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."
.

Live at the #dontgo Revolution, Part 2

I had the opportunity to get back to the House Floor today. Saw several bloggers in the cloak room. Seemed like there were a lot more people coming in and out today. Highlights:

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Florida):

• Democrats are being held back, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) will not allow them to come back to the House floor to speak and they are afraid of retribution. It will take
  
• Alaskans want drilling, why can't they decide when Florida was allowed to?
• This session is unusual - "usually standing in an empty chamber" giving speeches but now "can look out in to the chamber and see the faces of America."
  
• "Democrats and Republicans to make sure America can sustain itself"
  

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Indiana):

• We shouldn't be supporting Venezuela which funds enemies of democracy with our money (25% of our oil is from Venezuela.) Shouldn't have to be afraid of Saudis, Russia-Georgia, Iran-Israel wars.
  
• It’s not “why don’t ‘they’ do something about it,” 'they' is us - you and me. YOU do something about it: call 202-225-4131 and tell Democrats to come back to the House to vote on energy.
  
• Pelosi is the “only person who’s stopping us from any movement on energy independence.” Thinks there are at least 50 Democrats willing to vote to approve drilling.
• We "said 30 years ago we'd be independent, how will things we in the future" if we still aren't? “We need to do the right things today to protect the future of America.”
  
• Will fight continuing resolution to stop ban.
  

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) was the MC, introducing each speaker:

• Noted that it has been one full week of “unprecedented” action on the House Floor.
  
• Says the reason Republicans are doing this is because "Congress shouldn’t take a five week paid vacation when Americans can’t take a vacation from gas prices."
• It is a "priviledge" to see American people on the House floor.
  
• Believes if Congress came back a bipartisan majority would vote for energy and opening up drilling.
  
• On Russia-Georgia news: "American people need a strategy so we're not dependent on most volatile part of world."

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Virginia):

• "Never been more concerned about the future of this country ... things are not going well and energy is a large portion of what is wrong." $9 trillion debt, $53 trillion in unbunded obligations.
  
• China, with its legacy of human rights abuses - Tibet, arresting Christians, funding and arming Darfur janjaweed, spying and hacking American computers - may be able to drill offshore Cuba, but we are not.

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania):

• Told stories of his constituents’ troubles with cost of energy. Old woman in grocery store - price of food and gas has gone up and she's "scared to death about her home heating bill." Dairy farmer - "cost of fuel, fertilizer, everything up 30, 40% and it's crushing him." Painter - made 2 estimates on one project: Last year was $10,000, this year $15,000 and the person couldn't afford it.
• Pelosi said Republicans would have to use their imaginations to get a vote. He never imagined the "most productive and ethical Congress" that Pelosi declared would shut down Congress, have closed rules, shut out voices. Of 300 bills passed, 105 were naming buildings or post offices. He "would like to imagine that Congress will come back" next week and lift the moratorium
  
• “When the world sees America is serious about energy, the markets will respond and we will decrease dependence on foreign oil.”
  
• Americans have the "right to call their representatives and demand they get back to Washington to work and they have the right to vote against those who don’t respond to the will of the American people" in November.
  
• Showed The NO Zone map of where it is illegal for America to drill (see above)

Rep. John Porter (R-Nevada):

• Speaker Pelosi’s private jet costs $50,000 to fly from San Fransisco to DC and burns 11,000 gallons of jet fuel. The rest of us are suffering from higher cost of living and lower quality of life.
• We said in the 70's we wouldn't be held hostage by OPEC and our enemies, but we've gone from importing 30% of our oil to 70%.
• On teletown hall, a woman who lived through WWII said back then "we rolled up our sleeves and survived... didn't just talk, did something." "We must announce drilling now to show the world we mean business....By hook or by crood we can get it done.... Wake up, America. We can win this war like we won WWII.... Do it all and do it now." (all of this from constituent)
  

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
.