Senator: Obama ‘fully responsible’ for high gas prices [VIDEO]

Senator: Obama ‘fully responsible’ for high gas prices [VIDEO]

As the national average price of gasoline rises above $3.80 per gallon, Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso is claiming that President Obama is “fully responsible” for the price at the pump due to his administration’s lack of an energy policy.

“With the Keystone pipeline, 20,000 jobs, lots of money coming in to investment, putting people to work, and more energy coming into the United States — and yet not only did 11 Democrats cross the aisle, but the president actually lobbied against the Keystone pipeline, lobbied the Senate against the pipeline to the point that he had to stop Democrats who may have wanted to vote for it,”

Barrasso said alongside Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, at the Capitol Tuesday.“The president has been a complete obstructionist on that, and his energy policy, if you want to even call it a policy, has in my opinion actually contributed if not caused the pain at the pump, and he should be held fully responsible for what the American public is paying for gasoline.”

Stupid, Sadistic and Dangerous

Gas Prices: Obama's Misery Index

What we have to remember is that the gas prices we are currently paying are the prices Obama has given us via his refusal to expand oil production—period. These gas prices are Obama’s misery index, and as they rise from an average of $3.90 a gallon to an average of $4.25 (and higher), economic misery will rise with them.

The Obama’s can take vacation after vacation without worrying about the cost because they charge the American people for it. But the American people don’t get to return the favor. Instead, we have cut back on eating out, on shopping, and on myriad other things we enjoy, just so we can pay Obama’s exorbitant gas prices. Hope and change isn’t working out so good.

Stop The Presses!!!! Hold The Phone!!!!

A Washington Post-ABC Poll has found that George W Bush was actually a BETTER President than Dear Leader. I know this will come as quite a shock to some of our readers; it certainly rocked my world.

But as you can clearly see in the graph, more people thought W had contol over gas prices than Dear Leader does.

Oh, and I just now learned that Democrats are hypocrites. I know I know, almost makes you swoon doesn't it?

In 2006, 73 percent of Democrats believed the Bush administration could reduce gas prices. Today, just 33 percent of Democrats believe there is anything President Obama can do about them. That’s a 40 point swing. (To be sure some Republicans have also flip-flopped on this, but only by an 18 point swing.)

Yes Its Gambling Yes The President Can Effect Price Changes

Gas Prices and the President's Ability To Effect Change Explained

It should be apparent to anyone who has the ability to dress themselves without assistance.

If Gasoline Were Food, Obama Would Be Starving Us to Death.

These Gas Prices Are Obama's Gas Prices

Barack Obama has spent his presidency finding scapegoats and fleeing responsibility. For example, our massive deficit is not his fault. Rather, it’s George W. Bush’s fault. Our painfully high unemployment isn’t his fault either. Rather, it’s due to the fact that “the economy is so automated.” He’s even tried to assure us that we can’t blame him for the sharp rise in gasoline prices we’ve seen under his watch either. Rather, he boasts that he’s expanded domestic oil production to its highest point in the last eight years.

Here’s what he said in a speech on March 15: "Do not tell me that we're not drilling. We're drilling all over this country. There are a few spots we're not drilling. We're not drilling in the national mall. We're not drilling at your house. " He then grinned like the cat that just ate the mouse, as if saying these thing takes him off the hook for the fact that the price of gasoline has jumped over 100% on his watch.

That’s right—over 100%.

Here’s the problem, as with almost everything this administration tells us, there is a small sliver of truth in what Obama said, and he’s using that small sliver to hide the ugly reality behind it. For example, domestic production is currently up by 120,000 barrels a day. But Obama has cut foreign intake by 1,000,000 barrels a day. In other words, the ugly reality is that Obama is forcing us, as a nation, to make due with 880,000 less barrels of oil a day that we were used to having prior to his presidency. Take away that much oil a day in a situation that isn’t static—a situation where demand is constantly growing—and it’s no wonder our gas prices are through the roof.

