WASHINGTON (CNN) – A coordinated conservative push to kill a climate change bill managed to at least take down the House of Representatives' phone switchboard.
The volume of calls to House members Friday was so high that a spokesman for the House chief administrative officer told CNN Radio the system could not handle it.
"Phone traffic has increased to a level where some callers are receiving an 'all circuits are busy now, please try back again later' message," communications director Jeff Ventura wrote in an e-mail response.
This came as conservative radio hosts and congressmen made direct pleas for voters to dial the Capitol and oppose a Democratic bill that would set strict limits on carbon emissions. Both sides believed the bill was within a few votes of passing or failing.
"Call your congressman, right now!" urged Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana, from the House floor as the chamber seemed to near a vote.
Ventura said the bill was likely behind the phone-line crash. "The suspected cause ... is believed to be interest and inquiries regarding the expected vote on the climate bill," he wrote.
Busy signals blared from congressional offices beginning Friday morning. Traffic was especially jammed at key committees and in offices of potential swing voters, including Democrats from traditionally Republican states, like Texas.
"I can't begin to tell you how many calls we've received," said Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, "and it's disproportionately vote 'no.'" Gonzalez said calls were disproportionately "yes" during the committee process and he planned to support the bill.
Ventura said technical staff was working to try and resolve the issue late Friday.
From CNN Politics
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Just like Republicans to be not only enemies of the environment but enemies of our country. What if someone actually needed to use the phone system for an emergency? Oh, that's right, Republicans want disasters, including terrorist attacks, to occur because fear it what Republican still think they can exploit, even if it hurt or kills Americans.
CONServatives against, well......EVERYTHING
that hissing hewitt of course he is one of those reptiles calling for a boycott of GM cars.....stupidity at its best and may I add...ignorance....I will buy one in the next few weeks and piss on the intolerance of those hissers.....rotten evils
Still more from the few remaining members of the party of no...
No Ideas
No Future.
Of course Repubs want to continue to allow the planet to choke. They like the status quo and don't want to move into the 21st Century and invest in new technology. We can look forward to four more years of obstructionist behavior. What are their solutions? More money for the energy industry, continued pollution of our air? Great.
keep calling, maybe enough will get the message.
Well, let's hope these congress people vote their conscience and not what they think will get them re-elected.
WOW, i love the USA!
We should all get together and make so many calls we crash the system demanding an affordable public option for health care coverage!
We're going to need it more than ever if the 'conservative' radio hosts get their way and nothing is done about things like our air quality!
Yeah...vote NO to life on earth!!!
A good example all the little right wing, brainless dominion, dutifully calling in and "trying" to stop an obviously much needed and long over due climate bill.
They also probably called in to start having schools teach that the world is actually flat!
It just passed.
Right wing radio 0, earth 1
No to the climate bill! We can always move to another planet if this one becomes inhabitable.
Conservatives are delusional. They reason like this: "If global warming is true, then government action is necessary. Government action can never be necessary. Therefore, global warming can't be true."
Or, "If global warming were true, then global corporations would have to change their behavior in response to something other than a profit motive. This would mean that global corporations would not be absolutely free. Therefore, there can be no global warming."
Or, "If global warming were true, then Liberals would be right. Liberals cannot be right, therefore the whole concept of global warming is a LIberal conspiracy."
They are leading us right off the cliff.
I don't mind people expressing their opinions. What I mind is them being zombies to pundits instead of having any actual reasons for their opinions. If Rush Limbaugh told them the Earth was flat, they would mindlessly parrot that as gospel too!
I've heard these AM pundits and their wild, grossly exaggerated and false figures.
If these pundits are going to use our airwaves against our own best interests, then the needs to be some kind of law that forces them to be truthful.
These pundits lie like a rug, and their listeners eat it up.
And the sad thing is the people that listen to these pundits don't even know they're being lied to. Their biases and prejudices are reinforced.
Sad.
It was rainy and cold today in my city, even though it's supposed to be summer. There, I just completely disproved the 'theory' of seasons! And if you're a republican, there is a 90% chance that you actually took me seriously on that and think it was a valid argument!
If not for the Eight Repubs, the bill would have gone down. Just four votes the other way, and it would have failed.
I support this bill. But then again, unlike conservative Republicans, I care more about the future of this great country than I do about oil profits.
Funny, I called Pete Visclosky to support it.
I guess it means nothing to them that we should be caretakers of this earth G*d gave us. Why do they want to destroy it? We are stewards of this planet and it will only sustain us when cared for. I suppose for those who feed into the thought that "G*d's going to destroy the earth anyway" theory it doesn't matter. The word "conservative" is what these people use to describe themselves? Do they know what the word conserve means? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Strange folks they are.
Don;t care because I earn enough to pay Obama's extra taxes. Its the poor that will suffer the most under the progressive agenda. Too bad they don't yet realize what the liberal media led them to dubiously vote for..., but they will in time.
