RNC Tuesday: Top Lines of the Night

I thought Fred Thompson gave a GREAT speech tonight! I finally had the opportunity to hear the full story of John McCain's ordeal in Vietnam - it is an amazing story and I will be forever grateful to McCain for his sacrifice and character in putting Country First. Please read Fred Thompson's speech, McCain's story deserves to be told.

Thompson also went on the attack and served up some delicious red meat to the crowd. My favorite one-liners from Fred Thompson's speech:

• It’s pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, “Who is this man?” and “Can we trust this man with the Presidency?”
  
  
• My friends … that is character you can believe in.
  
  
• The respect he is given around the world is not because of a teleprompter speech designed to appeal to American critics abroad, but because of decades of clearly demonstrated character and statesmanship.
  
  
• To deal with these challenges the Democrats present a history making nominee for president. History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President.
  
  
• Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history.
  
  
• No, they’re just going to tax “businesses”! So unless you buy something from a “business”, like groceries or clothes or gasoline … or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small “business”, don’t worry … it’s not going to affect you.
  
  
• And we need a President who doesn’t think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade.

After Thompson;s rousing speech, Joe Lieberman came on stage and initially seemed to suck the life out of the auditorium. It was a tough act to follow, but eventually Lieberman hit his stride. He went after his Senate colleague and former fellow party-member Obama directly which I found to be slightly surprising. Here are my favorite Lieberman lines:

• I’m here to support John McCain because country matters more than party.

• Both presidential candidates this year talk about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and special interests that are poisoning our politics. But only one of them has actually done it.

• My Democratic friends know all about John’s record of independence and accomplishment. Maybe that’s why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince voters that John McCain is someone else.

• Eloquence is no substitute for a record — not in these tough times.
  
  
• In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.
  
  
• The McCain-Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year.
  
  
• When others wanted to retreat in defeat from the field of battle, when Barack Obama was voting to cut off funding for our troops on the ground, John McCain had the courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge, and because of that, today, our troops are at last beginning to come home, not in failure, but in honor!

All in all a great night of speeches - the Republican base is pumped up and hopes to have attracted undecided voters with Lieberman's appeal to independents and Thompson's focus on character. Can't wait until tomorrow night!

Pelosi in the Pocket of "Big Alt"

While Nancy Pelosi called House Republicans in the #dontgo movement, (aka Texas Tea Party, aka phantom Congress, aka whatever-you-want,) "the handmaidens of the oil companies," it appears that she herself is a handmaiden to alternative fuels. More specifically: T. Boone Pickens' corp.


It has come to light that she has invested $50,000-$100,000 in the very technology she now attempts to impose on the American people; technology that stands to benefit from high gas prices and which will in turn benefit her. No wonder she refuses to hold a vote on a comprehensive energy plan that includes offshore drilling. Or as she says, it's all in the name of "trying to save the planet."
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What I Saw at the #dontgo Revolution

After being captivated by the #dontgo revolution online, I was finally able to see it in person yesterday on the House Floor thanks to a few friends on the Hill. The following is a detailed account of my 2+ hours at the scene of the revolution for those who aren't able to come to DC to get a taste of what it's like.

We went in via the Republican Cloakroom where I had to leave my purse. The cloakroom is pretty small, with chairs lined up against the wall for half the room, a couple of computers labeled "for member use only," 2 tvs and a kitchenette. First person I saw upon entering: Robert Bluey! Great to meet him.

Got to the floor around 12:45pm and sat on the right side of the aisle (which was packed) while Rep. David Davis (R-TN) was wrapping up. There was a sign on a podium next to him that said, "NANCY PELOSI, WE'RE HERE, WHERE ARE YOU?"

Next up was Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) who has done great work on this issue (see him knocking on the door to the Dem cloak room demanding a vote here).
From my notes - no tape recorder and I had some trouble writing fast enough so it may not be 100% accurate:

• He told the audience Montana is the "energy warehouse of America" and they want the ability to use it. He wants "American solutions" so we "dont have to rely on our enemies."


• Congress shouldn't be able to "pick [energy] winners and losers or we're all losers"


• Montana has 4.3 million barrels of oil (?) but we "need pipelines and refineries" to make use of it, while we've "let Canada take over our energy production," we need to "develop our own American solutions"


• American Energy Act - conservation, technology, alternatives, AND fossil fuels


• Democrats say the House Republicans are grandstanding, but "if I have to grandstand to draw attention to a problem they refuse to solve" he will


• Pelosi isn't here, would "rather be at a book signing in San Fransisco"


• ended to standing O and chants of "VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!"
  

John Doolittle (R-CA) was next to speak. He talked about the history of the House, how it used to be lit by gas. Said if we opened up more drilling the "effect on prices would be immediate." Democrats are so afraid of drilling and a vote on energy they have held up appropriations bills. On drilling and phantom session: "Why not here, why not now, why not more America forward here and now?!"

Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Democrat criticism that this is all just a political stunt: "If you're going to pull a political stunt, do you do it in a darkened chamber" without microphones and television cameras? He brought up a father and son from North Carolina who drove up to DC that morning to see a part of history in the House. They wanted to know why their congressman Brad Miller was not there [answer: because he's a Democrat]

Unfortunately, I missed Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) speak with her props. I heard a lot of clapping and cheering.

Caught the tail end of Rep. Ron Lewis' (R-KY) speech: "Let us Vote, let the American people have a voice" let's "stand up as Americans" not Democrats and Republicans.

Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) mentioned Pelosi's live webchat online that day, how important pieces of legislation like the Monkey Safety Act has been passed but no vote on drilling.

• On Dem claims that they support drilling: "Democrats are for drilling, just not where the gas and oil is"


• On Obama tire gauge idea: "If that's your only plan you don't have much of a plan"


• When Republicans were in control of the House, they passed and sent drilling legislation to the Senate: "I was for drilling before drilling was cool, I was for nuclear before nuclear was cool, and I was for alternatives before alternatives were cool."


• Upon wild applause: "The Speaker would tell the gallery not to applaud but the Speaker's not here so you can do whatever you want"

Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) to crowd "You are witnessing something extraordinary" the House is normally empty in the summer, but "lucky you, you get to hear all of us talk."

• "What country would say, 'we have billions of oil and natural gas but we're just going to leave it in the ground and buy oil from people who hate us'?"


• Analogy - If you have an orange grove in your yard, why would you buy oranges from your neighbor who raises prices and doesn't like you?


• "We're here because no matter who you are in America, even the Speaker of the House, you can't stop free speech!"


• On environmental concerns: "We're letting Russia, Saudi Arabia, African countries, Venezuela to drill for oil - do we think they would be more environmentally sensitive than the US?"


• We're spending "$1.2 billion a day to foreign countries for oil," if we instead paid American workers it would help the economy, jobs, etc.


• Predicts "if Pelosi gets her way and we do nothing, some airlines will go bankrupt or fold"


• Wants to renew solar and wind tax credits, wants "all of the above" energy policy - biomaps, geothermal, solar, wind, and FOSSIL FUEL

During Shadegg's talk Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) interrupted with parliamentary procedure to ask "Didn't we ask Saudi Arabia to pump more oil?" "Yes." And introducted Abby, a girl that looked about 10 years old, who had been on the Floor watching the speakers since 10am that day.

Shadegg had sign that said:

AMERICAN MADE ENERGY MEANS:

• LOWER GAS PRICES


• GREATER NATIONAL SECURITY


• AMERICAN JOBS


• STRONGER ECONOMY

After that I went to a press conference right outside the House Chamber and was able to twitter furiously while the Representatives were speaking as cell phones were allowed in that area. My tweets:

At press conference Shays speaking - NEers [New Englanders] get oil from offshore but from Canada - why not USA (paraphrased) #dontgo 01:49 PM August 06, 2008 from txt

Garrett plugs Painatthepump@mail.house.gov Send in your stories #Dontgo 01:51 PM August 06, 2008 from txt

Virginia Foxx - Pelosi tried to shut us down Friday but it has had the opposite effect #dontgo 01:53 PM August 06, 2008 from txt

All in all a great experience that I hope continues for the next several weeks. Get down there if you can and be a part of history!

#dontgo revolution!

I know Rep. Mike Pence says this isn't a revolt, it's "democracy in action," but it's just so much more fun to say it's a revolution! I haven't blogged the last two days because I've been caught up in microblogging on Twitter - Follow me! The #dontgo movement has consumed all my online time.

It all started on Friday when House Republicans refused to go home after the Democratic Majority shut down the House for a 5 week recess. Going on without microphones, cameras, and sometimes even lights, Republicans are demanding that the House reconvene to vote on offshore drilling. Republicans gave speeches until 5pm on Friday and are continuing all week on the Floor. I tried to go to the Hill today, but they ended early at 3pm. I will try again sometime tomorrow when they begin at 11am. This is a great issue that is really getting the base energized and putting Democrats on the defensive.

Now, why did Democrats shut down the House on Friday without holding a vote or opening debate, you may ask? Because they know they would lose! The American people are sick and tired of gas being $4 a gallon! The Democrats promised energy relief but instead their two years controlling Congress has increased the cost of gas at the pump by nearly $2.

Of course, Nancy Pelosi and her minions are trying to dismiss the "drill here, drill now" crowd by saying that we won't see any benefit for 10 years. Well, you liberals said the same exact thing over 10 years ago. Also, as we saw when President Bush lifted the executive order off the offshore drilling ban, just the speculation of drilling for oil in America makes the price go down. We can see immediate relief just by talking about it and working towards it.

The Republicans have an "all of the above" energy plan that includes drilling along with conservation, alternative fuels, etc. Why are the Democrats so against drilling in our own country that they won't even allow a vote on it? Why are they pushing Saudi Arabia to drill more and increase production when we can do it ourselves? And don't even get me started on their opposition to nuclear power...

RELATED POST: Idiot Pelosi Passes Buck on Energy Mess HER Party Continues to Prolong
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