Read the rest here

It's Still Too Soon To Lower Prices At The Pump

Transcript from Rush Limbaugh today:

Obama (Dear Leader) has just announced that the United States and Britain are going to release oil from their Strategic Reserves. I didn't even know that Cameron was up for reelection. I did not know that he was up for reelection. That's why Obama's doing this. This is going to have absolutely no impact whatsoever. It is a purely political move from the guy who says, "We can't drill. We can't drill fast enough, can't drill soon enough." What does that mean? If we can't drill what it means is putting more oil on the market isn't gonna matter anything. Besides, if we drill we can't put any oil on the market for two-to-three years so we're going to deplete the Strategic Oil Reserve

The purpose of the Strategic Oil Reserve is to provide the nation an emergency capacity. We don't have an emergency, other than Obama's reelection is in trouble. That's the emergency! There is no shortage of oil. The emergency is the price of gasoline going up and the toll that is taking on Obama's approval numbers. That's the emergency. And even something that's set aside for national security -- and that's what the Strategic Oil Reserve is for.

We don't have an emergency. There is not a shortage. We are exporting gasoline. Do you know that, folks? We are a net exporter now of gasoline. As you go to the pump and you see the price rise, we have a net-exporting-of-gasoline position now. Part of this is due to refining capacity around the world and a number of other things. There's not an oil shortage. There's not a crisis. This is simply a flailing attempt to try to get the price down. If you're gonna do this, do this in October, not now. Folks, I'm gonna tell you something. Doing this now, releasing oil from our Strategic Reserve is a sign, I think, of pure panic. I think the truth of the matter is the left is in a state of panic.

They're peeing in their collective pants. Its not panic, its TERROR at the thought that Dear Leader will go down in history as the worst President evah!!! It's too late to worry about that.

Dear Leader's October Surprise

Ya'll can bookmark this post for reference in October. Write this down. Make a note.

In October of 2012, sometime in the early days of the month, Dear Leader will make adjustments to the regulation of oil and gas exploration. The adjustments will take the form of releasing permits for exploration, opening offshore drilling, or easing EPA restictions.

The net result will begin to be felt by Halloween, just in time for the election. Anyone who has been paying attention since 2000 knows what will happen. The price of gas at the pump will drop to levels not seen since 2000. The end result will be the re-election of Dear Leader for another 4 years and that, dear friends, will be the end of America.

Do not let this pretender get away with this trick. He must be replaced with someone who holds the same values as we do.

"Better the devil you know than the one you don't" is NOT a good strategy for the 2012 election.

2012 is not an election, its a restraining order.

Not My Job

Cheap Oil=Leisure Time=Creativity=New Stuff

The search for alternative forms of energy is something that has to be done, if for no other reason than it would be cool as hell to be the one who invents impulse power, hyper-drive systems or hydrogen powered generators. The trick is to create the environment that allows people the freedom to let their creative juices flow unchecked. Americans create things when they are free to explore the limits of technology. You don't have that freedom if you're spending every waking minute, and every dollar you earn, trying to make a living and pay bills, and you have nothing left after completing those basic tasks. Cheap oil gives Americans the freedom to explore. It is a neccessary component of that environment we need to create. It gives us the leisure time we need to explore, play, create and develop.

Obama and Reid offer hot air, not cheaper gas

With gas prices hovering at $4 a gallon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada reportedly wants a Senate vote this week on a measure to punish oil companies by denying them $21 billion in tax credits and deductions routinely given to other businesses. At President Obama's request, Reid would instead use the money to fund alternative energy development projects that the Energy Information Administration says won't be able to replace fossil fuels to any significant degree for two to three decades

Drill-Jobs-Drill-Jobs-Drill-Jobs

Governor Bob McDonnell Calls for Virginia Offshore Energy Development
As Gas Prices Continue to Rise, Governor Offers Strong Support for Congressional Legislation That Would Open Commonwealth to Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production

RICHMOND – During his visit to a Richmond-area gas station this afternoon, Governor Bob McDonnell discussed rising gas prices and the need for more domestic energy production, including production of oil and natural gas off of Virginia’s coast. The Governor specifically highlighted two bills before Congress that would restart offshore energy exploration and production: H.R. 1230 and H.R. 1372. Governor McDonnell was joined at the event by Delegate Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico), small business owners, and representatives from the energy industry.

