Lights out on energy debate

House Republicans rebelled after Democrats adjourned for the month without voting on offshore drilling -- some asking President Bush to call for a special session. The lights went out, C-SPAN left, the microphones turned out ... and still they stayed on the house floor criticizing Democrats for leaving.

The Politico is one of the few outlets to cover it from beginning to end. Apparently Democratic aides tried hard to get Capitol Police to keep media out, but some reporters stayed until the end of the five-hour holdout.

Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.

He then said, "I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan" and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.

Funny indeed.

Earlier, when the sound system went out, it was congressman who got it turned back on:

Republicans can thank (Rep. John) Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again.

"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring. ... This is a kick."

It is over now. But it was fun while it lasted. If enough word gets out about it, it certainly won't hurt them any. It might even hurt Democrats.