On August 1, the day after the House voted 213-212—with no Republicans voting "yea"—to close for recess without allowing a vote on an energy bill allowing offshore drilling, Speaker Nancy Pelosi adjourned the House of Representatives for August recess at 11:23 a.m. That effectively denied a voice to some 100 Republicans who had signed up to speak against the decision to adjourn without a vote on the bill—and who, under House rules, would normally have been allowed to speak for a few minutes apiece until midnight.*

Or at least that was the idea. As Politico (and few others) reported, Pelosi ordered the lights, microphones, and C-SPAN cameras turned off to prevent those Republicans who had signed up to speak from reaching the American people.

But the Republicans refused to be silenced. They kept talking, even in the dark—and they invited those in the spectator galleries to listen down on the House floor.

Today, I was privileged to witness something remarkable. With the lights dimmed, and still with no sound and no C-SPAN cameras, the Republicans continue to make their case to ordinary citizens—anyone who walks in—on the House floor. They are challenging Pelosi to allow a vote on their bid to "lower gas and energy prices by expanding environmentally sound domestic production of oil and natural gas, improving energy efficiency, and encouraging the development of alternative energy technologies."

To be face-to-face with politicians making old-fashioned oratory—no mikes, no spotlights—amid a virtual media blackout is to experience what is truly, in the words of many of the representatives taking part, the "People's House."

Following are some of the notes I jotted down this afternoon as I sat in some Democratic rep's seat—complete with "YES," "NO," and "PRESENT" buttons—two rows from the front of the floor. I urge you to witness this historic event yourself tomorrow, if you can—it starts at 11 a.m.—and invite your friends. Just go to the Capitol's Independence Avenue entrance and tell the guard you are going to Minority Whip Roy Blunt's office, H-307, where an aide will guide you to the floor. Don't bring valuables if you can help it, as you will have to leave all bags and electronic devices—cameras, cell phones, etc.—in the cloak room.

If you can't make it to the House, I urge you to read Pelosi's explanation to George Stephanopoulos as to why she would not allow an up-or-down vote ("we have a planet to save ..."). Then read the House GOP's open letter to the Speaker. If you agree that the Democrats should return from vacation to enable the energy-bill vote, then call the Democratic representatives from your state, or just call Pelosi's office (as House Speaker, she represents all Americans), at (202) 224-3121. The representatives I heard today said that telephone calls are more effective than e-mail or letters; they want concerned citizens to fill the switchboard.

Now, what I saw and heard:

I arrive at about 12:45 p.m. while Iowa Rep. Steve King has the floor. There are about 40 people seated when I arrive, many of the kids. During the next couple of hours, many people move in and out, mostly tourists no doubt surprised to find themselves allowed onto the floor. The audience reaches about 100 at times. The feel is very much "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" as the reps make their case to Joe and Josephine Q. Public, backed by a sign bearing the House switchboard number.

To demonstrate America's dependence upon outside energy, King uses a pie chart within a pie chart. The pies are concentric, with the outer one showing how much energy the nation uses and what percentage of that energy comes from each type of source (oil, wind, solar, etc.), while the inner one shows proportionally how much of that energy comes from domestic sources. The inner one also spins—it's an Ezekiel-like "wheel within a wheel."

King on the Democrats who are blocking development of a wide range of energy options (not just drilling) on environmental grounds: "They think that people desecrate the planet."

On Democrats' allowing wind energy: "They like wind all right, as long as Teddy Kennedy doesn't have to look at the windmills." (True.) And they look at a drill rig as a "root canal on Mother Earth," he says.

Quoting George F. Will—"Democrats generally do difficult things only under the lash of necessity"—he points to the sign with the House switchboard's number and urges the audience to "give them the 'lash of necessity.' Make sure they hear you."

"I disagree with T. Boone Pickens, who says we can't drill our way out of this problem. This is one problem we can't get out of without drilling."

Noting he is from Iowa, King also makes the case for ethanol.

"But," he adds, "we can't solve it all with ethanol."

