Posted on 08/17/2008 9:56:28 AM PDT by Delacon
Unlike some of their colleagues in the Senate, House Republicans have rejected a minimal effort to compromise offered by Nancy Pelosi on energy policy. After floating a proposal that would have allowed very limited drilling in exchange for windfall-profits taxes and depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Pelosi got the door slammed in her face by the GOP members participating in the House Oil Party this month. Their message — follow or get out of the way:
Republicans lambasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) energy plan Saturday advising her to “get out of the way” if she was not going to accept GOP solutions to the energy crisis.
In her Saturday radio address Pelosi announced that Democrats would consider opening up parts of the outer continental shelf for drilling as a part of a broad new energy plan that will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The Democratic initiative will also seek to release oil from the 700 million barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve, require oil companies to pay billions of dollars Democrats believe they owe to invest in clean energy resources, increase the use natural gas and create a federal Renewable Electricity Standard.
Jeb Hensarling scornfully asked the Speaker to “get out of the way” and allow the Republicans to implement the solutions desired by the vast majority of the electorate. Adam Putnam added that Pelosi’s weak proposal qualified her as the the most qualified poster child for Democratic intransigence on energy. They made clear that they have no reason to compromise on drilling, and see no need for distractions like an SPR release.
That notion belies the entire underpinning of the Democratic policy on domestic production. They claim that we “cannot drill our way out of this crisis,” and yet the SPR release would temporarily do what expanded domestic production would do for decades. If one cannot produce one’s way out of a supply crisis, then what effect would an SPR release have? At the same time, with a war in the Caucasus and Americans fighting in two theaters in Asia, not only would a reduction in the SPR make the military more vulnerable to supply disruptions, it would require us to replace what gets depleted. If we’re not producing our own oil to do that, we’ll only raise prices again as we stoke demand.
And now we have yet another reason to start producing our own oil. Vladimir Putin has rebuilt his empire-hungry nation’s military strength on the high price of crude oil and natural gas — prices we support with our demands on the international market. Any long-term strategy of containment regarding Moscow has to include a deep cut to the price supports for crude oil. The best way we can effect that is to vastly increase our own production (and refinement) of oil, and get out of the international market. Prices will drop dramatically, and Russia, Iran, Sudan, and other problem nations will suddenly have a lot less cash with which to make trouble.
Unlike the Gang of 10 in the Senate, the House Republicans understand this, and the need to remain firm. We need to encourage the House leadership to take ownership of this issue back from the compromisers in the Senate.
Great idea BUT, Piglousy has already said that the drilling ban WILL be attached to the new budget, and if it isn't passed the D-RATS will blame Republicans for the government shutdown.
“Republicans for the government shutdown.”
This is the only viable alternative. I hope that Bush’s one last saving grace will be a veto of any bill that extends the ban or any “compromise”. President Bush, force the ban to expire.
('Insipient'??)
I agree but the last government shutdown didn’t turn out well for Republicans.
The MSM will cover for the RATS and will only report that Republicans caused the shutdown. There will be nothing reported as to why.
“Today the Republicans voted against the budget causing the Federal government to shutdown. They refuse to compromise on what can be best described as kickbacks to lobbyists and big evil businesses.”
Women and children hardest hit. Details at 11.
Actually, I am not too worried. For one, the tables have turned. We have a sitting republican president and a republican minority in congress. Exact opposite of the last time the government got shut down. As for the MSM, drilling is popular as was opposing a bossy republican congress back then. Yes they will try to spin it in the dems favor but they will fail, especially in this internet age. Shut it down, we’ll take the heat and come out on top...I think.
insipient. (a.) Wanting wisdom; stupid; foolish.
Occasionally I'll see a news article where incipient is misspelled and the comment immediately turns into an insult.
He went into congress with a full set in 2006 and has never backed off on an issue to win points or an election.
THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR PUSHING BACK ON THE FASCIST RAT LEADERSHIP!!
'Insipid' I could see, but that's hardly srong enough. 'Incontinent' seems somehow very applicable, if a bit obscure. 'Inorganic' would be decently insulting, given the context. 'Inimical' is certainly true, but awkward in the context. 'Idiotic', while clearly accurate, is a cliche regarding politicians. 'Inchoate' absolutely describes their ''concept'' of constitutional governance.
'Incompetent', though, is entirely descriptive, on a number of levels.
Ah, well, suum cuique and all that...
FReegards!
Pity this “mood” didn’t surface from 2001-2006.
This isn't 1995 though. People will see what the Democrats are doing and will know that the Dems are to blame.
Insipience is just the one I picked from among the limited number available.
Maybe since it's the Rat Party (formerly the traditional, patriotic Democratic Party) we could spell it DRIIIIIIIILL?
“Where the Hell have you been the past couple of weeks?”
I’ve been right here watching all this. Just because a handful of Congressmen have been preaching to an empty House don’t mean anything is getting done. Try getting 435 of these clowns moving in the same direction. Sorry but these jokers have lost all support from the public.
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.