A
Anonymous
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Did anyone read the Wall Street article I posted- and notice the whining they have in it....
The Republicans are bitching about the "compromise" bill that the Gang of 10 introduced- because it won't allow them and Big Oil to get all they wanted...
The Wall Street article pretty well points out- they are worried more about politicking-and getting their cultist buddies elected- and pleasing their lobbyist supporters, than they are about Joe Blow on the street and the good of the country....
In days of old- the politicians used to sit down over a few drinks at night- work out a compromise and get something accomplished...Today it is speachify, politik, point fingers, and filibuster-so they can all get their face on C-SPAN--with the Repubs having a record 90+ filibusters this session- so nothing gets done- so there is no wonder Congress's approval rating was at 9%...And now they are upset because some of their own try to reach a compromise- and it doesn't give them all they wanted :roll:
Those folks got to realize they got their arse's kicked in 2006 for all their misactions- will again in 08- and aren't riding the high horse anymore...Maybe if they get their butts handed to them in a basket they will go home and fix a badly broken machine...
And before you start crying- I realize the Dems are doing the same- but they are in the drivers seat now with all the Repubs deserting a sinking ship- and the Repubs are going to have to realize they aren't going to get it their way anymore.....
The Republicans are bitching about the "compromise" bill that the Gang of 10 introduced- because it won't allow them and Big Oil to get all they wanted...
The Wall Street article pretty well points out- they are worried more about politicking-and getting their cultist buddies elected- and pleasing their lobbyist supporters, than they are about Joe Blow on the street and the good of the country....
In days of old- the politicians used to sit down over a few drinks at night- work out a compromise and get something accomplished...Today it is speachify, politik, point fingers, and filibuster-so they can all get their face on C-SPAN--with the Repubs having a record 90+ filibusters this session- so nothing gets done- so there is no wonder Congress's approval rating was at 9%...And now they are upset because some of their own try to reach a compromise- and it doesn't give them all they wanted :roll:
Those folks got to realize they got their arse's kicked in 2006 for all their misactions- will again in 08- and aren't riding the high horse anymore...Maybe if they get their butts handed to them in a basket they will go home and fix a badly broken machine...
And before you start crying- I realize the Dems are doing the same- but they are in the drivers seat now with all the Repubs deserting a sinking ship- and the Repubs are going to have to realize they aren't going to get it their way anymore.....
Republican Energy Fumble
August 8, 2008; Page A13
Wall Street Journal article
Politics has its puzzling moments. John McCain and most of the GOP experienced one late last week. That was when five of their own set about dismantling the best issue Republicans have in the upcoming election.
It’s taken time, but Sen. McCain and his party have finally found — in energy — an issue that’s working for them. Riding voter discontent over high gas prices, the GOP has made anti-drilling Democrats this summer’s headlines.
Their enthusiasm has given conservative candidates a boost in tough races. And Mr. McCain has pressured Barack Obama into an energy debate, where the Democrat has struggled to explain shifting and confused policy proposals.
Still, it was probably too much to assume every Republican would work out that their side was winning this issue. And so, last Friday, in stumbled Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker and Johnny Isakson — alongside five Senate Democrats. This “Gang of 10″ announced a “sweeping” and “bipartisan” energy plan to break Washington’s energy “stalemate.” What they did was throw every vulnerable Democrat, and Mr. Obama, a life preserver.
That’s because the plan is a Democratic giveaway. New production on offshore federal lands is left to state legislatures, and then in only four coastal states. The regulatory hurdles are huge. And the bill bars drilling within 50 miles of the coast — putting off limits some of the most productive areas. Alaska’s oil-rich Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is still a no-go.
The highlight is instead $84 billion in tax credits, subsidies and federal handouts for alternative fuels and renewables. The Gang of 10 intends to pay for all this in part by raising taxes on . . . oil companies! The Sierra Club couldn’t have penned it better. And so the Republican Five has potentially given antidrilling Democrats the political cover they need to neutralize energy through November.
Sen. Obama was thrilled. He quickly praised the Gang’s bipartisan spirit, and warmed up to a possible compromise. Of course, he means removing even the token drilling provisions now in the bill. But he’s only too happy for the focus to remain on the Gang’s efforts, and in particular on the five Republicans providing his party its fig leaf.
