Posted on 07/17/2008 4:33:23 AM PDT by kellynla
WASHINGTON — Upon entering Congress in 1987, Representative Nancy Pelosi quickly became part of the solid California front against oil drilling along much of the nation’s coast.
The Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 and the steady push to tap the potential reserves off the state’s rugged coast had galvanized Californians and made opposition to offshore drilling part of the political DNA of up-and-coming figures like Ms. Pelosi.
She repeatedly resisted oil drilling in marine sanctuaries near her San Francisco district and, after joining the Appropriations Committee, was an advocate of reinstating the ban on coastal drilling through spending restrictions each year.
“We learned the hard way that oil and water do not mix on our coast,” Ms. Pelosi told a crucial committee in 1996 as she argued for keeping the ban before a Congress then controlled by Republicans.
Now, with gasoline prices soaring, those drilling restrictions are facing their most severe test in years as calls intensify to pursue domestic oil more forcefully. Yet despite increasing pressure from President Bush, a full-bore assault by Congressional Republicans and some anxiety among her own rank-and-file Democrats, Ms. Pelosi is not budging.
“The president of the United States, with gas at $4 a gallon because of his failed energy policies, is now trying to say that is because I couldn’t drill offshore,” Ms. Pelosi said in an interview. “That is not the cause, and I am not going to let him get away with it.”
Her voice carries considerable weight because Ms. Pelosi, who is now House speaker, can prevent a vote on expanded drilling from reaching the floor.
And she and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, appear intent on holding the line against calls to approve drilling in areas now off limits.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
DRILL HERE! DRILL NOW!
In the end I think it will be worth $4 a gallon gas to be rid of them all.
I totally agree! However, Freepers and friends everywhere should begin now to make this issue the big one in the Congressional election. Make certain that RATs who oppose drilling now will be defeated and drilled out of office.
Sign the American Solutions Petition and get all your coworkers, friends and others to sign it and encourage them to get others to sign it.Join the 1,348,969 people who have signed the petition. 
The Donks are sooooooo screwed on this. Their continued ban on offshore drilling will help them keep the blue coastal states blue, but the rest of the country will look at what they are doing, look at the gas pump, and know what to do in November.
Finally, a good move by Bush. Bush says we should drill offshore and now the the ball is in their court. For months now since $4/gal gas, Pelosi’s been a broken record of “we have to help American families through this gas crisis.” Well here’s your chance Nance.
No .. the democraps are not screwed .... stupid people will keep putting them back in. Here eat this SH*T sandwhich .. oh yes sir ... may I have another?? Please???
Conservatives are screwed ... we have had to deal with spineless creatures called republicans who had all three branches and frittered that standing away.
Never in history has there been a larger group of gutless wonders. And at present day ... I don’t see a but a handful that are worthy of a conservatives vote
Well, with an attitude like that, I am confident we can find a way to lose for the indefinite future...
Crude oil is down, what, 10% since Bush made the announcement that he was going to rescind the EO on offshore drilling on Monday?
Oh, yeah. Increased domestic production will have no effect on price... Just talking about it has an effect on price!
Do I see Karl Rove’s hand in the timing of this?
Let’s check out the polls, shall we?
America thinks Congress is doing a worse job than the President....historic low approval rating.
A plurality of Americans want to drill for domestic resources.
So of course the obvious answer from SanFranNan is to oppose drilling.
“Crude oil is down, what, 10% since Bush made the announcement that he was going to rescind the EO on offshore drilling on Monday?”
Exactly...this dimwitted hag is being called on her bluff.
And I see Howard Dean on the other side, trying to keep things bad just long enough to get a Dem in the Oval Office. Between the utterances of Schumer, Reid, and Pelosi over the last couple of weeks, they are apparently pulling out all the stops to ruin banks, keep oil prices high, and generally depress our economy.
This happens when Donks carry water for the nutcase left.
he is just speaking the truth....the people of this country are scared to death to vote someone in that will tell them the truth about what needs to be done to save this country and put it back on track.
More oil seeps off the bottom of the ocean every day than was spilled in 69. Apparently she hasn’t heard of clean drilling?
If you like $5/gal, Thank Do Nothing Nancy in Nov.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Pelosi and reid both need to be impeached for un-American activities and treason.
http://www.kgoradio.com/poll.asp
7/14/2008: Offshore Oil Drilling The White House says President Bush is planning to lift an executive ban on offshore oil drilling.
Question If California offshore oil drilling could dramatically lower the cost of fuel at the pump, would you be okay with it?
85% Yes
15% No
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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