Saturday, August 02, 2008
US Democrats Switch Off the Lights
Politico.com has news from of extraordinary events yesterday in the House of Representatives. Democrats adjourned proceedings but Republicans decided to continue a debate on energy. The Democrats then switched off the lights and microphones, something which only strengthened the resolve of the Republicans to continue. The Dems then had the Police clear the press gallery. Read the full story HERE. Can't quite see this happening in the House of Commons!
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11 comments:
What it does show is how the left (even US Dems) hate democracy and don't give a stuff about the people. No wonder Nu Labour love them so much.
I can. Most certainly. Just wait till Harman gets in power.
"Ok, girls and those other horrid things (clap-clap), 3:45 and time to go home!..."
Harman will re-introduce the hat-stand "family friendly" hours and begin her screeching bullying behaviour. Mark my words.
Martin, the democratically elected representatives had a democratic vote on a motion to adjourn, which was passed. Strikes me that adjourning is the course of action which respects democracy in that case, no?
Well I can see it in the Common's if the conservatives are in Government as they will need the power and mic's to go off before they can realise that their "snobbyness" is just a fool's game and they are cowards from with in.
Perhaps they were expecting Britney Obama to come on and do his celeb-song and dance routine.
Oh please! What rubbish. The Democrats followed the rules and had a democratic vote to adjourn which was passed. It seems the Democrats were capable of respecting the rules when the GOP were in charge. Shame the GOP have no respect for rules or laws.
What the GOP were doing was trying to satisfy their oil paymasters while the Democrats were trying to move onto S. 3001, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 to provide increased pay, healthcare and protective equipment for US troops. The GOP always profess that only they support the troops but as is common with them they put the oil industries interests above those of the armed services.
This wouldn't happen in our House of Commons because it doesn't need to. Nu Labour rides roughshod over Parliament to impose its policies by the back door, when it isn't having its puppet strings jerked by Brussels.
There was a recorded vote, and the motion to adjourn was carried by 213 to 197: see the Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?r110:./temp/~r110oMMH9D
Two Republicans (Wayne Gilchrest and Walter Jones Jr.) joined 211 Democrats to adjourn; 15 Democrats joined 182 Republicans in opposition. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll566.xml
Like John (10:19 AM), having had a roll call vote, the House followed the side that won and no complaint can be made about it doing so. The Republicans had this approach when they had a majority so they can't complain now.
The House of Commons sat in private - with sound feed cut off and gallery cleared - more recently than Iain realises, albeit as the result of a procedural blunder - a Government whip failed to say 'no' at the appropriate moment . . .
Anonymous at 1:43 AM appears to be referring to the House of Commons sitting of 4 December 2001 when Paul Tyler's motion to sit in private was accidentally agreed to without a division. However that was fundamentally different to the House of Representatives the other night; this was a continuing session of the House of Commons with full legislative power, but where only officers and Members could be present.
What went on in the House of Representatives was a kangaroo session which had no legislative power.
Doug
Would check your own facts before deriding anything else as rubbish
Your comment that "It seems the Democrats were capable of respecting the rules when the GOP were in charge. Shame the GOP have no respect for rules or laws" is utter bilge.
The Democrats did exactly the same thing in 1995 - except they put a large photo of Newt Gringrich dressed in a diaper in the Speaker's chair. There's respect for you!
As to David Boothroyd, John and others - I believe that the Republicans have a democratic right to protest as well.
The Republicans would probably have lost the vote on this energy bill but at least there would have been a vote, rather than the whole lot deciding to go on holiday.
Take a vote or ignore it and head to the beach - I'd argue that a vote on such a crucial issue would be by far the most democratic course of action
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