Speaking about America’s domestic energy policy, Governor McDonnell commented, “America has an energy policy problem. Today, Virginia businesses and families are paying, on average, $3.88 per gallon for gasoline. That’s up $1.00 from a year ago. The Energy Information Administration estimates that gasoline will cost the average U.S. household $1,210 more this year than in 2009. That is money that could be spent by families on education, groceries and vacations. Instead it is money being spent at the pump. The pain at the pump is the result of many factors, one of which is the result of our ongoing dependence on foreign sources of oil. That is why I strongly support increasing domestic energy production from every possible source, including wind, solar, biomass, nuclear, oil and natural gas. A key part of that effort should be the environmentally responsible development and production of oil and natural gas off of Virginia’s shores.”

Governor McDonnell continued, “Last month I sent a letter to President Obama outlining the steps we can take now to ensure we have a stable and reliable supply of oil and natural gas. The House of Representatives will soon be considering two pieces of legislation that will restart offshore energy production in Virginia and in the Gulf, and I have urged the President to support this legislation. By allowing for offshore energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, and requiring the lease sale off the Atlantic Coast to move forward, we will be well on our way to restarting offshore energy production which will create jobs, lower energy costs, and generate revenue to help pay down the national debt. This legislation is essential to getting American energy production back on track. We must move forward in developing our own domestic resources to their maximum potential. America cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye to rising gas prices, which are detrimental to job creation, economic growth, and most importantly, our national security. When it comes to domestic energy production we must have an “all of the above” approach. That is why I strongly support efforts to develop our offshore wind resources, bring more nuclear power online, continue to utilize our vast coal deposits, and carry forth the ongoing research and development of renewable energy sources like solar power and biomass. When it comes to energy we must utilize every resource available. We know that oil and natural gas is available off our coast and we know we can develop those resources in a safe, smart and environmentally responsible manner. We should act immediately.”

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who is carrying H.R. 1372, noted, “Virginians understand that a major component in lessening energy costs is to produce more energy. I believe that Virginia should have every tool available to access its energy supplies. That is why legislation like the one the Congress is considering today, that would provide for access to Virginia's energy supplies as well as legislation that I have introduced that would provide for revenue sharing with the Commonwealth for its energy resources are vital to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition to helping us become energy independent, access to these resources will help create thousands of jobs for Virginians and infuse the Commonwealth with new capital growth.”

Delegate Jimmie Massie, who is also a small businessman, added, “Last week I had dinner with other business leaders and I ask them: ‘How is business? How are your sales doing?’ Their response last week was not good. Every one of them told me they had seen a noticeable drop in their sales over the past month as gas prices have been increasing, and, as a result, consumer’s disposable incomes have been constantly declining. We must act now to lower gas prices and develop a comprehensive energy policy, to curb our increasing gas costs that are creating a severe cash flow squeeze and destroying jobs.”

Randy Seibert, President & CEO of Manchester Marketing, Inc, remarked, “Just like rising oil prices affect our customers, even gas stations are impacted because we have to pay more for gas too. For example, one year ago it cost me about $23,000 to purchase a truckload of gas. This morning, that same delivery to this station cost us about $33,000. This is creating cash flow problems for businesses like ours across the Commonwealth.”

Mike Ward, Executive Director of the Virginia Petroleum Council, concluded, ““The oil and natural gas industry stands ready – and waiting – to do more to help grow the economy, create American jobs, and provide the energy this country needs. The energy markets are constantly looking for signals to guide today’s investment strategies for producing tomorrow’s energy. Regrettably, the signals this administration has been sending encourage less investment in future domestic energy production. Our economy will still need oil and natural gas for decades to come. America must pursue policies that encourage responsible development of our resources instead of relying on imported energy from unstable parts of the world.”

Mike O’Connor, President & CEO of the Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association, said, “Our members are impacted in much the same way as our customers. The only real difference is in the size of our tanks. A year ago it cost $54,000 to supply a station with 20,000 gallons of storage capacity. Today that same delivery costs the station owner $76,200. As a result, credit lines are stretched to their limits, which has brought new investment in the petroleum marketing industry to a halt.”

The letter Governor McDonnell sent to President Obama is attached to this press release. To read Governor McDonnell’s op-ed in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch outlining the critical need to develop our domestic energy resources, please visit: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/may/05/tdopin02-mcdonnell-americas-energy-insecurity-ar-1017440/

If Something Isn't Done Soon....

