This article says that Speaker Pelosi doesn’t have a problem with Democrats opposing her on drilling…to a point. Here’s what’s actually happening:

California Democrat Nancy Pelosi may be trying to save the planet — but the rank and file in her party increasingly are just trying to save their political hides when it comes to gas prices as Republicans apply more and more rhetorical muscle.

But what looks like intraparty tension on the surface is part of an intentional strategy in which Pelosi takes the heat on energy policy, while behind the scenes she’s encouraging vulnerable Democrats to express their independence if it helps them politically, according to Democratic aides on and off Capitol Hill.

I’m not surprised that this is Pelosi’s strategy. There’s just one flaw with it: I’m ramping up pressure on these supposedly heroic Democrats for abandoning Speaker Pelosi. Talk is cheap. We expect action. Seeing Jason Altmire and other ‘off-the-reservation-Democrats’ signing a discharge petition would be an act of good faith. If representatives don’t take that step, I’ll assume that these representatives are all talk. That doesn’t impress me.

Here’s why they’ve adopted this strategy:

Pelosi’s gambit rests on one big assumption: that Democrats will own Washington after the election and will be able to craft a sweeping energy policy that is heavy on conservation and fuel alternatives while allowing for some new oil drilling. Democrats see no need to make major concessions on energy policy with a party poised to lose seats in both chambers in just three months, even if recess-averse Republicans continue to pound away on the issue.

That’s a stupid gamble. Democrats will be surprised when Republicans gain House seats. This issue is animating people. People are demanding action, not statements. People don’t care how many speeches these vulnerable Democrats make if it doesn’t lead to lower gas and diesel prices.

This is another too-clever-by-half tactic. Ms. Pelosi thinks that letting vulnerable Democrats sound independent will let them off the hook. I’ll bet that small businesses and OTR truckers won’t let them off the hook. That won’t happen until they see action.

Listen to the Democrats’ arrogance in this paragraph:

Democratic House aides say the energy agenda has been carefully gamed out in strategy sessions, and Pelosi always intended to take heat on gas prices while tacitly encouraging more vulnerable Democrats to publicly disagree with her and show their independence.

I repeat: Any Democrat who doesn’t sign the AEA’s discharge petition and vote for the AEA will be exposed as not voting to cut gas prices. Voters/consumers don’t care about who gives a nice speech on the issue. They’re only worried about seeing gas prices drop.

Those that don’t get things done will be hurt this November.

BTW, the Heritage Foundation is encouraging bloggers and those that read blogs to start talking more about discharge petitions. I heartily concur.

Technorati Tags: Gas Crisis, Nancy Pelosi, Jason Altmire, Blue Dog Democrats, Drilling, Election 2008

Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog