House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking

[Keeko]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.
At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones were turned on shortly afterward.
But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.
Only about a half-dozen Republicans were on the floor when this began, but the crowd has grown to about 20 now, according to Patrick O'Connor.
"This is the people's House," Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."
Democratic aides were furious at the GOP stunt, and reporters were kicked out of the Speaker's Lobby, the space next to the House floor where they normally interview lawmakers.
"You're not covering this, are you?" complaing one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans "morons" for staying on the floor.
Update - The Capitol Police are now trying to kick reporters out of the press gallery above the floor, meaning we can't watch the Republicans anymore. But Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is now in the gallery talking to reporters, so the cops have held off for a minute. Clearly, Democrats don't want Republicans getting any press for this episode. GOP leaders are trying to find other Republicans to rotate in for Blunt so reporters aren't kicked out.
Update 2 - This message was sent out by Blunt's office:
"Although, this Democrat Majority just Adjourned for the Democrat 5-Week Vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House Floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN camera's have been turned off, House Republicans are on the Floor speaking to the tax payers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican Energy proposals.

All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House Floor."
Update 3 - Democrats just turned out the lights again. Republicans cheered.
Update 4 - Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.
Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again.
"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring...This is a kick."

 

[djv]

A crowd of 20 idiots waisting power by having the lights on. Cost us money for there obsolete views.

 

[djv]

Come on guys just promise all that oil stays here and you can have some more ares. No more 60% USA/40% other counties.

 

[Keeko]

Come on guys just promise all that oil stays here and you can have some more ares. No more 60% USA/40% other counties.

It's called the free market. Increase suppy, lowers demand, therefore lowers price.

 

[Spytheweb]

It's called the free market. Increase suppy, lowers demand, therefore lowers price.

Why haven't this worked with cable tv?

 

[Chadman]

Keeko, if the oil companies were serious about increasing production - and lowering the price of oil - then they could already produce more oil on the 75% of the oil lease land areas they already control that currently are producing no oil.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist - but apparently a common sense individual - to realize the oil companies don't care about reducing the price of oil. But they certainly care alot about getting more places under their control, wherever they may be.

Do you really think the oil companies - and the politicians that fund their places of power - really want their profits to come down? Do you really think they want to actually PRODUCE more oil to reduce the price when it is so high right now? Producing more and getting more supply will do nothing but cost them more while reducing the price - which will affect the bottom line. They can do more with less, which is good business.

What amazes me is that some of you seem to avoid common sense when it comes to this issue - or at least are unable to understand it at all. I know why Wayne supports record profits and benefits to oil companies - he invests in them. And he has a lot of interest in China and investments there, so added supply would also benefit his interests there by helping reduce business costs with lower oil prices.

But the rest of you guys that just pay for gas prices and a quart of oil? Don't you think the oil companies have this game figured out? Do you know who owns much of the ethanol production capability and product right now? It used to be farmer and local investment groups - now it's big oil. How have they been able to make these purchases over the past few years? Or does any of that matter to you?

I guess not, if the alternative is a black man who has a name that he had nothing to do with. That's the REALLY important stuff to rail about...

 

[Keeko]

Keeko, if the oil companies were serious about increasing production - and lowering the price of oil - then they could already produce more oil on the 75% of the oil lease land areas they already control that currently are producing no oil.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist - but apparently a common sense individual - to realize the oil companies don't care about reducing the price of oil. But they certainly care alot about getting more places under their control, wherever they may be.

Do you really think the oil companies - and the politicians that fund their places of power - really want their profits to come down? Do you really think they want to actually PRODUCE more oil to reduce the price when it is so high right now? Producing more and getting more supply will do nothing but cost them more while reducing the price - which will affect the bottom line. They can do more with less, which is good business.

What amazes me is that some of you seem to avoid common sense when it comes to this issue - or at least are unable to understand it at all. I know why Wayne supports record profits and benefits to oil companies - he invests in them. And he has a lot of interest in China and investments there, so added supply would also benefit his interests there by helping reduce business costs with lower oil prices.

But the rest of you guys that just pay for gas prices and a quart of oil? Don't you think the oil companies have this game figured out? Do you know who owns much of the ethanol production capability and product right now? It used to be farmer and local investment groups - now it's big oil. How have they been able to make these purchases over the past few years? Or does any of that matter to you?

I guess not, if the alternative is a black man who has a name that he had nothing to do with. That's the REALLY important stuff to rail about...

Democratic taling points. That's all you have to say. Stop listening to Reid and Pelosi.

 

[Chadman]

Democratic talking points? How so? Any chance you could actually refute any of them, or are you all talking points in your points?

Really don't think you want to go down this road (obviously you don't to actually discuss anything), but I'll ask just the same. I made my points, from personal study, and nothing that Reid or Pelosi had to say. I'm not a fan of either of them, for the most part, for the record.