...we'll be working to drive instead of driving to work. I have come to the conclusion that the government is deliberatly attempting to break the working middle class. Eliminate our disposable income by jacking up the cost of making a living.


Block, Delay, & Tax: Hastings Outlines the White House Approach to Stop American Energy Production
by Don Seymour

With gas prices on the rise and job creators plagued with uncertainty, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) writes in Roll Call that “House Republicans have heard the American people’s demand for increased American energy production and we’re ready to act.”

The Obama Administration, on the other hand, “has never missed an opportunity to block access to our American energy resources,” says Hastings. He says the White House approach to stopping American energy production is to “block, delay, and tax” – and the result has been higher prices and fewer jobs:

BLOCK: “When President Obama was elected,” Hastings says, “nearly all of our offshore areas were open to offshore drilling. Since then, President Obama has systematically locked-up the entire Atlantic Coast, the Pacific Coast and much of Alaska — preventing the creation of over 1.2 million jobs.” CNN released a survey showing seven in 10 Americans back expanded offshore energy production.

DELAY: “The Obama administration has delayed permits for renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar, on public lands,” and “first delayed and then significantly altered the oil shale research, demonstration and development (RD&D) lease program.” It is also “slow-walking permits for production in Alaska’s north slope.” A recent Congressional hearing showed job losses continue to mount due to this de facto moratorium on energy production.

TAX: The Administration “was out front and center pushing for a job-destroying cap-and-trade national energy tax” (which, he notes, even the president said would make energy prices “necessarily skyrocket”) and is “advocating for increasing taxes on American energy producers.” Hastings notes that “the White House has admitted this will do nothing to lower gasoline prices.” (emphsis mine)

Read the whole op-ed by Chairman Hastings here.

Click to learn more about the American Energy Initiative and here for legislation on the House floor this week that will help address rising gas prices, increase energy production, and create new jobs.

Is It Deliberate?

Understanding the liberal mind and playbook as I do, I would have to say "Yes"; because the solution to this is drilling and it's the 800-pound gorilla in the room and they refuse to acknowledge it.

Government & Politics
Obama Indigestion Causing Gas Pains

The national average for gas is approaching $4 per gallon, once again causing pain at the pump. According to the U.S. Energy Department, the average yearly cost for an American family to fill up the car with gas will rise 28 percent from last year, or about $700. A family can't lose that much money without also losing the ability to buy other goods or services. The price of gasoline has skyrocketed by 67 percent since Barack Obama took office, but, needless to say, he isn't letting this crisis go to waste.

The fact is that Obama's energy policy is working exactly the way it was designed to work. His intent is to drive up the price of fossil fuels in order to make alternative energy sources seem more appealing. Alternative sources have been heavily subsidized for years and yet still can't rival fossil fuels, so, Obama reasons, prices on the latter must be driven higher.

In 2008, now-Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe." Obama began work on that less than one month after taking office in 2009 by reversing George W. Bush's expansion of offshore oil drilling. When the BP Deepwater Horizon spill occurred in April 2010, the administration took this as a golden opportunity to enact a moratorium on offshore drilling. Despite multiple court rulings against that moratorium and even being ruled in contempt, however, the administration persists with its policy.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar put up the Left's favorite straw man, saying, "[W]e don't believe that the 'drill, baby, drill' program is the way that's going to get us to the energy independence that we need for America." No one says that domestic drilling on its own would achieve energy independence, but putting so much of our own oil off limits or underutilized -- offshore, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), the Bakken Formation to name but a few examples -- certainly doesn't help.

The White House has countered by floating a proposal to release some oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to bring down prices. This is a bad idea for two reasons. First, it doesn't replace domestic production, and, second, it would need to be replaced as expediently as possible, thus merely kicking the can down the road. In essence, the administration is admitting that supply must increase to offset price hikes, but in every other way, it's working against supply increases. Such rank indifference to the plight of ordinary Americans has become a White House hallmark.

Piling On-EPA Style

Obama Will Make You Pay More at the Pump

“What do you say to people who are losing patience with gas prices at $3 a gallon? And how much of a political price do you think you're paying for that, right now?” This was a question asked of the president at a press conference in August…of 2006. The president was George W. Bush. In fact, it was a question that was asked in one way or another regularly during the entire eight years of the Bush presidency, regardless of where energy prices stood at that moment.

