Our friends over at Red County Washington are all over the the Guerrilla Congress movement, to force a vote on new energy policy (more here).
If this election turns out to be not as brutal as once feared for Republicans, the broader issue of energy policy will no doubt be considered a turning point. Larry Kudlow thinks we may have already reached it, though he's probably more optimistic than many GOP observers.
Tellingly, both Presidential candidates are doing energy related events galore this week. And one of the most entertaining back-and-forths of the general election cycle thus far has been on the trivial topic of proper tire inflation (Ed Morrissey explains why the left has totally missed the boat on the optical and rhetorical weakness of their comeback).
Why are Democrats struggling so much? With gas over $4 a gallon, and basic expenses soaring across the board, Americans want answers and aggressive solutions, not this:
"Right now, our strategy on gas prices is 'Drive small cars and wait for the wind,' " said a Democratic aide.
Good luck with that, and don't forget to check your tires.
Posted by Eric Earling at August 04, 2008 07:32 PM | Email ThisThe Dems are struggleing with the concept that you have to fix todays problems with todays technoledgy. Great if our society is willing to finance the future tech that will greatly reduce our dependance on oil but we don't got it yet. A leader uses todays tools to fic todays problems while devloping future tools for future problems. The radical Enviros out there wanted the high gas prices but now they are crying becouse it could cost them some of their elected allies.
Posted by: Akosted on August 4, 2008 08:09 PMThe Dems are struggleing with the concept that you have to fix todays problems with todays technoledgy. Great if our society is willing to finance the future tech that will greatly reduce our dependance on oil but we don't got it yet. A leader uses todays tools to fic todays problems while devloping future tools for future problems. The radical Enviros out there wanted the high gas prices but now they are crying becouse it could cost them some of their elected allies.
Posted by: Akosted on August 4, 2008 08:10 PMHe is in the tank for alternative fuels and banning any new drilling, anywhere, any time. You see, it is better that we all sit in the dark with a devastated economy than risk worsening global warming. Which of course has never been proven to be man made. But never mind details. So a vote for Dave is a vote for Pelosi. Great.
I've written him, have any of his other constituents?
Posted by: janet s on August 4, 2008 09:51 PMThe Republicans, for the first time in a long time, understand the issues and are in sync with what the voters rationally want. The Republicans have the initiative now and must move in for the kill. The greatest danger now is for the Republicans to accept a compromise with the weakened Democrats, say a "windfall profits" tax in exchange to some increase in offshore drilling. Obviously this would negate the whole purpose of the exercise: to increase oil production.
The Republicans can redeem themselves in the public's eyes if they stick to their guns and engage in a principled attack on the Lesser America that the Democratic leadership is promoting.
Posted by: Bill K. on August 4, 2008 10:49 PMIt is very frustrating not having any voice in this.
Posted by: janet s on August 4, 2008 11:14 PMALSO, Big Republican reform going on in Alaska, kicking out the Republican Big Government Losers and getting them replaced with conservatives.
And in the LOL catagory, McCain (shook his hand the other night), drops 5 pts in the polls every time he mentions the environment or immigration, and bounces 5 pts every time he talks about drilling and border security. The political Pavlovian training of McCain seems to be working - as is contining to drift to the right.
Meanwhile, Obama is making an pompous arse out of himself. Polosi "the commie" is doing her best to look like a 3rd world dictator in drag. Do I smell a Republican Pheonix, a massive upset in the making?
Naturally, Dave Reichert is in the Ted Stevens camp of the Republican Party.
Ahhh, Life is getting better.
Posted by: John McDonald on August 5, 2008 07:09 AMI certainly hope the Rs don't let the Ds off the hook. Stick it to them.
Posted by: swatter on August 5, 2008 07:59 AMIf their polls show that the majority of Americans favor further oil exploration you bet the Democrats will jump on the bandwagon.
The ugly truth is that they have no intention of supporting offshore drilling once they win the fall elections. Should Congress lift their ban on offshore drilling,(which I believe they will after they return from vacation), Democrats know their environmental lawyers will stop any new drilling in its tracks.
Republicans need to point out that the leftist environment legal complex has stopped new energy production for years. If Republicans are successful in bringing that message to the country the Democrats could, indeed, be toast.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on August 5, 2008 08:12 AMI know my code pink pen pal thinks the DalaiBama is even greater because with his intelligence, he can change his position and admit a mistake.
My pen pal is worried, though, that the DalaiBama would be viewed as a flip-flopper. I said, no, but he would sound a little more sincere if the polls didn't now support off-shore drilling where they didn't before.
Posted by: swatter on August 5, 2008 09:10 AMYou MUST HAMMER THE DEMOCRATS ON ENERGY/GAS PRICES! Be aggressive! Make them try to defend leaving DC with no energy vote on drilling. Get the ads out there and LINK Congressional candidates to PELOSI!!! They have been hammering on Republicans, linking them to Bush/Cheny for years over the war. Now it's OUR TURN! Make the name Pelosi synonomous with HIGH GAS PRICES and foreign energy dependence and the effect on the economy. Link Pelosis "I'm trying to save the planet" comment to high prices for energy. I'm dying to see ads showing Reid and Pelosi and their stupid comments and showing FACTS about how nutty their positions on energy actually are. While you're at it, you may want to remind folks we have WON THE IRAQ WAR while showing Harry Reid saying "the war is lost". Get the ads out. The GOP has a BIG HAMMER this election. USE IT!
Posted by: Scott on August 5, 2008 12:00 PMOnly good thing - the 8th district is full of those who are similarly delusional, so he will get that benefit. Unfortunately, those same global warming fanatics are not going to vote for a repub, regardless of his stand on the environment.
Posted by: janet s on August 5, 2008 01:19 PM