Aug 12 2008
GOP And American Victory Over Oil
Boy, the democrats played the oil/energy card really badly. They arrogantly blocked all efforts to leverage US oil and gas reserves until the political pressure from Republicans tapping into American angst over gas prices became so great the Dems had to fold and agree to a vote:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday night dropped her staunch opposition to a vote on offshore oil drilling in the House.
Republicans, reacting to high gas prices, have demanded a vote on additional oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf, where drilling is currently blocked by a moratorium. Until now, Pelosi (D-Calif.) has resisted the idea as a “hoax.†But in an interview on CNN’s Larry King Live, she indicated that she was open to a vote.
“They have this thing that says drill offshore in the protected areas,†Pelosi said. “We can do that. We can have a vote on that.â€Â
She indicated such a vote would have to be part of a larger package that included other policies, like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which she said could bring down prices in a matter of days.
“But it has to be part of something that says we want to bring immediate relief to the public and is not just a hoax on them,†Pelosi continued.
The problem for the Pelosi Democrat’s is the American people know what is a hoax and what is not. Tapping the strategic oil reserve will not budge US or world prices (and with an oil war raging between Russia and Georgia it is not a good time to tap into our oil safety net). Americans know we can drill and drill safely, they know it is the dems pulling the hoaxes.
But worse for the dems is the timing. Oil prices are dropping rapidly and people will connect the GOP push against the dems as helping the prices at the pump, which is going to fall. Â So not only does the GOP get credit for representing the average American against the eco-blind liberal Democrats in DC (in the most despised US Congress in memory), they will get some credit for fixing the problem.
That, my friends, is how to totally screw up an issue in politics. One for the history books (along with the ‘surrender at all costs’ plan for Iraq).
Two things that the Dems want, release of oil from the SPRO and super taxing oil companies is wrong. Their thinking reminds me of teen age, foot stomping children. Parents that gave into every wish, want, and whim so as to not have an argument, even knowing in the long run it was not good for their children, or because being liked by their children is more important for the moment. This immediate gratification from adults drives me nuts. How does a great country lead if they are worried about being liked all the time?
Time to post this again:
“The Pathology of Liberalism” by Joan Swirsky
FTA:”Symptoms of liberal pathology As I’ve mentioned, liberals want to be liked. They believe that if America were not so strong, so powerful, so rich, so successful – so enviable to the rest of the world – things would be better. This is because liberals hate strength and power and wealth and success, except, that is, when they are the beneficiaries! It is interesting to note here that the richest politicians in Congress are liberal Democrats. Think Kennedy, Rockefeller, Reid, Byrd, the list goes on and on. In our nation’s Mecca of Liberalism, Hollywood, those who announce the Oscars always refuse to say, “And the winner is .” Instead they say, “And the Oscar goes to .” This is because liberals don’t like the concept of winning or losing – someone might feel bad and get angry and pick a fight . and then they won’t like me! In the world of liberalism, it’s always all about me! “
I see Pelosi and Co giving on this in hopes of defusing the issue by November and having it head down the memory hole.
The idea being that whatever gets done, they reverse field and go off in their preferred path after picking up more seats in both houses during the election.
See her release of those running for office to do what they have to do to get re elected.
I expect the post convention drumbeat to be
Those obstructionist Repubs just killed every thing
We need majorities in both houses
We need a guy in the White House to stop the veto
Note if you go back to the transcripts of the floor debate on FISA you will find this exact message repeated about 15 different times by Dem speakers to prepare their sound bites for the campaign trail.
The Dems knew they had paper thin margins after the mid terms.
The do nothing congress became a planned idea, not something that just happened along the way.
Pass only the minimum got to have legislation
Make everything else so over the top that it gets killed by the Repubs or vetoed so the long fingers can come out and point
Repeat in various legislation debate the 3 points from my prior post
Wash , rinse , repeat
The plan is to sacrifice two years of do nothing to whip up the base to give them larger power in the downstream years for a long term power hold.
Give a little to get a lot.
Alaska smiling here. However, our Palin star has dimmed.
I agree Merlin, it was a plan. The consequences, unemployment, high cost of food, gas and a country who could supply it own energy to beg the Saudi’s for more oil. It is a disgrace!
I think Merlin is right.
I agree the Dems played the off-shore oil issue badly, but giving the GOP credit for the recent drop in oil prices? What did they do that would have ANY effect short term prices – talk about it? Come on AJ, that is amatuerish. It is simple – oil prices came down because the dollar strengthened and demand decreased due to high prices. http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/12/markets/dollar.ap/index.htm
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24166695-20142,00.html
Our government did very little to affect either one of these. Of course the Georgian conflict is going to raise oil again due to the major pipeline there. Let’s hope it doesn’t go too high.
If the Dems are smart, they will package a bill with off-shore drilling and alternative energy proposals. That way at least they can sell it as a broader energy proposal and force Republicans to approve the alternative energy proposals. We need both for long term energy needs so it is good policy. I just hope after these policies are adopted people get realistic and accept the fact that neither off-shore drilling nor alternative energy proposals will have a significant affect on short term prices and there is no magic solution. Lowering demand is the only thing that will affect oil prices over the next few years. Ironically, we have just demonstrated over the last few months that higher oil prices lowers demand. Seems like one of those chicken-and-egg questions.
Conman,
The GOP did nothing specific but did work the issue hard. They will get credit, even if it is undeserved. That is how politics and public opinion works. Just like President’s really don’t control the economy but get the blame or accolades for it every time.
AJ,
Agreed. GOP does deserve credit for pushing the issue. I thought you were also suggesting they legitimately deserved credit for the recent drop in prices. My bad.
If I remember correctly, the incident that broke OPEC’s stranglehold on the world’s energy supply during the last oil crisis in the 1970’s was when the British drilled for and discovered oil in the North Sea. As soon as it was announce that the Brits had discovered oil in the North Sea the bottom fell out of OPEC’s scheme.
So don’t tell me that our drilling where we know there is known oil won’t break the back of this scheme. As soon as the OPECis think their monoply is threatened they will do whatever they can to deter any competition to their keeping the world hostage to their oil., even if it means lowering the price to where it is unprofitable for us to develop some of the more questionable sources. After all, all they have over there in the middle east is oil. Without it, they cannot survive. Didn’t they survive for centuries by raiding, pillaging, kidnapping and holding for ransom, and otherwise preying on Europe and the European trade routes? Oil is their only assett. If the US starts mass drilling off shore and develops other energy sources, the OPEC countries will once again become a desert kingdoms where local tribes prey on each other.
Yes, a gas price war would be great. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could specify that we don’t want ANY gas refined from terrorist countries when we go to the pump?
I’ve had enough of the enviro-“mentals”.