Posted on 08/06/2008 7:20:40 AM PDT by eeevil conservative
As you know, I call Washington, DC everyday (every weekday) and I even started to do a radio show each Friday to share with folks the responses that I get. This week I called Senator Obama's office about the Global Poverty Act, and all 23 of the cosponsors- some of them 2 and 3 times. Well, on Thursday, my focus changed.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives held a vote on weather or not they would stay and debate the energy issue, or go on their scheduled vacations. In this vote, 17 Democrats sided with ALL the Republicans and voted to stay. They still came up short by one vote. The vote was 212-213, the 213 Dems voted to go on vacation and worry about energy in the fall. I was talking with a friend of mine from Texas and he said "I wish they would just stay."
Friday morning I jumped on the phone to DC, but this time I was focused on the energy issue. I started calling Republicans in the House to ask them to do just that. I even called (private source that I will not reveal) office, and asked his assistant to PLEASE get this idea to him. I knew there wasn't much time, since we only had a day to even get the idea out, let alone put it together and do it.
I was literally going through the list of Republicans in alphabetical order, calling the offices that I have previously called. The staffers were very nice, and seemed to like the idea, but I did not know, and I still don't know, if any of my messages were forwarded.
When I got to the J's and called Sam Johnson's office the lady who answered the phone told me it was over. She said that they had already turned off the lights, cameras, and microphones. My heart sank.
"You mean they can't stay? Even if they WANT to stay, they can't stay?" I asked.
She just repeated that the lights and microphones were off. I could not believe that the Congressmen could be kicked off of the House floor. I almost gave up. But something in me told me to keep trying. Yes, I am a tad persistent.
Next, I called Kingston's office. WOW! The lady in his office said, yes honey, the lights and microphones are off, but the Republicans are down there raising a raucous. I was so excited! She said "I don't know if they'll get them to turn them back on, but they are down there trying." I thanked her and told her I would try and get the word out.
I immediately went to the best source I knew to get this kind of news out the quickest way possible!
I jumped on my computer and went to Free Republic web site and posted a thread. Here is a link to that article
It became such big news that the Moderators ended up moving it into the Breaking News column in the side margin to give it the most exposure and as time went on, they made some additions. But my original post was this:
CSPAN has shut down coverage of the House. The lights have been turned out.House Republicans are still there, raising cain- trying to get them to turn the lights back on and continue debating over drilling!!!
CALL THE REPUBLICAN OFFICES-- TELL THEM TO KEEP RAISING CAIN!!!!
WE CANNOT LET THE MSM IGNORE THIS!!!!
as you know-- the MSM is the "Main Stream Media"
I also went over to the Rush Limbaugh daily thread and let those folks know what was going on.
I kept urging people to call Washington and encourage the Republicans to STAY!! and we would do our best to make the media cover it.
After 1:00 pm-- Rush Limbaugh mentioned it. Folks were not only calling DC, but they were calling FOX News asking them why they weren't covering it.
Soon- the story was exploding all over the internet. Politico.com started to cover it, Drudge started covering it. Other bloggers were posting information as they were getting it. It was AMAZING!
At 2:00, I jumped onto BlogTalkRadio and called into a friend's show to tell him what was going on. WE BROKE THIS STORY ON ON INTERNET RADIO! He took everything he was going to talk about, shoved it to the side, and we all started covering this story.
You can listen to that show here.
At 3:00, Media Lizzy has her show. We called into her show, and before the end of her show she actually had Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor on her show doing an interview! Media Lizzy is a very well known and very well connected Blog Talk Host. She is the voice of the right on Internet Radio, and one very classy woman. You can hear her show here.
I also covered this on my show Friday night instead of the topics I had researched and planned. You even called into the show!! Here is a link for that show.
Sean Hannity talked about it on his show, Mark Levin, etc....
Here are some of the details that folks may not know, but NEED to know about what happened Friday.