I was addressing your point, directly. So, if you want to ignore it - that's fine. Carry on...eagerly awaiting your next B.S. one line retort...

 

[Chadman]

The Alaska Drilling Scam

Lies the Oil Companies Peddle

By JAMES ABOUREZK

The current use of mythology in politics is not really new?it has been a tool of politicians for many, many years. For example, gasoline prices shooting beyond four dollars a gallon has paved the way for loud shouting by those pols who side with the oil companies and who are calling for more oil drilling in heretofore prohibited areas in America and off our shores.

Open the ANWR for drilling and our energy problems will be solved, is one of President Bush?s favorite war cries. He has always done what he could for his friends in the oil industry, in particular by very recently canceling an executive order prohibiting drilling in certain offshore areas, claiming, he says, that it will solve our energy problems. Similarly, John McCain, who will run for President as a Republican, has not given up on his proposal to cancel the gasoline tax until the crisis is over with.

All these proposals have some traction because they are riding on the wings of oil mythology, which holds that increasing the supply of oil in America will bring down the prices. The myth has a certain attraction, until, that is, one is able to look behind the myths to see what the truth is.

We should pay attention to the recent statements of T. Boone Pickens, whose marketing of oil has made him a billionaire. ?We can?t drill our way out of this crisis,? he has said in his television commercials advertising his alternative energy plan. Mr. Pickens is no socialist dreamer, but an expert on making money in the oil industry, so there must be something to what he?s saying about oil supply and alternative sources of energy.

One certified, neutral expert on oil supply has said that even if the United States started drilling offshore today, it would be ten years before that supply would come online. Beyond that, Dr. Robert Kaufman of Boston University tells us that there are already approved offshore oil fields that contain more than 40 billion barrels of oil. The problem is the expense of bringing that oil online.

But President Bush?s cry -- and that of the oil industry -- is that we must open up more areas previously off limits offshore oil fields which are prohibited because of environmental concerns, including concerns voiced by California?s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.. Even if the offshore fields were opened today, and if we disregard the danger to the environment, those prohibited areas contain only 18 billion barrels--far less than the areas already opened for drilling.

Any drilling offshore would make only a small difference in supply of oil, from 1 per cent to 4 per cent, according to Dr. Kaufman. The same is true for drilling in Alaska in the heretofore prohibited Wildlife Refuge. Should that drilling be allowed the most America could realize out of that field would be one million barrels a day ten years from now. Because oil is really a fungible product, that is, it can be shipped anywhere on the planet, and because world oil consumption is now 86 million barrels a day, opening up the protected area in Alaska would make almost no difference when one takes into account what will certainly be a world wide decline in production over that ten year period.

Dr. Kaufman also states that the Alaskan pipeline has been amortized over the years and is now fully paid for. Oil coming out of the protected areas in Alaska would have to go through a newly constructed spur pipeline to the already paid for Alaskan pipeline, the result being a massive profit windfall for the industry. Small wonder Big Oil and its allies in the government are clamoring to drill in the ANWR.

Dr. Kaufman, who is not opposed to making money, is very much on target when he says that production of oil, and the shortages we are now facing are not really production problems. They are more a problem of profits for the oil giants. The question that should be asked is not how to find more oil domestically, but how much money can the industry make as a result of its eagerness to drill in protected areas.

He is also on target when he says that should the industry find it can make as much or more money with alternative, clean sources as it can make by drilling expensive holes 20,000 feet deep in the ocean floor, it will switch to clean energy production.

Perhaps if we can find a way for the oil and automobile industry to get rich from such alternative sources, they could then mobilize the politicians who are eager to do favors for them.

 

[Keeko]

The Alaska Drilling Scam

Lies the Oil Companies Peddle

By JAMES ABOUREZK

The current use of mythology in politics is not really new?it has been a tool of politicians for many, many years. For example, gasoline prices shooting beyond four dollars a gallon has paved the way for loud shouting by those pols who side with the oil companies and who are calling for more oil drilling in heretofore prohibited areas in America and off our shores.

Open the ANWR for drilling and our energy problems will be solved, is one of President Bush?s favorite war cries. He has always done what he could for his friends in the oil industry, in particular by very recently canceling an executive order prohibiting drilling in certain offshore areas, claiming, he says, that it will solve our energy problems. Similarly, John McCain, who will run for President as a Republican, has not given up on his proposal to cancel the gasoline tax until the crisis is over with.

All these proposals have some traction because they are riding on the wings of oil mythology, which holds that increasing the supply of oil in America will bring down the prices. The myth has a certain attraction, until, that is, one is able to look behind the myths to see what the truth is.

