Posted on 06/21/2008 8:11:34 AM PDT by Brices Crossroads
There is a way to get to energy independence, just not in the short term.
We could’ve been there by now if we had drilled all out and built new refineries and gone more nuclear and developed more new technologies starting long ago.
Liberals aren't too smart when it comes to government structure issues.
Only because Republicans have been stupidly waiting for the LameStream Media to take Congress to task for not getting out of the way of the American people.
Republicans have to take the fight themselves--point out the utter VAPIDITY of Hussein, Pelosi, and Reid. Those three jokers have NO CLUE about what makes America great. Instead, they dawdle and give speeches and denigrate the troops. Republicans have to point that out!
“In a year that points to increasing Dem majorities in both chambers, we would be so fortunate to limit our losses or at most gain a little here and there.”
Politics is nothing if it not shifting sands. Four to xix months ago, the signs were ominous for the Republicans points that way based upon MSM polls, which are not tremendously reliable. But a nationalized election built around an issue of economic populism as powerful as gas prices can completely change the dynamic. Without an issue nearly as powerful as this in 1994, the Republicans were able to nationalize the election based upon the contract the America. Almost every pundit was predicting Democratic retention of the House and Senate in 1994. Only Bob Novak predicted the dimensions of the GOP landslide in 1994 (a 52 seat gain).
Here, you have an issue which is far more powerful than 1994 when the GOP basically had Clinton’s ineptitude in this first two years to fuel their surge. Oil prices touch everyone and everyone wants to see them lower. If people make the connection between drilling and lower prices, the opponents of drilling better look out for that freight train.
Newt Gingrich (who was the architect of the Contract with America in 1994), who I do not always agree with, understands this and he has been the architect of the “Drill here, Drill Now, Pay Less” campaign.
I agree with that. People are going to be disappointed and angry when gas doesn’t drop significantly though. I was thinking we might need to ration again. Something like a low cost for the first 100 gallons a month and then a higher rate with truckers exempt. JAT.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again:
If you took a proper poll and asked the proper sampling of Americans whether or not they know which party controls congress and is therefore most responsible legislatively for our current troubles, I think we’d be surprised how many are blaming Republicans for things that Democrats are controlling.
Also, even fewer pollees would know that while Republicans did control Congress, the Dems and a few liberal Republicans managed to get us far down the road to the mess we’re in, and that a Repub Congress once passed ANWR drilling in the 90s but Clinton (a Dem) vetoed it.
By now the oil supplies we should have generated would be online and helping to keep prices down and us less dependent on foreign oil.
The price will stabalize at a point that makes it economical to extract the hard to get oil. i.e. deepwater, shale etc.
My guess $50 to $90 per barrel.
Short term:
1. remove federal taxes from gasoline.
2. pressure states to remove state taxes.
3. remove mandates on fuel blends.
4. remove ethanol requirements for gasoline.
5. remove restrictions on coal use
Medium term:
1. remove draconian taxes from oil companies.
2. open areas to drilling
3. encourage construction of refineries in US
4. encourage construction of nuclear plants in US
long term:
1. allow free market to explore alternative energy sources
2. allow free market to improve fuel mileage on its own
3. muzzle algore
4. teach Congress to restrain itself and to stick to its Constitutional roles.
The MSM was bleating about Bush's "all time low" approval rating all last week -- but no mention about the Democrat controlled Congress. Gee, I wonder why?
Yep, somehow even negative popularity numbers would not translate to losses for Democrats. There are too many firmly entrenched mind-numbed robots who automatically pull for them regardless of how they act or try to destroy the country.
There's also the "Yeah, Congress sucks, but MY GUY is OK cuz he gets me stuff" mentality which all but ensures reelection for incumbents. (as long as they are Democrats).
As for Conservatives-- one "scandal" can translate to "throw all the bums out". Go figure.
I agree.
It will find it’s level that will allow for more expensive extraction, but well below where it is now.
mark for later
He has it made actually. The media, in their fight against Bush, labeled him a maverick who bucked the Washington establishment. Now he can literally run against Obama, congress AND Bush.
Honestly, despite what the polls may show, McCain is possibly in the strongest position possible.
Except for the fact that John McCain has been perhaps the most powerful member of Congress for the last decade, and therefore bears more responsibility than anyone for its abysmal performance.
What's the old definition of insanity?
"Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time?"
The country has gone insane, and so has the Republican Whig Party.
This is a red herring. We are too serious about "other forms of energy".
We should get real serious about oil, coal and nuclear. Wind mills, solar and perpetual motion machines are cute but cannot perform the heavy lifting that's required in today's economy.
Stop that. He’s changed his spots and is going to fix everything. Don’t you know that he has an 85% rate of something? ;’)
Amen to that!
And the horses and candles would be highly taxed and regulated...
The entire industry has been hard at work. There is no magic wand. Why is it that this is not understood. Much of the new technology has come from NASA and private industry both foreign and domestic. If we expect Government to do anything, forget it. We have, and have had, for years the most ineffective bunch of egotistical, crooked, bunch of nitwits throughout Government. Government solves nothing.
You mean other than "MacCain-Feingold", "MacCain-Kennedy", "MacCain-Lieberman", "The Gang of 14" or "The Keating Five"?
Fugedaboutit! Given his propensity to make conservative pronouncements yet sponsor leftist legislation, I'm afraid of what he'd do. The best the GOP can hope for is to find someone besides Don Rickles's twin between now and November.
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