Liberals Preaching On Oil
Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Barb Boxer and several other Democratic senators went to
"Eastern Market, Washington, D.C., to discuss the ripple effect of high gas prices, and Democratic policies that will ease prices today and put America on a path toward energy independence."
This is nothing more than the latest Democratic "I feel your pain" rally. It does nothing to solve the underlying problem.
Furthermore, if the Democrats wanted to do something about the underlying problem, they'd stop filibustering drilling for oil and natural gas in ANWR; they'd stop filibustering the creation of the windfarm in front of Ted Kennedy's multi-million dollar mansion. They'd propose building nuclear power plants and new refineries. Instead, they only propose higher CAFE standards and more ethanol.
The last I looked, numerous Republican senators supported higher CAFE standards and more ethanol production. The difference is that Republicans aren't hog-tied to the environmental extremists so they can also be for drilling in an oversized swamp named ANWR. They can be for building nuclear power plants. They're for conservation, too.
Let's also place some of the blame where it squarely rests: In 1995, Bill Clinton vetoed a bill that would've allowed drilling for oil and natural gas in ANWR and the building of new refineries. That product would be on the market by now. Home heating bills would be dramatically lower. Gas would cost considerably less than it does today. Refineries would eliminate most of thet bottleknecks caused by boutique fuels, another factor that isn't talked about enough.
In short, it would've saved us from the higher prices we're now experiencing.
Democrats are propagating another lie that's worth discrediting. Liberals are fond of saying that we have too great a reliance on oil that comes from Arab countries, which are unstable. The truth is that we import far more oil from Canada, Mexico and Venezuela than from Arab countries. Why aren't Democrats telling you that Mexico just found a huge oil preserve just off of Key West?
Remember, too, that Mexico is about to elect a new president, likely to be a Chavez-loving socialist. Imagine what gas prices will be when Mexico ramps up its prices at the whims of Chavez.
And Democrats want to lecture us about how Republicans' alliance with big oil is causing the problems? I don't think so.
To be fair, though, I read Conrad's press release announcing BOLD and I support much of what's in it. I wouldn't characterize it as bold, though, since much of what's in it has been previously proposed but that's another matter.
We can only conserve so much of the problem away. Conservation is worthwhile but it isn't the total solution. Fuel for our cars isn't the only fuel commodity that's more expensive now.
New homes being built today in Rust Belt states like Minnesota are being built with more vents than 15 years ago because building codes mandate that they essentially be built airtight. Most people are buying 90+ percent efficient natural gas furnaces. Families that don't have newborn babies toddlers set their thermostats at 65-67, where they used to set their thermostats at 68-70 a decade ago.
In other words, we'll need new supplies of natural gas. As I said earlier, ANWR is home to one of the world's largest natural gas reserves. Need I say more?
Finally, Massachusetts bought a bunch of natural gas from Hugo Chavez last fall. Does anyone really want to give that tyrant that much control on heating our homes? Does anyone want to give him that type of revenue to support terrorists? Only an idiot would give him that type of power.
And the Democrats are the ones giving him that power.
Cross-posted at California Conservative
Posted Wednesday, May 3, 2006 3:51 PM
Comment 1 by Bob from ALAMN at 03-May-06 05:50 PM
Comment 2 by Thanos at 03-May-06 07:42 PM
Comment 3 by Bob from ALAMN at 04-May-06 07:13 AM
Gas prices are punishing Americans across the country, but the pain they cause is not limited to the gas station. The effects ripple across the nation, on a path from farms to small businesses to kitchen tables all across America. With so many struggling to make ends meet, it is long past time for Bush Republicans to put aside the energy policies that the Bush-Cheney White House let Big Oil write and stand up for the American people.People aren't struggling nearly as much as these liberal idiots would have you believe. I'm unemployed and I can afford to drive my car just fine. If that's the case, how can working people be hurting as much as Durbin, Reid, et al claim? Are high oil prices having an effect on behavior? Certainly. But Democrats would have you believe that everyone's a victim of greedy oil companies. That's why their message is inherently weak. Middle class people don't see themselves as victims. PERIOD. They see things like rising oil prices and they adjust.
"Illinois farmers have expressed real concern when every dollar they earn from their land is eaten up by the rising cost of fuel and fertilizer," said Sen. Durbin (D-IL). "When energy prices cut deep into the profits of family farmers, it threatens their survival. The Republican leadership in Congress has proposed a $100 rebate to help Americans through this energy crisis. I respect Illinois farm families too much to suggest this is a serious response to a real crisis."
