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House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking
politico.com — Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the light and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
akchrs- 1149 diggs
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- 5urr3al5am, on 08/01/2008, -111/+318More politics from the Ice Queen Nancy Pelosi-- I agree, she doesn't want this vote to take place, she wants the gas prices to stay where they are so that OBama can continue to make an issue of it come election time -- what an absolute bitch.
- atmenterprises, on 08/01/2008, -25/+88I agree. The Democrats, the party that supposedly care about the people, are only hurting them by going on vacation and leaving us stuck with high gas prices for another few weeks.
- ELCad, on 08/01/2008, -6/+42Congress should go home and stay home. Our best bet is that they won't make things worse by passing any more harmful laws.
- rebrad, on 08/02/2008, -18/+53Gaia forbid that the Democrats allow free and open discussion of ideas or policy. That might be democratic. Perhaps Nancy should take a bold step and just change the Democrat party to the International Socialist. That would at least better describe Nancy's vision and goals for America.
- TopherT, on 08/02/2008, -35/+16I'm all for high gas prices, I smile seeing people in big expensive SUVs paying 5.00 a gallon. The reason that the EU has such good energy efficiency and pragmatic energy policy are their high prices for fossil fuels.
- ConAmoreEFuoco, on 08/02/2008, -20/+28I suppose that if the House approved offshore drilling the price of gas would plummet? The whole push to allow offshore drilling is deceptive; the impetus is current high gasoline prices but the U.S. Energy Information Administration has said that it would take until the year 2030 for gasoline prices to be affected:
"The projections in the OCS access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030'
Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ongr ...
So, tell me again, how is the adjourning of the House without approving offshore drilling causing gasoline prices to remain high? - haydesigner, on 08/02/2008, -24/+23I'm sorry... but what was the Republican Congress doing 9 of the last 10 years, when they were in power? All of you act like the Democrats have been in control of Congress forever.
- mikesoba, on 08/02/2008, -29/+14@ConAmore You're muddling the debate with facts and Republican's, who hate America, cannot tolerate facts.
Add this one: Exxon Mobile's obscene profits increased by 14% on decreased output (less demand -- so much for market theories of supply and demand). And this disappointed Wall Street!
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/exxon-mobil- ...
The right wing wants to sell America to the Oil cartels for pennies on the dollar and pay them back with royalties from the taxpayer's coffers. Gotta love them Republicans. - planet87, on 08/02/2008, -6/+28@mikesoba... Now look a little deeper and see how many taxes Exxon paid to make their 11 billion... 35 billion in 1 quarter... that's right Exxon pays 35 billion in taxes in one quarter... that's 140 billion a year... that's almost 10% of our federal budget... and that doesn't include the income taxes that individuals pay who work for Exxon... Be careful who you're throwing stones at.
- xmodem, on 08/02/2008, -14/+6one word, ignornace. You republicans spot on about drilling when you sure as hell know it wont help shet but you know the american people are dumb sheep so you "drill" in their minds the word "drill" and make people think it will help. But it only leaves us in the same damn situation as before.
- Blankcheque, on 08/02/2008, -5/+3@Planet87
When you have the best damn government money can buy, don't you think it's only fair they pay for the upkeep?
- Homerr, on 08/01/2008, -43/+30Bush said so himself that we are addicted to oil.
You whiners that wanting to drill your way out of the problem are like alcoholics saying, "Gimme one more drink!"
The apprehension you are exhibiting is like going through withdrawals.- twomeyw23334, on 08/02/2008, -2/+2We can supply ourselves with 100% of our oil needs for over 100 years with our oil shale in the Mid West alone, which I think equates a bit more to "one more drink." Nice try though.
- GassyTurd, on 08/02/2008, -4/+2Drilling for oil will just make the oil companies more money. Prices will not come down. This is why the republicans want to drill. I bet you the price will still go up after the acquisition of more oil.
- jcm267, on 08/02/2008, -1/+4Bush has been calling for expansion of nuclear, coal, and renewable energy use in the USA. Why haven't the Democrats acted on that, Homer? What's wrong with pushing for a short-term solution, one for which we already have the refining and distribution capacity in place, while at the same time pushing for alternatives?
The Democrats are to blame for the mess that we are in. They have been blocking nearly all of Bush's energy proposals for the past 7 years. Democrats prefer sitting on their hands, enjoying their ocean views, and pretending that all we have to do is learn to conserve energy better in a country with a growing population and rising quality of life. Inflating our tires and changing our lightbulbs is not the be-all end-all. We must push conservation where it doesn't hurt the economy or the environment (CFLs) too much, and exploit what resources we do have. Bush's energy policy has been sensible, unfortunately since he never had a filibuster-proof Congress he wasn't able to get much done.
- psker, on 08/01/2008, -50/+50This is getting ridiculous. I am not a big fan of Nancy Pelosi or of what the Democratic Congress has failed to get done, but some people will believe anything politicians tell them. Offshore drilling will not immediately reduce gas prices....
http://www.theseminal.com/2008/06/18/drilling-is-a ...
I'm not sure why people are all the sudden so trusting of Republicans on this issue after all the crap that has happened in the last eight years. Wake up and realize if they lie to you about everything else, they are probably lying to you about this too...- MedicSean37, on 08/01/2008, -27/+23The reason why people just start trusting republicans is because they want the easiest quick fix. Majority of people will lean toward the side the seems to give them the easiest way out. This of course is increasingly so when the person does not understand the issue in the first place. Americans have no foresight.
- infidelisto, on 08/01/2008, -29/+38Don't be a moron, Do you have any clue what artificial supply means? Of course domestic drilling will drop the price of oil. Stop allowing yourself to be spoon fed by your leftist environmental freaks and start recognizing we need a solution other than windfall profit taxes and suing OPEC.
- centryfox, on 08/02/2008, -15/+33saying "it won't drop the price now, so why do it?" is like saying "i'm not going to try to teach my child how to speak because he won't start doing it right now". besides, drilling domestically will, in fact, affect the price immediately. It will influence speculators and help drive down the price of oil.
- spore, on 08/02/2008, -21/+19How can anyone buy into this off-shore drilling nonsense. There are MILLIONS of ACRES of LAND available now to the oil companies IN THE US that they COULD BE using but ARE NOT!
If they are not utilizing this land now, why would they take advantage of off-shore sites? It makes absolutely no sense! By keeping supply low the oil companies make much more profit.
Seriously, does anyone have a legitimate rebuttal?
Aside from that, the republicans are acting like spastic junior high kids when the teacher leaves the room. Parading around with a sign mocking Democrats' energy plan... does that sound like behavior that congressmen should be engaging in? I'm done and I've totally lost my patience with the divisiveness of this country, it is asinine and frankly embarrassing. - haydesigner, on 08/02/2008, -14/+12@infidelisto: "Of course domestic drilling will drop the price of oil."
By what... maybe $2 a barrel? Which would be maybe 10¢ a gallon?
If you have evidence that shows there would be any other than a negligible impact, PLEASE POST THE LINKS.
---
"Stop allowing yourself to be spoon fed by your leftist environmental freaks and start recognizing we need a solution other than windfall profit taxes and suing OPEC."
Other solutions? Well, how about alternative energy sources? You, take those oil subsidies and instead invest them in renewables? (and BTW, who is supposedly suing OPEC?) - HanFastolfe, on 08/02/2008, -11/+9@ spore
"There are MILLIONS of ACRES of LAND available now to the oil companies IN THE US that they COULD BE using but ARE NOT!"
If the oil companies are not drilling because they really don't want to, then why not sell them more leases that they wont drill with either? Congress doesn't give leases away. Take the money from the oil companies, dump it in the treasury. Congress doesn't have a problem spending money. Then, applying your logic, no oil will be drilled anyway. If you really believed your assertion, `they don't want to drill', then why would anyone, not, want to sell them leases they're not going to use? - DucoNihilum, on 08/02/2008, -10/+6"! By keeping supply low the oil companies make much more profit.
"
O RLY?
Maybe if they just sold one gallon of gas for TONS of money they would make even more profit! - Logrusmage, on 08/02/2008, -8/+14Not the point at all. Off shore drilling will HELP sustain us while we move towards energy independence. And it prevents oils shieks and crazy ***** from getting our cash.
- DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -3/+9@spore, They know there is no oil there. Do you really want them to drill for no reason? Not to mention places off the coast of California that are leased, but have banned off shore drilling.
- LawJik, on 08/02/2008, -6/+3She spoke about this with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show this week:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jh ... - twomeyw23334, on 08/02/2008, -1/+9@spore. This arguement sucks, and constant repeating by you "no we can't" leftist doesn't make it any better. The land must be leased before it's surveyed. The surveying may or may not find profitable oil. You leftist loonies can make pretend all day long that there is ***** loads of oil in this leased land but the fact is there is little to no profitable oil where they are not drilling, and it would be a risky move to drill where oil is profitable at $90 a barrel when prices could come down after drilling has begun and when we have over a hundred years of oil shale in the Mid-West profitable at $40-60 dollars a barrel.
Plus, TRY not to be a typical leftist hypocrite for one second and think about the enviroment. Do you really think it would be BETTER to drill thousands of holes all over the place to suck up the puny oil finds in all these leased locations or just make a few holes where we know the big oil is!?
psker, Have you ever heard of speculators!? Your website sucks as does your logic. If OPEC came out tomorrow and said they where going to drastically cut output in 6 months, do you think oil prices would increase in 6 months!? no, they would increase that second. I love how you leftists love to blame the price increase on speculators and then all of sudden make pretend speculators don't exist when it comes to lower prices.
Plus, you all can take your 10 year ***** and shove it. Many of these locations (depending on which one) can start pumping out oil in less the 3 years.
