Questing for Atlantis

On August 1^st, 2008, at 11:23 A.M. the House of Representatives adjourned for the August Recess. It is a long-standing tradition, a 5 week break for Members to return to their districts, spend time with their family and engage with their constituents. In other words politics as usual.

However what followed was anything but.

In an historically unprecedented move a group of House Republicans, led by Minority Leader John Boehner and other members of the Republican House Leadership, refused to leave. Numerous members of the Republican caucus had prepared speeches to give on the issue of energy before Congress adjourned, but due to Speaker Pelosi’s hasty closing of the House were denied an opportunity.

In protest of this, and the parliamentary wrangling used by Pelosi and others to prevent a vote from occurring on any Republican energy measures, the group of Republicans remained on the floor and continued to give speeches for anyone that would come and listen. In doing so they opened the door onto something never before seen in the history of Congress.

Displeased, Speaker Pelosi made numerous attempts to silence them. CSPAN’s cameras were shut off. The microphones were powered down. Even the lights were turned off. In spite of this the Republicans persevered on in their protest.

Taking the protest further, the Republicans decided to open the issue to the people by bringing everyday citizens out onto the floor to sit in the seats vacated by their colleagues.

As Rep. Steve King put it, “You can come and sit in Charlie Rangel’s seat, in Steny Hoyer’s seat, in the seat Ted Kennedy tries to fit into when he comes for the State of the Union address.”

That Friday it started simply. I was in the gallery observing, and from what could be seen, it was primarily Congressional staffers sitting on the floor with the Members. However, as the protest continued on, the audience started to change.

On Monday, during a return visit, I was able to make it out onto the floor myself and was able to see history in the making. Congressmen were actively going out and finding tours and offering them the opportunity to sit out on the floor.

As a result of this, as the Republicans deliver their speeches supporting the American Energy Act and calling on Speaker Pelosi to reconvene the House and give the people the vote they deserve the floor has been almost continuously packed with everyday citizens observing.

In the words of Rep. Tom Price, “this is called the People’s House. Well, the Democrats left, and the people showed up!”

In the weeks that the energy revolt has gone on for the Republicans have continued to drive home the same message.

The first point is that a comprehensive “all-of-the-above” solution is needed, one that doesn’t just rely on a silver bullet, but that incorporates increased drilling and production as well as increased development of alternatives and more conservation of fuel.

The second is that their bill, the American Energy Act is in fact such a plan.

The third point is that by refusing to allow this or any other truly comprehensive energy plan to receive an up or down vote Nancy Pelosi is not fulfilling her duties as Speaker and denying the American people the opportunity to have their voices heard.

This message has done a great amount to energize everyone. The House Chamber has been routinely filled with applause and cheering by the citizens filling it.

However, more interesting is the unprecedented rightwing netoots activity that has grown up around the protest.

A rapidly growing web movement called #dontGo has sprung up in support (www.dontgomovement.com), pulling together much of the blog posts, Twitter feeds, Facebook actions, and YouTube videos dealing with the Revolt.

In a particularly amusing, somewhat absurd moment, MoveOn.org staged a counter-protest of the Republican protest, that was in turn counter-counter-protested by groups such as Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and the National Taxpayers Union.

House Republican Leadership has pledged to continue the protest all the way until the Republican National Convention.

Whether this revolt will do anything to change the way politics operates is still uncertain at this point. However, it has most definitely been a landmark event in the history of this nation. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of citizens have had an unprecedented opportunity to come out on the floor of Congress and be a part of the proceedings. The right-wing netroots have been energized in a way they never have been before. The appeal is going out directly to the people.

All they are asking for is a simple vote on an energy measure that encompasses all the options. That request is resonating with the American people.

And perhaps, in a time when Congress faces single digit approval rankings, this Revolt will do something to change the way politics works. Or at least how we as Americans think about it.