.....Yet, at the end of President Bush’s presidency, gas prices were 9% lower than when he took office (adjusted for inflation). So where have these outspoken critics been since Bush left office?

Just last week (as frigid temperatures and blizzards blasted Europe and the U.S.), the EPA announced that it will begin regulating power plants and oil refineries in an attempt to curb global warming. The new regulations will seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions by making it more expensive to turn fossil fuels into energy. And Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that the Bureau of Land Management would issue new rules making it harder to develop natural resources on government-owned land. These measures will not only drive up the cost of electricity and gasoline but will also make us more dependent on foreign sources of energy.

Read the entire piece here

Mis-Direction?

The bomb found in Times Square could not have come at a better time. It will certainly take most of the media attention now focused on the oil rig "accident" and re-direct it.

The key words that make me wonder are "consumer grade fireworks" and "ametuerish wiring".

I have no doubts about the abilities of muslim terrorists to assemble a VBIED. They know how to do it, and the VBIEDs usually perform as designed. The only instance I can think of is the London car-bomb that was found in the nightclub district before it was activated. That was luck and observant citizens.

Maybe it was a terrorist device. We'll see. Meanwhile, we still need to know about the oil rig explosion and what caused that.

Our Friends At FDD Have A Plan

Iran Missile Test Shows Need for Gasoline Sanctions
Perhaps Last Peaceful Path to End Nuclear Weapons Program

Washington, DC (May 20, 2009) -- The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) said that Iran's successful test of a medium range missile showed the need for tough sanctions and other steps to stop Iran from importing the gasoline that it needs to fuel its economy and military.

"This latest test-firing of an Iranian missile and the regime's aggressive pursuit of its illegal nuclear program threaten the region as well as American security," said FDD Executive Director Mark Dubowitz. "If talks with Iran are to succeed in ending Iran's nuclear weapons program, the Obama administration will need some real leverage when it sits down with Tehran's master negotiators. Iran's heavy dependence on foreign gasoline may be the last, best chance we have to peacefully change the regime's behavior."

Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today introduced an amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill being considered by the Senate to prohibit companies that sell refined petroleum to Iran from receiving contracts to fill the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In the last month, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and House introduced three bills focused on limiting Iran's ability to import gasoline.

"Iran's need to import 40 percent of its gasoline is its economic Achilles' Heel," said Orde Kittrie, an FDD senior fellow, law professor at Arizona State University, and former U.S. State Department official. "Iran relies on a handful of foreign energy companies, all with significant business interests in the United States, to supply it with the gasoline it needs. If these companies end their business relationships with Iran, Iran's economy will slow dramatically, its military will have to look elsewhere for fuel, and the Iranian people may demand that their government start investing in refineries rather than continue pouring money into its illegal and dangerous nuclear program."

Although Iran is a major producer of crude oil, it must import approximately 40 percent of the gasoline it needs because it lacks adequate refinery capacity at home. Companies supplying gasoline to Iran include Vitol, Trafigura, Reliance Industries Ltd., and Total. Glencore and Shell have also provided periodic shipments.

FDD has provided substantial research and analysis on Iran's dependence on imported gasoline, including identifying points of leverage over the foreign energy companies that supply Iran with the majority of gasoline it imports.

FDD's work includes:
FDD National Post oped on the prospects for using gasoline sales to end Iran's nuclear program is here.
FDD Wall Street Journal oped on the companies supplying Iran with gasoline is here.
Wall Street Journal editorial quoting FDD's Mark Dubowitz on the effectiveness of gasoline sanctions is here.
FDD document outlining the strong, bipartisan support that sanctioning gasoline sales to Iran has received is here.
A summary of Congressional action taken to address Iran's dependence on imported gasoline is here.
For more background on the issue, please visit FDD's Iran Energy Project page here.

Just A Reminder As You Begin A New Week

The only thing wrong with this economy is the price of gasoline.

Congress can fix it.

Tell them to fix it.

Tell them to fix it NOW!!

Drill Here, Drill Now

This is what we want:

Party of the Common Man?

Human Events Online
Obama Gets Failing Grade on Three E's: Energy, Education, and Eastern Europe

"Senator Obama has presented a variety of sound bites on many issues, but he has failed to provide any real solutions, or any hint of change," says David Freddoso, author of the new bestseller The Case Against Barack Obama.