I think many of you are missing the point anyways that the minority party should at least be allowed to VOTE on the issue. I thought Pelosi made it clear in the beginning that her party wasn't going to use these to type of overhanded tactics to prevent votes from coming to the floor? This is purely political. She doesn't want any of their votes to be on record before elections, so is simply preventing the votes from happening. This is a disgusting abuse of power. - 0xbaadf00d, on 08/02/2008, -1/+5Investing in alternative energy wont fix anything "right now" either. So why do it, right?
- JDenigma, on 08/02/2008, -28/+19@Homerr and psker
So what is your answer to what we're facing you two bright bulbs? Windmills, solar power and unconstitutionally subsidized biofuels? Give me a break.
So maybe there will be a transition period where it will be a while before any extra drilling of oil has any effect, but so what. We have to start somewhere to invest for the future and get the ball rolling. You want to depend upon looking for your currently insufficient "green" solutions? Besides, the much scapegoated speculators would be the ones who would be responsible for IMMEDIATELY bringing down the prices if we were to start looking for more exploration and drilling of oil. We absolutely NEED to drill for more oil to increase the supply to at least somewhat offset the increased cost as well as to get ourselves off of MidEast oil. You want energy independence after all, don't you?
What is the real alternative that we have to fossil fuels right now? Maybe there are some, but much of the "green" solutions such as windmills and solar power aren't sufficient enough of a technology to replace fossil fuels to accomadate our economy and energy needs. We aren't about to replace the internal combustion engine anytime soon unfortunately unless you know of any technology out there in the marketplace that could replace it very soon. I'm all for looking for futuristic technologies in the free market and getting the government out of dictating and influencing what we use for energy, but in the short run we need for more oil. Energy alternatives are for the long run.
Is your real agenda that you're just simply greenies who are against oil because you believe in this global warming *****? I'm personally sick of hearing green this green that with ***** environmental political correctness. I personally believe nuclear energy is one of the ways to go, but the bottom line we need to get the government out of the business of centrally planning our energy solutions and let the free market decide this for us.- DanMiller, on 08/02/2008, -3/+4So by the free market you want us to drop all of those oil subsidies we provide then as well?
- samthurston, on 08/02/2008, -8/+5Let's take a look at ANWR, which Bush has been trying to open up for years- long before this coastal business was ever mentioned. ANWR has 7 billion barrels, tops. That's about 4% of the US's daily consumption. It will take 10 years for surveys, environmental impact studies, and rig construction.
How much do you think that splash in one day's bucket ten years from now is going to influence speculators?
Seriously, advocates of the "greater supply" argument need to go back to economics 101. There are two sides to the equation. The one which we can impact today, that will drive speculators to lower prices, is demand. Consolidate your trips. Drive slower. Make sure your car is in good condition and your tires are inflated so you don't waste gas. Walk somewhere. Get a bicycle. These are the things that will influence speculators in the real world, today. Price of gas & oil are already dropping. Not because there's some great rush of new oil found, but because when it gets too expensive, people use less. It doesn't take any fantastical solutions... we're doing it right now.
But that was a very nice strawman you pulled there. - EpochOne, on 08/02/2008, -1/+3I don't see why you're getting dugg down, More people need to think this way.
I'm all for the green movement, but it's not going to fix things soon enough. It doesn't matter how efficient your infrastructure is, if it's run off of oil/gas (like our current one), then high gas prices will hurt it. I'm all for lowering gas prices so that we can invest more money into things that matter, be it the green movement or groceries.
And JDenigma is right, the ICE isn't going away anytime soon. Fuel cells are supposedly the next big thing, but everyone seems to ignore that all of its clean energy and energy efficiency is negated by all the hydrocarbons and extra energy is required to extract the hydrogen that runs the fuel cell. Essentially hydrogen fuel is nothing more than a battery in fuel form, not the holy grail of power sources like everyone thinks. If we truly want a hydrogen future, then the first thing we should focus on is more efficient extraction of Hydrogen, not more efficient uses of it. - twomeyw23334, on 08/02/2008, -1/+3Let's take a look at oil shale, which can provide 100% of our oil needs for the next 100 years and is currently profitable at $40-60 a barrel.
Ok, now you "no we can't" leftists please explain how this isn't a solution.
- pintomp3, on 08/02/2008, -29/+40right. she wants to prevent gas prices from dropping 3 pennies 10 years from now.
- Ribbys, on 08/02/2008, -33/+50LOL at clowns like you thinking that allowing drilling for oil will lower oil prices anytime soon. Econ 100, take it next term kid!
- brainpile3000, on 08/02/2008, -23/+17Your comment doesn't even make sense. By successfully drilling for oil, you will increase supply. Increased supply with constant demand = lower gas prices.
Econ 100, take it next term kid! - ConAmoreEFuoco, on 08/02/2008, -12/+17The U.S. Energy Information Administration has said that it would take until the year 2030 for gasoline prices to be affected:
"The projections in the OCS access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030."
Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ongr ...
It isn't as simple as we'd like. It takes decades for exploratory drilling and construction. Offshore drilling isn't a quick fix for high gas prices at all. - cliffzdude, on 08/02/2008, -2/+8The current run up in crude prices are largely due to a trading bubble. The news has already killed a bit of the frenzy in oil futures, imagine if the news becomes reality? Econ 101 fails with complex markets, it assumes OTC for most all modeling - Other Things Constant. The economic theory, taught via simplistic models in beginning economics courses ignores the market pressures of greed and fear. Real markets are ruled by fear and greed.
- neilapril, on 08/02/2008, -4/+4so will you use the same arguement in 30 years?
- brainpile3000, on 08/02/2008, -23/+17Your comment doesn't even make sense. By successfully drilling for oil, you will increase supply. Increased supply with constant demand = lower gas prices.
- geardosdotnet, on 08/02/2008, -23/+28you think the gas prices will drop if they begin drilling now? It would take years for it to make an impact in the supply, and a tiny one at best. Americans are looking for a quick-fix for the gas prices but the truth is that the oil and car companies stifled the advancement of alternative energy methods and now everyone is screwed.
- gn0stik, on 08/02/2008, -11/+24I almost like these career republicans for doing this. I made a note of their names.
This was a break from normal, to be sure. Finally people, regardless of party were doing something because it was right. Not because it furthered their careers.
Good on em. Short lived though it was. - earthtoandy, on 08/02/2008, -26/+19Yeah and the Republicans want to vote because they want to convince the nation that the Democrats don't want to "help the people"
What the Democrats know however is Offshore drilling will have no such mystical effects and brings more negative than positive.
There is no quick fix. We are feeling the response to crapy policy enacted awhile ago. Maybe the republicans would like to work on the strengthening our dollar which they either deliberately, or through neglect and incompetence, have caused to become worthless.
This is another Republican move to change the focus to a non-issue and away from their sheer incompetence.- gbudavid, on 08/02/2008, -2/+1Jimmy Carter had the same talking points as you and he almost made it happen.
- richbleak, on 08/02/2008, -27/+15First, how the hell did this festering pit of right-wing ***** actually get an article on the front page and dominate its comments? Since when are Republicans smart enough to navigate the tubes of the internets?
Second, anyone that believes off-shore drilling will do a damn thing for any of us is lacking the bridge necessary to get facts from the outside world into their brains. We have a ridiculous amount of area currently leased for drilling and less than 30% of it is being used. If drilling was something that the oil companies really wanted to do, don't you think that number might be, oh I don't know, 100%? This is simply an excuse to allow the dumb asses out there to act like they're smart by shouting "Supply and Demand!" and turning a deaf ear to the real, viable, and proven technologies that will bring us into the future. It also allows them to bury their heads in the sand and reinforce their nonsensical reverence to giant corporations by way of ignoring the obvious impact that a lack of oversight on the commodities market introduces.
Sometimes it seems like we would all be commuting to work in flying cars and jetpacks if all you dumb ***** Republicans would go away in some kind of mass extinction. Go back to senselessly hating gay and poor people and let the adults discuss economic matters.- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -9/+20Right. We can't have opposing points of view anywhere while the dems are in control of congress.
- richbleak, on 08/02/2008, -15/+9I never said you can't have an opposing point of view, I simply said I'm surprised that you have the necessary faculties to express them in this medium. BTW, the right's sudden melodramatic assertions that your right to speak is being quashed in some way is laughable by anyone with even a hint of logic. It has been used many times over the last year; explaining that your points of view lack any substance is not the same as taking measures to ensure you are not free to express them.
- ConAmoreEFuoco, on 08/02/2008, -13/+11You can have an opposing point of view as long as it isn't in conflict with reality. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has said that it would take until the year 2030 for gasoline prices to be affected:
"The projections in the OCS access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030."
Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ongr ... - ZenMojo, on 08/02/2008, -6/+7ConAmore, BURIED FOR TRUTH! Buried twice for sources!!!!!
- bphicke, on 08/02/2008, -6/+9Holy ***** ConAmoreEFuoco, spam much? Just look at this douche bag's history.
- ConAmoreEFuoco, on 08/02/2008, -5/+4@bphickebphicke: The right-wing diggers support offshore drilling as though it will immediately affect gasoline prices, even though a government report clearly indicates otherwise. I just want to make sure that people that support offshore drilling get the facts, which they haven't yet. I haven't made a comment yet in the main thread of this article, so repeating the link in comments nested two or three replies deep is alright.
It's not spam because it was pertinent to each comment to which I replied. - egoideal, on 08/02/2008, -4/+3Holy ***** bphicke completely ignoring what conamore says and trying to change the subject. It's the Republican way!
- bphicke, on 08/03/2008, -1/+1Sorry, but 30 cut and paste posts is spam.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -14/+10It's not like the oil companies have platforms ready to drill at these offshore sites, so they wouldn't actually effect prices for years.
- bjornski, on 08/02/2008, -12/+8And they've already got 40,000,000+ acres of leases they already hold.
Nobody has been stopping them from utilizing them but themselves. - HanFastolfe, on 08/02/2008, -7/+6@bjornski
If oil companies really don't want to drill, then whats wrong with selling them more leases that they wont use? - SkittlesUSA, on 08/02/2008, -3/+10The land that is set aside from them is either too difficult to mine from or there isn't enough for profit. That's like saying, "OK oil companies, you can drill for oil in my front yard."
But guess what? There isn't a ***** oil field in my front yard so why the hell would anybody drill here? - floorman56, on 08/02/2008, -1/+5Nobody has been stopping them from utilizing them but themselves
Yea there geologist tell then there is no oil there
- bjornski, on 08/02/2008, -12/+8And they've already got 40,000,000+ acres of leases they already hold.
- jack104, on 08/02/2008, -9/+5Freakin' right.
- TheMikeMiller, on 08/02/2008, -5/+25It's time to Impeach Nancy Pelosi for dereliction of constitutional duties. About 5 minutes after she accepted, she threw out part of the constitution by saying, "Impeachment is off the table." Our representatives, especially the speaker of the house, can't decide which constitutional duties (s)he will support or not support. Call your representatives today.
- rz8472, on 08/02/2008, -4/+22What? A right-wing news article on digg? This is blasphemy!
- korvan504521, on 08/02/2008, -0/+4THIS . IS. SPARTA!
- omegared, on 08/02/2008, -13/+5more politics from the king George. pretending to care for people, while keeping america the PEOPLE (his boss) in a war they do not want to participate in anymore.
- pr0t0, on 08/02/2008, -7/+20I don't agree with the tactics of the Democrats; rational discourse on any issue should be the rule, and walking out seems very childish.
However, I'd like to address those fellow diggers who believe this energy bill, and current drilling legislation in particular will reduce prices at the pump. I'm sorry, but it will not. It would be nice if it were that easy. Anyone trying to frame this debate using that particular piece of misinformation is just being divisive and partisan. The unfortunate truth is that the cost of oil as it currently stands does not have much to do with supply and demand.
Right now the US economy is weak, and the value of the dollar against other world currencies is very low, possibly an all-time low. This means it takes many more dollars to purchase oil given the reduced purchasing power of the dollar. Further, speculators not only envision the dollar weakening further, but a renewed interest in alternative fuels. Alternative fuels means less demand from a country that has already had an unprecedented reduction in oil consumption over the last year. This in turn means an uncertain future for oil sales in the US, and the grab-it-while-you-can mentality of the oil barons takes over (witness Exxon's record quarterly profits).
If you consider yourself a drilling-hawk, why not urge your congressman to drill in the 68 million acres of land already approved for drilling and are not being harvested. Why waste time on uncertain legislation. The permits are granted, the oil is there, go drill it! The truth is, oil companies don't want to drill in those sites yet, because they want more offshore and ANWR too. If they are seen as content with what they have, they might not get want they want.
This is all about the future and the oil industry's very long term view of how much longer it can remain in the oil-selling business. Look at how oil prices ramped up over the last seven years. Initially it was blamed on the Iraq conflict. But as we know, very little of US oil comes from Iraq. Then it was hurricanes, but again those don't really impact Canadian oil production, and the jump in $/barrel was far too high compared to the short-term impact of the weather. Then it was blamed on the explosive growth of China reducing supply. There is some truth to this, but China is nowhere near consuming so much oil as to seriously impact what is in reserves and in what has yet to bill drilled in already approved oil fields.
Drilling for more oil won't reduce the price at the pump for anything longer than a few months. Even then, that will only be due to the oil companies giving a nod to their congressional minions to maintain the appearance that congress is actually doing something. But it will quickly rise again. Increased drilling will only increase the amount of time oil companies can continue creep the price of oil upward and keep a stranglehold on the average American.- JDenigma, on 08/02/2008, -2/+6I'll digg you because unlike some of the others above you, you didn't write some snotty partisan response directed at me and you wrote something that was well thought out and made sense to me. I think you were partially right in what you said in your post so I didn't agree with everything you said.
Where I think you are ultimately right in what you say there is pinpointing all of this on the weakening dollar and the Federal Reserve. You're right about that. Above all the other ancillary factors, that is the number one greatest reason for the increased price of fuel. They're printing more dollars to finance a bigger government and their empire overseas thus leading to more of a decline of the dollar and its purchasing value against oil whereas gold hasn't had that decline against oil. Those increased dollars have also flooded and influenced the commodities market. It is the Federal Reserve and big government with all of its unconstitutional spending that is the greatest reason for the bad economy. That is the bottom line in all of this. So I agree with that part of your message. You are right there.
However, regardless of whether increased drilling and increasing the supply of oil will make a difference in the prices, in the short run I do believe we still need to more oil anyway until and unless we find an alternative energy solution in the future. In the meantime though we should seek as much oil as we can. Maybe it will have a negligible affect on prices, but as far as this claim about unused land the oil companies are sitting on, I'm not so sure about the accuracy and truth in all of that. Here are two pieces that dispute that claim.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB12139 ...
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/80_of_government_ ... - HanFastolfe, on 08/02/2008, -0/+6@pr0t0
"I'd like to address those fellow diggers who believe this energy bill, and current drilling legislation in particular will reduce prices at the pump. I'm sorry, but it will not. It would be nice if it were that easy."
If what you say is true, it would the first time that the economic laws of supply, and demand were abolished. Those laws are not partisan. To attempt to frame them as such is wholly disingenuous, to put it kindly.
" The permits are granted, the oil is there, go drill it! The truth is, oil companies don't want to drill in those sites yet,"
If they (oil companies) really don't want to drill, then why not sell them more permits that they wont use?
".. because they want more offshore and ANWR too."
So you're saying they want to drill where there is a really good chance at getting oil? To me that sounds like having a clue in how to run an oil company. - egoideal, on 08/02/2008, -4/+2They didn't walk out you retard. Basic reading comprehension. Learn it.
- JDenigma, on 08/02/2008, -2/+6I'll digg you because unlike some of the others above you, you didn't write some snotty partisan response directed at me and you wrote something that was well thought out and made sense to me. I think you were partially right in what you said in your post so I didn't agree with everything you said.
- ZenMojo, on 08/02/2008, -17/+11I am heartily amused by mass ignorance.
Let's do some math, shall we? 68 million acres accessible right now but not drilled. 120 million new acres requested for drilling. 4 cents a gallon ... 10 years from now.
You have to love the Republicans. "We need MO' AWL!!! I mean, we absolutely refuse to nationalize it, so YOU won't get the oil, but it'll give oil companies more profits and they'll be far more comfortable giving us discounts or something, I'm sure of it!"
Someone stop the stupid train, it's going off the rails!- Logrusmage, on 08/02/2008, -4/+11Making a profit is evil... why?
- DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -2/+9It won't take 10 years to get the oil, now it takes around 2 years. But hey, it was 10 years ago that Bill Clinton banned drilling in Anwar. That's a million+ barrels of oil a day we'd have right now. And it would be American oil pumped by American workers instead of sending off more of our money to foreign powers.
- Fathom, on 08/02/2008, -2/+10the 80's called,
they wanted to let you know that communism doesn't actually work so well.
- SoulDrift404, on 08/02/2008, -2/+15Dem here, who thinks this is a bad strategy on the part of my Party.
- thefirstenemy, on 08/02/2008, -2/+7Liberal here. I disagree with allowing offshore drilling, but I also disagree with being screwing with the minority party just because you're the majority. Republicans did the same to Democrats for all their years, but playing these stupid games won't help anybody.
- JDenigma, on 08/02/2008, -6/+20Whether the cost would drop immediately or not is beside the point as far as I'm concerned because I don't give a ***** about your paranoid global warming fears and even if the cost doesn't come down it would be good anyway to increase the supply of oil as much as we can to achieve energy independence and not rely upon the Middle East as a source of oil. Besides, as I said, being free to explore for more oil will offset to rising prices to some degree because the speculators in the commodities market will help to bring the prices down a bit. Read this........ http://mises.org/story/3012 Here's another one. http://mises.org/story/3047
Oh, I forgot, you lefties blame the boogeymen speculators for the soaring costs. Nevermind that the multitude of factors leading the rising costs of fuel are the war in the Middle East leading to instability and disruption in the region, government mandated biofuels and boutique fuels, taxation on gas, regulation of refineries, a slight increase in demand for fuel worldwide, and the Federal Reserve printing more money to finance big government and the empire leading to more dollars flooding the commodities market thus devaluing the dollar which is what is causing the gas to rise in price.
You idiots act like it's the end of the world just because all of a sudden gas rises in price when there was a litany of other things you could have bitched about with respect to government diminishing liberty and the standard of living. So your answer is to just suck your thumbs just because you hate fossil fuels because you got your panties in a wad over global warming? What are your green solutions as an alternative? See, that's what this is about. You idiots spouting your vile ad hominem attacks at me are just simply birkenstock wearing greenie weenies who simply are luddites who hate fossil fuels. OMG, global warming! Admit it, that's what this is about. Show your true colors.
As for this claim about oil companies sitting on unused leased land, that claim is likely exaggerated and misunderstood. Here are two pieces on that...... http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB12139 ...
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/80_of_government_ ...
Stop your crying and bitching about fossil fuels. You're not going to die in a fiery hell of global warming you limp wristed morons. - solidcube, on 08/02/2008, -12/+5You people are stupid if you believe that this would make any impact at all on gas prices for years. Even then, the impact would be minimal.
