August 4, 2008 - 16:02
News: Arizona

Shadegg in the midst of a revolt or just bored?

Based on a couple of email updates that went out last week you would have to say Congressman John Shadegg is either having the time of his life as a member of a modern day revolt of is completely bored with his job in Congress.

Friday afternoon the Bob Lord for Congress campaign sent out an email saying “John Shadegg made it clear Friday to reporters that he hates his job and he doesn't want to represent Arizona's Third District,” the email stated.

It went on to call Shadegg the “Reluctant Representative” and chronicled his statements this year including , Feb. 12, 2008: Shadegg retires from office, Feb. 14, 2008: Shadegg was asked by more than 130 House Republicans to reconsider his decision to retire at the end of his term, Feb. 17, 2008: Shadegg said, "Washington is a place for young people with new ideas and to take the fight forward. I think it's time for someone else to have a chance,” Feb. 22, 2008: Shadegg gets back in the race, July 30, 2008: Shadegg said he wants to leave Congress for U.S. Senate, Aug. 1, 2008: Shadegg calls his job “boring”

Later that afternoon Shadegg’s office sent out an email that made it sound more like he was a kid in a candy store than a bored Congressman. Below are parts of his email update.

History was made today. Congress just recessed for a month-long summer break, leaving any solutions to high gas and energy prices to wait until September. But, while Republicans were on the floor to try to talk about energy solutions, Nancy Pelosi adjourned the House and then ordered the C-SPAN cameras off, turned of the microphones and turned out the lights.

After the microphones went off, I was determined to get them back on and actually guessed right on the code to turn them back on. However, Pelosi ordered them off again.

Then, Pelosi order all reporters out of the Press Gallery, so I immediately went there to talk to the press, which enabled the press to stay there, since a Member of Congress was in the gallery.

My Republican colleagues and I stayed on the floor to continue the debate on why we need to have more domestic production and why we need to move forward with alternatives like solar, wind, and nuclear. In my speech on the floor of the House, I said that this was our Boston Tea Party.

As we continued to talk on the House Floor, more and more of our Republican colleagues joined us and demonstrated our commitment to the American people in finding solutions to lower gas and energy prices.

A Capitol Hill publication wrote this:

Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.

Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the feisty 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."

Makes you think both Lord and Shadegg are talking about different races for Congress. Shadegg is back in Washington today as the Republicans continue the one-sided debate.

More Inside Edge

Wally Edge can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

Related topics: John Shadegg, Bob Lord, AZ-3

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