Over the next few days, we will explore Senator Obama's position on three issues dominating today's headlines—energy, education, and Eastern Europe. Today we delve into his energy agenda.

Helping Americans by Raising Gas Prices?
High gas prices continue to punish American consumers and businesses. Yet Senator Obama's political track record clearly supports policies that would raise gas prices even higher, says author David Freddoso.

In his new bestseller, The Case Against Barack Obama, Freddoso points out that n0bama lamented in mid-June that high gasoline prices have hurt Americans. But n0bama supports carbon caps and carbon taxes—environmental controls that are designed to intentionally increase prices at the pump. The idea is to make gasoline more expensive so that people use less of it and emit less carbon. n0bama also eagerly embraces ethanol as a key solution to our energy crisis, adds Freddoso, but experts agree that ethanol will lead to much higher food prices, without providing real energy relief.

"Obama supports an environmental policy that requires higher gas prices over the long run," says Freddoso. "Until he drops his environmental program, Obama is only shedding crocodile tears when he talks about how high gas prices are hurting Americans. His real goal is $6 or $7 gasoline, as a matter of policy."

Americans need a leader who will offer real leadership and real solutions, not simply pay lip service to their concerns while pursuing policies that will hurt average Americans. For his energy policy, Barack Obama receives an "F."

A Gusher of Hypocrisy

From the NRCC Newsletter:

PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS PROMOTE SHAM ENERGY PROPOSAL

"While Nancy Pelosi is off on her cross-country tour trying to get her book moved off the New York Times' worst-seller list, voters are wondering why she and her fellow Democrats can't be bothered to address the issue of out of control fuel costs," said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the NRCC. (www.PolitickerCA.com)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat Majority are well into the third week of their paid five week vacation right now. And no, they aren't showing any signs of getting back to work before September to vote on an energy package that would increase the supply of American oil.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that kids are about to head back to school where they'll be paying more for lunch, studying from old textbooks and walking further to the bus stop - assuming their bus schedule hasn't been cancelled altogether - thanks to higher fuel prices.

This past Sunday, Pelosi proposed a sham of an energy proposal during her weekly radio address. And it was nothing short of an insult to the American people. Madam Speaker, who hails from California, refuses to allow Congress to vote on - or even debate - legislation that would open the Golden State to offshore drilling.But listen to this - even George Skelton, a left-of-center columnist for the Los Angeles Times, advocates opening up California to more drilling.

He writes:"California is the nation's biggest consumer of gasoline - 45 million gallons a day, plus 10 million gallons of diesel. That makes us the third-biggest petroleum-consuming entity in the world, behind on the United States and China. ... So there's a gusher of hypocrisy here: The state that is the biggest consumer of gasoline in the nation - but produces less than 40% of what it uses - is opposed to drilling for more oil off its shores. We're slackers not pulling our weight."

The long and short of it is that our nation is being held hostage by one woman from San Francisco, Nancy Pelosi, who opposes drilling for American oil off the shores of California.

REPUBLICANS WINNING THE DEBATE ON ENERGY

The good news is that Republicans are winning the debate on energy. A recent Rasmussen Poll finds that 61% of Americans want Congress to get back to work immediately and lift the ban on offshore drilling. In terms of how they'll vote for Congress this year, 77% say offshore oil drilling is important.
And 67% of Americans recognize Republicans - not Democrats - are pushing the drilling issue.

OUR CANDIDATES' ADS

Our candidates across the country are doing a great job of getting out the message that we must increase the supply of American energy. This week, we're highlighting a fantastic new television ad by John Gard, who's running against Democrat incumbent Steve Kagen in Wisconsin-08.Republicans are on the right side of the energy debate. Meanwhile, a lot of vulnerable Democrats risk getting swept away by Speaker Pelosi's gusher of hypocrisy.

