(freshrant.com) Speaker of the House, John Boehner, surprised colleagues on both sides of the aisle with an announcement that House members would open the session by reading excerpts from Elizabeth Gilbert’s romantic novel, Eat, Pray, Love.
"When we read the U.S. Constitution, we discovered most members had never even seen it," Boehner offered. "When some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle announced they would cross party lines and sit together during the president’s State of the Union Address, I decided to take it a step further. And what better way to get out of our comfort zones, to find ourselves, and yes, to dream, than to retrace Elizabeth’s footsteps...(sobs)...to follow Elizabeth on her journey to begin a new life."
Several congressional members were caught by C-Span cameras rolling their eyes when Boehner choked up during his part of the reading when Elizabeth decides early on in the book that she can’t go on with her marriage.
Later the speaker, gasping for breaths between hiccup-like sobs, told reporters of his affinity for Elizabeth’s character, "She was so (hiccup) lost and confused. (sobs) She was in a job that she could (slobber) no longer handle. No one seemed to understand why (burp) she was feeling so overwhelmed and just wanted to get away... (sob) ...to eat spaghetti..to drink some glasses of wine..(collapses over podium and begins to dry heave).
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., followed Boehner’s lead by announcing a series of Congressional sleepovers and play dates, starting the night of the State of the Union Address.
"It will be fun. There will be games and prizes and lots of surprises for those who sign up," said Virginia’s very own up and coming Young Gun.
When asked if any member of Congress had signed up, Cantor said he was encouraged to have already received three texts from Senator John Ensign, R-Nv., who expressed an interest in participating in sleepovers with Democratic congressional aides. Cantor added, "Ensign has always been a man unafraid to reach across the aisle."