Tom Price and Mike Pence had already lined about 100 Republicans that would each give a 5 minute speech about the energy issue once the last vote was done. They had planned to stay on the floor through til midnight. But Nancy Pelosi pulled a stunt unlike any we have ever seen before. She did a QUICK adjournment without warning to the Republicans. She ordered the cameras out, the lights out, and the microphones off.
About 50 Republicans stayed! The Gallery was filling up, the American people were cheering and giving standing ovations; it was an historical event.
Representative Shadegg was playing with the equipment and managed to get the lights and microphones back on. There was a boy scout troop in the audience, and other folks in town were lining up to come in. Folks were calling CSPAN asking them why they weren't covering this, and they were responding that they could not turn the cameras back on without Pelosi's permission.
Once they adjourn, they can leave it they like, but to shut down the cameras and microphones, and turn off the lights so that the American people cannot hear their Representatives is truly fascist! This is the same woman who promised an OPEN House. She continually blocks bills from even coming out of committe for a vote, but THIS is an absolute abuse of power. A senior staffer called the Republicans morons for showing resolve to do what their constituents have elected them to do.
The staffers answering phones for Republicans were thrilled to have us calling and were very surprised, wanting to know how we even knew about it.
We bombarded Pelosi's office with calls to turn the lights, microphones, and cameras back on. The staffers answering the phones for Pelosi actually hung up on one caller.
When everyone was finally escorted out, the people exited shouting USA! USA! USA! and singing "God Bless America!"
Does the speaker have control over all that?
Thank you —
BUT THE REAL THANKS IS TO YOU!!!
YOU PROVIDE US WITH THIS PLACE!!
YOU PROVIDE THE MAIN STREET MEDIA A VOICE
and a place to REACH PEOPLE!!
YOU MY SIR_ RAWK THE HOUSE!!!
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Thank you so much for doing this great service. Through your efforts we were able to show that Republicans still have a backbone. Anyway, where does you show air? On the internet, or somewhere in GA : )?
Great tagline, and you prove its truth. Thank you for the daily phone calls to D.C., and for planting the seed for the idea of this revolt in the House. I haven't had this much FUN on FR in a long time.
Because of your live threads, I called my Congress Critter's office Friday while she was still in D.C. and the revolt had just begun. I was told she was still nearby, but hadn't rejoined the House members speaking on the floor. I let them know people all across the nation, using the internet and new media, were watching what they were doing and would remember who was and wasn't there. I encouraged her to be counted.
My (R) Congress Critter left town anyway. I've since called her local office every day and will continue to do so. What I've been doing is asking "Is my representative back in D.C. yet to speak on the House floor?" Each day I give them some new bit of information, usually something I learn from your live thread. Today it was about how Newt Gingrich is coming to the House to meet with members of Congress. When they say "no, she won't be there", I say (with disappointment in my voice) "Ah, that's too bad. I guess this is another day I won't be sending her a campaign contribution."
Also, thanks to your live thread, I was #964 on Cantor's petition, sent it around to my email list who sent it to their own, and this is how we make things happen. Your live threads are wonderful, entertaining and informative. Thank you for all you do, you've made a difference.
thank you....
I am so humbled by your words, by your encouragement, and sharing it with us.....
WE ALL CAN MOVE THE EARTH!!
Bless you...you literally brought tears to my eyes...
They need to tell pelousi that they’ll wait till Monday, after that they take it to the streets (outside her book signing tour).
I LOVE THAT IDEA!!!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thanks - you deserve a Pulitzer Prize (or whatever prize radio hosts get), someone finally worthy of it.
[Mr] T
Whoop!
HEY THERE!!
;-)
BTTT Rockin’ job, EC!
I was 24,694 this evening.
Thanks for the ping.
BTTT
These events are very encouraging, EC. I pray elected leaders take heart and follow the example of patriots like yourself and the few who stand up against Pelosi.
I called Congresswoman Blackburns’ office and thanked her for doing this. I talked to a staffer but she was very happy to hear from Marshas’ constituents. We need to stay on the media to cover this. There may not be cameras in the building but they can still talk about it.
Way to go, eevil.
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