We should pay attention to the recent statements of T. Boone Pickens, whose marketing of oil has made him a billionaire. ?We can?t drill our way out of this crisis,? he has said in his television commercials advertising his alternative energy plan. Mr. Pickens is no socialist dreamer, but an expert on making money in the oil industry, so there must be something to what he?s saying about oil supply and alternative sources of energy.

One certified, neutral expert on oil supply has said that even if the United States started drilling offshore today, it would be ten years before that supply would come online. Beyond that, Dr. Robert Kaufman of Boston University tells us that there are already approved offshore oil fields that contain more than 40 billion barrels of oil. The problem is the expense of bringing that oil online.

But President Bush?s cry -- and that of the oil industry -- is that we must open up more areas previously off limits offshore oil fields which are prohibited because of environmental concerns, including concerns voiced by California?s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.. Even if the offshore fields were opened today, and if we disregard the danger to the environment, those prohibited areas contain only 18 billion barrels--far less than the areas already opened for drilling.

Any drilling offshore would make only a small difference in supply of oil, from 1 per cent to 4 per cent, according to Dr. Kaufman. The same is true for drilling in Alaska in the heretofore prohibited Wildlife Refuge. Should that drilling be allowed the most America could realize out of that field would be one million barrels a day ten years from now. Because oil is really a fungible product, that is, it can be shipped anywhere on the planet, and because world oil consumption is now 86 million barrels a day, opening up the protected area in Alaska would make almost no difference when one takes into account what will certainly be a world wide decline in production over that ten year period.

Dr. Kaufman also states that the Alaskan pipeline has been amortized over the years and is now fully paid for. Oil coming out of the protected areas in Alaska would have to go through a newly constructed spur pipeline to the already paid for Alaskan pipeline, the result being a massive profit windfall for the industry. Small wonder Big Oil and its allies in the government are clamoring to drill in the ANWR.

Dr. Kaufman, who is not opposed to making money, is very much on target when he says that production of oil, and the shortages we are now facing are not really production problems. They are more a problem of profits for the oil giants. The question that should be asked is not how to find more oil domestically, but how much money can the industry make as a result of its eagerness to drill in protected areas.

He is also on target when he says that should the industry find it can make as much or more money with alternative, clean sources as it can make by drilling expensive holes 20,000 feet deep in the ocean floor, it will switch to clean energy production.

Perhaps if we can find a way for the oil and automobile industry to get rich from such alternative sources, they could then mobilize the politicians who are eager to do favors for them.

Hamas and Hezbollah

In an interview with Counterpunch on April 16, 2006, Abourezk called the groups Hamas and Hezbollah "resistance fighters". [2] He repeated this statement in a 2007 interview on Hezbollah's Al Manar television network and stated that that he "marveled at the Hezbollah resistance to Israel. ... It was a marvel of organization, of courage and bravery [3]. He has consistently likened the actions of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders to the actions conducted by distinguished Israelis like Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir, who led militant organisations (Begin was head of Irgun, Shamir was head of the Stern Gang) in the struggle for Israeli independence throughout the 1940s.

Give me a break!

 

[The Sponge]

He is also on target when he says that should the industry find it can make as much or more money with alternative, clean sources as it can make by drilling expensive holes 20,000 feet deep in the ocean floor, it will switch to clean energy production.

Perhaps if we can find a way for the oil and automobile industry to get rich from such alternative sources, they could then mobilize the politicians who are eager to do favors for them.

Let me the first to go on record as saying if this ever happens, the same idiots who are running around crying for us to drill would now become global warming experts and try to tell a guy like me that we need to get off oil immediately.

 

[Chadman]

I see, so instead of discussing the points and issues, you feverishly google an author and seek to change the subject.

No problem, right out of the playbook. I don't really need you to discuss this, I'm comfortable with the common sense take on things that is presented here. I realize how difficult the subject matter is for you to handle...

 

[Keeko]

I see, so instead of discussing the points and issues, you feverishly google an author and seek to change the subject.

No problem, right out of the playbook. I don't really need you to discuss this, I'm comfortable with the common sense take on things that is presented here. I realize how difficult the subject matter is for you to handle...

How do you debate with someone who posts an article by a guy that thinks that Hamas and Hezbollah are resistance fighters, and not only posts it, but obviously believes what the moron says. I can't debate someone like that. It's pointless.

 

[Chadman]

That's fine, I don't have to deal with that post, nor did I know much about the author of the article, just found the subject matter of interest and on point.

I'd happily listen to anything you can say regarding my points, which were original from the post earlier - that you could only bluster something of no worth about dem talking points. Apparently, you will look for any loophole when it comes to anything longer than a flippant ignoring comment, which is all you can seem to muster, other than your copy and pastes.

I won't hold my breath, waiting for your response to my thoughts, though, it's easier to avoid them, I realize. Carry on.

