Beware the Ides of August
by Chad Pergram
Shakespeare wrote about the Ides of March.
When it comes to news, the Bard has nothing on the Ides of August.
Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in August 2005. And for this August 1, I figured something bizarre might be afoot. Especially on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Every morning, I check-in with Sarah Santer, the morning assignment editor in FOX’s Washington bureau.
I warned her: be on guard. Prepare to deploy crews around Capitol Hill. Congress was leaving town today for the five-week August recess. The final day of Congressional sessions are ripe for hijinx. It’s kind of like the last day of school. Sophomoric stunts. Kids pulling the fire alarms. Making the toilets explode. My Dad poured shellac in the school lawnmower.
But I wasn’t prepared for the type of shenanigans the GOP had up its sleeve on this August 1st.
Even Alice Cooper would have been proud.
Republicans were steamed the Congress was abandoning Washington without voting for more offshore drilling. They thought they should have a vote. And even some key Democrats that such a vote could win approval on the House floor.
When the House and Senate adjourns for long stretches of time, Congressional aides pull up their cars and SUV’s to the tarmac down the Capitol steps during the final vote. You can almost hear them revving up the engines as the House and Senate adjourn. And don’t get caught in the way of a lawmaker charging out of the Capitol en route to his or her ride. They’ll flatten you like LaDainian Tomlinson bowling over an undersized safety.
But this was different. Republicans wanted to stay and talk about energy. And nearly 50 of them did. For nearly five hours.
Congressional staff dimmed the lights in the House chamber, switched off the sound system and shuttered the institutionally-controlled cameras which telecast pictures of sessions to news organizations when lawmakers meet.
But Republicans commandeered the floor and held a rump session to lambaste the Democrats. And nearly 50 House GOPers did just that for the next several hours.
It was an extraordinary scene. I ran out to the press gallery that overlooks the floor to soak in the spectacle. The Speaker’s Office had ordered the chamber closed and were on the verge of kicking out the press. But they wouldn’t do that so long as a Member of Congress asked them not to. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) stationed himself in the press gallery. House staff and police officers practically take their careers into their own hands if they try to cross a Member of Congress, particularly one of the leaders.
Blunt then escorted yours truly and Congressional Quarterly reporters Liriel Higa and Ed Epstein to the floor. Reporters generally aren’t allowed on the floor of the House. But again, this was different. House aides looked shocked as Blunt paraded us into the chamber.
Epstein, an excellent reporter and good friend, then suggested I ask Blunt if I could bring a camera into the chamber. I asked the Whip. And he demurred, arguing that the rules are very strict about cameras in the chamber.
This was the irony. Republicans were stirring up all sorts of trouble inside the chamber. But no one could see it. That is except for the aides and the tourists watching the show from the gallery. I later put the same question to Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN). He told me that lawmakers had to obey the rules.
White House Correspondent Wendell Goler was preparing a package about energy. I asked him if he wanted stuff from the House. He pointed out that it would be a hard tale to tell without video. I then ran into Mike Majchrowitz. He’s the Capitol Hill Correspondent for FOX News Radio. Mike told me he gave his radio recording gear to an unnamed Member and persuaded him to record some audio inside the chamber. That was a start.
Then I was on a mission. We had to get video from inside the chamber.
I’ve always known that the best way to get what you need in journalism is to rely on guerilla tactics. And like any reporter worth their salt, I don’t reveal sources and methods. But FOX was able to sneak in a ComVu phone into the House chamber to broadcast live video from inside the chamber.
This was historic. Because live video (and rarely private video) has never been streamed from the House chamber. Ever. But we did that today. On FOX.
This is a battle that’s close to my heart. My first job in Washington was at C-SPAN. There, C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb has wrestled with Congress for nearly 30 years to allow cameras into the House and Senate chambers. Lamb’s always argued the cameras shouldn’t be controlled by the government. Let private news organizations shoot the video like we do at press conferences and hearings and interviews we conduct.
Unfortunately, lawmakers have beaten back my friend and mentor Lamb at nearly ever turn.
But today, we were able to break down part of that barrier that’s stymied C-SPAN for decades.
Beware the Ides of August. And we’re just beginning the month.
