The Gueriila Congress

Have House Republicans grown a pair over the past few weeks? It sure seems so. Mark Hemingway describes the Republicans' efforts in the House (which recessed for summer break for five weeks):

So what did the Republicans do? Even as the House Democrats left town running scared, they stayed on the floor of the House. House Republicans are still railing against the House leadership and are orating like their lives depend on it, to anyone who will listen about the need for cheaper gas and energy. The C-SPAN cameras have been shut off (C-SPAN has no control over them), the Democratic leadership made the sergeant-at-arms kill the microphones, and they even at one point tried to turn off the lights.

It's summer, so there are no shortage of tourists trying to get in to witness what promises to be a heck of a civics lesson. They're lined up out the door to get in, and being that the House is out of session, the G.O.P. has even opened up the floor seats to visitors. Every five minutes or so the throngs of citizens would erupt into loud applause and cheering at something that was being said. One source on the Hill I spoke with was calling this, "The Guerilla Congress."

The atmosphere is positively electric in the House. It's a good thing for Democrats this isn't on C-Span because they'd look awful. Still, I get the sense Republicans in Congress aren't they're to put on a show. They've seized on an issue they have conviction in and the American people agree with. They're fed up with Pelosi and Reid's incompetence and bad faith. For the first time in years, House Republicans look like they're in it to win it. It's too early to say if Congressional Republicans can carry this momentum forward, but this is the stuff turning points are made of.

I agree.

Normally I would suggest that President Bush call Congress back into Special Session, but this is way better. Pelosi could order the GOP out of the Chamber (it is within her power to do so) but that would be an even bigger disaster. The GOP needs to make sure that every single word is recorded and distributed. If they have to work in shifts, they should just keep going. This one action could result in a massive turnaround in GOP fortunes for November.