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Video: Republicans walk out of Congress

posted at 4:10 pm on February 14, 2008 by Bryan
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At issue is whether Congress spends its time going on fishing expeditions against the outgoing administration or whether it deliberates over the FISA bill. The Democrats chose the former, so the Republicans under Rep. John Beohner said enough is enough and took a hike.

Moments after President Bush threatened to delay his weekend trip to Africa and force Congress to act before key intelligence programs expire, House Republicans staged a walkout to protest Democratic inaction on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill. Frustrated Republicans streamed out of the Capitol and onto the east steps of the Capitol, a powerful act aimed at stopping House floor proceedings and forcing a vote on the FISA bill.

The Republican walkout came after an angry morning in which both sides accused each other of improperly using House floor procedures during the memorial service of Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) who died Monday. Republicans were also angry that Democrats are taking up contempt resolutions against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers.

Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), led his colleagues out of the chamber in a dramatic gesture, saying “let’s just get up and leave.” But it’s not clear if anything will come of the theatrics, as Democrats have refused to take up a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill. Democrats do not want to pass a bill with lawsuit immunity for telecom firms as the White House has demanded.

A Democratic aide said Republicans are at fault because they voted against a 21-day FISA extension on Wednesday, leaving some of the law’s programs set to expire.

Update: David Fredosso has more. The question is the timing and whether the House Democrat leadership cares more about slapping around a couple of Bush officials or about retaining the current FISA law past Saturday.


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WAY TO GO GOP! This is precisely what they should do, and do more often!

Dhornertx on February 14, 2008 at 4:14 PM

Now they’re acting like they have balls.

Hiney Von Pewps on February 14, 2008 at 4:14 PM

Good move show the country what the Dems are really like. They have done NOTHING with the power and should not be allowed to.

TroubledMonkey on February 14, 2008 at 4:16 PM

GOP w/ a backbone! Gotta love it!

jgapinoy on February 14, 2008 at 4:17 PM

Democrats do not want to pass a bill with lawsuit immunity for telecom firms as the White House has demanded.

Translation: If the immunity is in there, the Democratic-backing trial lawyers couldn’t make a fortune off of suing companies looking to help keep America safe.

amerpundit on February 14, 2008 at 4:19 PM

Boehner for VP!
A John-John ticket!

jgapinoy on February 14, 2008 at 4:19 PM

Per Politico today 2008/2/14:

Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), led his colleagues out of the chamber in a dramatic gesture, saying “let’s just get up and leave.” But it’s not clear if anything will come of the theatrics, as Democrats have refused to take up a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill. Democrats do not want to pass a bill with lawsuit immunity for telecom firms as the White House has demanded.
A Democratic aide said Republicans are at fault because they voted against a 21-day FISA extension on Wednesday, leaving some of the law’s programs set to expire.

Per The Hill.com on 2008/2/11 for the Semper Fi Act Blocking:

“Democrats have chosen not to defend the Marine Corps, but to pander to anti-war protesters and Berkeley officials that are actively trying to impede military recruitment.”

But Reid’s office says that recessing was done to give the majority the flexibility to map out broader floor strategy on a range of bills for the coming week.

Reid spokesman Jim Manley said the decision to recess resulted because of discussions over whether to start the process of bringing to the floor a short-term extension of an electronic surveillance law. The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on amendments to a bill overhauling the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Hmmmmm did We just catch them in a LIE! OH OH THE HORROR!

Hey Jim Maley…. so what WAS the discussion over the FISA behind closed doors… or was that how to OUST the SEMPER FI ACT….

Oh how I love catching Liars!

upinak on February 14, 2008 at 4:21 PM

Was that the sound of moonbats barking in the background sound of the C-SPAN clip?

Deety on February 14, 2008 at 4:21 PM

Awesome! Gotta love Boehner. The Democrat Congress has been such a disaster. Fun to watch in some ways. I’m sure we can’t even imagine what they’ll do once they have the House, Senate AND the Presidency (a situation I’m resigned to think is inevitable this year, unfortunately).

ggoofer on February 14, 2008 at 4:22 PM

need to focus on winning the house back

jp on February 14, 2008 at 4:24 PM

YESWECANHAS! GOP FTW!

