FUTURE UPDATES POSTED HERE.

Update X2: According to Politico, Republicans were able to temporarily use the House’s public address system. How? Er, Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ) hacked the system:

Also, Republicans can thank 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.”

****

Update X1: According to RedState, Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) just ordered out for pizza. Members who own megaphones are encouraged to bring them to the floor, though the acoustics work pretty well.

****

Even though Americans continue to pay outrageous prices at the pump, House Democrats are more interested in adjourning and getting home than attempting to relieve the crisis. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her ilk have adjourned, turned off the lights, and cut-off the microphones on the House floor. Republicans, however, remain to talk about how to fix gas prices…in the dark.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi’s refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess…

“This is the people’s House,” Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. “This is not Pelosi’s politiburo.”

Democratic aides were furious at the GOP stunt, and reporters were kicked out of the Speaker’s Lobby, the space next to the House floor where they normally interview lawmakers.

“You’re not covering this, are you?” complaing one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans “morons” for staying on the floor…

The scene on the floor is kind of crazy. Normally, members are not allowed to speak directly to the visitor galleries, or visitors are prohibited from cheering. But in this case, the members are walking up and down on the floor during their speeches, standing on cheers, the visitors are cheering loudly. Some members even brought in visitors, who are now sitting on the House floor in the seats normally filled by lawmakers, cheering and clapping. Very funny.

Not funny at all, quite frankly. This once again highlights the lack of interest Congressional Democrats have in lowering gas prices. They object to expanded domestic drilling — something overwhelmingly supported by Americans — even if we have to pay $10/gallon at the pump. Republicans are interested in actually fixing the crisis, even if it means literally continuing the debate in the dark.

Democrats are furious at the stunt? Good. Americans are furious at the Democratic inacti