Jul 24 2008
Republicans get tough to force drilling debate, while Democrats duck and cover
While many will not agree, to me this is a great example of the Republican's playing by the other side's rules.
The Democrats have proven themselves to be masters of all things obstinate and obstructionist in the past, particular regarding confirmation hearings.
Regardless, they, the Republicans have taken the bull by the horns and are forcing the Senate Democrats to put up or shut up.
At issue is Oil.
Senate GOP hands Dems oil ultimatum
Senate Republicans have threatened to block nearly all other bills pending before the August recess if Democrats refuse to vote with them on expanding offshore drilling.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said bills that do not pertain to energy can wait until after the August recess, with gas prices now surpassing $4 per gallon. McConnell and top Republicans indicated Wednesday they would oppose any procedural votes to take up other legislation, which require 60 votes to succeed.
The Republican's have a winning strategy, with 75% of Voters demanding more domestic oil production.
“We think there is nothing more important that we can do right now than to deal with the Number One issue of the country,” McConnell said. “This is the biggest issue since terrorism right after 9/11. People are pounding on their desks, saying, Why don’t these people get together and do something about this problem?”
And that seems to resonate with the average person
The real issue is pretty easy to understand.
The Democrats see reliance on oil itself as the problem, and want to force the country to new technology, despite the fact that said technology does not exist. To do so, as Sen Cantwell noted, they are OK with higher prices as it will, they think, act to reduce our dependency on oil. This embodies the inherent nanny state philosophy many of the share, and also panders to a very vocal Environmental Lobby. They are focused on an end to oil production and use, no matter what the cost, and to forward that end, they are banking on new technology to magically save the day. As an alternate, they are OK with forcing us onto mass transit and bicycles.
Republicans have a slightly different view. They concede that America's dependence on oil is a problem, but they also recognize that while reducing or even ending our overall dependence on oil is a worthy goal, it is presently more ambitious then realistic, a long term strategy. In the short term, we need to deal with the higher prices, and that means dealing with the dependence on foreign oil. If we increase our domestic product, we will import less and that will drive the prices lower (increased supply means decreased demand and lower prices- economics 101). The obvious need is to leverage more of our domestic resources, like shale oil in Montana, off shore drilling on the continental shelf and drilling ANWR.
At the very least there should be a national debate about this, but presently, the Democrats want to stifle all debate.
One interesting thought in this, is that the people the hardest hit by the high fuel prices are the lower income and middle class voters, people who are normally the Democrats bread and butter politically.
So it seems tragically ironic that in order to appease the eco-nannies, the Democrats, the self proclaimed guardians of the middle class, are throwing the middle class under the (Bio Diesel powered) bus.
Trackposted to Hot Air, Stop the ACLU, Rosemary's Thoughts, 123beta, Maggie's Notebook, Right Truth, Cao's Blog, , Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Nuke's, Allie is Wired, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, DragonLady's World, The World According to Carl, Walls of the City, , The Pink Flamingo, , Dumb Ox Daily News, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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It’s a perfect example of playing by the Democrat’s rules. They did this to Republicans for six years. It’s about time the Republicans learned from the left’s example.
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