Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Oil May Become GOP's 2008 Issue. Cost of Gas Touches a Chord With Voters
The Washington Post ^ | July 27, 2008 | Michael D. Shear and Paul Kane

Posted on 07/26/2008 9:17:10 PM PDT by SmartInsight

Four-dollar-a-gallon gas has done something that few Republicans thought possible just a few months ago: given them hope.

United behind a renewed push for offshore oil drilling, Republican members of Congress and the party's presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, think they have found their best political issue of the 2008 campaign.

McCain strategists and GOP leaders on Capitol Hill say the issue, which polls suggest Americans favor by healthy margins, lets Republicans demonstrate their plans to address the anger over high gas prices as well as the broader economic distress that many voters feel.

Because most Democrats, including Sen. Barack Obama, are opposed to increased drilling, McCain and the GOP have already begun casting their rivals as unconcerned about gas prices and unwilling to wean the country from foreign oil.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 110th; 2008; congress; drilling; electioncongress; electionpresident; elections; energy; gasprices; issues; mccain; oil; propagandawingofdnc
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 next last
To: SmartInsight

“The Democrats’ answer is to tax and ration “

I wonder how affective it would be to bring out footage of what happened under Carter.
Footage of the gas lines - of people huddling under blankets in their cold homes.

I was just a kid - but I still remember how cold our house was.

But the young’uns today don’t understand what Carter was about.

I’ve been trying to explain to my own teens that Obama is just another Carter.

Obama wants to tie McCain to Bush, well...McCain should tie Obama to Carter.
And not just over energy policy...over terrorism and relations with Israel as well.


21 posted on 07/26/2008 10:09:04 PM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

This is THE issue in the election.


22 posted on 07/26/2008 10:16:33 PM PDT by Grunthor (Libs love soccer because you can play for hours and have no winner, thus no loser)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikachu_Dad

“The #1 issue is still WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR !”

Not according to the majority of the voters whenever they are polled on this.


23 posted on 07/26/2008 10:18:12 PM PDT by Grunthor (Libs love soccer because you can play for hours and have no winner, thus no loser)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

It’s a nice cliche when Dims say that we can’t drill our way out of high gas prices. The Dims are insinuating that the oil men are so corrupt that drilling will only benefit them. Otherwise the increase in supply would bring down prices and that’s just what the public wants. When will Americans get tired of the jealousy and conspiracy theories?


24 posted on 07/26/2008 10:26:42 PM PDT by TheThinker (Capitalism is the natural result of a democratic government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife
I wonder how affective it would be to bring out footage of what happened under Carter. Footage of the gas lines - of people huddling under blankets in their cold homes.Nice, a little fear mongering is good when it's based on fact.
25 posted on 07/26/2008 10:30:06 PM PDT by TheThinker (Capitalism is the natural result of a democratic government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: TheThinker

yes - fearmongering can be good when we should be very very afraid :)
And I hate being cold!
I am dreading this winter already thanks to Pelosi.
If only global warming really were true!


26 posted on 07/26/2008 10:34:13 PM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

Let ‘em try to tie Mac to Bush...idiotic on their part. Mac’s Maverick image is too strong. Nor is W disliked by many others besides the wacko left 1/3rd of the electorate.(the ones that get all the pub in old media)

This won’t work out like the Dems planned. Old Media may remember what they liked about Mac when they realice this black man doesn’t measure up to this job based solely on skin color.
History will have to wait.
Dem’s got nothing.


27 posted on 07/26/2008 10:36:31 PM PDT by chiller (www.beheardtoday.com.....check it out....cheap letters to govt. officials...I love it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

If only the GOP campaigners on all levels can adopt and push for more intelligent energy policy IMMEDIATELY — 2008 could turn around completely for the the GOP because the Demagogues cannot alienate their huge Enviro-whacked-off base.

Drilling, drilling, drilling...... and a range of other appropriate policies, mostly to remove the shackles and vast numbers of permits, regulations, etc. required for just about any kind of energy development.

New or expanded refineries should face a streamlined, simplified permit process that would be resolved in a matter of weeks or months without any of the extreme expense and headaches required now.

Off-shore drilling everywhere that promises returns (leave it to geologists and private companies to determine where it’s worth drilling!!)...... oil shale, coal, coal gassification, etc. etc.

The Demagogues’ candidates would be on the ropes at all levels in a matter of weeks if only the GOP would adopt a full-court press on energy issues.


