Media: Will Twitter be the only media to cover GOP protests?

August 4, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Day by Day for 8_4_2008

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi forced a vote to adjourn the U.S. House of Representatives. She did so against the wishes of some Republicans who instead wanted to debate and then vote on a new national energy policy. So they staged a protest on the floor of the House on Friday, and plan another one today.

Because of strict House rules, only official government controlled microphones and cameras can be used on the floor of the House. That would, normally, keep the electronic media from covering the event. As important as this protest is, it’s not news to TV and radio if there’s no picture and sound.

Ah … but certain dissident lawmakers are whipping out their cellphones and putting sound on images on the Internet anyway. Some are using their handheld devices to post updates to Twitter.

You can follow the news by going here and searching for posts with the phrase “#dontgo.”

And while you are at it, sign up for a Twitter account and join the debate. Twitter won’t kick you out for being too liberal or too conservative.

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7 Responses to “ Media: Will Twitter be the only media to cover GOP protests? ”

  1. DangerGirl on August 4, 2008 at 9:13 am

    We over at Blog Talk Radio have been all over this since Friday when we first broke the news aat 10:00 am EST – and went with back to back LIVE broadcasts all day.

    On her 3pm (EST) show Elizabeth Blackney aka Media Lizzy scored an interview with Eric Cantor during the protest. Check out the archive!! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/medializzy

    Would suggest you head over to Heading Right Radio on BlogTalk Radio. Interactive chat is available, archived shows are available, and its ALL FREE. Radio BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE.

    Possible interview with John Culberson at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/medializzy today.
    Check it out. Her show starts at 3:00EST runs until 4:30.
    Other shows will be broadcasting LIVE from the Hill from 11:00am.
    Check Out Snooper & ANEWTONE both on BTR. http://www.blogtalkradio.com

  2. postsimian on August 4, 2008 at 11:01 am

    I’m not Pelosi’s biggest fan. In fact, I find her to be a disappointment in many ways. But Bill, there’s another side to this story. The Republicans are not the nobly enduring underdogs some are making them out to be. I think this is best summed up by Pelosi’s spokesperson:

    “The new direction Congress led by Democrats has offered real solutions to bring down energy costs, promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency, and promote oil production right here in America. But a majority of congressional Republicans have voted no each time,” said Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for Pelosi. “They should go home to their districts and explain their record of obstructing common-sense proposals to address the pain at the pump being felt by American consumers and businesses.”

    This is tantamount to a child stomping his feet and holding his breath. Personally, I don’t feel the least bit sorry for them. They’ve been using similar blocking tactics for years.

  3. Mahkno on August 4, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Waaaaaaaa… Congress was adjourned. Obviously those protesting via twitter didn’t have ENOUGH VOTES to keep congress in session. Come on now… this isn’t a free speech issue. The Republicans are playing games. Congress can choose to adjourn. It gets voted on. People go home. They lost the vote and now they are playing all hurt as if they were deprived of their civil rights. Cry me a river.

  4. Ian Schwartz on August 4, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Twitter is not the only media to cover this. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s pretty cool tech stuff, but it’s not like the rest of the world is silent on this topic.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,397182,00.html

    http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002933974

    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/04/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4319095.shtml

    http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/usa/2008/08/republicans_gone_wild_day_two.html

  5. vonster on August 4, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    “Twitter won’t kick you out for being too liberal or too conservative.”

    Unlike Kos or Renal….

  6. Raising my kids right on August 4, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Reno said: “I think this is best summed up by Pelosi’s spokesperson:”

    Ya, there’s an unbiased source. I’ll give you credit for your last paragraph though, you pretty accurately describe Congress on BOTH sides of the aisle with that one.

  7. Jerry on August 6, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    I urge any supporter of Republicans, supporters who think Republicans care about you and your gas and fuel oil bills, to ask themselves, “Where have all of these warm and caring Republicans been hiding the past 40 years?”

    Looking into it just a little bit, one of the things your conservative financial trailblazers did a few years ago was to give a $100,000 tax break to “business owners” who purchased three-ton 18-mpg Hummers. Another thing you could do is research the name “Kerr-McGee,” “Interior Dept. Officials Told Auditor Not to Bill Oil Company,” or look into drilling fees and royalties owed to the Federal Government and look into the Deep Water Royalty Relief Act. Read about what the Bush administration did with royalty requirements, etc., etc., etc.–but, wait! Of course you don’t want to read about that junk!

    It’s much simpler to imagine that all of the conservative Republican people you’ve supported over the years have all conveniently morphed into Nancy Pelosi!

    Life is pretty simple! Islamo-fascism, liberals, Hollywood… if only they would just come around to your way of thinking, everything would be great.