Reid, Pelosi ready to compromise (Drill here, drill now)

World Net Daily ^ | July 28, 2008 | Unattributed

[Ben Mugged]

WASHINGTON – Are the Democratic leaders in Congress nervous about the growing grass-roots demand for lifting restrictions on domestic oil drilling?

Consider this: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has himself proposed a plan to open new areas for oil exploration – outraging senior members of his own caucus.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ever aware of the way average Americans are being squeezed at the gas pump and through rising inflation due to higher energy prices, is supporting the plan.

While the proposal is drawing shrieks from those Democrats occupying safe seats in the House and Senate, it shows how vulnerable congressional Democrats might be to an uprising from voters in November.

The legislation, drafted by Reid and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., would open nearly a billion new acres off the coast of Alaska to study for drilling. It would also dramatically accelerate oil leases in the western and central Gulf of Mexico.

"I am unalterably opposed to drilling,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, (D-N.J., a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, who cited a massive oil spill that closed nearly 100 miles of the Mississippi River last week.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., urged Reid to be "very careful about drilling off the coast of Alaska."

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has one the opposite direction from Reid and Pelosi – sponsoring legislation to ban drilling in the North Aleutian Basin, an area that Congress has already opened to oil leasing.

Pelosi told The Hill that lawmakers should focus on the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska's North Slope instead of offshore.

"There are tens of millions of barrels in the reserve," she said. "If you want oil in Alaska, drill there."

[Ben Mugged]

Drill for oil on American soil!!

[businessprofessor]

This plan is a non starter. It is just an attempt by the rats to appear concerned and reasonable. Conservatives need to keep up the pressure. The rats are getting nervous.

[Oldexpat]

No compromise! We want an unconditional surrender. We need to drill AWNR soon and we need to drill off FL and CA and wherever.

[ladtx]

"I am unalterably opposed to drilling,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, (D-N.J., a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, who cited a massive oil spill that closed nearly 100 miles of the Mississippi River last week.

What foolish and silly people the dems are. Lautenberg, you foolish old man, that spill had NOTHING to do with drilling, a barge and a tanker collided.

[freekitty]

I hope Americans are strong enough and in full force to get rid of the Congress this upcoming election.

They will never do what is best for America; just for their own personal agendas.

Please vote them out. Each and everyone. There are good people out there.

[xcamel]

[polymuser]

Conservatives need to keep up the pressure. The rats are getting nervous.

Now we need to move directly on to the border fence.

[kempster]

Conservatives need to keep up the pressure.

Pressure? What pressure do you see? If we have to depend on pressure from the Republicans we are doomed. This is an issue that the Dems may just steal away from the Republicans due to their wishy washy lackluster approach.

[BOBTHENAILER]

We want an unconditional surrender.

GIVE NO QUARTER

TAKE NO PRISONERS

THIS IS NO COMPROMISE. IT IS A SELL OUT THAT TRADES SAND FOR NICKELS.

[Edgerunner]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ever aware of the way average Americans are being squeezed at the gas pump and through rising inflation due to higher energy prices, is supporting the plan.

Yeah...uh huh...

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

"Pelosi told The Hill that lawmakers should focus on the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska's North Slope instead of offshore. "There are tens of millions of barrels in the reserve," she said. "If you want oil in Alaska, drill there."

Does her stupidity know NO bounds?

[Cyber Liberty]

Doesn’t look like a compromise to me.

[Redleg Duke]

They are just trying to offer some scam to give the RINOs cover to fold.

We need to stick to our guns and get it all!

[Roccus]

We will get drilling. Not carte blanche, though. The problem is what that legislation is going to cost us in quid-pro-quo votes of the GOP.

[Publius6961]

Pelosi told The Hill that lawmakers should focus on the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska's North Slope instead of offshore.

Can someone explain this to me?

[Brilliant]

“Harry Reid has himself proposed a plan to open new areas for oil exploration”

What??? Harry Reid wants to “make us sick?”

[KoRn]

"a billion new acres off the coast of Alaska to study for drilling"

We can't "study" our way out of this problem....

Sounds like they are wanting to just do a little, so they will be able to say they are doing something, while accomplishing nothing meaningful with regard to increasing oil supplies. We don't need to study, we need to DRILL!!

[tbpiper]

We need to drill AWNR

And what about the caribou?

(and don't give me that "F*** the caribou!!" stuff. That'll just make more of 'em)

[TChris]

And what about the caribou?

Are you SERIOUS???

Do you really not know, or is this an attempt at sarcasm?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

"I am unalterably opposed to drilling,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg

Wait. When did he say this? I could have sworn I heard this before. Oh yeah! It was in 1859 and it was addressed to the Seneca Oil Company. And it was Frank Lautenberg who said it. Are we sure he isn't a vampire?