When the story hits, FOX News is there. With bureaus across the world, there isn’t any news that gets by FOX News. 
Keep it going GOP this is the fight of your life!
I wish the Republican’s had done this earlier. It may have made a difference. And,doesn’t it make you wonder why our elected officials don’t want us to know what they are doing?
With the majority of news corporations hiding the fact that, the democrat majority in congress, is screwing the working class, with their oppressive taxes, and they want to double what we pay now???
I am glad that some elected officials are saying, Enough!!!!
If we have no money to defend ourselves, they can do what they want against us just like Hittler, and Nazi Socialist Germany, the ultimate left wing war machine!!!
I’m sad I missed this! I was in the House Chamber last August as an Intern of a GOP, when the Republicans “walked out.” That was a crazy night in the House Gallery… This would have been AMAZING to see! Keep up the work GOP… play this right and win seats back this election!!
The GOP is a disgrace. Wait till the Congressional Elections come Sept. and watch them fall. Probably 20 Senate seats and 60 House seats now in the hands of the democratic challengers! Goodbye GOP! Gil
Its amazing now the press loves the democrats and try to push them down our throat every day. But now they are going on vacation while America suffers these High gas prices and they could have done something about it. Kudos to the Republicans for attempting something although fruitless, maybe they will set a trend. and before the comments start flying it has already been proven over the last few weeks that even just news about drilling here will lower prices.
I applaud the Republicans for speaking out for the people, I have been in touch with John Shadegg and I will join the fight. My representative Ed Pastor has to be careful because each empty home in Phoenix may be another vote lost for him!! I hope so, I want to see drilling and I’m sick and tired of hearing an excellent President be deliberately put down by people who want power so bad they attempt to destroy the other side. Thank You for allowing my comment. Sincerely, Margaret
You go, Chad! Thanks for having the courage and tenacity to stick with it. Be our eyes and ears so powers that be know that SOMEONE is watching.
great work! One minor item though: the FIRST of the month is NOT the Ides; the Ides are the fifteenth…
makes you wonder what will happen on the 15th – it can only get better…
also, where is the link to the streaming video?
I thank the GOP Reps for this response, albeit a small response, to the obviously uncaring and unsympathetic Democratic Congress. Let’s face it….THERE ISN’T, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ONE POLITICIAN OUT THERE THAT PAYS FOR THEIR OWN FUEL! If they did, maybe and ONLY maybe, THEN they might feel our pain. But then if they did have to pay for their own fuel, they would probably just vote themselves a raise to pay for it, and oh by the way, maybe an additional 25% for their pain and suffering.
Absolutely grotesque!
This article is a grave injustice to the truth of what happened yesterday. In the session that just passed, there have been 850 bills passed but debates on only 50 of them. 50 out of 850. That’s disgraceful in a nation founded on the idea of representation.
Yesterday Republicans and some Democrats pleaded – again – for the right to debate and vote on drilling on American soil (something favored by many citizens). The leadership denied them this right and went on to shut down the cameras, microphones and even the lights of the House Chambers. They then adjourned until September and left.
Those remaining in the dark – literally – simply continued the conversation, a conversation that then went on for hours on the floor and online through Twitter. To make this about Republican and Democrat completely misses the point of this historic and positive precedent for the future of our country.
This was about “we the people” having a voice. And that voice was heard through Twitter. We should all be excited and I am disgusted that the writer of this piece is so immersed in opinions and ideas that he cannot simply report what happened without words like “shenanigans” and comparisons to Alice Cooper.
The disgrace of this article is only overshadowed by the disgrace that is our current political condition.
Thank you.
Dear Chad,
Thank you for doing your job to report the news in a fair and honest manner. Your tenacity in finding a solution to record this newsworthy and telling event are greatly appreciated!
So, is there a link to the Video?
I agree that all open sessions of Congress and the Senate should be video taped, recorded and notated. These are supposed to be public servants.
Ok, so these guys/gals are all handsomely paid for surrogates for the Wealthy and Corporate. Views into them doing their true masters bidding is not all that attractive to them.
So where & when do we see the video. GREAT job Chad Pergram & to FoxNews in general. America needs to know to just what devious lengths these adolescent-minded Democrats will go to instill socialism/communism upon a free nation.
lol@Even Alice Cooper would have been proud.
