Posted on 08/04/2008 11:11:49 AM PDT by BufordP
The White House has rejected calls from House Republicans that it convene a special session of Congress on energy, saying it wouldnt make a difference. We don't have plans to call Congress into session -- it won't make a difference if Democratic leaders are unwilling to bring up a bill for an up-down vote, said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) asked President Bush to convene the special session in an Aug. 1 letter. The same day, House Republicans launched an unusual protest on the House floor urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call Congress back to work. "Since Speaker Pelosi has decided not to keep the House in session to allow this vote to take place, we urge you to use the power vested in you by the Constitution to convene an immediate energy special session of Congress, the letter said. The protests continued Monday, with several House Republicans speaking on energy from the House floor, despite the fact that the House has adjourned and C-SPAN is not televising the proceedings. Cameras are not allowed in the House without the Speaker's permission. We know congressional Democrats won't pass all of the appropriations bills -- they've already demonstrated their failure with that -- but when they return they'll have a month to at least address the top priorities: funding our troops by passing the DoD [Department of Defense] appropriations bill, and the bringing to the floor of the Interior appropriations bill to allow for votes on oil shale and exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf, Fratto said in an e-mail. A spokesman for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said McCain supported bringing Congress back into session to address energy issues. House aides said that while the president can declare that Congress must sit for an emergency session, he cannot set the agenda only the leadership of the majority party can do that. Pelosis office could not be immediately reached for comment. About 20 House Republicans re-launched their floor action after a short press conference where no questions were taken. The speeches to visitors and staff in the House gallery began at about 10 a.m. Monday. In an attempt to build momentum and steer more listeners into the chamber, GOP leadership staff sent e-mails to colleagues encouraging them to bring their tours to view the protest. Speeches have varied from the mundane to the raucous, with Rep. Don Manzullos (R-Ill.) impassioned pro-drilling speech ending with hugs from colleagues and a standing ovation from the crowd. Some members came with props: Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) came to speak with a large photo of Pelosi with the words I am trying to save the planet written beneath it. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) arrived with an empty red gas can and an energy-efficient light bulb. Members said they planned to continue their floor action through this week and possibly through the month, depending on member participation. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) officiated over the parade of members and encouraged listeners to call the Capitol switchboard and ask to speak to Pelosi's office. No members of the GOP leadership attended Mondays demonstration, but Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will attend the protest on Wednesday and Thursday, according to his office. Minority Leader John Boehners (R-Ohio) staff indicated he would try to attend at the end of the week despite a flurry of campaign appearances across the country. Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will also return to speak during the week. |
Not surprised.
Bush has no loyalty to his party and is a poor politician.
imo
Bush is too busy packing for China to be bothered.
No more Bushes or Clintons, EVER....
Jackie, daughter of the imbecilic Dennis.
In my opinion, this is all a power play by Pelosi - she's selling her book “Know Your Power”. And she's displaying hers. As she said on Sunday on This Week “I've got the gavel and I'm not giving it up”.
Good grief. No difference unless you count the number of Republicans who would be elected/reelected, the number of Democrats who would be thrown out of office and the boost this would give the McCain campaign. Once again the President has chosen to play nice while Pelosi, Reid and company are willing to slime him and destroy the nation's economy.
Good point. Pelosi Galore.
He can call them back and say WHY he’s calling them back .. repeatedly and loudly.
Lost opportunity #927.
Just like in 2006, the White House is impotent. They will not do anything bold to shake things up.
The only Republican willing to be bold in the last 20 years was Newt Gingrich. And look, he won the Congress. Ever since, it’s been a matter of barely holding onto the majority.
Drat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pelosi’s book is being as well received by the buying public as is Congress’s approval rating by the general public.
Last week it was rated around 960th best seller at Amazon.
If you'll think about it, they have a better chance to win in November if they remove this as an issue by getting out of the way of our desire to drill.
What WE have to do is keep this in the forefront of the news and attach the Dihms to it.
When they get back to 'work' we need to keep hammering the fact THEY decided to leave Americans deciding on food or gas.
Make them defend leaving, put them on the spot. The RNC should be using a sledge hammer on this one issue. It's a big loser for the Dihms, but they have taken their stance, and even if they don't believe it, they can't change their minds.
FYI
As Karl Rove said, his greatest mistake was not persuading George Bush against Bush's inclinations to defend his Iraq war. From that point to this very minute Republican fortunes have deteriorated to the point that when George Bush slinks out of Washington he will leave a defeated, broken and demoralized conservative movement without anyone to lead it out of the wilderness for perhaps a generation.
Historians no doubt will treat George Bush kinder than do today's journalists and they should. But historians are not usually conservatives. Any fair-minded historian of the conservative movement will identify George Bush as the single human being most responsible for the conservative crackup. As conservatives are damaged, so ultimately is the nation damaged.
George Bush has never understood that it is as much a part of his presidential oath to lead his party in a partisan sense as it is to lead the Army as commander in chief. Party politics is what makes the American political system work. It is morally wrong for someone to assume the mantle of leader of his party when he had no intention of actually leading that party (apart from campaigning for his own reelection) or promoting its principles for the good of the nation.
But they don't have to act on it. And the press and Dems would eat him alive. "This situation is Bushes fault and big oilman that he is, he's trying to FORCE the House to pass an energy bill for drilling that will enrich him and his friends"
Can you hear it? I can.
Well, the White House certainly wouldn’t want to delay its month long vacation, either. Working in August is only suitable for us proles, apparently.
That’s about the size of it.
Right now, we are getting a fuel surcharge but still it doesn’t cover the entire 47% increase in fuel costs since 2006.
Breaking even means there’s no room for growth, no profits for updating equipment or expansion. (There really is a crunch in capital markets. Banks -REAL BANKS- are reluctant to make loans because of the recent defaults on equipment. It’s difficult for start ups.)
Other trucking companies are pulling out and there is opportunity there to expand.
When I saw the last name I had a feeling.
ping
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