28 posted on 07/26/2008 10:43:22 PM PDT by Enchante (Only an idiot like Obambi goes to GERMANY to apologize for unwarranted (sic) aggression!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

Let ‘em try to tie Mac to Bush...idiotic on their part. Mac’s Maverick image is too strong. Nor is W disliked by many others besides the wacko left 1/3rd of the electorate.(the ones that get all the pub in old media)

This won’t work out like the Dems planned. Old Media may remember what they liked about Mac when they realice this black man doesn’t measure up to this job based solely on skin color.
History will have to wait.
Dem’s got nothing.


29 posted on 07/26/2008 10:47:27 PM PDT by chiller (www.beheardtoday.com.....check it out....cheap letters to govt. officials...I love it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

Campaign videos with images of those awful lines at gas stations in the late ‘70s..... “HERE is the Democrat energy policy, shortages and high prices!”

The RNC and all candidates need to adopt a fierce attack and full-court press on energy policy. The Demagogues cannot withstand an intelligently crafted energy policy in this campaign because they are so in bed with the enviro-freaks. They will try to smear and slander their opponents but a majority of the public will be more open than ever before to a sensible set of energy policies pressed as a top priority for the campaign and beyond.

Crush the Demagogues now!!! They are totally vulnerable on energy issues.


30 posted on 07/26/2008 10:47:31 PM PDT by Enchante (Only an idiot like Obambi goes to GERMANY to apologize for unwarranted (sic) aggression!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: chiller

and what do you think of tying Obama to Carter?

He is identical to Carter on so many levels.


31 posted on 07/26/2008 10:48:59 PM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Enchante

Didn’t mean to leave out nuclear, of course, which McCain is already talking about — but we should be talking about far more new plants than the few dozen he is talking about. More nuke plants and SOONER.

Create tax incentives for rapid development of new oil production, pipelines, nuke plants, etc.

Remove a lot of the cancerous regulations killing our energy economy - streamline approval processes so that all permits, etc. have to be settled in a matter of weeks to months rather than the YEARS it takes now.


32 posted on 07/26/2008 10:50:52 PM PDT by Enchante (Only an idiot like Obambi goes to GERMANY to apologize for unwarranted (sic) aggression!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Enchante

“Campaign videos with images of those awful lines at gas stations in the late ‘70s..... “HERE is the Democrat energy policy, shortages and high prices!””

I think it’s a winner.

I’m also noticing, locally, whenever a gas station becomes the cheapest price in town (small town here) you will find a long line there.

Footage of that would make a good point too.


33 posted on 07/26/2008 10:51:11 PM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: marron

If Republicans were smart, they’d push they idea that it is time not to merely reduce our dependence on foreign oil but to turn the tables. We should open up everywhere and pump as much oil as we can as fast as we can, and use the royalties from that oil to transition to natural gas, methanol from coal, and nuclear power for electric transportation. Let the rest of the world wallow in oil dependence as we have, while we put so much excess oil on the market while simultaneously shifting away from oil consumption ourselves that OPEC is lucky to get $10 a barrel.


34 posted on 07/26/2008 10:57:04 PM PDT by Kellis91789 (I used to be Dilbert. Then I was Wally. I retired before I became the Pointy Haired One.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife
"If only global warming really were true!"

This coming Winter will make many wish that "global warming" was true.
35 posted on 07/26/2008 10:57:16 PM PDT by Outland (Liberalism is a mental disorder. Socialism is a deep psychosis. Communism is brain cancer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: ncalburt
"I guess G Soros will have to decide whether to stop playing the oil shares market overseas or help his puppet Obama ?"

Is that why gas prices suddenly dropped?
36 posted on 07/26/2008 10:58:46 PM PDT by Outland (Liberalism is a mental disorder. Socialism is a deep psychosis. Communism is brain cancer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Kellis91789

I like the way you think.


37 posted on 07/26/2008 10:59:14 PM PDT by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

I was still a child, too, but I remember the gas lines.

We lived in California, so I don’t remember being cold. :)


38 posted on 07/26/2008 11:06:52 PM PDT by Politicalmom (I've left the Grand Ol' Plantation. / GOP '08,- NO Soup for YOU!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

This will be a repeat, only worse, under President Obama and a Democrat Congress.

39 posted on 07/26/2008 11:11:38 PM PDT by SmartInsight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

Clearly the price of gas will be an issue. The biggest thing I can think of is that the GOP show an opinion that’s realistic. We cannot force oil down in the immediate by drilling.. but enforcing the issue that even Hybrids need gas and pure electrics don’t have the range and have high cost(the Volt at 40k and less than 100 miles). The fact is we will be using gas a long time and if the voters want to see lower gas prices than vote Republican otherwise get use to seeing 4+ oil and money flowing overseas for a long long time.


40 posted on 07/26/2008 11:14:59 PM PDT by Almondjoy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson