Republicans in a show of unity walked out of Congress today due to a few things. First, the Democrats continually dragging their feet on the FISA bill. Here is the video of the walkout and the GOP holding a press conference.
“There is really no excuse for letting this critical legislation expire,” Bush said, his second statement on the bill at the White House in two days.
Bush said that “it would be a mistake” if Congress allowed the law to expire. “Members of Congress knew all along that this deadline was approaching. They set it themselves. They’ve had more than six months to discuss and deliberate. And now they must act.”
He denied claims that the issue had turned into a political game.
“I certainly hope not,” Bush said. “I can assure you that al-Qaida in their planning isn’t thinking about politics, they are thinking about hurting the American people again.”
“I guess you got to come to the conclusion that there’s a threat to America, or not a threat,” Bush said. “I mean, evidently, some people just don’t feel that sense of urgency. I do. And the reason I do is I firmly believe that there are still people out there who would do us harm.”
And second because of the House voting to pursue contempt charges against Bolton and Miers over the attorney firing sillyness. Contempt charges which will not be filed by the DOJ but in their continuing quest to make politics as partisan as ever the Democrats went ahead with it anyway.
They not only used the walkout but they also used a voting tactic to disrupt the proceedings, a memorial for Rep. Tom Lantos. Why would they do such a thing? Democrat procedural shananigans which cutoff debate of the contempt charges and which will allow the FISA bill to lapse.
During what was supposed to be a somber memorial service in Statuary Hall for Rep. Tom Lantos, who died Monday, the House chamber became mired in chaos over procedural votes.
Democrats angrily denounced the GOP as insensitive for calling a “motion to adjourn” — essentially a dilatory tactic — while dignitaries were still giving tributes to Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. But Republican aides shot back quickly, saying it was Democrats who broke an agreement to keep the House in recess during the memorial service.
To some extent, it appears both sides are at fault, but the recriminations have been fast and furious.
“The disrespect that has been shown by a Republican member of Congress in calling a political procedural motion during the memorial service for the late Chairman Tom Lantos is incomprehensible,” said Stacey Bernards, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). “It is unjustifiable, and Republican leaders should restrict their members from further such action.”
A senior Republican aide, however, said the GOP was given no choice in asking for a vote because Democrats broke their commitment to keep the House in recess during the memorial service. Democrats are pushing a contempt vote against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Bush counsel Harriet Miers, and have bypassed traditional rules allowing an hour of debate on the matter, according to Jo Maney, a spokeswoman for Republicans on the House Rules Committee.
So the Democrats wanted to play politics during a memorial but the Republicans came to play also.
This kind of thing will only get worse if we stay home to teach all of the right a lesson. I mean Obama can’t be all that bad right? He wouldn’t do everything in his power to ensure our intelligence agencies are hamstrung in protecting this country would he? He wouldn’t raise our taxes, grant amnesty for those here now and everyone who comes in the future, surrender to fanatical Islam and all that would he?
Sigh….
UPDATE
It appears the Democrats have taken responsibility for the cheap stunt. First the reason for the chaos:
A senior Republican aide, however, said the GOP was given no choice in asking for a vote because Democrats broke their commitment to keep the House in recess during the memorial service. Democrats are pushing a contempt vote against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Bush counsel Harriet Miers, and have bypassed traditional rules allowing an hour of debate on the matter, according to Jo Maney, a spokeswoman for Republicans on the House Rules Committee.
“The reason for the chaos is the majority,” Maney said. “We made clear we would use every procedural rule” to delay the contempt votes.
“There was an agreement that there would be no votes during the service, but they [Democrats] rang the bells” to bring the House back into session, Maney said.
And the explanation from the Dem’s….it was a mistake:
Under a bipartisan agreement, the House was not to come into session until after the Tom Lantos memorial service. But the service ran long, and the session was gavelled in anyway. The first item up for consideration was a Republican motion to adjourn. At first, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D., Md.) office believed at first that this had been the Republicans’ fault. Later on, that misunderstanding was cleared up and explained on the floor. Someone just messed up, no ill will intended.
Of course by that time the left had already smeared the man who called the vote, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Michael Steele via Michelle Malkins blog:
“This morning, during the memorial service for Tom Lantos – a public servant beloved on both sides of the aisle – the House Democratic Leadership violated an agreement and called the House back into session. They took this action despite clearly understanding that it would trigger a series of procedural motions. This cheap, cynical political move seems to have been designed to shut down one of the few procedural tools that can be employed by the minority party in the House. Playing this sort of game during the memorial service of a great and good man is beneath the dignity of this House and should be beneath the dignity of Democratic Leaders.”
“We appreciate Rep. Hoyer’s statement that he “regrets” the situation this morning and the inaccurate statements that were directed at Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart.”