IS THERE A CRACK IN THE 'RUBBER STAMP' REGIME? Perhaps the unconvinced Dems are staring at the naked EMPEROR for the first time. Or perhaps November 2010 is drawing close much quicker with every stroke of the President's pen.
All of the American for change need to raise to have your voices heard
Not just fof November 4, 2008 but our President needs us to help get the issues we wanted past . So call , write and communicate to your representative we want health reform, enviormental, and all other changes for a stronger and better America. It we do not stand and use our voice. What we did in 2008 will be lost to a negative group that does care about all of us.
Incredible. Where I live we hit 103 F (39 C) today. That was the ambient temperature; the heat index was even higher. We have beaten 100 degrees every day since June 11. We've been near 100 degrees every day this month.
This goes beyond heat. Look at the rains in the northeast. Look at the lack of rain in the Pacific northwest. Look beyond our borders to the rest of the planet. The climate IS changing. Human beings ARE the cause.
And these folks flooding the phone lines will kill all of us in the name of their almighty economy. Truly the love of money is the root of all evil.
And they still didn't listen. Vote the idiots out in 2010 no matter what party they claim to be with if they voted for this stupid bill. Vote them out in 2010!!!!
Power to the people? I am so disappointed in the House of Representatives. They do not represent me. Those who voted for it will not get my support or vote in the next election. See ya!
God forbid we might tighten up on carbon emmissions! Ha! republicans-some things never change.
So let me get this straight...Conservatives WANT to breathe dirty air?
Too bad the calls didn't work you GOP losers!
Shades of the phone jamming scam the republicans got away with when they stopped voters from getting to the polls to let the butt sununu win the election. I say, and say it, and say it, the republicans are the commonest bunch of people going. Guess this won't get posted either. You know you can't pan republicans.
Conservative fools led by Loud Dobbs, John King, and Ed Henry. I did not know they had time to call the switchboard while they were raptly listening to Newt, Rush, Palin, Cheney, or perhaps themselves.
Maybe all of the phone calls are a hint that the American people do not want this crap crammed down our throats.
America – please remember this in 2010. Let's get rid of these idiots.
No reasonable person in their right mind can actually believe that this is good for our country. Idiots!!
Re: "Gonzalez said calls were disproportionately "yes" during the committee process and he planned to support the bill."
Uh huh! Right!
Hello! The switchboard wasn't crashed with those supporting the climate bill.
Spare us the spin, Mr. Gonzalez.
Republicans are just crazy! The say they "love" Jesus...Yet, refuse to take care of the ONLY place they gave them to live.
They say they "love" Jesus...Yet, they're filled with so much HATE!
They say they "love " Jesus...Yet, they're LIE, DESTROY & TEAR DOWN with JOY!
Why don't they just admit it...They love the DEVIL!
The Yes Voting Republican turncoats were:
Mary Bono Mack (CA) We got you, Babe.... unfortunately.
Mark Kirk (IL) Did Chicago dig up some dirt on him or is he just an airhead?
Mike Castle (DE) rhymes with.... Pack your bags, stiff.
Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
Chris Smith (NJ)
Leonard Lance (NJ) Poor NJ.
Dave Reichert (WA) Bellevue, kiss Reichert good-bye next year.
John McHugh (NY) Can you believe this guy calls himself the "champion of fiscal responsibility"?
No surprise. The new administration was somewhat shocked at the archiac communications system in place. Hopefully the White House will be updated sooner than later.
I hope people will just push politics aside and think about the world they live in, and in which their children will end up
Obama is the President. No need to fight that by making stupid decisions. Anything that improves the air helps everyone. Sad to see anyone disputing that to score a point
Anyway, congratulation Mr President. I am glad I voted for you
...and the GOP weigh in on the side of the dinosaurs yet again. Nice to see some thing remain consistent.
One more foot deeper into our own grave.
I am so disgusted with Congress because they are obviously going against the will of the people. How much more taxes are we supposed to absorb? All we can do though is try to hold on until 2010 and vote out the members of Congress who voted for this bill, whether they be Democrat or Republican. BTW, I'm a registered Democrat and have been for 32 years. The Democrats are just shoving bills down our throat as fast as they can because they know they have a limited window of opportunity. Gridlock is starting to look pretty good about right now.
It passed! 219-212 and I applaud all 219 who had the guts to stand up to Big Oil. We need to have renewable energy and this bill will help the US toward energy independence! I am proud of the 219 who cast yes votes! Democrats, independants and moderates care about our environment. Republicans would love to ravage the land and feed the corporations the spoils until there is nothing left of our great (and only) planet.
I hope the democrats enjoy this victory. Ignoring the will of the population will cost them the 2010 elections. Count on it.
I was calling IN SUPPORT of the bill.
I'll pay the extra in taxes. What good is money to our kids if there is no clean air and no transportation? Oh well, I sent an email to reps and senators.
Duh
Who cares now. The bill passed. Get over it. It is nice to see something get done in Washington in a timely manner. Now, go ahead and confirm Judge Sotomayor.
