Republican House Party – For the People - By the People

It is generally agreed that the average American family is worried about the price of gas and oil (heating fuel) – they also heavily (70%+) favor domestic drilling in order to try and stop what has become a national energy crisis. To date it has appeared that no-one in government was willing to do anything but talk - until yesterday. The House Republicans responded to the needs of the people and stayed in session, despite Nancy Pelosi, house speaker, who decided to cut the people’s needs short. She called the House into recess at approximately 11:30 AM in order to begin her 5 week vacation. For weeks the GOP legislatures have been lobbying to get the speaker to allow a vote to lift the Congressional Offshore Drilling Ban, but Pelosi, in a pure party fashion, stonewalled to the end. When asked about offshore drilling in a recent interview, she quipped: "I will not ... give the administration an excuse for its failure.”

In other words Pelosi will squash any bill that would help the American people, if that bill would make a Republican look good. Pelosi had the power to keep the house in session and bring this issue to a vote. She did not do so because she feared that members of her own party (which currently holds a decent majority but consists of those Democrats who still care about country over party) would vote to lift the oil drilling ban, further damaging the image of an all-powerful speaker.

The Republican minority felt that this issue, so important to the American people, required action. They stayed in session long after Ms. Pelosi made C-SPAN (owned and operated by the American People) shut down their cameras, shut off the house lights, turned off the microphones, and called security.(Stalin anyone?). The Republicans stayed in sessions – ordered up pizzas and kept on talking – in the dark – for the people. This was an historic revolt by a major political party in the best interest of the people – against a party that now is vested in tyranny. John Culbertson, Republican, 7th District Texas, recorded the proceedings (clips shown below) in order to bring attention to the plight of the people and the ridiculous actions of the current Speaker.

Culbertson has come under fire recently from Pelosi and other Democrats for using the Internet as a way to communicate with his constituents. The Complaint: “Current rules "have been interpreted to prohibit (House) members from posting official content outside of the House.gov domain," - this by Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass. with the full support of anti-free speech speaker Pelosi. The New York Times agreed with Pelosi and Company, yet, Culbertson has persisted in communicating with the people. Apparently, communicating with constituents by what-ever means necessary is not in the best interest of certain Democrats, especially when they are working contrary to the peoples interest and have imposed a virtual media blackout.

The House Republicans were finally forced to vacate at the close of day – only one person would have been able to keep that house in session and that was George W. Bush. Monday Morning Quarterbacking is called for: Regardless of how much calling Congress back into session (power granted the president under the Constitution), would have put the spotlight on the Republican Party at its best - George Bush had in his grasp the ability to do something for the country (and yes, stick it to Nancy Pelosi at the same time) - an opportunity that has passed. One has to believe that John McCain would have handled this a bit differently – calling the Congress back into session and putting an end to Ms. Pelosi’s 5 week vacation plans – in order to give the people a voice!

Of course, in all fairness, Bush may be letting nature take its course (acting instead of reacting). In a year that Democrats were handed an election on every level, they have systemically set the stage for a Republican run. Even Obama smells the political opportunity as he is ready to shift his position (yet again) on offshore drilling , possibly after the election. A recent article from the Financial Times headlines: “Democrats anxious for Obama to widen lead”- the article cites those nasty McCain ads and the fact that Obama “thinks very highly of himself” as the reason the latest polls are one point apart and closing. What they fail to see is a base that has started to warm to John McCain, in spite of differences - and Obama has yet to win over the hearts and minds of Clinton supporters - and has apparently begun to alienate others in his party (Washington Post on Obama Hecklers). The Democrats in the House and Senate need to take a long look at their own polls, never mind Obama. One must conclude, therefore, that a race which was considered “in the bag”, is now up for grabs and should the Democrats continue to thwart the will of the people in their own self-interest, Republicans will be celebrating Christmas in November.