GREAT story!
This is really sad. 50 GOPer’s stay to discuss and possibly force a vote on an energy issue that the country sorely needs. The Democrats have all run home without completing their job while Republicans stay. This is a major story and gives the public a real insight into how the Democrats feel about representing their constituents. But instead of hearing about the discussion or potential vote, we are giving pap about someone sneaking a camera into the House to record the session. Guerrilla warfare with a camera. Marvelous! We need energy and a solid energy policy and the reporters are gloating like little children about sneaking in a camera. I, for one, am really seriously impressed.
Now here is a Conservative Vice-Presesidential Candidate!!
Maybe the President SHOULD call congress back into session, in order to show the public how the DEMOCRAT party has not been doing the people’s work, but their own selfish work for their cronies.
Upon checking, the Ides of August is actually on the 13th. as it is on every other month except for March, May, July and October on which the 15th is so designated.
There were also several grammatical errors in your text.
A Great Big thank you to those who stayed to fight for us. This is what the people want, and I don’t know why the Dems keep playing these stupid games. They never listen to the people ! Thanks again. You have my support totaly.
Carol Taylor
Your bias was rather telling Mr. Pergram. You claimed that the Republicans were behaving ignobly when they were protesting the stall tactics of the do-nothings lead by Pelosi. You at least acknowledged that many Democrats support the Republican measure. The only reason it hasn’t been voted on is that Pelosi doesn;t have the votes to defeat it. She played parliamentary games to prevent the vote.
Furthermore, you labeled the Republican “speech-in” as childish, but matter-of-factly reported the Democrat efforts to drive them out (cutting, AC, lights, cameras, etc.). How is turning the lights and AC off while people are talking not an immature prank?
At least your bias isn’t so strong that the truth is lost. But the reader does require a pitchfork to glean the wheat from the chaff.
Great story…needs to be told. However, the “Ides” of a month typically refers to the 15th of the month, not the 1st of the month. According to Wikipedia, March, May, July and October the Ides fall on the 15th, or the 13th for all other months.
Additionally, Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990 and Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2005, NOT on August 1st.
It’s time to get rid of all the garbage in Congress, that includes Senators and Representatives. They are not doing what we pay them to do. Anyone that fills those jobs need to understand that they work for us, the people of this country, not for any advocacy group or lobbiest. We have to send them a message before it is to late. They are treating the job as if they are entitled to it, and this is just their welfare check, albeit a very big welfare check. We the people are getting screwed. So what’s new. Time to do something about the mess they have put us in.
Hurrah for the Republicans and Fox news. You seem to be the only ones to get the story out. How sad for this country. Wish you had shown this all weekend for people who work and can’t see these happenings during the day. Keep up the good work. The do-nothing Congress needs to be exposed, especially the Dems who are using all kinds of archaic moves to prevent votes on important topics, after Pelosi said she was going to run a different kind of session. It sure is different – I’d say like Russia.
“This was historic. Because live video (and rarely private video) has never been streamed from the House chamber. Ever. But we did that today. On FOX.”
So why isn’t there a link to the video with this story?
Sorry if I missed it, but where is this video you are referring to? I haven’t seen it on FNC, and I assumed your blog post would have a link to it?
Democrats should be completely embarrassed about their behavior! They leave for their vacation while the average American is struggling to put food on the table because of high oil and gas prices. It is clear to me that I will never associate myself with the Dems and am shamed that they have control of our congress. While the Chinese drill off our shore our ignorant democrats in congress are too busy worrying about ball players on steriods and what type of cooking oil fast food restaurants can use. I fear for the future of our great country as long as the democrats are in control of congress. Lord help us if Obama become the next President!!!!!!!!!
my congratulations to the republicians who stayed trying to come to some kind of solution my congressman mike pence among those who tried– please keep trying these prices are devasting to some, obviously not nancy or her troops
So, congratulations!
…This story is meaningless without the actual video attached. Is there a GOOD reason you haven’t uploaded it to YouTube yet?
…Then you wouldn’t even have to pay the hosting fees, and could simply edit the article to add the YouTube embedding code.