Levinite on February 14, 2008 at 4:25 PM

upinak on February 14, 2008 at 4:21 PM

I’m not sure what you’re getting at. The first quote is from the House, the second from the Senate. The Senate, IIRC, already passed immunity. The House hasn’t.

amerpundit on February 14, 2008 at 4:26 PM

Now they’re acting like they have balls.

For the time being this is true, but their balls are made of plastic not brass! It will not last!

Confederate on February 14, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Well done John A. Boehner!!!

WELL DONE

jake-the-goose on February 14, 2008 at 4:28 PM

So, is this the House equivalent of a filibuster? Are we essentially seeing a quorum-busting move by the Pubs?

This is pretty cool. It’s a great way to gum up the works.

nukemhill on February 14, 2008 at 4:31 PM

Did someone ram something up their a..

Perfect reason to forget McCain, put all your money and effort behind winning the House or Senate. Adopt an out of state member if yours is a hopelessly lost liberal or a conservative that doesn’t need the help. Don’t sit idly by, we did it this way in 1994, we can do it in 2008. Adopt now …

I sent Beohner an email, thanking him for taking the leadership role … we need more like him.

tarpon on February 14, 2008 at 4:32 PM

And this act will make how many news casts tonight? If the network news doesn’t cover it, it never happened. So the blogosphere goes all whoopie over it, but just ask Fred Thompson how far making a splash in the blogs go towards getting you any recognition.
Case in point. Have you seen anything of the antics in Bezerkley on the networks?

Just A Grunt on February 14, 2008 at 4:34 PM

Thats MY Republican Party.

Bladerunner1701 on February 14, 2008 at 4:36 PM

Clearly the democrat party continues it attempt to destroy this country. It becomes more obvious every day, and it will not change until they have to pay a price.

Nor will it change with a newly elected president.

rockhauler on February 14, 2008 at 4:38 PM

I want to see chair flying! Come on, I see it all the time in other governing bodies across the world.

ThePrez on February 14, 2008 at 4:39 PM

Did anyone see Pelosi?! Hilarious!

“Psst – hey you! Now what do I do? This isn’t in my script!”

fourstringfuror on February 14, 2008 at 4:44 PM

amerpundit on February 14, 2008 at 4:26 PM

amer, look at the second “quote” where they (the Demo’s) went into recess to talk about the FISA.

The look at the top one.. as we all know they voted against.

Now think about the Semper Fi Act(s) that are up for vote. They obviously didn’t go into a recess for the FISA or discuss it.

Also from the hill.com

“Democrats are working to provide the intelligence professionals with the tools they need to protect the nation from terrorism, while Republicans have done everything in their power to block the Senate from finishing the debate over the warrantless wiretapping program,” Manley said. “And all that Sen. DeMint can do is complain that we recessed instead of adjourned last week? We should be the ones complaining.”

Makes me wonder why people elect these completely lost people into a governemtn seat when all they do is stall and carry on that they are doing this and that. But still get nothing done.

upinak on February 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM

boehner has bahls.

sorry!

locke on February 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM

The “Divided” States of America…

TOPV on February 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM

Were the defeatocrats chanting “work, work, work,? You have got to be kidding me, they haven’t worked since the last election.

Les in NC on February 14, 2008 at 4:50 PM

Is it just me or do we rock in the minority?

We were a bunch of soft, spoiled, that had all the power but fell asleep at the switch. Good to see things are getting back on track. Should Republicans be this resolute in getting rid of ethanol subsidies (making my beer more expensive!!) and importing more ethanol from Brazil (provided they loosen trade restrictions on us)I will be much more likely to donate.

Theworldisnotenough on February 14, 2008 at 4:50 PM

I will work hard to elect and re-elect Republicans like this …..

gstrickler on February 14, 2008 at 4:51 PM

Democrats have refused to take up a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill

New bumper sticker:

SUPPORT THE TERRORISTS
ELECT A DEMOCRAT

Brass Pair on February 14, 2008 at 4:52 PM

Dems don’t want any chance for the President to conduct secret surveillance at all. They know that, from a legal/constitutional perspective, they haven’t got a leg to stand on. So by allowing the ACLU, EPIC and the rest of those clowns to hit every telecommunications provider with frivolous lawsuits, they can effectively destroy a major weapon in the war on terrorism without even having to vote against it.