Furthermore, if the Democrats wanted to do something about the underlying problem, they'd stop filibustering drilling for oil and natural gas in ANWR; they'd stop filibustering the creation of the windfarm in front of Ted Kennedy's multi-million dollar mansion. They'd propose building nuclear power plants and new refineries. Instead, they only propose higher CAFE standards and more ethanol.
The last I looked, numerous Republican senators supported higher CAFE standards and more ethanol production. The difference is that Republicans aren't hog-tied to the environmental extremists so they can also be for drilling in an oversized swamp named ANWR. They can be for building nuclear power plants. They're for conservation, too.
Let's also place some of the blame where it squarely rests: In 1995, Bill Clinton vetoed a bill that would've allowed drilling for oil and natural gas in ANWR and the building of new refineries. That product would be on the market by now. Home heating bills would be dramatically lower. Gas would cost considerably less than it does today. Refineries would eliminate most of thet bottleknecks caused by boutique fuels, another factor that isn't talked about enough.
In short, it would've saved us from the higher prices we're now experiencing.
Democrats are propagating another lie that's worth discrediting. Liberals are fond of saying that we have too great a reliance on oil that comes from Arab countries, which are unstable. The truth is that we import far more oil from Canada, Mexico and Venezuela than from Arab countries. Why aren't Democrats telling you that Mexico just found a huge oil preserve just off of Key West?
Remember, too, that Mexico is about to elect a new president, likely to be a Chavez-loving socialist. Imagine what gas prices will be when Mexico ramps up its prices at the whims of Chavez.
And Democrats want to lecture us about how Republicans' alliance with big oil is causing the problems? I don't think so.
"Our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy poses an unacceptable risk to both our economic and national security. Importing 60 percent of the oil we consume from some of the most dangerous parts of the world is a simply unsustainable course," Sen. Conrad (D-ND) said.Sen. Conrad, Let's be honest about where the oil comes from. We import more oil from Canada, Russia and Mexico than from the Middle East.
To be fair, though, I read Conrad's press release announcing BOLD and I support much of what's in it. I wouldn't characterize it as bold, though, since much of what's in it has been previously proposed but that's another matter.
We can only conserve so much of the problem away. Conservation is worthwhile but it isn't the total solution. Fuel for our cars isn't the only fuel commodity that's more expensive now.
New homes being built today in Rust Belt states like Minnesota are being built with more vents than 15 years ago because building codes mandate that they essentially be built airtight. Most people are buying 90+ percent efficient natural gas furnaces. Families that don't have newborn babies toddlers set their thermostats at 65-67, where they used to set their thermostats at 68-70 a decade ago.
In other words, we'll need new supplies of natural gas. As I said earlier, ANWR is home to one of the world's largest natural gas reserves. Need I say more?
Finally, Massachusetts bought a bunch of natural gas from Hugo Chavez last fall. Does anyone really want to give that tyrant that much control on heating our homes? Does anyone want to give him that type of revenue to support terrorists? Only an idiot would give him that type of power.
And the Democrats are the ones giving him that power.
Cross-posted at California Conservative
Posted Wednesday, May 3, 2006 3:51 PM
Comment 1 by Bob from ALAMN at 03-May-06 05:50 PM
Minnesota is NOT in the "rust belt." We lead the nation in alternative (biofuels) use (www.CleanAirChoice.org), AND better, energy efficient homes (www.HealthHouse.org).
Blog on a subject you know something about. Otherwise, stop polluting the blogosphere with your lame posts.
Comment 2 by Thanos at 03-May-06 07:42 PM
Well I hail from the home state of Archer-Daniels-Midland, who really does lead the nation in biofuel, which is just a dangerous detour on the road to energy independence. Ethanol still releases carcinogen into the air when you burn it, please consult a toxicologist bob if you need to question that fact. The real answer is nuclear power, and hydrogen burning cars. Please stop with the ad-hominem and gain some education.
Comment 3 by Bob from ALAMN at 04-May-06 07:13 AM
Show me where to buy a hydrogen-fueled car and a place to buy the fuel and we'll talk, Thanos. You driving one? I thought so....
ADM may produce a lot of ethanol, but no other state USES biofuels like Minnesota. All our gas is E10, all our diesel is B2, and we have 220 E85 stations (compared to 100 in IL).
E85 is not a perfect fuel, but it is cleaner than gasoline. It's here, it's practical, and it's cheaper than gasoline in MN.
Case closed.
