Drill, Drill, Drill
For months now, conservatives and hawkish independents have repeated one word, as if it was a slogan; drill, drill, drill. On FaceBook, several pro-drilling groups were created in recent weeks, all aimed at convincing legislators to support drilling for oil in American waters.
Democrats have not talked about ‘drilling’ much, while Republicans have hammered on this issue constantly. They have repeated it time and again, which seems to have resulted in ‘drilling’ being one of the major issues this year.
While Republicans on the House floor shouted “vote, vote, vote” and “lower gas prices,” the Democratic majority turned off the lights, cameras, and microphones. Determined Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell offered unanimous-consent requests to vote on lifting the ban on deep-water exploration, and the Democrats objected. When McConnell asked Democrats if they’d overturn the ban at $4.50 a gallon, they replied “no.” When he raised the price to $5, $7, and $10, they cried “no,” “no,” and “no.”
Democratic leaders do not only oppose drilling, they even oppose a vote on this subject. This may sound logical to progressives who think that this is a battle between ‘the people’ and the ‘oil companies,’ but to the far majority of Americans it sounds like ideologues in action.
On the Stephanopoulos Sunday news show, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi underscored her refusal to allow a drilling vote. Asked about the Republican rebellion in the House, she said, “What you saw in the Congress this week was the war dance of the handmaidens of the oil companies.” She went on to say, “We are spending all of this time on a parliamentary tactic, when nothing less is at stake than the planet, the air we breathe, our children breathe.”
Oh really? Voters have a much different view. Polls suggest that two-thirds to three-quarters of the nation wants to drill. To wit, while a just-released Obama campaign ad attacks McCain as a tool of big oil, McCain has taken his first-ever lead in a Rasmussen tracking poll.
The GOP is becoming the ‘drill’ party; the party that is willing to reform energy, to produce more oil, and to create more jobs and economic growth. In short, by pressing this issue time and again, Republicans appear to be the ones who focus on the future, and on possibilities or opportunities.
Without even realizing it, the GOP drilling offensive has become a new contract with America. And it appears to be working. The public is putting aside global warming and choosing instead new-energy production, a stronger economy, and more job creation. Voters want growth, not austerity. They want Ronald Reagan, not Thomas Malthus. And by resisting this grassroots call, the Democratic party is digging itself into one of the biggest political dry holes in history.
From a political perspective, Republicans should continue to shout ‘drill, drill, drill’ until well into November. It could be a winner.
The problem is that most Republicans appear short sighted on this issue, with their constant emphasis on drilling, but so do the Democrats with their constant emphasis on alternative energies.
The true goal is probably more of a short-term drilling deal with a look towards an alternative future, like both nominees now support.
Lets hope their colleagues get the message.
I think it is all political posturing from both sides. I will be pleasantly surprised if either candidate will really do anything. Although, I have to say that what Obama was suggesting yesterday in his Michigan speech was a compromise between drilling and alternative methods of energy production (wind, solar, etc). I like that idea. Although, he mentioned nothing about Nuclear. I am really upset that Congress did their usual 5 weeks off. We need a "we can do it" Congress, not an "We’ll never agree or work so why bother" Congress like we have now.
I agree, Michael- I thought for months that this was a huge opening for the GOP. Further, for the first time in years, the GOP is seen as proactive on a domestic issue. Here’s what’s interesting- the stock Dem mantra on every talk show is "we can’t drill our way out of this…"- to which the GOP reply is- "we agree- but we need a full court press on all energy sources, including alternative energy sources." From the perspective of common sense moderates, the GOP response is more compelling. It never claims that we can drill our way out, but its proactive approach is attractive, especially when contrasted with the Democratic tendency to reject many sources (nuclear, carbon based) in favor of wind and solar only.
Actually, some of the most influential Democrats (Kennedy) reject wind also, at least whenever it might actually be seen by anyone including people in sailboats 8 miles out to sea.
It is entirely disingenuous to link offshore drilling to global oil prices. The amount of oil that would be recovered would be medium to long term, and have a very small impact on prices. There is a lot of wasted hot air over this issue. This isn’t about the helping the American people or about oil. This is about having an issue.
When a rational adult has a problem that would provide little results only after a huge effort, they drop it and move on to something more effective. Unfortunately, politics is about appearances, not results, so this BS goes on.
I concur with Gun Toting Liberal:
"Long-time readers of this weblog will recall I have always been a proponent of a government push for both alternative fuel technology development as well as for drilling crude on our own soil; carefully and with Mother Nature in mind at all times — you know, like those “OLD” Democrats used to advocate."
Drill, CAFE, nuke and solar, baby. It’s all good. And props to Senator Mary Landrieu, who gets it.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Democratic candidate Barack Obama criticized Republican John McCain on Tuesday for taking a page out of "the Cheney playbook" on energy, overlooking his own support of oil-friendly policies that the unpopular vice president helped to craft.
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However, Obama himself voted for a 2005 energy bill backed by Bush that included billions in subsidies for oil and natural gas production, a measure Cheney played a major role in developing. McCain opposed the bill on grounds it included billions in unnecessary tax breaks for the oil industry.
The Obama campaign has said the Illinois senator supported the legislation because it included huge investments in renewable energy.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds, said, "Barack Obama is opposed to offshore drilling and is also opposed to admitting that he voted for the same corporate giveaways for Big Oil that he’s campaigning against today."
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A new Obama ad says Big Oil filled McCain’s campaign with $2 million in contributions and that he "wants to give them another $4 billion in tax breaks."
That $4 billion consists mainly of potential revenue from a McCain proposal to lower corporate taxes on all American businesses.
The McCain campaign pointed out that the ad doesn’t mention Obama has taken some $400,000 from oil company executives.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26040077/
THANKS FOR BEING HONEST, OBAMA!
Right Jason…
A-la George Carlin, NIMBY!