We Kan Haz Circus!

Well, they said if Bush were re-elected that law enforcement would try to muzzle the press, AND THEY WERE RIGHT!

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.

...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?" complained one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans "morons" for staying on the floor.

Update - The Capitol Police are now trying to kick reporters out of the press gallery above the floor, meaning we can't watch the Republicans anymore. But Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is now in the gallery talking to reporters, so the cops have held off for a minute. Clearly, Democrats don't want Republicans getting any press for this episode. GOP leaders are trying to find other Republicans to rotate in for Blunt so reporters aren't kicked out.

The Dems managed to get the sound and lights turned back off--does that make this a quiet riot?

Instapundit adds this video:

Expect to see a lot of that video this fall.

As their effort went on, GOP members escorted tourists onto the House floor to watch the highly unusual proceedings. “You probably came here expecting to be bored,” said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. “We are disappointing you.’’

More disappointment, please. And popcorn?

UPDATE: Now headlining on C-SPAN, whose floor cameras were cut off by the Democrats! And live briefing right now (3:40 central) on C-SPAN2. The C-SPAN2 commentator almost had emotion in his vocie as he noted that they could not bring us the live video from the chamber as Pelosi had ordered the C-SPAN cameras shut off.

UPDATE: Over at 5pm Eastern, with a rendition of God Bless America and a standing O from the tourists in the peanut gallery.