They’re sick.

morganfrost on February 14, 2008 at 4:52 PM

John Boehner Speaker of the House has a nice ring to it.

William Amos on February 14, 2008 at 4:55 PM

Way to win OHIO in the general!

Buy Danish on February 14, 2008 at 4:57 PM

Dems don’t want any chance for the President to conduct secret surveillance at all.

Yes they do, they just want to be the ones surveilling their rivals. Of course the people they see as rivals are us.

Les in NC on February 14, 2008 at 4:57 PM

Today’s walkout reminds me of when back in Oct 04 (just before the election) Sen Reid ordered the Senate doors closed to demand the Sen Intel Com phase II report. He claimed the WH was blocking it from being released. What ever happened to that report now that Dems have Congress?

Wonder if the msm will compare today’s walkout to that gimmick/lie/trick?

…won’t be holding my breath

scottm on February 14, 2008 at 4:58 PM

Class-action lawsuits are one of the biggest scams going. The plaintiffs rarely get more than a few bucks, or in some cases, a few coupons, while the plaintiffs’ lawyers make millions of dollars in fees. Lawyers love these cases because they’re so lucrative, and because they rarely ever go to trial; the corporate defendants almost always settle, usually shortly after the class is certified, because the suits are so expensive to defend, and because they create bad PR for the company.

If useless Senators like Arlen Specter weren’t so busy wasting time and tax dollars investigating cheating in the NFL, or steroid use by baseball players, they could be doing something to clean up this mess.

AZCoyote on February 14, 2008 at 5:07 PM

I really want the house and senate back, but I really enjoy watching the Libs in control, or is it out of control? Whatever.

THE CHOSEN ONE on February 14, 2008 at 5:15 PM

If you want to email the Speaker and ask her to protect our country instead of catering to her MoveOn.org base and military-hating constituents, you can send her an email here:

http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Her SF office: 415-556-4862.

Her Washington office is flooded with calls.

fred5678 on February 14, 2008 at 5:16 PM

The only interest the Democrats want to protect

As Congress debates giving immunity to phone companies that assisted the government in tracking terrorist communications, trial lawyers prosecuting those phone companies have poured money into the coffers of Democratic senators, representatives and causes.

Court records and campaign contribution data reveal that 66 trial lawyers representing plaintiffs in lawsuits against these phone companies donated at least $1.5 million to 44 different current Democratic senators and Democratic causes.

All of the trial lawyers combined only contributed $4,250 to Republicans in comparison. Those contributions were made to: Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.), Rep. Tom Davis (Va.), Sen. Lindsay Graham (S.C.), Sen. Mel Martinez, and Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.).

Topsecretk9 on February 14, 2008 at 5:24 PM

The question is the timing and whether the House Democrat leadership cares more about slapping around a couple of Bush officials or about retaining the current FISA law past Saturday.

Oh, there’s absolutely no question about that!

All the more reason we MUST preserve at least the margins we have in the Senate and House. WE MUST! McCain should really slam the democrats…if he’s serious about winning us over, that is.

SouthernGent on February 14, 2008 at 5:29 PM

Gonads On Parade(GOP)

d1carter on February 14, 2008 at 5:30 PM

I like this.

Sir Andrew on February 14, 2008 at 5:31 PM

Did Boehner cry?

RoPa4life on February 14, 2008 at 5:36 PM

Good on them!

Now THAT’s what I want to see from that Party.

tickleddragon on February 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM

Court records and campaign contribution data reveal that 66 trial lawyers representing plaintiffs in lawsuits against these phone companies donated at least $1.5 million to 44 different current Democratic senators and Democratic causes.

All of the trial lawyers combined only contributed $4,250 to Republicans in comparison. Those contributions were made to: Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.), Rep. Tom Davis (Va.), Sen. Lindsay Graham (S.C.), Sen. Mel Martinez, and Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.).
Topsecretk9 on February 14, 2008 at 5:24 PM

Oooh, nice catch.

PALOMINO!!!!!

NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM

Huevos, mucho Huevos…

right2bright on February 14, 2008 at 5:49 PM

About that FISA bill….
Look who couldn’t show up.

Clinton (D-NY), Not Voting
Obama (D-IL), Not Voting
Graham (R-SC), Not Voting

malan89 on February 14, 2008 at 5:51 PM

PALOMINO!!!!!
NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM

EASILY my favorite post of the day on every board, blog, and banter that I’ve seen.

thank you

PALOMINO!!!!!

scottm on February 14, 2008 at 5:53 PM

Well, I am glad they are doing something! Anytime I see the Republicans stand up and fight the Dems it has to worth something,, but, what does walking out actually accomplish? What if the Dems just shut the doors and put a “keep out” sign on the outside! What would they do then??

JellyToast on February 14, 2008 at 6:09 PM

PALOMINO!!!!!

scottm on February 14, 2008 at 5:53 PM

It’s my pleasure!

NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM

Okay…someone please explain “Palomino” to me…

Please?

tickleddragon on February 14, 2008 at 6:26 PM

Dems use Lantos Funeral – disgusting

The Democrats finally apologized for smearing Diaz-Balart. GOP aide Michael Steele sent the following statements:

- “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.”

And public opinion of Congress plummets even further…

Topsecretk9 on February 14, 2008 at 6:39 PM

Here’s your Palomino, tdd.

NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 6:39 PM

NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 6:39 PM

Linky no work…

Califemme on February 14, 2008 at 6:47 PM

Califemme on February 14, 2008 at 6:47 PM

Crraaappp. Just type “SNL palomino” in the search box on this site and you’ll get the HotAir thread on it.

NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 7:02 PM

Oh, never mind, I see what you’re saying now. Hmm, I’ll have to try to find it on YouTube…

NTWR on February 14, 2008 at 7:03 PM

I’m starting to like Beohner more and more. Good for him!

Sanjoboy on February 14, 2008 at 7:10 PM

Good job Boehner. I will vote to take back the House, Melissa Hart is running to win back the seat she lost to Jason Almire. McCain won’t get my vote but Melissa will.

As I mentioned at Michelle’s signature site…

The democraps would rather sue our corporations than protect our country. Money first, constitutional duty last. Thank you Nancy for another new low from the democrap controlled “limbo” congress. How low can they go?

Zorro on February 14, 2008 at 7:57 PM

So, is this the House equivalent of a filibuster? Are we essentially seeing a quorum-busting move by the Pubs?

This is pretty cool. It’s a great way to gum up the works.

nukemhill on February 14, 2008 at 4:31 PM

I don’t know if it deprives them of a quorum or not. But the Democratic leadership wasn’t going to bring up the bill anyway. So how does it help to walk out on a non-existent vote?

True, a walk out is theatrical, but what does it accomplish? (Other than being a little spirit booster for us?)

paul006 on February 14, 2008 at 7:57 PM

It’s a start on the long road back to recovery. Thanks John for organizing the march.

David in ATL on February 14, 2008 at 8:29 PM

If the Republicans had all walked out while giving a well-deserved Flip of The Finger towards the Democratic Side of the aisle, I’d have bought them all a round of drinks, God love ‘em!

pilamaye on February 14, 2008 at 8:36 PM

FIGHT. Dems are displaying themselves as willing to expose the USA to danger for partisan gain. EXPOSE it, and don’t let America forget it. Beat this like a drum.

petefrt on February 14, 2008 at 8:45 PM

I wanna see a close up of Pelosi just before and during the walkout.

TwinkietheKid on February 14, 2008 at 9:20 PM

Will be pulling the lever for my man Boehner in the primary, and the general.

knob on February 14, 2008 at 9:58 PM

It’s about time the (R) left the room for some fresh air.

Ironically, when dem people do it, the media claims “those guys don’t want to play by our rules, so we goin to take our ball and go home.”

MSGTAS on February 15, 2008 at 8:37 AM

Doesn’t anybody have a problem with the Fereral Government enlisting private business to spy on Americans?

I do.

tgillian on February 15, 2008 at 12:54 PM

Oops, “Federal”, of course.

tgillian on February 15, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Balls with Beohner.

Black Adam on February 15, 2008 at 1:39 PM

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