Harry Reid On Energy: Running On Empty???
Based on this Politico.com article, it’s looking like reality is setting in on moderate Democrats. Ben Nelson, (D-NE), is working on a ‘Gang of 14′ style coalition. If Sen. Nelson succeeds, he will have successfully undercut Harry Reid’s authority in the Senate.
Back from an Independence Day recess that saw gas prices peak at more than $4.10 per gallon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that he’s hoping to entice a handful of Democrats to join him in supporting more domestic drilling, and an aide to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said it may be time for a new “Gang of 14” to break through the partisan impasse on energy issues.
GOP senators believe that a number of moderate Democrats would be open to legislation that balances increased energy exploration with conservation. If they’re right, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could lose their grip on energy policy, and the Republicans could score a major coup on the No. 1 issue on the minds of voters.
At least five Senate Democrats support more domestic oil and gas exploration, and McConnell is sweetening the deal to make the sale to other moderates: The Kentucky Republican is pushing a package of incentives to boost conservation as well as a measure creating stricter enforcement of commodities markets in exchange for more offshore oil and gas drilling.
Even if this coalition is put together and a bill is passed, that doesn’t mean the House will give the Senate bill a minute of consideration. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Rahm Emanuel are too smart to let a bill that increases oil production come up for a vote even in committee. They know that such a vote would upset their environmentalist allies, causing the environmentalists to turn off their campaign contribution spigot.
If the pro-production bill passes the Senate, though, I’d expect the House GOP to file a discharge petition to bring it to a vote. If Democrats refuse to sign that petition, that will be used against them in this fall’s election.
I like the fact that Sen. McConnell is working with people like Ben Nelson. This is a perfect way of undercutting Sen. Reid.
Technorati Tags: Harry Reid, Ben Nelson, Mitch McConnell, Oil Exploration, Gang Of 14, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
July 9th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
The funny thing is that the dems support more oil exploration. ON THE 68 million acres they already have leases on. Why not start their BEFORE we start drilling in Yellowstone, ANWR, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon?? why dont we ask the oil companies if they have any more rigs to do the drilling ( they do NOT) . why not ask them if their are any more ships to haul the oil to the refineries ( they are all booked up for years) ? why not ask if the refineries can refine any huge miracle of new product?? the CANNOT. this is a made up crisis by the right to get more profits to their biggest donors. END SPECULATION AND THE PRICE DROPS 25%.
You do know that Floridians, Californians, and Texans are NOT getting on board the GOP greed bus to oil spill beach. Even the GOP governors are not willing to drive that bus into early retirement.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Refineries can be built, ships can be built,
governors can change their minds.
All of which would help the economy, little side effect there.
How about a little more CAN DO, and a little less CANT DO / ITS TOO HARD crap?
July 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I dont really care where the hell we drill, or who gets the credit tag.
Refineries can be built, ships can be built,
governors can change their minds.
All of which would help the economy, little side effect there.
How about a little more CAN DO, and a little less CANT DO / ITS TOO HARD crap?
July 9th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Of course the refineries can’t refine a whole bunch of new oil. The democrap jackasses and their bureaucrap socialists (a.k.a. - environmentalists) have shut down for 25 years the building of new refineries and, in many cases, the upgrading of existing ones.
They’ve also effectively prevented new exploration and, in many cases, drilling for known reserves.
Machinery can be built, transportation can be built, what can’t be done is convincing bureaucrap people who believe mankind is a wart on the face of the earth to make concessions to man’s ability to function in the environment more easily when the rules (created by them) are designed to impede any progress whatsoever. To them it is only a question of power over those with the ability to create wealth, since the vast majority of bureaucraps never created anything in their lives but headaches for working folks.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:52 am
No Carlos, they are protecting you from all that nasty free enterprise, and “investing” your taxes in power and dirty money that rightfully belongs with them.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:00 am
In other words, they’re mafia thugs in the “protection” racket? Dang, what a revelation! Thanks, T.A.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Tell me TA Gray, how many of those 25 years were the Dems in charge?? Why didnt reagan, Bush sr. and Bush Jr do anything?? Could it be that they KNOW that the oil companies will, and did make billions which will help them in their election coffers??
Which state WILL, which oil company WILL, which ship builder WILL buid those ships within the deacade??
Time to GET REAL.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Oh Im sure they did. Not that they needed any extra money did they? And I’m sure your side would have piously resisted any temptation, eh?
We’ll never what state and which Company will unless we actually DO something will we? But thats OK, keep yourselves in your psychotic fit of blaming Bush for everything since Adam. You side’s attitude is loosing momentum with common sense Americans by the minute. Keep it up.