomas Jefferson said we needed a revolution every once and awhile, and I think the American people are speaking, and I hope they’re going to get up in arms with their Democratic and say, “We want to bring down the price of gas and oil, and we can do that.” Let me tell you, when people are starting now to pay for their winter heating fuel, and they are starting to see the problem there too, it's going to hurt the people in the Northeast in particular where there are a lot of Democrats, and I hope they understand who is creating this problem. It’s the Democrats, not the Republicans.” Revolution?
Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-Texas) wasn’t any less inclined to smoke the peace pipe with Pelosi. I caught Gohmert after he, Blunt and several other members held a press conference in the hall outside the House Chamber.
Gohmert is raising the stakes for the Democrats. When Congress comes back in September (assuming, as is probable, that Pelosi doesn’t call them back earlier), it’ll have only a couple of weeks to deal with a huge list of important issues, including the fact that the offshore oil drilling ban will expire if not re-enacted. To Gohmert, this is a do-or-die issue.
The last time someone was this fired up, the US government closed down for a few days. Is Gohmert willing to go that far? There’s no question about it.
Gohmert told me, “If they stick in a moratorium to prevent us getting oil and gas from our outer continental shelf to help the American people…they put that in to a continuing resolution to keep the government going. I’m sorry -- I’ve got to keep the American people going who can’t afford these gas prices. I’m voting against it, no matter what bill they stick it in. If it’s to honor my mother, my mother would understand, rest her soul, I would vote against it. We have got to take this stand.”
Minority Whip Roy Blunt should be of the same mind, and apparently is. In a telephone interview yesterday afternoon, Blunt told me, “I think we really want to keep that ball in the court that it belongs in: the Democrats'. They have to proactively try to maintain these moratoriums on oil shale and on deep water drilling as their price to keep the government going. I think they’re the ones that have to be answerable for that. I’m assuming at this point that those things are over on September the 30th. The American people should demand that they be over, and the president should be moving forward as if the leasing process could begin on October 1.”
Pelosi -- trying, in her own words, to “save the planet” -- is dedicated to the most radical environmentalist agenda. She and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) have put a green monkey on Uncle Sam’s back.
Voters are angry and their congressmen -- at least the Republicans -- are listening.
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) told me that his town hall meetings used to be all about illegal immigration and the war. No more.
“I did a tele-townhall in May and all I heard about was energy prices and since May that’s all it’s been. I get no questions on immigration, I get no questions on national defense. It is all about the price of energy because I live in a part of the state where you gotta drive some distance to get anywhere, and it has affected everyone up and down the line, from the retiree to the young family to the small business, everyone is affected.”
The Republicans continue to be led by conservatives such as Pence, Price and Blunt. Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh) is conspicuously absent.
Next week, the Republicans will be back in force. This revolt against Pelosi’s “Drill Nothing” Democrats is taking hold of the House.
Will the Republicans end up closing down the government to prevent the Pelosicrats from blocking offshore drilling again? Possibly. If need be, they should.
It would be worth it. If they force this issue, it’s enough to reverse their course. 2008 need not be a year in which Democrats overwhelm Republicans in congress or in the White House race. The price of gasoline -- which could be greatly lessened if the Democrats would bring offshore drilling to a vote -- could be the issue that propels Republicans back into control of the national agenda.
If handled with decisiveness, fortitude, and consistency, it might just be the difference between a massive defeat and (dare I say it?) a year that Republicans gain back much of what they lost in 2006.
:)
by the people.....for the people..... shall not perish....
Yes!
and still pelosi’s book tour is getting more attention than this.
PRESENT!!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2058511/posts?q=1&;page=1#1
I have no idea how this is going to affect energy costs, but it makes getting the House to act, instead of recessing, that more important...
Are you listening GOP???
Keep supporting these heros!