This is a straw man play by the republicans. They're trying to blame high gas prices on the democrats, which is absolute and total *****.- jcm267, on 08/02/2008, -1/+7The Republican President has been pushing for opening up ANWR for drilling, expanding the use of clean coal power, expanding the use of renewables, and expanding the use of nuclear power. The Democrats have been blocking Bush's energy independence agenda for the past 7 years. This really is an issue where the blame can be pointed squarely at the Democrats.
But yeah..... you, the Cynthia McKinney supporter, have all the answers...
- jcm267, on 08/02/2008, -1/+7The Republican President has been pushing for opening up ANWR for drilling, expanding the use of clean coal power, expanding the use of renewables, and expanding the use of nuclear power. The Democrats have been blocking Bush's energy independence agenda for the past 7 years. This really is an issue where the blame can be pointed squarely at the Democrats.
- HeartlandUSA, on 08/02/2008, -9/+2If we allowed more drilling, gas prices would NEVER BE EFFECTED!!!!
That is a fact!
Republicans never care about the public, all they care about is helping out the oil companies, AGAIN!
The RepubliCONs only represent big business, not you!
The Democrats are tired of the lies of the RepubliCONs & did the right thing to follow the rules & end the session.
This article is all spin & the right wing commenters here are either propagandists or misinformed, as usual.
- HeartlandUSA, on 08/02/2008, -8/+1If we allowed more drilling, gas prices would NEVER BE EFFECTED!!!!
That is a fact!
Republicans never care about the public, all they care about is helping out the oil companies, AGAIN!
The RepubliCONs only represent big business, not you!
The Democrats are tired of the lies of the RepubliCONs & did the right thing to follow the rules & end the session.
This article is all spin & the right wing commenters here are either propagandists or misinformed, as usual. - tmonsta1, on 08/02/2008, -7/+2During yesterday’s vote on the Commodity Markets and Transparency Act (H.R. 6604) to rein in oil profiteers, House Republican leaders pressured 13 of their members to switch their vote from “yes” to “no.” Thanks to these strong arm tactics and weak members, the bill to lower gasoline prices by controlling profiteers failed by a vote of 276-151, falling ten votes shy of the two-thirds majority required for passage under the suspension of the House rules. Once again, the GOP leadership used their power to help keep oil prices and profits high, while hurting the average driver.
The Republicans...
let's not pass any real laws, let's help the oil companies and futures speculators make even MORE money- DarkShroud, on 08/03/2008, -0/+1The speculators are all in Europe for a reason. Because our laws can't reach them there. You can't fix supply and demand issues with rules/laws. You have to up the supply to match or exceed the demand.
- Malevolant, on 08/02/2008, -0/+6This is the best thread ever. I've never been so proud of the users here. Partisan politics aside, everyone who sees the situation for what it is, gets major kudos. Like most of you I am sick of the politics, the back and forth, but when the Republicans went postal, it actually made things exciting. I'd love to see things like this happen more. They're supposed to be there fighting for us right? That's one for them!
- qwertydvorak, on 08/02/2008, -1/+4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0FcNNeuf0E
democrats won't even allow a vote on drilling even if gas hits $10 a gallon
- atmenterprises, on 08/01/2008, -25/+88I agree. The Democrats, the party that supposedly care about the people, are only hurting them by going on vacation and leaving us stuck with high gas prices for another few weeks.
- belumaves, on 08/01/2008, -59/+223I love it! this congress has been a disaster since they were sworn in, the majority did nothing that they promised when they were trying to get elected, and at the end they decide to go on vacation instead of debating something that actually matters to the american people. and they are trying to keep the people that they supposedly represent from finding out that some representatives care about the public's will.
...but then again, this congress has the lowest approval rating ever, with pelosi in the lead on the road to zero approval.- shifty2, on 08/02/2008, -6/+16its all about priorities, which quite evidently there are none.
- gyver, on 08/02/2008, -14/+12problem with the senate is, if even 2 senators decide to filibuster, the dems need 60% of the vote to get a filibuster and they only have 51% of the senate. Do the math. Since they were sworn in the republicans refused to allow anything to get passed. No change will be seen until the dems have a 60% majority in the house. Or someone finally makings it so a 51% majority can end a filibuster like in the HoR.
- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -13/+14Even when they socialist have the majority they still blame the Republicans for their incompetence.
- growler1, on 08/02/2008, -10/+11@keymanjim2
I don't thing you want to start throwing the term "incompetence" around, if you're a republican. Your glass house might have a spot or two. - belumaves, on 08/02/2008, -0/+3@gyver
this is the house, not the senate, there is no filibuster.
- TheMikeMiller, on 08/02/2008, -16/+16The vacation was scheduled and this debate has nothing to do with gas prices. If the GOP really wanted to do something about gas prices they would support the investigation into price gouging and the fact that the SEC doesn't oversee the oil commodity futures market. They want off shore drilling for corporate interests, plain as day. If you want oil prices to go down support the impeachment of our president who has guaranteed an unstable futures market (and the resulting bubble) by repeatedly terrorizing the American public with perpetual war in the middle east, invasion of Iran, and the threat of attacks in the United States.
- planet87, on 08/02/2008, -3/+12You mean those corporate interests like Exxon who pay 35 billion in taxes... I don't necessarily disagree that speculation may be somewhat out of hand... but the fact is the speculators are sending us a warning and some of them... after Bush lifted the moratorium... started losing their ass. If Congress would act, the speculation would quickly end... except for people who think Iran is a powder keg... which it probably is.
- planet87, on 08/02/2008, -2/+11Sorry that's 35 billion in taxes, to make 11 billion in profits.... And then of course after Exxon sells that oil... it gets taxed again at least one more team when we buy it.
- msheidi, on 08/02/2008, -3/+5less than 9% approval rating! That is why they say nothing on Bush's approval rating, Theirs is bottom of the bottoms.
- samthurston, on 08/02/2008, -2/+3Well, the latest polls, averaged, put it closer to 22% but what's interesting is the partisan split. republicans in congress get 18% or lower approval where as the democratic side gets 36% or more.
So yeah, what was your point?
- samthurston, on 08/02/2008, -2/+3Well, the latest polls, averaged, put it closer to 22% but what's interesting is the partisan split. republicans in congress get 18% or lower approval where as the democratic side gets 36% or more.
- WillFight4Beer, on 08/02/2008, -1/+2...people don't get how the government works. The congress always, especially in a divided government, has a lower approval rating than the executive branch. The GOP can't get anything through because Dems control congress, and the Dems can't get anything through because Bush can veto (eg child health care). What results is a governmental standstill. We better either hope Obama wins or the Dems lose some seats (the latter of which isn't going to happen).
And if Congressional approval ratings were not useless enough, they never predict the outcomes of elections since approval ratings for individual senators or representatives from their voting block are almost always very high. Incumbents retain almost 90% of their seats because we have the perception that "my guy is in there working for me", even if congress as a whole is impeding them.
The problem isn't with either side, it's with two party politics and a divided government with two different policy making branches. - HeartlandUSA, on 08/02/2008, -4/+2If we allowed more drilling, gas prices would NEVER BE EFFECTED!!!!
That is a fact!
Republicans never care about the public, all they care about is helping out the oil companies, AGAIN!
The RepubliCONs only represent big business, not you!
The Democrats are tired of the lies of the RepubliCONs & did the right thing to follow the rules & end the session.
This article is all spin & the right wing commenters here are either propagandists or misinformed, as usual. - justcool007, on 08/02/2008, -0/+2For fair and balanced:
The dems want green energy and getting of oil and they will do almost anything (including doing nothing to lower prices on gas.
The repubs want to lower prices for gas to help the american people now and they are willing to put off green energy for it.
All in all BOTH political parties have sold us out the past 30 years and done NOTHING beneficial toward getting more energy much less be enegy dependent
Everyone can play the blame game like all the politicians, but that will lead us to the same situation for the next 30 years.
At least the repubs (some of them) stayed behind to hopefully try to do something instead of going straight to vacation. The same summer vacation most americans had to limit or cancel this summer because of the high gas prices.- revisrev, on 08/02/2008, -1/+1I personally believe high oil prices are worth it. I don't have a lot of money, I have 4 kids, and I cringe when I go to the pump, but let me explain how high gas prices have made things better for me:
I didn't used to be very disciplined about conservation. Now, I shut off lights when I leave a room, every time. I do regular sweeps of the house throughout the day to make sure the kids aren't leaving lights on, and I check every room of the house for lights when I'm the last person leaving.
I go to the store and pass up the candy aisle. We can't afford that stuff anymore, and that's a good thing. I instead go to the Mexican food aisle and pick up rice, beans, and lentils (are lentils Mexican food? I don't know). I found out that dried apples are pretty good snack food, and they're like $1.30 for a decent sized bag. I buy more generic groceries, and they are just as good as what I was spending more on.
I don't drive to get my mail (which isn't delivered to my house), I walk. Walking is good for me.
On the weekend we used to go to a restaurant or the movies with the kids, not the worst thing in the world, but the low cost alternative, the park, is loads better for the kids.
We have been taking things for granted for far too long in this country, and we needed a reason to change. High oil prices have given us that reason. I don't think I've made all of the necessary changes, and I know if oil prices fall too much then these changes will fall in priority, and won't be made. I don't like spending $60 to fill up my gas tank, but I think it's rather interesting that I went from filling it weekly to filling it every 10 days without cutting out any necessary driving.
- revisrev, on 08/02/2008, -1/+1I personally believe high oil prices are worth it. I don't have a lot of money, I have 4 kids, and I cringe when I go to the pump, but let me explain how high gas prices have made things better for me:
- shifty2, on 08/02/2008, -6/+16its all about priorities, which quite evidently there are none.