Pointing to the small pie-within-a-pie that represents the portion of energy used in the U.S. that comes from domestic sources: "We've got to grow the size of the energy pie"—giving the wheel a dramatic turn that sends its colors ablur—"and maybe if we do, we can get it spinning again." Applause.

The genial Georgia Rep. Tom Price, who is acting as the afternoon's MC, introduces Texas Rep. Kevin Brady. His message boils down to a simple exhortation to Pelosi: "End the vacation and give us an up-or-down vote on the energy-sources bill." Applause.

Price says at least 87 GOP members have come back to D.C. from their recess to voice their concerns. He introduces the next speaker, another Texan Rep., Mike Conaway.

Conaway talks about the danger in Obama's suggestion we tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He notes that the 70 million barrels that Obama would have us use from the reserve is less than what the United States normally consumes in oil during a four-day period, so it wouldn't have much of an effect—and in any case, we need the reserve.

Pelosi, he says, in an act of "hypocrisy," told Dem reps she would block a vote on the energy bill so they could tell their constituents they would have voted in favor of the bill had it come up, while at the same time being protected from the flak they would have gotten from environmentalists had they actually cast such a vote.

Referencing Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall," he says: "Madam Speaker, turn up those lights and give us a vote!" It's a clumsy parallel, but makes for great theater, and I join most of the crowd in applauding loudly. There are about 70 people here now.

1:35 p.m.: Price stresses this is the "People's House"; unlike the Senate, House vacancies are filled only by an election, never by appointment. He introduces New York Rep. Randy Kuhl.

Says Kuhl: "This issue undermines our national security and our way of life across America." Dems "want to make you all suffer so that you will vote with them and against President Bush."

He ends with a humorous compliment to Price. Recalling the time he needed to travel to Israel after getting a hip replacement, Kuhl says Price, an orthopedic surgeon, removed his stitches so he could make the trip. I think the implication is that Price saved the taxpayers some dough—anyway, the story gets chuckles.

1:50 p.m. Price: "You all are the eyes and ears of America right now." More people come in, for a total of about 100.

Now up, Arizona Rep. Trent Franks. He admits he used to be an oil/gas producer, which means he knows how long it takes to get gas out of the ground. Most of the delay is due to red tape. "Once you start drilling, you can be producing in a month."

He last drilled in Utah—the permit took about three years. Delays like that are what is driving drilling overseas.

Mentions that his wife had twins last week, making him a first-time dad. Wife and kids game to D.C. so they could be with him this week.

Franks recalls how Carter's windfall-profits tax led to the United States' buying more oil from overseas. "We are sending over 700 billion dollars overseas. It's the largest transfer of wealth in history." Says with this dependence, "the future of our children will not be as bright."

His language is a bit confusing as he tries to use the term "Manhattan Project" first with a positive connotation, then with a different, negative one. Positive usage: Describing efforts to solve America's energy problem as a "Manhattan Project." Negative usage: "Today the country of Iran has their own 'Manhattan Project.'"

Noting he is on the Armed Services Committee, he says the danger of nuclear attack is greater now due to our funding overseas oil producers who have a "jihadist mentality." If Iran gains nukes, he notes, Al-Qaeda will have them too.

Franks ends by quoting Conaway attempting to channel Reagan: "Speaker Pelosi, turn these lights back on." An easy way to get applause, and it comes.

2 p.m. Steve King is back. Says he suffers from insomnia, which caused him to pull Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations off the shelf; that leads to a point about how neither gold nor oil is a "speculator's commodity." (Gold, he notes, has industrial uses, including the gold that was used to cover the roof of his state's Capitol building.)

Between this glimpse of King's personal life and Kuhl's TMI reference to his stitches, I really feel as though I've wandered into a Capra film. I can't remember the last time so many strange middle-aged men volunteered intimate details of their medical histories. Not since I was a rock journalist, anyway.

Actually, I had better be careful calling Rep. King middle-aged, as I turn 40 next month, and his next point is based on a TV show that was on during my teen years, though I have no memory of it: "Sledge Hammer!" King says Pelosi's argument for tapping the Strategic Oil Reserve is akin to the catchphrase from that show: "Trust me—I know what I'm doing!"

