I watched with laughter the other night when House Republicans began to hijack the Chamber Floor for some sort of publicity stunt. It was hard to make out what exactly was going on but it appeared they were mad the House had adjourned without taking up a solution to our energy problem, namely high gas prices.
From 1995 until 2007 the GOP controlled the House of Representatives. Not one time did they try to do anything to solve our energy problems. Not one time did they try to lift the ban on offshore drilling. Not one time did they even entertain the existence of an impending doom on our addiction to foreign oil. They were focused first on impeaching Clinton and second on lining the pockets of their donor lobbyists which also happen to be Big Oil. Now that they are not in power and have very little control over legislation they want America to believe they care about their needs and their struggles.
To demonstrate how much they care right before their kumbayah party the Republicans voted largely in favor of a spending bill containing 510 earmarks. What happened to the moratorium Republicans were wanting placed on pork spending? Must have slipped their minds. I'm sure they will remember it again when they are out campaigning. Then Fox News orchestrates some sort of circle jerk where GOP members would remain on the House Floor after adjournment, and just right after passing 510 earmarks, to protest Congress' inaction on gas prices. The solution Republicans favor is more drilling so their campaign donors can make the biggest profits in world history.
Knowing full well that they had ample opportunity to open ANWR and offshore areas to drilling just last year and that absolutely nothing could be accomplished without the Speaker present; however, that didn't stop them from hijacking the House Floor and popping boners to what they called "2008 version of the Boston Tea Party."
There's no doubt Republicans wanted to give off the impression that the Dems had shut down government, similar to what the GOP did in 1995 that backfired greatly, and give off the impression that they were standing up for the people. They failed at that too. It was a circle jerk and Fox News designed the whole thing. Not to mention, it was probably illegal.