We need a vote
Nazi Pelosi AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
We need emergency session
President Bush comments@whitehouse.gov
202-456-1111
John Boehner invited McCain to join them
McCain needs to get to Washington where he belongs
It will bring the much needed media attention
http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/
Petition: 28,959
So basically, Pelosi doesn't have to allow a vote on any bill, and just sit back and do nothing. Which is the best thing. The drilling ban doesn't need to be repealed...just let it expire.
The real question is: will Pelosi try to stick a re-authorization of the drilling ban into a must pass budget item? That's where the Republicans need to keep their focus. The grandstanding in the well of the house is all just political theater and a month or two on this drilling ban isn't going to mean a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things. Let it expire, and make sure that it does not make it back into another bill as a rider.
I’m curious how the votes will be if there is an up or down vote....seems like the Dems lose either way lol
The dims plan on covering the ban so it will not expire but adding it into appropriation bills that have still not been passed. This is my Congressman. I will call his office again to show my support for what he is doing.
The Dems have chosen losing policies, they support the killing of the innocent, they block common sense, they strive to take advantage of misery, and they focus on the negative.
This DOES make them losers.....on several levels.
The Republicans should start talking RIGHT NOW about how they suspect Pelosi will try to stick a drilling ban in the budget legislation. They need to put this out there every day so that when the Republicans DO make good on their rhetoric to hold up the budget, they can also point to the fact that Pelosi planned this showdown and they saw it coming ahead of time.
If she lets it expire- the left will be furious- if she allows a vote the left will be furious.
HAAAAH!!
??? This is what they've been doing? We "Pay" them to travel to and live in DC to do this kind of cr*p while we suffer high gas prices and cost of everything, illegals taking over our country, and muslims building mosques and recruiting in our country?
“Voters are angry and their congressmen — at least the Republicans — are listening.”
Great line!
Oil prices will probably go through the roof today after the news that Russia is invading Georgia and yesterday Iran was once again threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz
Tapping the SOR like the dems want to do, is a brazenly stupid thing to do and the American people know it.
Not good for the Dems.
Thanks for the ping.
Exactly- that and Madame Speaker is busy selling her book.
Typical democRAT move. I expect them to try to stick this in a "shutdown the government" type of budget legislation. The question is how bludgeon the democRATS with this and not get any blood on yourself. We know the media will side with the democRATS and selectively argue about the budget item.
Why don’t they set up a 24/7 Post on the steps of the Capitol building, with a big sign with the number of days that Pelosi has been AWOL, similar to the “# of days accident free” signs in many workplaces.
That way they can give a daily press conference right there, even if Fox News is the only news organization covering them.
LOL! That’s a great idea.
Madame Speaker is busy selling her book.
Well, “selling” isn’t actually the word...but I know what you mean.
when does it expire?
You guys need to be on the live thread here:
We have had one every week day since last friday, courtesy of eeevil conservative who has done a great job BTW, she is great. Go over and help out, make a few phone calls, send a few emails. It is especially entertaining to call Pelosi's office, the clerks there have been getting real testy the last few days!
The drilling ban expires October 1st.
Oh, and BTW, the phone number for Ms. Pelosi’s office in DC is 202-225-0100, call her, listen to her aides melt down and tell you to shut up and get off the phone, or they will hang up on you. Make sure you tell them why you are calling, that you want to drill, drill, drill. This seems to irritate them to no end for reason or other.
Please FReepmail to be added to the Congress Watch ping list.
“Foxx, getting ready to speak on the floor, said, “You know, Thomas Jefferson said we needed a revolution every once and awhile, and I think the American people are speaking, and I hope they’re going to get up in arms with their Democratic and say, “We want to bring down the price of gas and oil, and we can do that.”
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AWESOME !!
~~~~
Possible strategery:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Mjg2YTY1OWZkNmZhYzIxOGIxOTk4M2FmZWM0ZmY4YjM=
“Congress has never seen fit to enact a permanent moratorium on offshore drilling. Instead, it has opted for a series of one-year bans, with the latest ban ending at the close of September.
Opponents of drilling thus need a vote on legislation to impose a new ban for fiscal 2009. President Bush, with his veto pen, is in a position to stop them.