"You wonder why Putin's belligerent?" King asks. "When these dictators get oil-rich, they get belligerent on us." Because of America's dependence upon dictators' oil, he adds, "our freedoms are diminishing day by day."

He brings out his pie charts for those who missed them before, and mentions he'll have a new one tomorrow; I don't catch what it'll demonstrate.

2:19 p.m. Price is back, takes down King's pie chart to reveal the card with the switchboard number again. I'm reminded of "Americathon."

He mentions the Dems not only dimmed the lights—they turned up the A/C, making the House chilly. It really is cold, about 60 degrees. I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and I still have to button my denim jacket all the way up. Makes no sense Pelosi is trying to "save the planet."

North Carolina Rep. Sue Myrick says a few words. She doesn't seem to be much of a speaker, at least not on this topic, but good on her for doing her part for the cause.

2:25 p.m. Price is back: "We don't demand a specific outcome. What we demand is a vote."

He introduces Indiana Rep. Mike Pence. Now, here's an orator! About 60 people are around to hear him.

It's "a real joy" to speak before the people themselves, not just their representatives, Pence says.

He claims the latest polls show more than 70% want responsible drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. When describing this House event to friends, he says, note that this is not a "protest," but a "thoughtful presentation."

"Energy independence is an American issue"—not exclusively Republican or Democratic. "A bipartisan majority would vote to give the American people more access to American oil."

Applause—led by Price. He leads the applause a lot. A good MC! Wish I could get him to do that at my talks.

Russia's military action in Georgia is resulting in higher oil prices, Pence says. "How much longer do we want to remain so dependent on such a volatile area of the world as the Middle East or part of the former Soviet Union?"

In a brilliant flourish, he points out the Daniel Webster quotation chiseled in capital letters onto the plaque above the dais: "LET US DEVELOP THE RESOURCES OF OUR LAND, CALL FORTH ITS POWERS ..."

That gives him a smooth segue into his "three keys to American greatness: our faith in God, our faith in freedom, and our vast natural resources." There are about 100 people in the room as he wraps up his speech to well-deserved applause.

2:40 p.m. Price is back to remind those of us with "a few gray hairs" that, back during the 1970s energy crisis, when there were long lines at the gas pumps, we said "never again" would we be so reliant upon foreign oil.

He introduces Texas Rep. John Culberson, who makes it clear right off that he is a techie. The rep has found ways to beat the media's near-blackout by posting video updates on Qik.com and short blog items on Twitter.com.

Culberson is the first speaker I've seen today who invites questions (though Price was willing to answer individuals' questions when he wasn't speaking on the floor). He seems very well-versed on the issues, and thinks on his feet.

I ask what proves to be easily the dumbest question of the otherwise thoughtful ones posed to the rep: Is Pelosi really behind the near-frigid indoor temp, which is so wasteful of the energy she claims to wish to conserve? Yes, Culberson says, likening her iron control of every aspect of the House to that of Joe Cannon.

Unlike King, Culberson does not favor ethanol—"nutty" is the word he uses to describe it, as it will result in the prices of corn and flour going through the roof.

A woman asks, if increased drilling is OK'd, would he then pursue research and development of alternative energy sources with the same enthusiasm? Yes, he says, citing his support of nanotubes that are being developed by scientists at Rice University.

Pelosi is more committed to saving the planet than she is to saving the U.S., Culberson says—meanwhile, U.S. drilling is more environmentally sound than people might think. For example, he says, Hurricane Ivan damaged the oil pipeline connected to rigs a few hundred yards off the coast of the Galveston Seawall (which I know well, having lived three blocks away as a kid)—but the damage caused no leaks.

His strongest point is on the subject of pollution caused by drilling in Nigeria, which is "ghastly—like Dante's Inferno." Pelosi's policies, he explains, cause drilling in countries where such operations really do hurt the planet, because they lack the regulations that such drilling would be forced to follow in the United States.