 

[Keeko]

Keeko, if the oil companies were serious about increasing production - and lowering the price of oil - then they could already produce more oil on the 75% of the oil lease land areas they already control that currently are producing no oil.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist - but apparently a common sense individual - to realize the oil companies don't care about reducing the price of oil. But they certainly care alot about getting more places under their control, wherever they may be.

Do you really think the oil companies - and the politicians that fund their places of power - really want their profits to come down? Do you really think they want to actually PRODUCE more oil to reduce the price when it is so high right now? Producing more and getting more supply will do nothing but cost them more while reducing the price - which will affect the bottom line. They can do more with less, which is good business.

What amazes me is that some of you seem to avoid common sense when it comes to this issue - or at least are unable to understand it at all. I know why Wayne supports record profits and benefits to oil companies - he invests in them. And he has a lot of interest in China and investments there, so added supply would also benefit his interests there by helping reduce business costs with lower oil prices.

But the rest of you guys that just pay for gas prices and a quart of oil? Don't you think the oil companies have this game figured out? Do you know who owns much of the ethanol production capability and product right now? It used to be farmer and local investment groups - now it's big oil. How have they been able to make these purchases over the past few years? Or does any of that matter to you?

I guess not, if the alternative is a black man who has a name that he had nothing to do with. That's the REALLY important stuff to rail about...

As for the leases that are in the hands of the oil companies right now. Why should they drill on land that will not produce oil or enough oil to be profitable and have an impact on the market. The democrats want you to believe that the oil companies have land that they can drill on but they choose not to for the reason that they just want more land. I don't believe that. I believe that the democrats are controlled by enviromentalists. You know the nuts who think man kind is the cause of global warming, when it is commonly know that the earth goes through warming and cooling constantly. But you keep believeing that democrats want to lower the price of oil, and it is the fault of big oil, that the prices are so high. It was obama who said he has no problem with the price of gas, he just wished that it would have happened more gradual. Just what people want to hear when they are struggling to buy $4 gas.

The other point that you were trying to make is a point that every Lib and Dem makes when they say anything bad about BO or speak out against him in every way. You call them a racist. Well number one, you never met me so for you to call me that is pretty ignorant of you. For all you know I could be black. I'm not, but I am just making a point that for you to call me or accuse me being a racist is pretty ignorant. And honestl, all the libs and dems, should not throw that name around so freely like you guys tend to do. I think you need to look at who the real racist is and that would be Obama. He is the one who sat in a church for 20 years and listened to all that anti white and anti american shit that Rev. Wright was preaching. A church that teaches Black liberation theology, by James cone. You should do some research on both of those. I think you will be shocked by what you find out.

I don't like Obama, not because he is black, that has nothing to do with it. I don't like him because I am a conservative, and I disagree with him on just about everything. I don't agree with any of his positions on anything, although I am glad he changed his stance on FISA. If Obama was like let's sat Colin Powell or Condi Rice or Michael Steele, I would have no problem supporting them because they are conservatives, and by the way they are all black.

 

[Trench]

So... Congress adjourned, as scheduled. Then 529 members (282 Democrats, 245 Republicans and 2 Independents) then turned out the lights, turned off the microphones and went home. Six Republicans stayed behind to put on a clown show. They knew no legislation could be considered without a quorum, so they played to the cameras for a few minutes, then they went home too. Not only did the Democrats leave these clowns in the dark but so did 245 of their fellow Republicans. Do I have that about right??

Now please correct me if I'm wrong, but George --Republican-- Bush is still President and he can order Congress back into session any time he wants. So why isn't he supporting this clown show by doing just that? Is this all the Republican party has left -- Clown Shows??

Trench

 

[Jabberwocky]

I believe that the democrats are controlled by enviromentalists. You know the nuts who think man kind is the cause of global warming, when it is commonly know that the earth goes through warming and cooling constantly.

It's not that you are fvcking stupid kookoo, it's just that you are tragicaclly fvcking dumb. You and IO should hang out, you are two idiots in a pod, Oops, I meant to say peas.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Honestly, you need to go find the mage and wizard boy, and skull****, and find the nearest cliff. It is idiots like you that me me think we need to rework the jim crowe laws. Total fvcking morons.

 

[Keeko]

I believe that the democrats are controlled by enviromentalists. You know the nuts who think man kind is the cause of global warming, when it is commonly know that the earth goes through warming and cooling constantly.

It's not that you are fvcking stupid kookoo, it's just that you are tragicaclly fvcking dumb. You and IO should hang out, you are two idiots in a pod, Oops, I meant to say peas.

Name calling. Now that is mature.:mj07:

 

[Keeko]

Honestly, you need to go find the mage and wizard boy, and skull****, and find the nearest cliff. It is idiots like you that me me think we need to rework the jim crowe laws. Total fvcking morons.

More name calling. :mj07: