Posted on 08/02/2008 7:44:35 AM PDT by don-o
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend marks the beginning of August, the month when many Americans take their summer vacation. This year, however, the high price of gas is taking a toll on summer travelers. Congress is now taking a month-long recess of its own. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders are leaving town without taking any action to ease the burden of high gas prices on families across America.
The fundamental source of high gas prices is the fact that supply is not keeping pace with demand. To reduce pressure on prices, we need to increase the supply of oil, especially oil produced here at home. So in June, I called on Congress to lift the legislative ban that prevents offshore exploration of parts of the Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS. But the leaders of the Democratic Congress have refused to allow a vote.
Lifting the ban on this offshore exploration would benefit our economy in two important ways.
First, lifting the ban would allow our Nation to take advantage of a large and reliable source of domestic oil. Experts believe that these restricted areas could eventually produce about 18 billion barrels of oil. That's almost 10 years worth of America's current oil production.
Second, lifting the ban would create new opportunities for American workers and businesses. On Tuesday, I visited the Lincoln Electric Company in Cleveland, Ohio, a business that produces welding products used for offshore exploration. If Congress were to permit this exploration, it would mean new jobs at businesses like Lincoln Electric. American drivers are counting on Congress to lift the ban on offshore exploration, and so are American workers.
Bringing these resources online will take time, and that means that the need for congressional action is urgent. I've lifted the executive restrictions on offshore exploration. This means that the only thing now standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is the United States Congress. The sooner Congress lifts the ban, the sooner we can get this oil from beneath the ocean floor to your gas tank.
We also need to take other essential steps to strengthen domestic oil production. Congress needs to pass legislation that allows us to tap the extraordinary potential of oil shale, permits exploration in currently restricted areas of northern Alaska, and enables the expansion of America's domestic refining capacity.
It appears that the leaders of the Democratically-controlled Congress will let the entire summer pass without voting on any of these vital steps to help reduce pressure on gas prices. This failure to act is unacceptable to me and unacceptable to the American people. So when they return from their summer break, Democratic leaders should show that they've heard the frustration of the American people by allowing a vote on offshore exploration. If Congress does not act, they will owe families across America an explanation for why they're ignoring their concerns.
I know that high energy prices are making this a difficult time for many of our citizens, but it is important to remember that these high prices were not inevitable. They are partially the result of policy choices that have been made over the years by the United States Congress. Now Congress has an opportunity to begin reversing that damage. By opening up new resources at home we can help bring energy costs down. And that will help ensure that our economy remains the strongest, most vibrant, and most hopeful in the world.
Thank you for listening.
It isn’t the high gasoline prices. It is the degree to which the domestic enemies of the U. S. in the Congress have caused us to be vulnerable to our foreign enemies because of our increasing reliance on foreign oil.
That has already resulted in great harm to the Constitution, because we have been forced to restrict a number of our rights due to our war footing.
Yeah, Bush is evil and Obama is the Messiah. We get it!
Oh, for the record, I have a Messiah, JESUS CHRIST. Therefore, I’ll vote for Senator John McCain.
I think if the President called a special session of Congress it would be grandstanding. It’s not necessary. High gas prices are not a national emergency; they are a big, fat - but normal - problem. Congresscritters wil hear an earful for the next month, come back, and the Dims will continue to fart around. This will keep the issue alive for much longer.
Hey Mods!! Maybe we can start a ‘COUNTDOWN’ thread today! We can list all our demands for the Congress once they are back in session. WE CAN KEEP THIS IN THE NEWS.
We can organize weekly call-ins and fax-ins. Surely WE can drive this conversation for a few weeks.
Let’s get coordinated!!!
I think WE have to drive the conversation that is just as much about energy INDEPENDENCE as it the price at the pump! It’s about all energy for America being produced by America on our soil/shores! That’s the bigger picture and the GOP better grab it before the DEMS do!
Bush sold the Conservatives and this nations future out. Don't you yet understand? You think Clinton's deals with China were bad news? You think Saudi Arabia wants us to drill domestic? Do you think for one second Bush is going to insist Mexico stop exporting it's welfare program to the U.S.? The father and son Bush are as every bit as bad for this nation as LBJ and Carter were.
Bush picked Morons for administration starting with Chaney the Father of our current military woes that began under beloved Poppy. Tell me then just what has Bush even done for the military? I want to know. Men in combat being Court Martialed for what is self defense and the job of a Marine that's what. If Clinton had allowed this you and the rest of the My Party Tis of thee Bushbots would be calling for IMPEACHMENT. You will not call Republicans Tyrants even though their acts say such.
As for Bush anointed choice McCain? The only ones in the GOP deserving office of POTUS were those in the room yesterday doing what manu\y elected in the GOP are too weak or corrupt to do. McCain and Obama are the end results of Morons too stupid and weak to let anyone but a TV or radio head show think for them andf tell them who to vote for./Rant Off
Ain’t it the truth! Why doesn’t he call a special session?
Congress fights all his programs. His poll numbers could hardly be worse. What does he have to lose?
Speaking of timing, a perfect day for President Bush to announce that he is calling Congress back into session to deal with the energy crisis would be.....
the morning after Obambi’s acceptance speech at the DNC in Denver!!
Demagogues would howl and whine, but it would immediately rip the focus away from Democrat propaganda and force the media and public to look at what the pols have NOT been doing about energy.
It would also provide a forceful launch into the fall season with a demand for action on drilling and other key energy issues.
I’ve heard that crap until I am sick and tired of it. If you think you can do better, RUN FOR OFFICE. Moreover, what did “YOU” do to get a Conservative on the Presidential ticket? What did you do to stop the Democrats from taking over Congress in 2006?
Until you help instead of whine, please go throw-up on someone else. Thanks so much.
This will be fun to watch, but this has to be played carefully. Many on here seem to forget the Liberal media waits to pounce and if President Bush had called a special session of Congress, the media, as well as the Obambo bunch, would have wailed loudly that Bush was using the Power of the Executive office to hold the Congress hostage during an “ELECTION” year.
For some reason, some people don’t get what we see. Thanks !
I’m sure the former head of Arbusto Energy(AKA Arbusto)
knows exactly what he’s doing,,,
Arbusto and the Ratz-n-Rinos in DC are driving the USA
straight into the Dirt,,,
~~~Welcome To The New World Order~~~
Well put.
“For some reason, some people don’t get what we see”
Paige, I agree, as unsavory as politics can be — the right has finally stopped being reactionary — we are actually in charge of this issue, but it must be carefully orchestrated and a plan developed to fully maximize the impact of the rights response to the lefts fumbling of this issue.
If we shot our collective wad on Friday then what would we have at the end of August when everyone is back from vacation and then finally watching the news — the fact of the matter is, people on FR pay attention to politics and they are informed, however, go to you local average grocery store and ask any 10 people three questions;
1) Who is the Secretary of Defense?
2) Who is the Secretary of State?
3) Who is the Senate Majority Leader?
If they can answer all three of those questions, they are paying attention — more than likely — they won’t be able to answer two, because people don’t pay attention. And right now, with everyone on vacation — most are not paying attention.
Sometimes a direct attack is clearly the best approach, but other times, when you are preparing an ambush, it is better to make sure you have your enemy’s position called in and air support on its way, before you actually attack, that gives you both the opportunity to maximize enemy destruction and gives you the element of surprise with no ability for the enemy to counter your attack. That doesn’t happen at the spur of the moment — that takes strategy and planning.
The House and Senate Republicans did what they could on Friday and I applaud them.
The President, I feel, is allowing the left to return home to their constituents and feel the heat directly — one way or another — they are going to feel the heat over this extremely bad decision, especially if gas prices rise when people go to the polls in November.
The battle plan forward is being drawn up and discussed — the time to strike will come and when that time comes — we will most defiantly know about it because the house and senate dems will be screaming to high heaven...and that, that will be fun to watch and savor every juicy minute. IMHO...
Well said, and there is not any doubt that if President Bush had called a special session during an “Election” year, the media and the left would have spun such a move to their advantage.
Obama is dropping in the polls, and the Democrats are falling apart.
Let the games continue and bring out the popcorn.
Now and again.
The problem in this country is not the President its that undertow of the Fifth Column Communists !
I don't agree with some of W's Policies but he's just gave them enough rope again to kick the chair !
Well it's quite obvious I did a lot more than you. I actually voted for one the last two POTUS elections and the last name wasn't Bush either. What did you do to stop the DEM's? Say that's OK to sell us out it's the winning that counts? Well they lost now did they not? The GOP can not expect wins to gain control of the houses again playing DEMOLITES. That is not what got them there to start with but Moderates forget that every election cycle.
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