Isn’t it interesting to watch the current political show? Green dyed liberals are seemingly jumping all over each other to ave the wishes of the people. That said, this is about energy. Be it electrical, gas, or petroleum based. Those that were oh so “green” appear to really be green now, as in the nausea induced by sea sickness. I mean, it’s the economy stupid! Or don’t you remember that Congressperson? After all is said and done the “Soccer Moms” are more concerned about getting their kids to the Soccer game, and feeding the curtain climbers than about this new religion where endangered Owls just are not in any danger of extinction, and Polar Bear numbers are at all time highs. Heck? They even have figured out that there was tar on beaches before humans drilled for oil for goodness’s sakes!
The hypocracisy is simply asstounding. I mean, really, the only thing that I can remember that even comes close to the current political debauchery, was when I watched our President say on television “I am not a crook!” Yeah, right…
Look folks, Steve over at Stiff Right Jab can certainly explain International Economics better than I can. After all, he teaches it. I am a specialist in Management Economics having to do with Pre- Hospital Emergency Medical Services. That’s right, I am one of those guys that are well educated but chose to make a difference rather than stand around and spout things that would get me on television. I mean heck?Anyone that actually knew me knows that I used to tell the kids “Stay off the news!”
Anyways… The following is from the PATRIOT POST. As usual, someone else (more than one!) can explain things much better than my personal skills allow for, enjoy.
“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 antidrilling 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, [on 1 August], 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.” —Kimberley Strassel
And then there is…
“It’s always good to take a break from the madding crowd, but especially now that American politics has surpassed itself in self-mockery. After four days avoiding television, blogs, YouTube, and cell phones, it is possible to wonder how we get so exercised about the insignificant. Not that politics isn’t important. The debate about what role government should play in our lives is no small thing. And while we can’t all kick back at once and hope that our enemies work out their anger issues, a little perspective is salutary and productive in a fallow field kind of way… The family is what gives our life meaning and makes our nation strong. The family is also what keeps government at a respectful distance—working for us and not the other way around. All our political choices should be made in the service of that understanding. That’s all. And we’ve got work to do.” —Kathleen Parker
I ask you, is there not more important things to be considering? Well, no, not really, but this blatant assault on the intelligence of the American people needs to stop.
MARC, there are three mis-spells, find them, and complain! 😀
Tags: Congress, Energy, environment, Politics
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 
August 13, 2008 at 09:55
I was going to (hypocracisy? for shame) however, I was much more puzzled by who these supposed green-dyed liberals who want to “ave” the opinion of the people (which i can only understand under the religious connotation, such as AVE MARIA, which in this case I suppose would be AVE THE PEOPLE) are. Am I one of them? Generally speaking I could give a rats ass about the overall ill-informed opinion of the people. However I’m not in a position of political representation.
Which throws up a bigger quandary in why you would criticize any elected official for doing what they were elected to do in pursuing the will of the people. The poll I’m assuming you are referring to (I know of a few polls where the question was asked about offshore drilling, however I must guess that its those polls you reference, as you never factually back up your opinions) was actually flawed. It did ask the question of whether or not people supported drilling, it did not propose any alternatives. Meaning, in a poll reality where more drilling is the only energy solution for high gas prices, a rather timid 67% support drilling.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/general_politics_toplines/toplines_oil_drilling_june_13_2008
So while, yes, the Democrats are now falling over themselves to switch positions it’s only after the Republican lie machine kicked it into high gear to take half-truths and poorly researched “facts” to convince the Democrats that offshore drilling really was the will of the people.
Toodles.
LikeLike
August 15, 2008 at 08:18
Not bad Marc! 😀
I have to wonder though? If a President won an election by 67 percent wouldn’t that be called a landslide by most people? If a poll asks a direct question, such as do you support more offshore drilling, does that invalidate the poll?
LikeLike
August 15, 2008 at 09:45
From The Patriot Post:
Drilling opponents feel pressure for a vote
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated this week that she is now open to a vote on offshore oil exploration and drilling, reversing her staunch opposition in weeks past to allow the subject to come to a vote in the House. Her change of heart is motivated by raw fear—fear that she can’t hold off Republicans and a growing number of Democrats calling for domestic drilling to alleviate America’s reliance on foreign oil, and fear that a vast majority of the American people actively support drilling. San Fran Nan simply doesn’t have the courage of her convictions, at least not as the election draws near. Don’t expect Madame Speaker to completely buckle just yet, though. She is likely to allow a vote on drilling only as part of a larger package that includes her ill-advised idea to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have vowed to shut down the government if they don’t get a vote on offshore drilling soon. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) pointed out that the drilling ban must be renewed every year on or before 1 October. He is calling on Congress to let the ban expire, and he has threatened a GOP filibuster of any spending resolutions that Democrats might use to attempt to bypass a vote on the ban.
In related news, the Energy Information Administration this week announced that U.S. oil demand fell by an average 800,000 barrels per day during the first half of 2008, constituting the biggest volume decline in 26 years. The EIA predicts that U.S. oil demand will average just over 20 million barrels per day in 2009, which would be the lowest level of consumption since 2003. And for those paying attention, since President George W. Bush rescinded the Executive Order banning offshore drilling on 14 July, oil has dropped from $147 a barrel to $113. That’s not a coincidence.
LikeLike
August 15, 2008 at 10:59
Other things that have happened more likely to have caused the decline of oil prices:
Uhhhh, duh, Americans consuming less, as stated in the article. The 820,000 barrels a day is roughly equivalent to all the oil pumped daily through the Caspian Sea pipeline, which represents all the oil exports from the oil rich Caspian seabeds. Just to put that into prespective. A little less American consumption was the equivalent to opening a new, huge, massive oil field.
Chinese and Indian consumption grew at half the rate predicted by the EIA at the beginning of the year.
Predictions about high American, Chinese and Indian sent speculators into a tizzy of futures buying, one firm making numerous bad buys, overextending their resources and bankrupting, having to then release their futures shares back onto the market, immediately relieving prices.
Anyways, any economist in his right mind knew that while overall oil consumption was rapidly accelerating, a 40% acceleration in several months time is ridiculous, leading the fingers to point one place…. Market speculators.
Granted, Bush’s end to the ban could have affected their decision, however, it doesn’t change the fact they caused the price to be artificially high in the first place, and as the end of the presidential ban is symbolic anyhow, speculators would be stupid to take that as a sign of increased supply.
Pelosi’s proclamation would have much more weight and…. oil prices are kind of flatlined at the bottom.
LikeLike