The president can begin by announcing that offshore oil leasing will commence on October 1, 2008, the day after the current congressional ban expires.
He then can make it clear to Democrats that he will veto any legislation to impose a new ban in October, even if Democrats attach it to so-called “must pass” legislation to keep government open. In other words, the president can dare the Democratic Congress to shut down the federal government in order to stop offshore oil leasing.
There is no good reason for the president to back down. We clearly need the oil and gas.
According to conservative estimates from the Department of the Interior’s Mineral Management Service, the Outer Continental Shelf — where offshore drilling would take place — contains 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Through the end of September, 97 percent of this area is subject to the congressional ban on offshore exploration and production.
And while it is true that energy companies need time to harvest this oil and gas, the mere perception of substantial new future production will break expectations of higher energy prices in the futures markets and bring down prices at the pump today.
We had a preview of this effect last month when the president lifted the executive branch’s moratorium on offshore drilling.
A showdown on this issue also will be a political winner for Republicans. This is precisely what Democrats are scrambling to avoid.
The Democrats initially thought they could circumvent the issue by halting work in the congressional appropriations committees, which usually include an annual drilling ban in the Interior Appropriations bill.
It is now likely that Democrats will pursue a continuing resolution to keep the government running until after the election, using that resolution to sneak through an extension of the drilling ban.
The president should make it clear that he won’t sign any such extension. This would put the ball in the Democrats’ court, forcing them to decide whether stopping offshore drilling is worth shutting down the government.
If they decide it is, just weeks before Election Day, the dynamics of the election will transform dramatically. Energy will no longer be one of several top-tier issues — it will be the only issue. And it will favor Republicans right when they need it most.”
~~~
I just called our Congressman, Patrick J. Murphy, who sent me a letter saying as a senior I am entitled to ride Septa buses, subways and trolleys for free!
I live in Bucks county—we don’t use those means of transportation out here. They don’t run on any country roads and are not easily accessible. I just called Murphy’s office to tell him that I’m worried about paying $4 a gallon for gas, our only means of transportation. I’m especially worried about not how senior citizens can travel on the bus for free but how those who heat with oil are going to survive this winter with the current price now $4.39 a gallon. Maybe he has an answer for that.
Also how are families with babies and small children who heat with oil supposed to keep their homes at a decent temperature this winter? That he needs to get down to D.C. and push for a vote on an Energy Bill.
I forgot to say our former Congressman, Tim Fitzpatrick, would have voted not to adjourn. Well, next I’ll call his D.C. office and tell them that.
He’s against drilling? Well, his earth, wind, fire and solar are 10-20 years down the road!
In fact, I’m going to write a letter to our local weekly paper—they’re very good about printing—forget the Inquirer! Murphy is running against the father of a young soldier killed in Iraq. This will be another issue that divides them!
This is great news. It could actually make a difference to the elections this year. Pelosi is about the dumbest rock in the box, I believe. She may well be the most dense Speaker of the House ever.
Oops!! MIKE Fitzpatrick!!!! Terrific Congressman!
Dont forget the all important...JULY, National Watermellon Month vote /s
bookmark for later
but what happens when the Dems cave to the Reps on this issue as they always end up doing?
These are the type of Reps that need to be in House leadership positions, not the same-ol' same-ol' promote by seniority method.
Further evidence that President Bush should not ORDER Congress back from vacation. Let the pressure bubble up from below. If over 100 Republican members show up next week, this thing will get big. The media will have to cover it. Also, Bush is not on the ticket in November. These guys are. They need some good press.
Is there any youtube action on this, these guys are just too lame, make your own press damn it, even the slob Crocker, of the famous leave Brittany Alone fame, can do better...
I agree. Can't let the rino's think they mean a diddly-squat to the conservativerepub cause. As far as I'm concern it would be better for rino's to get out of town on vaction while they can!
So why oh why don’t we have video footage from the gallery, or at least telephone recorded audio of the speeches being made before these thousands of tourists?
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