Once again House Leader Nancy Pelosi has shown why she will be remembered not only as the first female Speaker of the House, but also as one of the most ineffective Speakers in modern times. Together with the rest of her cohorts, such as the sempiternal Senator Byrd, the Democrats are doing their best to make sure that the subject of off shore drilling is not debated or considered. I don't find myself in agreement with The Washington Post on many occasions, but this is one of them. If you click on the title to this piece you'll be taken to an editorial from today's Washington Post.
What is it that Speaker Pelosi would rather do?
She'd rather draw down our strategic oil reserves than even debate the efficacy of off shore drilling. Remember what happened to the price of a barrel or oil when the President announced he was lifting the ban? The largest one day drop in the price of a barrel of oil ever! Of course this is the same person who thinks income redistribution should be the goal of government, so a reality check is completely lost on her.
As Norm once opined to Cliff at "Cheers": "What is the color of the sky in your world Cliffy?" Seems like a suitable question for both Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
If you'd like to hear a sensible approach to eliminating our dependency on foreign oil, click on the link below and it will take you to "You Tube", where you'll be able to listen to Congressman Don Young of Alaska. As a representative for the state that would feel the greatest impact of opening up ANWR and off shore drilling, he's a lot more aware of just how long it would take to get the oil pumping to the lower 48. This paranoia regarding ANWR is reminiscent of that which surrounded the Alaskan pipe line, which was supposed to harm the caribou, polar bears and other denizens of Alaska's wilderness - all of which proved to be groundless.
As T. Boone Pickens states, this is a crisis that we can't drill our way out of. We need to use every form of energy available to us, including oil, coal and nuclear, if we are going to place ourselves in a position where the likes of Hugo Chavez or Ahmadinejad can't threaten our security by stopping oil shipments.
The fact that Speaker Pelosi won't even allow debate on the issue should serve as a wake up call for America. What is the majority party afraid of? Why do they disregard the fact that the majority of Americans want off shore drilling resumed and exploration of ANWR to begin?
Politics, pure and simple. Just the same as Obama saying that the surge was not the reason for the great strides made Iraq. I'm sure the troops were most appreciative of his insights.
Many political analysts are predicting a huge victory for the Dem's in November. Even the Dem's themselves figure they'll not only capture the White House, but also increase their majorities in both Houses of Congress.
As Gov. Dewey found out in the 50's - don't count your chickens before they're hatched. If Obama continues to flip-flop, and our Congressional Dem's continue to ignore the will of the people on energy, immigration, and the war on terror, we just might see some really unexpected results come November.
11 comments:
Actually the little man on the wedding cake counted his chickens in the 1948 presidential campaign. As to Pelosi and Reid we must not forget that this is a presidential election year and partisanship at the cost of the common good will be rampant for the next 3 1/2 months. Our elected officials have only one overriding goal and that is to keep themselves in office, otherwise they would have to get a real job, or in Nancy's case, live off her husband's money. She has never had a real job outside of politics and is worth in excess of 125 million. Harry Reid did practice law for a short period in the 1960s and has been at the public through ever. Since. By the way most of the Rebooblicans are just as bad. "The public be damned, let them pump $5.00 gas!"
It is amusing that you mention Democrat Senator Byrd and Republican Rep. Young in the same post. Turns out that Young is one of the 10 worst Reps in congress and manages to bring in a billion or so in Pork to Alaska every year. He not only wants a "bridge to nowhere" he wants a short stretch of highway built in Florida to help out one of his campaign contributors. But that's ok. Let's talk about income redistribution. Why does Alaska get $1.87 back from the Federal Government for every dollar they pay in taxes? I call that income redistribution big time. I guess when Republicans or Conservatives do pork it is not worth mentioning.
As for Democrats not allowing debate on a bill, where were you during the last six years of Republican control of Congress. Did Republicans ever prevent debates that Democrats wanted?
Also, as a Conservative I'm sure you are a big "States Rights" kinda guy (not in the racist meaning of the term). Shouldn't the residents of Florida and California have some say in whether they want drilling off the coasts of their states. It is my understanding that not even the Republican Governors of those States were in favor of off shore drilling.