- Poasted, on 08/01/2008, -64/+146You just have to pay attention to this stuff! I hear people all the time saying that this issue or that issue is just politics, or they don't like the name calling or whatever. The bottom line is that maintaining liberty is not an easy sippin' iced tea on the front porch kind of thing. It take guts and fortitude to protect the rights we have by God's grace and enshrined in The Constitution. People like Pelosi and her ilk will always be around trying to steal from us. TYRANTS!!
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -10/+17How, exactly, is this an issue of liberty? It's about drilling for oil off the coast. And if by liberty you mean that Congress has the right to debate, she is perfectly within her power to adjourn Congress when she feels fit, she is the Speaker. It's just the way it works, Republicans pull the same type of dirty tricks when they're in power.
- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -6/+11You would be crying your eyes out if Bush forced congress to convene.
This is perfectly within HIS powers. - fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -8/+9No, actually, I wouldn't. That would be within his rights. Nice try, though.
- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -7/+3Liar.
- jahurt, on 08/02/2008, -5/+2@keymanjim2
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_ ...
Please point out where the POTUS has the power to convene Congress. - fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -2/+6keymanjim2, what right do you have to call me a liar? Do you know what I think? Have you ever started to consider that I might think for myself, instead of just blindly following one party? That perhaps I have respect for the powers granted to the different branches of government? Open your mind.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -1/+6And jahurt, sorry to be "that guy", but it's in Article II, Section 3.
"He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States." - DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -1/+4It's a question of Liberty in the US not being dependent on foreign oil from countries that hate us and break out in little wars with each other all the time. Furthermore it means our money stays here in our economy and more jobs for US workers. I'm all for Electric cars and clean energy but we still need oil in the mean time.
- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -6/+11You would be crying your eyes out if Bush forced congress to convene.
- catfish182, on 08/02/2008, -8/+6and the Republicans did such a good job before huh?
wait. who was in power when the prices went up?
Yeah thats what i thought- republicans- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -3/+8
Price of oil when Bush took office - $29
Price of oil when democrats took over Congress - $51
Price of oil as of July 11, 2008 - $145
Price of gasoline when Bush took office - $1.60
Price of gasoline when Democrats took over Congress - $2.34
Price of gasoline as of July 11, 2008 - $4.30
Would you like to revise your ***** statement? - tmonsta1, on 08/02/2008, -4/+2you know I used to argue with people like you
now I realized that you were stupid enough to vote republican after the last 8 years, and you don't make over 2.5 million dollars then there is no making sense or rationalizing it to you
if you're voting republican in the fall, then you really are just a religious zealot or a moron - yakski, on 08/02/2008, -0/+1The keyman keeps saying the same thing... Since Bush took office the price of gasoline in the US has more than TRIPLED... Good work GW ...
(that's sarcsasm keyman... I am sure you couldn't figure that out...)
- keymanjim2, on 08/02/2008, -3/+8
- HeartlandUSA, on 08/02/2008, -6/+4If we allowed more drilling, gas prices would NEVER BE EFFECTED!!!!
That is a fact!
Republicans never care about the public, all they care about is helping out the oil companies, AGAIN!
The RepubliCONs only represent big business, not you!
The Democrats are tired of the lies of the RepubliCONs & did the right thing to follow the rules & end the session.
This article is all spin & the right wing commenters here are either propagandists or misinformed, as usual.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -10/+17How, exactly, is this an issue of liberty? It's about drilling for oil off the coast. And if by liberty you mean that Congress has the right to debate, she is perfectly within her power to adjourn Congress when she feels fit, she is the Speaker. It's just the way it works, Republicans pull the same type of dirty tricks when they're in power.
- cjjackson2712, on 08/01/2008, -83/+218Just goes to show.....when you are in a losing position, you take your ball and go home. Pelosi and the Dems really only care about their power and give a rat's rear end about the people.
The Democrats are right, we DO need a change. A change back to before they took over… Remember this come election time… They are claiming we need change and are blaming the Republicans for everything...
A little over a year and a half ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we've seen:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted;
2) The cost of regular gasoline has soared to over $4 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of all American homes are in foreclosure…
The Dems harp on the President's approval rating while at the same time their approval rating is a single digit, the lowest ever.
America voted for change in 2006, and we got it! Let’s not make the same mistake again…- zmigliozzi, on 08/01/2008, -23/+76I'm glad someone else has realized this. Congrats Democratic controlled congress. /slowclap
- goodrich37, on 08/01/2008, -19/+69Excellent comments! Now if we could just get the media to report on these facts.
- mofw, on 08/01/2008, -26/+14Stop them printing money to dump in the toilet for Iraq and you'll see the things on the list reverse.
All 6 things on your list are due to a weak dollar. - aigulf, on 08/02/2008, -15/+38Are you really going to pin the sub-prime mortgage crisis, an event that's been 10 years in the making, on a Congress that's been around for 2? That's the product of 20 years of legislation that has made it too easy for shady financing practices to go rewarded with billions in revenue at the expense of the market.
- brad3378, on 08/02/2008, -0/+6I agree, but to be fair, the federal reserve didn't help the housing bubble with their cheap money.
- SydBloom, on 08/03/2008, -1/+1Massachusetts elected a Gubner (Deval "Cadillac" Patrick) on the Motto..YES WE CAN! ..Well what CAN he do? Oversee and profit from one of the worse mortgage companies in US History which specialized in sub-prime and egative am loans targetting who???? MINORITY ESPECIALLY BLACK communities!.. Check out AmeriQuest Mortgage folks.. See why Patrick should be in jail and not the state house.
- KirbyMeister, on 08/02/2008, -8/+20A little over a year and a half ago we were in the middle of a housing and loan bubble, too.
Still, it is their fault for not trying to fix it, other than weak solutions like 'gas tax holiday lol'.- DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -3/+5The "'gas tax holiday" would have helped the economy by allowing people to go on vacation and spend money on something other then gas. It was never sold as a fix, at least not by Republicans.
- solistus, on 08/02/2008, -3/+2DarkShroud: there's no credible evidence that a gas tax holiday would have much of any macro economic effect. More likely, people would try to stock up on gasoline and cause prices to increase in the short term, if anything. At any rate, if you want to blame someone, research Phil Gramm.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -8/+22Arguing that this Congress has been successful would be ridiculous, but to blame all of the ills you listed on Congress is equally so. The economy takes its twists and turns by itself, the government doesn't have to provoke it.
- vexingmodstwo, on 08/02/2008, -12/+14Mostly true. But since leftists LOVE to blame everything on Republicans, its fun using their stupid logic against them.
- catfish182, on 08/02/2008, -3/+5vexingmodstwo,
republicans love to blame democrats just the same if not more. so there is the "stupid" logic right back at you. - podobuzz, on 08/02/2008, -4/+5BOTH SIDES blame the other. That's how it works. Haven't you noticed that every right wing radio host LOVES to blame everything on the "left", the "liberals", the "socialists", etc.
Both sides are nothing but a bunch of whining crybabies who care more about their image than getting anything substantial or helpful done.
- dpmrpi, on 08/02/2008, -20/+16Just because my comments will be buried doesn't mean I can't point out usual right wing spin...
"Consumer confidence was at a 2 1/2 yr high" - Who was the prez 3 yrs ago and what was the actual number? What does this "fact" show?
"Consumer confidence has plummeted" - Again any facts or simply speculation?
"The cost of regular gasoline has soared to over $4 a gallon" - and rich republicans are showing record profits yr after yr as we "little people" suffer.
"Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase)" - excellent use of that scary inferred fact. I am sure no one reads 'unemployment is up to 10%' because that couldn't possibly be what you mean...::sarcasm::
4) is indeed based on obscene republican led government borrowing
As for 5) and 6) who was president when all these people were buying houses with ARM that changed after 2 yrs? It was only a matter of time before that became a huge problem.- jack104, on 08/02/2008, -8/+7Rich republicans?? A few maybe but I'm a republican and I sure as hell haven't seen any money enter my pocket, just more leave. A few republicans may be getting richer but if the Dems wanted to they could do something about it....they do have the majority, yet they wont. They want their president and are willing to make us all pay for it.
- growler1, on 08/02/2008, -9/+10Don't even bother. The Republican minority on Digg gets together and pushes stuff like this to the front page so they can digg each other up and parrot Rush Limbaugh talking points. You might as well be pointing out facts to a golden retriever.
They're allowed to speak their peace just like anybody else, but anyone with the attention span of a gnat, who's been paying attention for the past 7 years, is not going to vote for the party that manages to drive the country into a ditch every twenty years. - brainpile3000, on 08/02/2008, -4/+9It's clear you're clueless.
- catfish182, on 08/02/2008, -8/+3funny thing brainpile3000 i was thinking the same of you.
- DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -2/+11Yeah sure it's only the Republicans, Democrats are so not rich.
- Pake, on 08/02/2008, -8/+15"They are claiming we need change and are blaming the Republicans for everything..."
And you're all blaming Democrats for everything. Do you realize that as long as two parties make up 95% of the system, ***** will never get done and that as long as you stand your ground and only vote for one party, you're the sole cause of ***** this country up? Grow a brain, look at both parties, find the better candidate right now and help work to bring more parties into the mix for the future. - darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -18/+13Republicans have controlled the US since January 20th, 2000 (including the attack on Sept. 11th). The US has gone to hell since the the Republicans were 'hired' to represent us.
The Democratic congress can't get anything done because of the Republican President that vetoes all decent legislation.
The Republicans have given up on the White House and they're doing everything they can to try and take back Congress in an attempt to get away with their Big Oil war crimes.
Don't fall for it.
Vote Democrat across the board in November.- haydesigner, on 08/02/2008, -2/+13"Vote Democrat across the board in November."
I'm sorry, I never vote across the board. I do my research, make an intelligent decision, and vote for the BEST CANDIDATE, regardless of party affiliation. - Pake, on 08/02/2008, -2/+12"Vote Democrat across the board in November."
