Or at least protests about Congress' inaction.
A cadre of Republicans, peeved that the House took a five-week vacation instead of staying to address high gas prices, commandeered the chamber floor to scold "anti-oil" Democrats who would rather jet home than take care of the regular folk paying exorbitant prices at the pump.
"As you can see, the Democrats are not here today," said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who flew back into a humidity-layered Washington to rail at the opposing party. "To be honest, on this issue, they haven't been with us for the last two months."
Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican pit bull from North Carolina, took on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whom he said was flying around the country on a book tour.
"While the American people are struggling," he said, "she's out there trying to sell her book."
With C-SPAN cameras off, the television lights shuttered and the dais empty, some 30 House Republicans rounded up several dressed-down congressional staffers and tourists in flip-flops to provide an audience for their speeches.
It made for an odd scene: Where Supreme Court justices usually sit for the State of the Union address, tourists squatted in shorts and T-shirts. Clerks and gavels gave way to jumbo placards. The typically somber House floor turned into a pep rally for talking points.
Bishop, who spoke during the initial Friday protest in shorts and sandals, returned to the floor this time in a suit, vest and dress shoes.
"We want Speaker Pelosi to open this floor and have a vote," Bishop shouted as tourists stood to clap. A few people started to chant, "vote, vote, vote" in escalating quickness.
Bishop and his GOP colleagues had a different mind-set on several occasions this year when they moved to adjourn the House instead of voting on Democratic-led measures. Bishop himself has voted 19 times this year to adjourn, including eight times in one day.
The Utah Republican laughed when asked to explain the irony. "Those are my obnoxious votes," he quipped.
Republicans pushed what they called the "All of the Above" plan, like that in Bishop's American Energy Act. His measure would open the outer continental shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling as well as offer incentives for fuel efficiency and development of advanced batteries.
A few thousands miles away, Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah's lone Democrat in Congress, issued a news release touting similar legislation. His bill would open up off-shore drilling - with state approval - extend tax breaks for renewable-energy production and drop the hold on oil-shale regulations.
"Rather than waste more time pointing fingers, I believe we have to pull all the levers available to us, starting with producing as much oil and natural gas as possible in this country," Matheson said, mirroring some of the GOP's points.
Back on the House floor, the finger-pointing continued.