Lastly, what about all those areas that the oil companies do have permission to drill in? Why aren't they interested in drilling in those areas? It's not like they can't afford it.
Senator Stevens was the author of "the bridge to nowhere", which was pork if there ever was. I'm guessing your "one of 10 worst" is based on pork, and Alaska gets more than it's fair share. I don't know why they get $1.87 back for every dollar of taxes - I don't really care at this point because it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic of discussion.
As regards the history of allowing or not allowing debate, it too is of no value when you consider the fact that our national security is directly related to energy independence.
If the residents of the States of Florida and California don't want oil rigs off of their coastline, that's their call. Seems pretty selfish to me in light of the dearth of oil rig disasters and the continuing advances in technology. It is obvious, as I stated, that we can't drill our way out of it, but neither can we afford to ignore the abundant resources we have available.
Why aren't the oil companies drilling in the leases they already have in Alaska and elsewhere? That's quite simple - because they're tied up in litigation from The Sierra Club or the greenies of your choice.
PCS I think you're missing the point. The American people want it; every poll I've seen of late confirms that fact. It's time to stop playing politics, time to leave the battles of the past in the past, and do EVERYTHING within our power to free ourselves from dependency on foreign oil.
Given the number of taxpaying citizens in Alaska and given their average income I'm surprised its only $1.87! As far as states rights, that is no more applicable here than it was in denying civil rights to negros in the 1960s. We are a Federal Democracy. If you take a look at the oil leases extant you will find that NIMBY has prevented much of the potential usage.
In 1942 both Miami and NYC fought tooth and nail about "black-out" regulations even though German U-Boats were sinking hundreds of Allied ships right off the coast. They maintained it would affect their tourism. Sound familiar?
So a small group of environmentalists are preventing the will of a huge majority of citizens from being carried out. Sorry...I don't buy that. Are they tying us up in court? Maybe. But isn't that their right. Maybe that is a right that should be taken away. Only people that follow majority opinions should be allowed to have their day in court. That would be a much better democracy.
Our National security is at stake? Where have the Republicans been the last six years when they held complete power? Maybe we would be better off with just one party government telling us what to do. I'm sure a Republican government would be the government of choice. Afterall, they have shown us what a great job they can do.
BTW, do a little research and you will find that Don Young was also involved in earmarking funds for the bridge to nowhere.
PCS: "So a small group of environmentalists are preventing the will of a huge majority of citizens from being carried out. Sorry...I don't buy that." I don't blame you - where exactly did I say that? The truth is, it's the left wing of the Democrat party that's refusing to follow the will of the majority - which is their right. The rest of your first paragraph is just you being facetious.
The second paragraph is why we're not getting anyting done. It's like Dems & Reps need to go to a marriage counselor to try and recapture the notion that we are all in this together. If we focus on past mistakes on either side, what do we accomplish? The Washington Post got it right on this one - when you stymie debate on an issue that has the magnitude of importance that this does, you serve your party, not your country.
"If we focus on past mistakes on either side, what do we accomplish?"
Answer: not much. Democrats are treating Republicans exactly the same way Republicans treated Democrats the last 6 years or so. I agree it needs to stop. But why does it need to stop when all of a sudden Democrats are gaining power. All of a sudden the "unitary executive" sounds ok to me. Now we can have very late night votes in order to get the time to force a win. Yes, we need to stop this....after Republicans get a taste of their own medicine for a few years.
Also, I agree with Pelosi. Let's prove we are serious about looking for energy alternatives before we start doing the things we've done snce the 1970's. It's time to actually solve our energy problem and I agree with Swiftboater Pickens - we can't drill ourselves out of this problem.
Ya know what? Nancy doesn't get to make that decision! She is a REPRESENTATIVE not the Queen! She is there to do the will of the people based on majority rules. Sheesh! She will help the Dems turn a slam dunk into President McCain. Watch and see.
Ya know what? The House of Representatives has rules that they all agree to play by. Evidently, Nancy Pelosi DOES get to decide. If the people that elected her don't like it, they will find someone else.
If McCain wins, believe me they will.
Post a Comment