Ain't Skeered

A message for Rahm Emanuel the honorable Representative from Illinois.
I heard you accuse the Bush Administration of "scaring the American people into doing something they shouldn't do" referring to the Administration's request to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
I've heard this before. According to some of your colleagues, we were scared into supporting the War on Terror because the Administration told us we were in danger of being attacked by Muslim extremists. The fact that I already knew that because I've been paying attention apparently never occurred to you.
I pay 4.00 a gallon for gasoline. I have to, it's part of my job. I have to work. I have to drive a full-size pick-up truck to perform my job effectively and professionally. It costs me twice as much now as it did in 2006 to do my job. In two years, under your party's leadership, the retail price for the fuel we buy has doubled. DOUBLED!!!
What is it exactly that we're supposedly afraid of? We have the oppportunity to become an independent oil producing nation. The fact that we have nimrods like you standing in the way of economic prosperity doesn't scare me, it makes me furious, but it should damn sure scare you. You should be so afraid for your future as a Congressman that you put the interests of the entire country above your partisan mindset.
Do you have a vested interest in keeping oil prices high? Are you on the Saudi payroll? Do you own tankers?
If you answered "no" to the above, then I can only assume you're stupid; and you can't fix stupid. Or you're mean; and mean can be fixed.

$4.00 a Gallon Who's To Blame?

Update: To all you nice people that are stopping by, click the UCV banner and have a look around! Y'all come back now, y'hear.....
Cargosquid

UPDATE: Here's a perfect example of this obstructionism: Toying with the energy companies.

A huge hat tip to a Brother Marine in Florida for his email this morning.

Thanks to the enivironmentalist lobby and its influence on Democratic legislators in Congress, the U.S. has, for decades, been prohibited from drilling for oil in places that we know contain billions of barrells of proven reserves.

Check out this map:

All of the "NO" zones are places where the U.S., thanks to the Democratic Party, is prohibited from drilling for oil. But wait . it gets better.

***China, Cuba, Canada and others continue to drill off our shores where US companies are not allowed to drill because of Democratic policies!
Yes, that's right . China and Cuba are actively exploring oil fields 50 miles from Key West, Florida while U.S. companies are barred from working in this area because of U.S. policy ... So, instead of allowing the most environmentally responsible companies to operate there and increase our domestic supply, China, who has a dismal environmental record, is preparing to suck our close, lucrative oil reserves dry.

Unbelievable.

Investor's Business Daily recently explained how irresponsible the Democrats have been on the energy crisis. They lay into what they consider to be the worst Congress ever for .....

~ Failing to allow drilling in ANWR. We have, as President Bush noted, estimated capacity of a million barrels of oil a day from this source alone -- enough for 27 million gallons of gas and diesel. But Congress won't touch it, fearful of the clout of the environmental lobby. As a result, you pay through the nose at the pump so your representative can raise campaign cash.

~ Refusing to build new refineries. The U.S. hasn't built one since 1976, yet the EPA requires at least 15 unique 'boutique' fuel blends that can be sold in different areas around the nation. This means that U.S. refinery capacity is stretched so tight that even the slightest problem at a refinery causes enormous supply problems and price spikes. Congress has done nothing about this.

~ Turning its back on nuclear power. It's safe and, with advances in nuclear reprocessing technology, waste problems have been minimized. Still, we have just 104 nuclear plants -- the same as a decade ago -- producing just 19% of our total energy. (Many European nations produce 40% or more of their power with nuclear.) Granted, nuclear power plants are expensive -- about $3 billion each. But they produce energy at $1.72/kilowatt-hour vs. $2.37 for coal and $6.35 for natural gas.

~ Raising taxes on energy producers. This is where a basic understanding of economics would help: Higher taxes and needless regulation lead to less production of a commodity. So by proposing 'windfall' and other taxes on energy companies plus tough new rules, Congress only makes our energy situation worse.

These are just a few of Congress' sins of omission -- all while India, China, Eastern Europe and the Middle East are adding more than a million barrels of new demand each and every year. New Energy Department forecasts see world oil demand growing 40% by 2030, including a 28% increase in the U.S.Americans who are worried about the direction of their country, including runaway energy and food prices, should keep in mind the upcoming election isn't just about choosing a new president. We'll also pick a new Congress.

If you agree with the need to let the American people know who's REALLY responsible for the sky-high gasoline prices we're seeing today, please forward this e-mail to everyone you know.

If we elect a liberal Democrat as president in the Fall and keep the same Democrat-controlled Congress, nothing will change .. except gasoline prices, which will keep going up.