Rep Tim Ryan D-Ohio on House Floor: You don't get into elective Wars...

[Up2Late]

(on floor now) ...because you never know when a Major problem (like Katrina) will come alone...

"Mr. President, ask your major Campaign contributors to give back some of their Tax Cut to help out."

Now Kendrick Meek D-Florida is on.

What do they call these type of sessions?

[Idioteque]

1. These are special order speeches...

...Reps Meek and Ryan are members of the "30-Something Dems", a group of Democrats that give a weekly address on issues that effect young people. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is also a member.

They are quite fun to watch, and they read fan mail on the floor of the house ^_^.

Every time they get done, the speaker pro tem reads a pre-written message about how they are supposed to address the chair :P.

[Up2Late]

2. Why? do they not show the chair his/her proper respect?

BTW, I kind of like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz too. She's feisty, and good looking too.

[Idioteque]

3. They speak directly to each other...

...instead of indirectly adressing each other by speaking to the chair.

[faithfulcitizen]

4. Thank you Mr. Ryan!

:patriot:

[Lindsay]

5. Some of the special order speeches are well worth watching.

If you have the stomach for watching the Repugs, you can find out what their pet grievances are. (Like Tom Trancredo really doesn't like brown people.)

The 30-something Dems are interesting to watch. The Congressional Black Caucus has had some good sessions; they're always worth listening to, IMO.

There used to be an Iraq Watch group, but they've been off the scene for a while. Don't know why, although Sherrod Brown, who was one of the leaders, started an anti-CAFTA series of speeches and that may have contributed.

Anyway, it's a good way to hear from concerned Dem Reps about what their issues are. In fact, it's about the only way, since debate time is limited in the House and nobody seems to want them as talking heads.

[Up2Late]

6. So do they do the SO Speeches mainly to get their view into...

...the Congressional Record, or just voice something someone back home wanted addressed or what?

And how do the determine the unlucky Republican that has to Chair these sessions?