And that is the problem with society. Don't vote for the party, vote for the individual. We're in this mess because people aren't voting based on the person, but rather the party. - hayehudi, on 08/02/2008, -2/+11You do realize he's only used 12 vetoes, right? If George W. Bush vetoes all decent legislation then that means that our piece of ***** congress has only sent 12 decent bills to his desk. Epic fail Mr. Doo-mas.
- Latentk, on 08/02/2008, -3/+5Big Oil war crimes? Easy to use those big scary words when you lack the facts to back it up. Iraq is one of the lowest exporters of oil in the world. Get over it already. And as for your implying that ELECTED Republicans somehow cheated their way into office goes to show how blatantly absent minded you are.
Thanks for playing though! - storm72, on 08/02/2008, -3/+3I call *****. The Democrats have caved in on Iraq, telco immunity, and other issues where they claimed they would make sweeping change. They haven't even made a serious attempt to hold the President accountable and enact change.
The DailyKos crowd can't face the fact that the Democrats are spineless bald-faced liars who are no better than the Republicans. Like the Republicans, they just prostitute themselves to the highest bidder.
- haydesigner, on 08/02/2008, -2/+13"Vote Democrat across the board in November."
- HeartlandUSA, on 08/02/2008, -11/+7If we allowed more drilling, gas prices would NEVER BE EFFECTED!!!!
That is a fact!
Republicans never care about the public, all they care about is helping out the oil companies, AGAIN!
The RepubliCONs only represent big business, not you!
The Democrats are tired of the lies of the RepubliCONs & did the right thing to follow the rules & end the session.
This article is all spin & the right wing commenters here are either propagandists or misinformed, as usual. - thefirstenemy, on 08/02/2008, -10/+8Oh my god, I seriously cannot believe how stupid you are. I'm honestly shocked. Anybody who didn't see the economy *wasn't* good even when there was a 14,000 DOW Jones is a ***** idiot. Blaming this on the Democrats is ****** stupid*. You're either one of the biggest idiots ever or a complete ***** shill who is willing to purposely spread anything if it helps your agenda. You're a ***** either way.
- solistus, on 08/02/2008, -6/+5Which act of Congress in the last 2 years, pray tell, caused the collapse of our mortgage industry? Are you sure that wasn't the Republican deregulation evangelists led by former top McCain economics adviser Phil Gramm? In regulatory law surrounding lending practices, the legal tactic that allowed the high-risk sub-prime lending and even riskier loan re-packaging is known as the "Gramm Loophole."
- fireburner23, on 08/02/2008, -4/+3What a bunch of *****! Are you telling me that it is all the Democrats fault and not the Republicans fault? I'll tell you who is to blame here, it is the bankers and that damn Federal Reserve.
All the problems listed above are a direct result of cheap interest rates and the boom and bust business cycle. You want to blame somebody? Blame the Federal Reserve and Congresses inability to abolish a defunct organization that steals from us blind! - Arcueid01, on 08/02/2008, -1/+3You are all ***** stupid going back and forth about if it was the dems or the republicans fault. WTF. We have morons in office and it doesn't matter which party they are from. The problem here is that you people are going to allow this ***** to continue and ***** up even more ***** because you are concerned with partisan ***** that is is insane. Dems and Republicans are equally ***** as a general rule. They are all only concerned about elections and doing whatever the hell they want when they are in office. You all should be voting for people who are different from them because, yes, we do need change but it isn't going to come from eith er of those two parties.
- solistus, on 08/02/2008, -2/+2Arceueid01: it's true that both parties suck, but that doesn't mean we can't investigate what specific events led to a specific problem. The system is broken, yes, but we can and will continue to trace specific examples of this (e.g., the subprime fiasco, which was caused by the Gramm Loophole). Would some other asshat eventually have filled in for Gramm? Probably, but that doesn't change the fact that Gramm's efforts were the proximate cause of our latest fiscal crisis.
- PolishLogic, on 08/01/2008, -44/+104At least somebody cares.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -16/+14Did you ever consider that this is just a political stunt to make the Democrats look bad, and not some real desire to enact change? Both parties do this all the time, and it doesn't help anything. As a side note, despite what the Republicans say, this bill would not lower gas prices in any reasonable timeframe, as it would take years to get capacity established in the new areas, if the oil companies even acted at all.
- jdenzer, on 08/02/2008, -8/+7Agreed, plus no where does it say that the oil companies will sell the oil to us. For all we know they will let it compete in the world market. Next time you hear someone on the right say 'Drill now, pay less' ask then if all the oil drilled stays in the U.S.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -6/+7Iconoclast, it's a stunt because the Speaker has the right to adjourn house whenever she sees fit, and staying after is just trying to score political points. The Democrats pulled similar things when they were in the minority.
- elTito, on 08/02/2008, -2/+7Lol. It would take one sentence in an amendment.
"Oil recovered from reserves on US soil shall not be sold, exported, traded, etc. outside of the United States or its territories."
Nice try though. - HanFastolfe, on 08/02/2008, -2/+4@jdenzer
"Next time you hear someone on the right say 'Drill now, pay less' ask then if all the oil drilled stays in the U.S."
Does it matter that it stays in the US? We export a some oil to certain places where it makes sense on a global logistic basis e.g. Alaska to Japan. Oil is traded in a global market. An increase in global supply will have an affect on the global price, which is a component of what we pay at the pump.
Besides, if some, or all is exported (leading to lower prices globally, and at home), it's good for our trade imbalance to sell some stuff around the world every now and then. If we went drill crazy and pumped enough to crash world markets certain adversarial nations, the usual suspects, would almost consider it an act of war. As we put the oil screws to their economies in one direction, that have been putting to us in the other direction. e.g. Russia would have a hard time being "resurgent", on cheap oil. Iran wouldn't be able to do whatever it is nuclear they have been up to on cheap oil. Hugo Chavez would be in a lot of trouble at home on cheap oil.
Then we could roar our economy to the finish line of alternatives that everyone concedes has to happen.
- jdenzer, on 08/02/2008, -8/+7Agreed, plus no where does it say that the oil companies will sell the oil to us. For all we know they will let it compete in the world market. Next time you hear someone on the right say 'Drill now, pay less' ask then if all the oil drilled stays in the U.S.
- EarlOfLade, on 08/02/2008, -15/+8Who cares about what?
GOP or Gross Old Pharts (as I like to call them) are clueless on the issue. More drilling is not the answer to anything but adding more dollar to the oil companies and ripping off you and me.
What is needed and GOP hates this because it will not be popular with the average Joe, is to reduce oil dependency and and to invest on government level so much money in development and deployment of new energy technologies over the next years, it will call more tax increases and there is nothing more scary to the average American than the tax ghost, well maybe communism, but I'm not really so sure about it. - brad3378, on 08/02/2008, -7/+6This reminds me of the stunt pulled at the GOP convention in Nevada.
- appleseed1234, on 08/02/2008, -14/+8Of course they ***** care, the GOP needs this offshore oil cash more than ever now that people are beginning to see just who they are. Playing the "little guy" by staying on the floor was no more than another deception.
- Ebonsteel, on 08/02/2008, -10/+3Shut up you ***** rightwing shill.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -16/+14Did you ever consider that this is just a political stunt to make the Democrats look bad, and not some real desire to enact change? Both parties do this all the time, and it doesn't help anything. As a side note, despite what the Republicans say, this bill would not lower gas prices in any reasonable timeframe, as it would take years to get capacity established in the new areas, if the oil companies even acted at all.
- inboxnews, on 08/01/2008, -60/+142Dems won't drill, even at $10/gal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0FcNNeuf0E
fta: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.
At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones have been turned on as well.
But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.
Only about a half-dozen Republicans were on the floor when this began, but the crowd has grown to about 20 now, according to Patrick O'Connor.
"This is the people's House," Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."
Democratic aides were furious at the GOP stunt, and reporters were kicked out of the Speaker's Lobby, the space next to the House floor where they normally interview lawmakers.
"You're not covering this, are you?" complaing one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans "morons" for staying on the floor.
Update - The Capitol Police are now trying to kick reporters out of the press gallery above the floor, meaning we can't watch the Republicans anymore. But Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is now in the gallery talking to reporters, so the cops have held off for a minute. Clearly, Democrats don't want Republicans getting any press for this episode. GOP leaders are trying to find other Republicans to rotate in for Blunt so reporters aren't kicked out.
Update 2 - This message was sent out by Blunt's office:
"Although, this Democrat Majority just Adjourned for the Democrat 5-Week Vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House Floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN camera's have been turned off, House Republicans are on the Floor speaking to the tax payers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican Energy proposals.
All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House Floor."
Update 3 - Democrats just turned out the lights again. Republicans cheered.
Update 4 - Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.
Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again.
"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring...This is a kick."- UncleCrapper, on 08/01/2008, -30/+14That's great. Where were the Republicans when it came to securing the Constitution and liberties of the American people, raising the minimum wage, bringing the troops home from Iraq or restoring our shattered prestige abroad? That's right, turning out the lights themselves.
- soundman07, on 08/01/2008, -13/+141) the troops are back? (other than those we sent over in the surge)
2) how have the democrats "secured" the constitution? Your diction implies that they have somehow physically locked up the constitution?
3) We have no prestige abroad.
4) You have a point with the minimum wage, but the only people I know making minimum wage are 16 years old. - vault, on 08/01/2008, -9/+19When cornered, change the subject. Great strategy there, unclecrapper.
- darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -8/+6If we began drilling TOMORROW it would take several years until the price of gasoline came down.
Drilling here in the US is telling someone with a gaping chest wound: "we'll put a band-aid on that when our next shipment of them comes in".