How stupid they are? hahahahahhaha
Let me get this straight in my head.
Despite a lopsided majority of phone calls to our elected officals that said 'do not pass this bill', our elected officals(who are to represent the majority of the people) voted for this bill. What is wrong with this picture? I cannot believe that they are so much more informed that the electorate. Can it be that they don't have to listen to the voters? Can it be that this bill is loaded with more 'pork' for each Congressman?
Oh please tell me CNN. How do you know it was a "conservative push"? So you spoke with all of the callers and discovered they were all conservatives? i have liberal friends that also don't want this "tax" bill pushed through congress.
Thanks for showing your colors. One thing you are not.....BALANCED!
I hear the bill passed. I think I couldn't possibly be more disgusted with this contemptible Congress. They continue to prove again and again how little their constituents matter to them. Meanwhile, many of them are set to make a bundle from the disastrous legislation they ram through. I want a show of hands to see who actually read this abomination.
Gonzalez said calls were disproportionately "yes" during the committee process and he planned to support the bill.
So, CNN, does this mean it was a "liberal push" to get it through?
That makes sense. Conservatives are good at destroying things.
Make all the yes votes pay at the polls. Take names.
The republiklan cabal, "christian" Taliban and the limbaugh lemmings all working together to see that the leader of the republiklans, limbaugh's agenda for America to fail, is successful!
Hopefully, they were happy being "tea-bagged" by limbaugh, while they licked his boots!
The right wing war machine is being brought down.
And no doubt this "grass roots" event was financed by big oil...
I want to extend my thanks to all the people who called and made the system crash so the House wouldn't be able to process any calls - subsequently passing the bill. Thank you. The will of the people, as opposed to a few fringe on the right, is heard. We march forward.
Why do conservatives not want to stop this problem. It does not make sense. All I can do is shake my head.
And did any of these representatives listen to us ?
OUR Representatives hard at work....by ignoring the people! Stand by to pay out higher taxes for your utility bill.
Wait until the crash of 2010, when the 219 join the ranks of the other 12% unemployed in 2010.
Bye bye Waxman. So long Pelosi.
This bill should have died and not been passes. It does not matter what the Congressmen and women want, it is what the people of America want, and NO NEW TAXES on our current means of staying warm and getting to work is what a majority want. Another nail in America's coffin is being driven in. Poverty is fast approaching! This is not a Dem./Rep. fight, it is just insanity. If the technology was developed to be implemented in a large scale role out that was affordable – great! I'm all for it, but this is ludicrous! We don't have that large of a scale roll out ready and in a cost effective way to get it done. This is just about forcing rules and regulations to TAX/Steal money from those who work. It is all about power. The citizen with less and the government with more.
And lots of these callers are calling over and over.
Republican need to be rejuvinated and come try to come back in 2050 perhaps. You guys are done for now, powerless, evil doers, and non-American. Is like kids starting kindergarden again.
If Obama can dupe a majority with words, division is allayed – even as he goes about implementing (or trying) a system of which most people would otherwise fiercely oppose.
Why do these people keep passing bills that they have not had time to read?
all the puppets calling after Lush & Goober Hannity told them to call...too bad it was a waste of time like the teaparty....GOP.....GROUP OF PUPPETS....
I called my Congressman and it wasn't because of the reasons listed above. He voted against the bill, by the way. Perhaps the American people know they can't afford the higher utility bills and actually wanted their representatives to vote according to what the PEOPLE wanted.
I'm proud of the fact that the PEOPLE are taking more interest in what's going on in DC. The representatives would be wise to take note.
With all due respect, Mr. Gonzalez knows that most of the people in his district can't afford the higher rates and he should be ashamed for voting against their wants and needs. I'm sure they'll remember how he voted when their bills arrive and they can't afford to pay them.
The party of no is at it again. They do not care about America at all. Their concern is supposed to be for the people, instead they are only concerned about blocking everything, and hoping Obama (and America) fails.
Yeah. Whatever we do. DON'T admit there's anything wrong with the way we've raped our climate. Buy stock instead. Play Ted Nugent instead. Google Sarah Palin instead. Anything...anything...anything...but admit we've screwed up our planet and are willing to try and do something about it.
crashing the phone system should be a wake up call for the idiots in the white house and washington. They're destroying our country bit by bit !
Two words: KEEP CALLING!!. Let them really know how you feel anout getting ripped off, which this bill will do. Your future depends on it!!
It seems that every day there is more and more evidence contrary to the man made global warming theory. I wonder what Democrat lobbyists will benefit from this bill. Like the stimulus package, this is moe typical wasteful corrupt spending. Lord help us all.
Maybe that should be the new Republican slogan.
Bog everything down till it crashes so we can get our way.
Brillient!!!
Lol the "Party of No" marches on.
It was not a coordinated effort. It was people of common sense trying to stop illogical thinking from a house built with nuts.