Equally gleeful was Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu, the Senate’s most vulnerable Democrat. She had been sweating the energy debate, especially after her vote against more oil-shale production — a position her Republican opponent, John Kennedy, had used against her to great effect. Yet there she was, chummily standing with the Gang of 10 and boasting that she is working with “five Republicans” to “lower prices at the pump by increasing offshore drilling here at home.”
Mr. McCain, who had been commanding the energy debate, was left to explain why he, of all people, wasn’t more enthusiastic about a “bipartisan” effort on energy, especially one that includes “drilling.” His camp was forced to take refuge in taxes, explaining that their boss couldn’t sign up for a bill that included more. If this is what Mr. McCain’s good friend Lindsey Graham considers “helping,” somebody might want to ask him to stop.
And pity poor Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been working overtime to stanch GOP losses this fall and head off a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate. His dogged efforts to highlight Democratic opposition to drilling has kept energy in the news and laid the groundwork for GOP candidates to use the issue to their advantage.
In the Colorado Senate race, Democrats had christened former GOP Rep. Bob Schaffer “Big Oil Bob” — hoping to smear his oil industry career. “Big Oil Bob” has instead embraced his pro-drilling positions and is pummeling opponent Mark Udall for his antidrilling stance. In recent weeks, Mr. Schaffer has erased Mr. Udall’s lead. Polls show Republican Sens. Norm Coleman (Minnesota) and John Sununu (New Hampshire) both climbing in the polls on the back of strong energy arguments. As two of the GOP’s most vulnerable senators, both might well have run for cover with the Gang of 10. Instead they’re fighting on the merits.
The “bipartisan” Republican senators have undercut these efforts, and boosted Ms. Landrieu. They’ve even put a smile on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s face. He’d been struggling to tamp down the energy debate through November, where he hopes to increase his majority and permanently shelve drilling. He’s now counting on the Gang to fruitlessly continue “negotiations” straight through the Senate’s short September session and solve his problem for him.
Not one of the five Republicans in the Gang is facing a tough election this year. That’s the sort of security that leads to bad decisions. And theirs is the sort of thinking that could leave Republicans in a permanent minority.
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The get drunk and gag McSame folks are calling this a 4 martini Repub foulup and had these comments:
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This is why they are called the Stupid Party.
Stunningly, as the article notes, Mr. McCain has so far refrained from endorsing the “Gang Of 10″ plan.
But given the presence of his best friend forever, Lindsey Graham, it is probably only a matter of time.
http://getdrunkandvote4mccain.com/
H.R. 6251 - Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act: On June 26, the House voted on legislation that would compel the oil industry to start drilling on the 68 million acres of public property which they already lease - but sits idle. The bill would have barred oil companies from obtaining any new federal drilling leases until they demonstrate that they are diligently developing those lands. The bill failed to pass. How did the parties vote? Find out here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll469.xml
H R 6578 - Consumer Energy Supply Act of 2008: One party voted to block legislation that would have released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll527.xml
H.R.6346 - Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act This bill would have protected consumers from price gauging at the gas pump. One party voted against it: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll448.xml
H.R.6049 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 -Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax incentives for energy production and conservation, extends through 2014 the energy tax credit for solar energy, fuel cell, and microturbine property, tax credit for residential energy efficient property, and tax rebates for residential residence and for geothermal heat pumps. One party voted agaist it: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll344.xml
H.R.6074 - Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act ; The bill authorizes the Justice Department to take legal action against OPEC state-controlled entities that participate in conspiracies to limit the supply, or fix the price, of oil. It passed, but 82 Republicans and 2 Democrats voted against it: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll332.xml
H R 6052 - Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act The bill gives grants to mass transit authorities to expand public transportation facilities, expand transit services in rural and urban areas and provides help for local governments to purchase alternative fuel buses. It also passed but with the majority of one party voting against it. Guess which one: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll467.xml
H R 6 - Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act An Act to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government. Republicans voted against it by a ratio of 159 to 36. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll040.xml
Repealing unnecessary subsidies for the top five oil companies earning record profits - four times over the last 18 months. 91 percent of Republicans voted AGAINST it.
Recouping royalties that oil companies owe American taxpayers for drilling on public lands. 86% of House Republicans voted AGAINST it.
Now take a look at oil and gas contributions so far for the 08 election season; http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=E01
and from the energy and natural resources sector: http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=E&goButt2.x=8&goButt2.y=4
(Based on data released by the FEC)