…Seriously, guys, do we have to show you how to do EVERYTHING?
Just more proof that the Democrats are for themselves and the majority of the Republicans are trying to work for the people of these United States. I hope this news begins to open the eyes of more people who are still so adament about electing Obama for President. That is, unless they WANT more taxes, etc. If that be the case, then, they make a lot more money than we do.
Chad, I’d like to say I am shocked at the bias in your reporting (“But I wasn’t prepared for the type of shenanigans the GOP had up its sleeve on this August 1st. Even Alice Cooper would have been proud.”), but once I read that you worked for C-Span, I know all hope of impartiality had vanished along with all hope for a balanced article. I can only imagine the words you would use should the democrats have the conviction to stay in DC under these same circumstances and fight for their constituents and for an energy bill: brave, dedicated, undeterred, among some I can think of. And, the names you would have for the Republicans if they were the ones to walk out of Congress leaving the nation’s business unfinished: cowardly, elitist, vacation-hungry.
I believe Pelosi was the one who was going to return civility and bipartisanship to DC. Instead, she has required ’shernanigans’ in order for the minority party to exercise their right to speak in our nations capital.
Chad, don’t look now, but your bias is dangling before all the world…
Barb Link
Who cares what these drama queens do for publicity? There will be vast changes after the November election, and these parasites might have to find a real job. W has brought our nation to disgrace and shame. Ted Stevens and Larry Craig and Alberto G and Rummy, probably have plenty money to fall back upon… Of course the new President will have that nice surplus, as Clinton left to Bush.
A ‘party’? Read your article.
Your headline is misleading. What the members of the House who stayed behind after others had left for the August recess was not to have a ‘party’ but a meeting to discuss the problems with gas prices.
I think the republicans were great! Now the American people can see who it is that is stopping us from drilling and getting our gas prices back in line, Yes , its the LIBERALS.
Pelosi, Reid , Obama !!! WE WANT TO DRILL, AND DRILL NOW….
I am very proud of the republicans ! I would like to see more of this forcefullness.
I have never been so proud of my Republican Party! It’s about time that We The People stood up and challanged the Democrats to do their job! And people wonder why the ratings of the people in Washington are so low! At last look, 75% of the American people are mad as the devil with the job that is being done.
Come on Polesi! Get your rear in gear and do your job instead of siting there in your chair looking so smug. And to the rest of you Democrat’s quit watching her for her signal’s to act! You don’t think we don’t see what your doing!? You work for us, WE THE PEOPLE! We don’t want to live like this, we don’t need a socialist country! Quit shoving it down our throats!
Wow !!!! Those Republicans finaly found their back bone, too bad it wasn’t televised. They need to carry this message to eveyones district that the Democrats are not interested in the American people and how the oil crisis is effecting every aspect of this economy, why else did they fight like junk yard dogs to get out of Washington without bringing this issue up, they want to keep prices as a issue for re-election. I hope the Republicans will continue their strong stand on energy . Right on you congressmen, who took a stand.
JMoya
August 1st, the collapse of the 35W bridge.
Big mistake here. In the ancient Roman dating system, the first of the month is the Kalends of the month–hence, “calendar.” The Ides are either the 13th or the 15th, depending on the month. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the March 15th — the Ides of March.
Thank you for the video! it’s wonderful to see someone fighting for the people!
FNC is my favorite news station. You guys arent afraid to report the truth, no matter how much controversy it will cause. That is why its the number one network for me.
Speaker Pelosi pulled the plug on CSPAN not only to avert a vote on energy legislation but to prevent 85,000,000 CSPAN viewers from watching her stifle any debate, or hearing any debate.
This is not the first or last attempt Speaker Pelosi has made to overthrow democratic government in Washington. At the very hour Obama was playing President with President Sarkozy in Paris, one of Pelosi’s committees was in the midst of a hearing bent on the impeachment of both President Bush and Vice President Cheney — Cheney being the initial target — since Pelosi is the next in the line of succession. In her thinking this is the hammerlock on the November elections.
Havn’t Americans seen enough dictators to recognize one in their living room?
I stand by my earlier two posts. I know an attempted coupe when I see one. So where is the mainstream media? Do not expect them to save American Democracy. They have other priorities!