UPDATE II
Congressman Mike Pence on this walkout and the stalling tactic employed by the Democrats on FISA:
[audio:https://floppingaces.net/Audio/gibsonpence.mp3]
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Yep. Democratic Party leaders in Congress truly would never put politics above national security.
[/sarcasm off]
Hey, gotta keep that leftist base energized and distracted less they actually examine the DNC leaders they voted for, ask for some accountability, and maybe even realize they’ve been pwnd for at least 8yrs
Do they even care if we survive as a Nation. G-d forbid that something happen here, I have a feeling that they (democraps) will start a civil war in this country. I pray that that never happens, but good people can only be pushed so far.
“This kind of thing will only get worse if we stay home to teach all of the right a lesson.”
This is precisely what happened in the 06 election cycle. Did anyone actually believe a Dem majority in Congress would be a good thing for this country?
The idea of giving the reigns of this country to a Dem in 08 so any problems or disasterous events that follow will be ‘owned’ by the dems is delusional. The disaster that is today’s Congress is a problem ‘owned’ by the Dems…does anyone see ANY Dem taking responsibility for this congressional quagmire? Why would anyone believe the Dems would ‘own’ any future problems if they win in 08??
Hey, congress is nothing but a circus and it’s costing us billions of dollars in waste. Anyone see a ‘minus’ approval rating on the horizon?
I really don’t like the position we are in here. We MUST all strive to elect Reps. and Senators this Nov. or bend over and give our collective butts a kiss goodby.
This has been one of the worst stunts ever by the Republicans.
1. When the Democratic state sentators didn’t have their way in Texas, they literally fled the state. The Republicans had a field day(actually several days) bashing the Democrats for not doing their job. Then the Republicans try the same thing, but for a partial day (maybe). At least Ron Paul and a couple other senators stayed and fought.
2. Bush was trying to get the Democratic senators not to play tricks and do up and down votes. Then the Republicans had to do this.
3. Trying to get front page news? Well anything can happen, including a university shooting that left several dead. FISA wouldn’t have stopped it. The walk out will be back page news.
4. I doubt they did this over FISA. They did this so they didn’t have to vote for contempt charges on a couple of Bush aids. That’s what the vote was about when they walked out. That’s how the walk out will be played to the public. These people normally stick around several hours a day passing several bills. FISA could have been the next vote in line. The Democrats could have actually have voted for FISA leaving the Republicans looking more stupid complaining on the congressional steps that the Democrats didn’t want to bring up FISA. Then the Democrats could point to the record which would have shown the Democrats backed FISA while most of the Republicans abstained. That’s why Republican senators have to stay and suck it up so the Democrats can’t use such tactics.
Disagree with you on all counts. They have stayed long enough while the Dem’s ignored and ignored the FISA bill which will now lapse. Finally they did what needed to be done, stage a protest. It was only for half a day and was done to ensure it got in the media….it worked.
So they didn’t have to vote on the aides? You have got to be kidding me. They would have all voted it down and you know it.
I know they would have voteddown the contempt charges, but they didn’t want it on their record. They could have voted against it and then left.
As for the Aug 3, 2007 vote (which was the Republican version), it was 60 to 28 in the Senate and 227-183 in the house. The Democrats do back FISA. Now it’s not about FISA, but about documents Bush refuses to hand over pertaining to the linking between the government and the telecommunication companies. Bush has also publically stated he would veto the new bill if the telecommunication companies were not immuned to prosecution. So now Congress can’t make an informed decision on things like government or telecommunication company misuse because the White House refuses to give Congress the documents they requested.
The Aug 3, law does not stop the FISA court or the previous 72 hour rule (where the people that did the wire tap could retroactively ask for a warrent up to 72 hours after the wire tap). There were 2,224 such warrents were given in 2006. It also states that the FISA court could still reactivate the Aug. 2007 law. That means that the FISA court could still apply the Aug. 2007 law even if it technically expired.
Oh please, your starting to sound like Philly.
Baloney, its simple. They don’t want the telecom companies to have immunity so they can get their asses sued off, which in effect will prevent them from working with the government. Thats it. Congress can’t make an informed decision…..rofl, where you getting this? KOS?
The Senate had all the information they needed to get this hammered out and get a bill out, but now suddenly the House needs something the Senate didn’t….you can’t be serious.
But it doesn’t give the telecom companies immunity meaning they wont cooperate meaning it puts us all at risk.
I’m glad your cheerleading for Nancy & company, they need all the cheerleaders they can get as they do their best to destroy out intelligence gathering capabilities.
Gregory Dittman = Philly Steve
I called my state congressman yesterday, and others in DC who weren’t in my district since you can’t even email them (Democrats, of course) if you aren’t in their district, imploring them to sign the Protect America Act before it expires. I encourage others to do so, too.