Rock the House: What should Republicans do now?

michellemalkin.com ^ | August 3, 2008 | Michelle Malkin

[Free ThinkerNY]

“Hit hard, hit fast, hit often.”

That was the advice Marine hero Chesty Puller gave his men.

That’s the advice congressional Republicans should follow.

On Friday, GOP members led a revolt on the floor that rocked the House, energized the conservative base, humiliated the feckless Democrat majority, and brought visiting tourists to their feet cheering in the gallery. (Oh, and not coincidentally on Friday afternoon, Barack Obama followed John McCain and flip-flopped on offshore drilling. If you lead, conservatives, the flip-floppers will follow.)

While Do-Nothing Nancy Pelosi jetted off on her pathetically-performing “Know Your Power” book tour and Democrats adjourned for a five-week recess, scores of Republican congressional representatives stayed on Capitol Hill–or rushed back in shorts with suitcases still in hand — to press for votes on energy independence and drilling. Though Pelosi turned the lights out on the House floor, Republicans got their message out–via Twitter, Qik, the blogosphere, talk radio, and grumbly MSM types who derided the upstart effort as “bizarre.”

Leave it to Beltway snob journalists to call House Republicans who refuse to take vacations while the public’s business goes unfinished “bizarre.”

One of my favorite moments from Friday’s revolt:

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.

He then said, “I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan” and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.

The sign via Jim Hoft:

[Zevonismymuse]

We need to beat the b*st*rds at their own game. Lets have some fun with it. During the Clinton Administration I kept folks on their toes with life size 3D yard art Political Cartoons. I live on a high profile intersection in a tourist town. We all need to think about what we can do and then do it.

[Oldhunk]

I don’t like the idea of pushing so hard that Dems and Obama fold on the issue before the election. Republicans need the issue on the table for the election. If they pass drilling legislation now, there is nothing left for the morons on our side to run on.

[mouse1]

Contact your heros on the hill - Dont stop now!

also

Contact Speaker Pelosi
AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

[Zevonismymuse]

Republicans need the issue on the table for the election. If they pass drilling legislation now, there is nothing left for the morons on our side to run on.

I hear what you are saying but I don't like stalling on something so important just for political gain. I think many people see through that and will think both sides are playing politics. If we can start drilling now and people see prices go down, as they did when Bush signed the EO to lift the Federal ban on offshore drilling, I think the Republican Party will rightfully get credit for pushing the issue.

[Liberty 275]

The repubs should return to the floor from their latest break 3 days early and lock the doors to the house and senate from the inside. Don’t let any leftists/socialists/marxist back in.

[wastedyears]

Rock the House daily.

[Just Lori]

I totally agree!

[sneakers]

bttt

[DJ MacWoW]

If they pass drilling legislation now, there is nothing left for the morons on our side to run on.

Except that they passed drilling legislation and lowered prices. Just before fuel oil heating time. Are you so sure that won't work during elections?

[Oldhunk]

If this legislation passes, it will have strong Democrat support, including Obama. Every Democrat that is the least bit vulnerable will have voted for it. Everyone will have forgotten that the Republicans held their feet to the fire. This is the only issue Pubs have to keep their losses down.

[FrankR]

Here's mine:

Madame speaker,

Thanks for closing down Congress on the eve of your book tour, and denying the members a vote on our urgent energy crisis.

Your actions have clearly shown the American people that the only agendae that you care about are:

1. Election politics
2. Your book tour

Also, I can think of nothing that would have energized a lackadaisical Republican base more than what you did by shutting off the lights. By showing America that the left can't survive in the light, you have done the right more good that a milllion TV commercials.:

Good luck with your book, maybe it will get you through the next election.:

Frank R.

[DJ MacWoW]

It depends on how noisy the Republicans are about it. And they were pretty noisy friday.

[Oldhunk]

I would rather live a few months longer with the high gas prices than giving the Democrats a filibuster proof Senate. Can you imagine what legislation they can sail through without any opposition. There would be some slowdown with McCain, but if Obama wins it’s lights out. We become a socialist state.

[Redbob]

Yes, that was am enormously successful move on Friday:
So: the House is still in session?
/sarc

[freekitty]

Sink their teeth in.

[LiberConservative]

First time I’ve written to a CongressCritter in years. And to a ‘Rat no less. Probably the biggest waste of 60 seconds in my life.

[phillyfanatic]

Come back Mon. and have CSPAN cover them. Then run national ads on this energy snafu and run it for .30 seconds in all 435 districts. Why not? Newt did it in ‘94 with a national campaign and it worked.

[Zevonismymuse]

Come back Mon. and have CSPAN cover them.

I spoke with someone at CSPAN on Friday. They get their feed from the cameras in the chamber that can only be turned on by the House Majority. I do think the GOP congress members should try to get the camera on. I'm just saying this will be a challenge according to the guy I spoke with at CSPAN.

[Fresh Wind]

I sent a particularly unpleasant note to my congressRat. I enjoyed writing it, even with the certain knowledge that he would never read it, let alone respond.

I did wish him a happy vacation, though.