You're missing the big picture! WE NEED RENEWABLE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE! - vault, on 08/02/2008, -1/+7@darkciti
The expectation supply will increase in the future also lowers prices now.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121486800837317581 ...
http://seekingalpha.com/article/83468-we-can-lower ...
And yes, and it'll be several years if not much more before we have energy independence in the form of renewable energy anyway. Until then, let's get a handle on oil ASAP and begin lowering the price.
It doesn't have to be one or the other. - saggyb, on 08/02/2008, -6/+0You posted an opinion column from the wall street journal as source? Hahaha I think that speaks for itself, why don't you go read all the non-opinion reports published by legitimate agencies that say the exact opposite.
- vault, on 08/02/2008, -1/+5It's an opinion column from a guy who was the "chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Reagan, is a professor at Harvard and a member of The Wall Street Journal's board of contributors."
I think he'd know better than you and the environmentalist sources you might choose to cite, but hey maybe at age 22 you'd know how the energy market works better than a Harvard professor who served under Reagan.
- soundman07, on 08/01/2008, -13/+141) the troops are back? (other than those we sent over in the surge)
- KirbyMeister, on 08/02/2008, -8/+2Heh, look at this video, it's from Rush Limbaugh but it has a very interesting Obama quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuCtpO-UB54&NR=1
P.S. not a mccainroll - Pake, on 08/02/2008, -13/+8What do you honestly think drilling will solve? It's a short term solution to an extremely large problem and the worst part is that it's a short term solution 10 years from now, not a short term solution right now and even then, what do you plan on doing when we run into this solution again (which will we obviously do)? Drill more? Once again, another short term solution to a long term problem that would take another 10 years for it.
Here's a better idea, let oil stay where it is now, force the automotive industry to shift their thinking to more fuel efficient vehicles, force the idiots with gas guzzlers to continue hurting themselves, and shift over to newer energy sources. Our dollar is too reliant on oil and we need to get away from it. We need to put the value of the dollar back into our hands and not in the hands of OPEC. - brad3378, on 08/02/2008, -8/+6Somebody submitted that video to digg:
http://digg.com/politics/Not_Even_At_10_A_Gallon_v ... - msheidi, on 08/02/2008, -0/+2Then all of them need to be removed from office and thrown in Jail.
- UncleCrapper, on 08/01/2008, -30/+14That's great. Where were the Republicans when it came to securing the Constitution and liberties of the American people, raising the minimum wage, bringing the troops home from Iraq or restoring our shattered prestige abroad? That's right, turning out the lights themselves.
- Chahrlie5, on 08/01/2008, -40/+129Good to see the Congress of Change is hard at work
- SethEllis, on 08/01/2008, -39/+141Make sure you read the full story to see all the updates. This is great stuff, it's a shame that they won't turn on the cameras!
Update 6 - Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chaber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.
He then said "I am a Democrat and here is my energy plan" and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around he house floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.- 5urr3al5am, on 08/01/2008, -12/+55In fairness, why wouldn't the congressional democrats drag their collective asses like a dog with worms? -- the press will just blame Bush and then McCain? The 'Press' never seems to bring up the congress' rating but they happily announce Bush's at every turn?
- soundman07, on 08/01/2008, -7/+43Oh, you haven't heard, independent studies have concluded that there is no liberal bias in mainstream media coverage of the candidates or the government in general. Don't try to use your own experiences and judgment to make a decision.
- SkittlesUSA, on 08/02/2008, -9/+3"Don't try to use your own experiences and judgment to make a decision."
LMAO. Yeah, just do what everybody else tells you to do and don't even THINK about using judgement to make a decision!!!! Just listen to the government, or better yet, just base your decisions from what soundman07 says.
After all,
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
- 5urr3al5am, on 08/01/2008, -12/+55In fairness, why wouldn't the congressional democrats drag their collective asses like a dog with worms? -- the press will just blame Bush and then McCain? The 'Press' never seems to bring up the congress' rating but they happily announce Bush's at every turn?
- MrDuke77, on 08/01/2008, -49/+119Finally some R's with jumbo cajones!!! Why can't some of these patriots infiltrate the Senate?! Keep the pressure on, the lib Dems are disease-ridden cockaroaches who can't withstand the bright lights of truth exposing their corrupt obstructionist antics.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -12/+17Funny, I could have said the same thing about the dirty tricks Republicans used when they were in power, to keep the Democrats quiet. This type of posturing is inherent in the way the current system is set up, and of politics in general, it's not the ill of one particular party.
- MrDuke77, on 08/03/2008, -1/+1Funny how when your ox isn't being gored, you excuse the rank hypocrisy of Pelosi who rode into power vowing to be civil, fair and bipartisan...quickly followed by blatant abuses of power Gingrich never even dreamed of trying to get away with.
The vast majority of Americans want drilling. Put it to a vote ya cowards. What happened to the Dems being the party of the people? They're nothing but elitists who are "for the people" until the people forget their place and get a bit uppity.
- MrDuke77, on 08/03/2008, -1/+1Funny how when your ox isn't being gored, you excuse the rank hypocrisy of Pelosi who rode into power vowing to be civil, fair and bipartisan...quickly followed by blatant abuses of power Gingrich never even dreamed of trying to get away with.
- pintomp3, on 08/02/2008, -14/+12"Finally some R's with jumbo cajones!!!" funny how politicians manage to grow them when fighting for corporate interests.
- darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -11/+6It's also funny how shameless Repugs ***** consumers with their big "cajones" (and little pee-pee's and pro-oil Hummers).
- MrDuke77, on 08/03/2008, -1/+1Regardless of "corporate interests", the PEOPLE are demanding more AMERICAN oil drilling. Stiff arming the people in a warped effort to stick it to the corporate interests is classic cutting off your nose to spite your face logic.
- MrDuke77, on 08/03/2008, -0/+1"It's also funny how shameless Repugs ***** consumers with their big "cajones" (and little pee-pee's and pro-oil Hummers).'
Almost as funny as how clueless, anti-American, juvenile libs with no rational arguments to bring to the table resort to using profanity-laced whining to lash out at the pro-American adults.
- fuzzmeister, on 08/02/2008, -12/+17Funny, I could have said the same thing about the dirty tricks Republicans used when they were in power, to keep the Democrats quiet. This type of posturing is inherent in the way the current system is set up, and of politics in general, it's not the ill of one particular party.
- CommonSense2k8, on 08/01/2008, -23/+81"But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left."
I guess Kucinich is the only real politician left?- dan222555, on 08/01/2008, -18/+60More likely he saw an opportunity to get some attention, but as soon as he realized that wasn't going to happen he bugged out.
- Rich711, on 08/01/2008, -12/+66I'll admit I think Kucinich is nutty but atleast he's his own man, unlike all these Democrats ordering cameras off and press removed. 60% of Americans want bans on oil drilling lifted.
Turning the lights out might silence Nana Pelosi's grandkids but it wont silence America. - gtluke, on 08/01/2008, -5/+21he left, read the article
- CommonSense2k8, on 08/02/2008, -4/+10well duh, that's actually in the quote.
Still, he put in more time and effort then the rest of the congress.
How many other politicians care more about their job more then vacation (even if just for a few minutes), and dont pull political stunts for the sake of pulling political stunts?
- CommonSense2k8, on 08/02/2008, -4/+10well duh, that's actually in the quote.
- NYankee2003, on 08/02/2008, -7/+3Kucinich is the ***** in freshman year of high school with his hand raised that no one wants to call on. Remember Reese Witherspoon in Election? That's Dennis. What a little bitch.
- michl2077, on 08/01/2008, -27/+74Just emailed Congressman Shays for the first time ever. It's that important.
- KirbyMeister, on 08/02/2008, -4/+8Might want to send him a letter, congressional e-mails usually don't count for much
- bjornski, on 08/02/2008, -3/+10Even that will be ignored unless it contains a check.
- darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -12/+4Your concerted Republican failure machine is shameless.
You people disgust me.- DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -2/+5@darkciti2, Why don't you take a trip here to Illinois and see what the Democrats have done. Look up Cook County Illinois in particular. Highest sales tax in the country and I can't even park my cars in the lower part of my drive way during the day or I get ticketed.
- KirbyMeister, on 08/02/2008, -4/+8Might want to send him a letter, congressional e-mails usually don't count for much
- EverettP, on 08/01/2008, -32/+82Wish a network.... any network, would go over there and report this! I'm betting on Fox News to show it first, if at all.
Either way, its about time the republicans grew a set and stood up for themselves! - t0emas, on 08/01/2008, -25/+50Twitter Feed here FWIW
http://twitter.com/petehoekstra- SethEllis, on 08/01/2008, -5/+29ROTF his twitter feed has almost doubled since this started.
http://twitter.com/petehoekstra
- SethEllis, on 08/01/2008, -5/+29ROTF his twitter feed has almost doubled since this started.
- t0emas, on 08/01/2008, -22/+39Another twitter here too
http://twitter.com/johnculberson- brad3378, on 08/02/2008, -2/+3http://earth2tech.com/2008/08/01/republicans-prote ...
and his video footage here:
http://qik.com/johnculberson
- brad3378, on 08/02/2008, -2/+3http://earth2tech.com/2008/08/01/republicans-prote ...
- fulibs, on 08/01/2008, -23/+66Hopefully this will get a lot of press in the near future.
- radiofrequency, on 08/01/2008, -3/+20Drudge is covering it. It's hit mainstream media - this will be talked about.
- zmigliozzi, on 08/01/2008, -27/+120Have fun on your 5-week vacation, I'll be working like a regular American.
- rivalius13, on 08/01/2008, -8/+73Of course you're working, someone has to pay for their holiday!
