Pelosi: Save the Planet, Let Someone Else Drill

From the Washington Post/Charles Krauthammer:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes lifting the moratorium on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on the Outer Continental Shelf. She won’t even allow it to come to a vote. With $4 gas having massively shifted public opinion in favor of domestic production, she wants to protect her Democratic members from having to cast an anti-drilling election-year vote. Moreover, given the public mood, she might even lose. This cannot be permitted. Why? Because, as she explained to Politico: “I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet.”

A lovely sentiment. But has Pelosi actually thought through the moratorium’s effects on the planet? (more)

48% of the overseas members of the military who requested absentee ballots for the 2006 election had their ballots counted

The real voter fraud?That the American military are being kept from voting.
From Heritage:
Sens. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), along with Reps. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are engaging in legislative combat for the rights of our military to vote in the 2008 election. (more)

And Sometimes Tea: More of This, Please

At least I’m not the only one, with all my rantings…here and here. Like Red Cardigan over at And Sometimes tea, (see link below) I’ll admit it could be just politics, but for now I see it as true democracy and I’m proud of them and the dems who have put aside politics for the time being. Now if we can just get them back from vacation. Come on, Mr President, call them back.

And Sometimes Tea: More of This, Please

Gallup Daily: McCain, Obama Remain Tied

PRINCETON, NJ — Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are once again tied in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking presidential trial heat.

Obama Aide Concedes ‘Dollar Bill’ Remark Referred to His Race

Admitting the obvious in the latest “duh” moment..From ABC:
Sen. Barack Obama’s chief strategist conceded that the Democratic presidential candidate was referring to his race when he said Republicans were trying to scare voters by suggesting Obama “doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.”

A key strategist for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says the candidate’s reference to faces on the dollar bill was indeed an acknowledgement of race and its role in the presidential campaign.(ABCNews Photo Illustration)
The comment had triggered a charge Thursday from Sen. John McCain’s campaign manager that Obama had “played the race card… from the bottom of the deck.” (more)

GOP Talkathon Part IV: Come on Down

The revolution has begun! March on Washington. If you can’t get there then send e-mails, make phone calls! Take back our government! Let them vote, Madam Speaker and let our voices be heard!
Politico:
With the public viewing galleries shutting down for the night, Rep. Kevin Brady has just invited everyone down to the House floor to keep the protest going.
It has been quite the scene on the House floor this afternoon, as GOP staff members have kept the chamber filled with an eclectic assortment of people.
Boy Scouts, members of the German army, stray tourists and even members in shorts and t-shirts have all been spotted on the floor at different times.
While Democrats have privately decried the breakdown in order, Republicans defended the protest.
“You are not witnessing a revolt,” said Rep. Mike Pence. “You are witnessing democracy in action.” (more)

House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking

Politico, keeping tabs on history:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House, turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi’s refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m., and they are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.(more)

Bipartisan Rump Groups Seek to Chart Middle Course on Energy Policy

Don’t wait for September! Bring them back now!
CQ Congress broke for August recess Friday locked in the same stalemate over energy that has stalled action on gasoline prices for most of the summer.
While leaders failed to reach a deal, two bipartisan groups of rank-and-file members in the House and Senate on Thursday and Friday outlined energy proposals that they hope could chart a way through the logjam when lawmakers return in September.
Both proposals include expanding offshore drilling – the contentious heart of Republican energy policy, which has dominated the recent debate over energy prices and blocked any movement forward. But both also include significant provisions for energy conservation and funding renewable power, which Democrats support.
The 10-member Senate group led by Sen. Kent Conrad , D-N.D., and Sen. Saxby Chambliss , R-Ga., said Friday that they hoped their legislation would serve as a launching point for the energy discussion in September, when the Senate is expected to hold a summit on energy issues.
“Everybody here has seen what’s gone on in the Senate over the last couple of weeks. The well is pretty poisoned out there right now. … But when we come back in September, we’re very hopeful,” Chambliss said.
In the House, Democrat Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, and Republican John E. Peterson of Pennsylvania unveiled their similar bipartisan proposal Thursday. (more)

Senate ‘Gang of 10′ Offers Bipartisan Energy Plan

Bring them back from vacation and make them work this out. No leader worth their weight would have allowed Congress to adjourn without at least voting on this. The revolution has begun! Seize the moment and write your senator now!
Fox WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of 10 senators offered an energy plan Friday aimed at producing more domestic oil via offshore drilling, reducing energy prices, and aiding the troubled economy.
The plan also would require automobiles to be more fuel efficient and would provide research money for improved batteries to move away from petroleum-products in cars: the plan calls for 85 percent of vehicles to run on non-petroleum-based fuel in 20 years.
Senators said the bill also would promote more renewable energy sources and nuclear energy, as well as carbon capture techniques to reduce greenhouse gas production through tax and other incentives. (more)

Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Unveil Energy Plan As Congress Goes On Recess

Kris Alingod – AHN News Writer
Washington, D.C. (AHN) – Seeking to break the deadlock among Democrats and Republicans, a bipartisan group of 10 senators introduced an alternative energy proposal on Friday just as Congress began its August recess.
The group, led by Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), proposes a bill to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The measure also gives Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia the option to allow exploration at least 50 miles off their coasts.
The plan, the New Energy Reform Act of 2008, provides $20 billion for improving fuel-efficiency in cars and proposes that 85 percent of vehicles use non-petroleum based fuel in two decades. (more)