The Republicans are Staging a Revolt on the U.S. House Floor (Update – it’s over…well, for now.)

3:00 PM EST:: The Dems want to close the session without voting on Drilling. The Republicans won’t let them. Listen in and watch on Qik, here (or below), and watch Culbertson’s Twitter updates here.

From Tex: Call President Bush, and ask him to hold a press conference: (202) 456-1111; Minority Leader Boehner: (202) 225-6205; Speaker Pelosi: (202) 225-0100

Here’s a show on BTR you can listen to: Snooper

Malkin has updates, here.

Live update thread on Free Republic.

---

3:15 PM EST:: Police are gathering outside the house floor.

3:20 PM EST:: Lizzy’s on it, now, live…Pelosi has turned off the cameras.

---

Related, Snooper, over at A Newt One has posted the following:

MOTTO: INFLATE THIS SENATOR OBAMA

The people of the A Newt One Blog have begun to spearhead a campaign in support of Sen Barack Hussein Obama (sarcasm, naturally).

We are asking one and all to go to your nearest WalMart, KMart, convenience store or auto motive supply store and buy the cheapest air pressure gauge that you can find and send it to Sen Barack Hussein Obama.

TO: Sen Barack Obama – 713 Hart Senate Building – Washington, DC – 20510

MOTTO: INFLATE THIS SENATOR OBAMA

---

3:30 PM EST:: Pizza’s are arriving, and the Republican Reps and their staffers are in this for the long haul – they’re not going home without a vote!

---

3:30 PM EST:: Traffic around the Whitehouse is a nightmare – this is still not on T.V..

---

3:45 PM EST:: Wake Up America has updates, and so does The Crypt:

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 A. 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 they 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 was witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left…(more)

---

3:55 PM EST:: FoxNews is now on the scene…they’re reporting that cameras still aren’t allowed on the floor or in chambers. We’ll post a link when it’s available. Also, Pelosi’s camp has put out a statement calling this just a “stunt” by the Republicans…Media Lizzy just read it on her show, and has posted it to her blog:

Republicans must think that Big Oil is paying them by the hour. Just like their energy plan, this is just another hoax they are pulling on the American people. Republicans have no real plan to lead our country toward energy independence, and that is why they are refusing to go home.

---

4:05 PM EST:: FoxNews Radio now has live updates. Find a station in your area, here.

Malkin: Pelosi wants the Republicans arrested. Malkin also has this:

From: Stipicevic, John
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 11:39 AM
Subject: WHIP FLOOR UPDATE

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 taxpayers 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.

---

4:05 PM EST: – Tex: Capitol police are under strict orders to shut down the Capitol at 4:30pm today.

Malkin has more, here.

---

4:30 PM EST: There are chants of VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
on the floor.

BTW Eeeevil Conservative is our new hero. Listen to her tell her story about how she started all of this, on BTR, here.

---

4:35 PM EST: FoxNews is apparently on the floor, and there will be a news conference shortly.

4:35 PM EST: from The Crypt, which has been blogging this live:

No shirt? No tie? No problem.

Michigan Republican Mike Rogers returned to the House floor in shorts and sandals to take his turn at the podium, as the Republican talkathon continues on the House floor, hours after the chamber formally recessed for the week.

Looking like he was ready for the links in a pair of cargo shorts and a short-sleeve shirt, Rogers said he was preparing to drive back to Michigan when he pulled a U-turn and headed back into town.

“I had gotten in my car to drive home and I realized I didn’t have enough money to pay for the first tank of gas,” said Rogers….(more)

---

Media Lizzy just got word that Cantor is going to be on her show, shortly…she’s gone into overtime. Listen in, here (Update 5pm EST: Cantor is talking to Lizzy, now!)

There is still no T.V. coverage of this, because Pelosi still has the cameras shut down…the lights have been on and off.

---

5:00 PM EST: I’m going offline for a bit, now. Please continue to follow updates on Media Lizzy’s show, on Michelle Malkin, and on The Crypt.

Also, continue to call your local reps, and all President Bush, and ask him to hold a press conference: (202) 456-1111; Minority Leader Boehner: (202) 225-6205; Speaker Pelosi: (202) 225-0100

---

From The Crypt:

It’s Over

Right at the stroke of 5, Georgia Rep. Tom Price announced that House Republicans were stopping their impromptu protest on the floor of the chamber, ending a five-plus-hour mock rebellion with a round of “God Bless America.”

The assembled tourists, aides and members in the chamber gave Price and his compatriots a standing ovation. They left the chamber to shouts of “USA! USA! USA!”

Oh, this is sooooooo NOT OVER! (Enjoy your tax-payer funded vacations, folks…)