Day 4 of House under siege
Posted: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:41 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Republicans
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Republicans continued their occupation of what is normally a demilitarized zone this time of year, the House chamber.
To freshen things up, they brought in a living echo of revolutions past, former speaker New Gingrich, to lend his heft to the effort. Gingrich spoke briefly on camera in support of the Republican contention that the mere announcement of expanded offshore drilling would drive down prices in the short term. He also took a slap at Nancy Pelosi for spending August on tour to promote her new autobiography instead of working here in D.C. to solve this nation's energy problems.
After their presser outside of the chamber Republicans marched in to commence their speechifying. They are getting logistically more organized, as the place is packed right from the start this morning with tourists, interns, and staff. Applause and cheers can be heard coming through the cloakroom doors as one walks the halls.
Inside, it is an unusual spectacle. Instead of standing at a rostrum and speaking into a microphone, as we have all grown accustomed to seeing when the proceedings are televised, members pace back and forth in the well speaking at the top of their lungs. Cheers from the balconies punctuate their oratory, a display that is expressly forbidden during a normal, formal session. The thing has a kind of 19th Century feel to it.
They plan on continuing at least through the end of the week, and perhaps into next.
