This Week...from the TNDP

HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE TO ADJOURN, THEN STAY IN WASHINGTON BLAMING DEMOCRATS FOR ADJOURNMENT

Washington politics can get confusing; however, this week's antics by Republicans like U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-Brentwood) and Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) provided a mind-boggling mix of theatrics and hypocrisy.

While a majority in Congress left Washington for their home districts and an August recess, a few members stuck around to speak to an empty House chamber, offer grand orations to powerless microphones, and debate members who were not even present.

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank reports:

"It's time for Congress to go to work!" demanded Rep. Price -- the same Tom Price who, when Congress was busily working this spring, offered one of the many motions to adjourn.

The Republican beef: that Congress left town without authorizing offshore oil drilling. Problem is, while Congress did nothing about fuel prices, the average price of a gallon of gas fell 23 cents over the past month -- evidence, critics might say, that Congress should do nothing more often.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser remarked concerning the Washington charade, "The going rate for Marsha Blackburn's shenanigans is $85,000- the amount contributed by oil companies to her campaign coffers."