The autocratic Speaker Pelosi has reigned in enough votes from Democrats (except for 17 brave ones) to adjourn the House for five weeks. What she didn’t realize is that the Republicans, tired of how she’s been running things, were going to make a stand today. The really big news is that Republicans have done what the Democrats did to Gingrich years ago. They physically accosted the Floor and are now serving up red meat after red meat quote against Pelosi and her party. The politico has the narrative in two posts (one, two).

Speaker Pelosi can speak all she wants about Bush being a lame duck and all, but the man still has the constitutional powers to put all of them back to work. In fact, the GOP in the House isn’t even waiting for him. They, out of their own initiative, have taken the steps to win double-digit seat gains this coming election. Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the dimly lit chamber is a “vision of the future by the Democrat Party – the lights are out, there’s no power, and the air conditioning is gonna go off soon.” This is the kind of rhetoric that wins elections.

And I think I want to go down to the Hill and rub elbows with a few of them, camcorder in hand.