- PabloMac, on 08/01/2008, -4/+45And their outstanding health benefits, and their obscene retirement program, and...
- geardosdotnet, on 08/02/2008, -8/+14.. which is too bad. In many countries it is not unusual to have several weeks of vacation time for regular workers.
- korvan504521, on 08/02/2008, -1/+2slackers.
- TYRONEBR549, on 08/02/2008, -1/+2That's why they always have their hand out.
- dpmrpi, on 08/02/2008, -13/+3I'm sure the republican congress members are giving up their 5 week vacation to sort this all out and will have everything fixed when the dems get back...
- DarkShroud, on 08/02/2008, -2/+3If only they were allowed to. Both parties are out for their own, but at least Republicans keep my taxes low and hopefully gas prices as well. Since I'm not able to afford a Tesla Roadster.
- fireburner23, on 08/02/2008, -1/+3We should cut their benefits if we are not getting the same benefits. I demand equality.
- rivalius13, on 08/01/2008, -8/+73Of course you're working, someone has to pay for their holiday!
- sweetytri, on 08/01/2008, -47/+16Can we say "S-T-U-N-T" ? I'll be very surprised if this does anything but get 30 seconds in the evening news....
- Rich711, on 08/01/2008, -8/+42Stunt. Wanting to drill for more oil is a stunt? I image you also believe getting a tune-up and adding air to your tires will save just as much oil as we'd find drilling, as Obama says. What an idiot.
- pintomp3, on 08/02/2008, -6/+5what else do you call giving more land to the companies that already have 40,000 acres they aren't drilling on? even if they started drilling now, the price of gas would drop a whopping 3 pennies 10 years from now. want to reduce oil prices? close the enron loophole.
- EtherGnat, on 08/02/2008, -6/+4Come on, it is a stunt, albeit a good one. That doesn't imply anything evil. Maybe we're just bickering over semantics, but it's a (successful) gimmick designed to get more attention for their cause. It's not like they're going to get any legislation passed or get Democrats to come crawling back to Congress.
Ask yourself this: What would conservative talk radio hosts have been calling it if the Democrats had tried this a few years ago over an issue they were concerned with? - bjornski, on 08/02/2008, -6/+2Forty MILLION acres, Pinto. Not thousand.
- HanFastolfe, on 08/02/2008, -2/+5@pintomp3
"...that already have 40,000 acres they aren't drilling on?..."
So why not sell them more leases they wont use? If they really don't want to drill, take the lease money, let congress waste it like they always do (both parties), and there still wont be any more oil. Under your "logic" that they don't want to drill, it shouldn't matter how many leases we sell them, they wont drill it anyways. - EtherGnat, on 08/02/2008, -5/+5A political stunt is something designed to attract attention and score political points. Please tell me what the Republicans actions will accomplish that make it more than a stunt?
- EtherGnat, on 08/02/2008, -2/+3I've got 9 diggs down and counting but still nobody can tell me how this isn't a stunt. How exactly are you defining "stunt" that I'm wrong? Does anybody have the courage and intelligence to actually reply rather than burying me?
This is the very definition of political stunt, and there's nothing wrong with that once in awhile. I think it's likely to score some pretty big points for them. Why all the animosity? - bjornski, on 08/02/2008, -1/+2And the funny part was that Boeher, just 2 days prior to this stunt, BLOCKED a vote to help control prices.
-------------
“Bring the Congress back. Let’s have a real up or down vote,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) proclaimed. In fact, there was a real up or down vote on gas prices just two days before. And Boehner is well aware of it because he was responsible for ensuring it didn’t pass. Dan Weiss explains on the Wonk Room what occurred this week:
During yesterday’s vote on the Commodity Markets and Transparency Act (H.R. 6604) to rein in oil profiteers, House Republican leaders pressured 13 of their members to switch their vote from “yes” to “no.” Thanks to these strong arm tactics and weak members, the bill to lower gasoline prices by controlling profiteers failed by a vote of 276-151, falling ten votes shy of the two-thirds majority required for passage under the suspension of the House rules. Once again, the GOP leadership used their power to help keep oil prices and profits high, while hurting the average driver.
Boehner strong-armed his own conservative members to ensure a bill didn’t pass because he wanted to engage in today’s political theatrics. After killing a bill that would have addressed gas prices, House conservatives have decided they want to blow hot air in the dark.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/01/house-stunt-on ...
Boeher didn't care about lowering prices. This was a stunt.
- mmmmmbiscuits, on 08/01/2008, -9/+28Is that "S-T-U-N-T" as in "Nancy Pelosi is a CUPID STUNT"?
- Madrigalian, on 08/01/2008, -4/+17^ LOL
nice - brainpile3000, on 08/02/2008, -2/+8This is one of my all time favorite Digg comments--ever.
- Madrigalian, on 08/01/2008, -4/+17^ LOL
- cashman57, on 08/02/2008, -6/+7It does not need to be on the evening news. In case you have not been aware, the ratings and share of network news has been dropping.I can't remember the last time I watched a network news show. They are useless for getting real information.
This is not a stunt, it is reality and you and the Democrats are complete fools if you think this is the end of it.
I have sent Pelosi a tea bag. Americans are not taking this crap from her and you following along like a lap dog will not stop the momentum.
The time to do something is now.
If you think we don't need to drill for oil you are kidding yourself.Either that or you are Pelosi.
BTW I smiled as I clicked the thumbs down on your silly comment - XxDeathxxStarxX, on 08/04/2008, -0/+1Wow. Profound.
How much does it add to the debate? I'm getting tired of the empty name-calling.
- Rich711, on 08/01/2008, -8/+42Stunt. Wanting to drill for more oil is a stunt? I image you also believe getting a tune-up and adding air to your tires will save just as much oil as we'd find drilling, as Obama says. What an idiot.
- rivalius13, on 08/01/2008, -24/+53Pelosi turned off the cameras too, so no need to switch on C-Span anyone, you'll just get boring crap.
- mwrl, on 08/01/2008, -7/+26It is okay, she can't turn the lights out on truth!
- Madrigalian, on 08/01/2008, -5/+3Spoon!
- darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -6/+4The truth is that BushCheneyOilCo ***** the US consumers en masse.
Before attacking Pelosi, why don't you focus on the crime boss (Bush Crime Family) and work down from there?
- MtheoryX, on 08/02/2008, -0/+2As opposed to all the fun and excitement that C-Span normally shows.
- XxDeathxxStarxX, on 08/04/2008, -0/+1Here's a recent gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDAFozFn4kU&feature ...
- XxDeathxxStarxX, on 08/04/2008, -0/+1Here's a recent gem:
- mwrl, on 08/01/2008, -7/+26It is okay, she can't turn the lights out on truth!
- jdenzer, on 08/01/2008, -19/+73"Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again."
Great now their hacking in to the system to turn stuff on. Wait is this legal? /sarcasm- darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -7/+2Random codes turned on the mic?
I call *****. This story is coming from a Repug BS machine.
High gas prices hurt, but let's get to the root cause of the problem:
After BUSH and CHENEY are IMPEACHED for crimes against the US Constitution, we can make real progress.
Until BUSH IMPEACHMENT happens, we're pissing into the wind.- Bkaufman, on 08/02/2008, -3/+4Please die. Obama is going to run the US into the ground worse than Bush has.
- nalen33, on 08/29/2008, -1/+2As much as I agree that Obama will run the country into the ground, hard, don't be wishing death upon other people man!
- darkciti2, on 08/02/2008, -7/+2Random codes turned on the mic?
- t0emas, on 08/01/2008, -18/+42Here is part II
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0808/Dems_t ... - jdenzer, on 08/01/2008, -19/+87"Update 6 - Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chaber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.
He then said "I am a Democrat and here is my energy plan" and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around he house floor with the sign while the crowd cheered."
Wow this sounds like some SNL skit.- Rich711, on 08/01/2008, -9/+51Yep, Nancy Pelosi's house has become a joke.
- belumaves, on 08/01/2008, -7/+37become? you mean it hasn't been one?
- mwrl, on 08/01/2008, -9/+29When hasn't Nancy Pelosi been a royal joke? She represents San Francisco, what do you really expect?
- caninedevotion, on 08/02/2008, -11/+3Yeah! Goddamn women representing ***** cities! I hate 'em!
Will one of your principled, respectable gentlemen come over here and help me stroke my little piggly-wiggly *****?
- wishninja, on 08/02/2008, -10/+4I hope the cameras can capture these guys acting like that it will be funny to see on youtube.
- Rich711, on 08/01/2008, -9/+51Yep, Nancy Pelosi's house has become a joke.
- professor357, on 08/01/2008, -26/+69I only hope that every constituent of a Democrat Representative or Senator takes the time to call, email and write their Congressional "representatives" to express their displeasure that the Democrats refuse to have an honest debate AND ALLOW A VOTE ON A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY. Let there be amendments, and let the amendments be voted up or down. If a Democrat wants to propose an amendment to continue the moratorium on offshore drilling, so be it. Let's see how everyone votes. The Republican amendment will propose lifting the moratorium. Let's see how everyone votes on THAT.
Same goes for drilling in ANWR.
Same goes for mining shale oil deposits in Colorado.
Same goes for making things easier for oil pipelines to get new sources of oil to refineries.
And same goes for building new refineries closer to the available oil.
Vote on it all. Let's see just who is interested in getting this country out from under the thumb of the foreign oil producers. And let's remember those votes come the elections in November.- RungeKutta, on 08/02/2008, -2/+5Oh come on. This wasn't a bill to have a REAL solution to high gas prices. They weren't trying to limit/control futures trading on oil, they weren't trying to install a windfall profit tax on oil companies, they weren't trying to give money to get a hydrogen car on a massive scale, they weren't trying to increase mass transit. I could go on and on about REAL long-term solutio