Posted on 08/01/2008 7:48:37 AM PDT by SmithL
For weeks, pressure has been mounting in Congress to approve more domestic oil drilling, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held the line, using her power to block a vote on offshore drilling.
President Bush has made almost daily calls for Democratic leaders to take action. House GOP leaders, citing a new poll showing that a slim majority of Californians now favor offshore drilling, issued a release Thursday saying "even (Pelosi's) own California neighbors oppose her efforts to block new drilling far off American coasts." GOP lawmakers are so disgruntled they're urging Bush to deny Congress its August break by calling a special session on energy.
Even some Democrats are getting antsy, fearing the party's stance could hurt them in the fall elections. But Pelosi, who has opposed offshore drilling throughout her two decades in Congress, insists opening new areas to drilling won't lower gas prices in the short term. She believes a vote would only help the GOP blame Democrats for high gas prices.
"I will not ... give the administration an excuse for its failure," Pelosi said at an end-of-session roundtable interview Thursday.
Republicans have put a bull's-eye on the federal moratorium on coastal drilling, which has kept most of the East and West coasts off limits to new oil rigs since 1982. Bush announced earlier this month that he would lift the presidential moratorium on drilling, and the GOP is now seeking to lift the congressional ban.
Pelosi drew derision from her critics for telling the Web site Politico this week that she was blocking a vote on offshore drilling because "I'm trying to save the planet." But she elaborated on that theme Thursday, saying she sees energy independence and fighting global warming as "my flagship issue." She said she will use her power to resist...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Nancy Pelosi is deeply disturbed!
Thank you, Great Queen Bee, for the gift of a campaign issue for this upcoming election cycle.
And, this same person will not accept calls or emails from non district citizens.
I wish someone would shoot her up with so much botox that she wouldn’t be able to talk.
Just another millionaire liberal who is out of touch with the people who make this country work.
Nancy Pelosi is a failed hoax.
Politics = “Give me what I want and I’ll give you what you want”.
Calling the congress back sure as hell would not hurt the Republicans running for office as they are supposed to have their butts kicked anyway.
I think it would be a big disadvantage to Democrats to be called back to do the job were paying for them to do.
Buy my book or else!!!!!
Instead of drilling, we should use Nancy’s face to scare the oil out of the ground. Of course there would be the hazard of her voice causing the oil to combust. This would be the end of life on Earth as we know it.
Never Mind.
These people work for US. Bring out the debate and vote on it G*d Dam*it!!!!!!
Bush needs to force these bas*tards to stay in session to discuss this.
This is the most DO NOTHING Congress that has been in existence in my existence.
It’s not just the drilling issue. She also won’t allow a vote on Columbian Free Trade agreement, that would bring jobs to us and at the same time support an ally.
Drilling will bring in new jobs.
The democrats are purely political. They’re there to discuss and vote on issues that are brought up by the president and fellow members.
It makes no sense to BLOCK a vote on anything.
What the h*ll is this, a Monarchy? She’s acting like some queen.
Bush’s standing in my eyes would climb 1000% if he did that.
Let’s all pray that he has the courage and the will to do this. He certainly would have our support.
The stupid pills are working nicely.
You can even cut back the dose to one every two hours, if you'd like.
I think she need a good drilling to loosen her up a bit what a miserable human being she makes the Mountauk Monster look cute
President Bill Clinton veto's legislation the open ANWR to drilling 1996.
I really enjoy paying an extra $2.00 or more per gallon for gasoline I buy! (/sarc)
They mean what America wants.
Pelosi is a raving maniac who will put all of the domestic auto manufacturers out of business. GM posted a $15.5 billion loss today. I wonder what she and the Dems will say to all their union supporters as they line up for the bread lines. What a worthless POS.
Congress needs to get off its Butt-tocks- Forest Gump..
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