Back From Recess, Congress Is Under Pressure to Act on Energy, Economy
But in the shadow of the presidential campaign, compromises could be elusive
Reader Comments
Crude Oil
I'm a democrat(conservative) but I reject the notion from my party that it is the Bush policy that caused us to have high energy. I remember back around 2002 that Bush tried and tried to get the dems onboard to drill in ANWR. The dems said "no way jose". People out there...the increase on gasoline price, diesel price, high food costs, high prices on comodities such as clothing, tools, home electric and heating costs. The rash of airline price increases. High health care costs.
Also the increase in un-employment due to high costs for energy
and the high cost for transport of manufactured goods and the
delivery of raw material. My prediction is this: if the american people ELECT those in congress who wholeheartily supports DRILLING for oil with no gimmicks, wherever oil is discover like between Cuba and Florida, the east and west coast, the gulf of mexico and wherever on land, we could bring down gasoline down to $2.00 or under, and reduce the high energy cost such as home heating and electricity.
Furthermore, more profits for businesses thus eliviating layoffs
Food prices would come way down and more affordable. We will
be energy independant. You and your love ones can take that long awaited vacation by car. Airlines would become profitable and more affordable and many airline employ layoffs would again be rehired.If we fail to drill...what I'm talking about is a law that says all areas are open for drilling, and no add ons or gimmicks. But if we fail, we will see massive layoffs, plant shut downs, probably one airline still flying, un affordable food, heating and electric costs.
That new car that you bought and still making payments will become absolete. Last is this, Obama says he wants to phase out crude oil in 10 years, if that's true, is he going to buy back these like new useless cars? Electric cars are a joke....you get about 50 miles per charge...plug in and must wait 6 to 8 hours for it to charge it up. No way to go on a 1000 mile trip. And this is on flat terrain, a 30 degree hill will drain that battery in about 10 minutes. Consider that the US is not flat in many places.ENERGY SECURITY should be on every american mind.
Ask yourselves this...without crude oil would your job matter?
would putting food on your table matter? Would the economy matter any longer? How about national defense.....now you see the importance of strategic oil supply guarded jealously by
President Bush? This is why I do not fault Prez Bush about the economy. Bush can't create jobs, the only thing a President can do is to push for policies for businesses to entice them to grow their business producing more or new goods and services which will result in employing more people.The dems can lie all they want trying to blame the Prez for the high unemployment and slow economic numbers.I strongly believe that the Prez is doing the best he can despite our dependant of foreign oil and having a "DO NOTHING"democratic lead congress.
Pelosi and Republicans
To all those harping on Pelosi having financial interest in alternative energy. Well.. your right, although that is not the entire story as countless Republican politicians have their own financial interest in Big Oil as well President Bush and his father being prime and also obvious examples. What it comes down to is not a selfish democrat but many selfish politicians on both side of the party line taking care of their own financial interests. More of the same old same old in politics
Pelosi and Republicans
To all those harping on Pelosi having financial interest in alternative energy. Well.. your right, although that is not the entire story as countless Republican politicians have their own financial interest in Big Oil as well President Bush and his father being prime and also obvious examples. What it comes down to is not a selfish democrat but many selfish politicians on both side of the party line taking care of their own financial interests. More of the same old same old in politics
To the (many) Congress Bashers
The Democrats have (technically) a 1 or 2 vote lead in Congress. They cant do ANYTHING because Bush can simply veto it and they do not have enough votes to overturn a presidential veto(2/3 in both houses is required). We are at a stalemate in Congress not because pelosi or the Democrats are slacking off but because neither democrats or Republicans can or will reach a compromise on key issues. Democrats want more alternative fuels and Republicans want more drilling. Neither side has enough votes to force through their legislation because the Democrats (and the independant voter who gives them the "majority") have their legislation shot down by bushes veto once it finally passes in Congress. Republicans meanwhile are a few votes shot of being able to ram their own legislation through Congress.
What it comes down to basically is that the two sides are too evenly matched in Congress to get anything done. That will likely change in the upcoming election. Lets wait and see whether it is the Dems or the GOP that finally manages to get the votes they need to do some REAL lawmaking.
Peloski's self interest
Peloski has a personal financial interest in energy which makes her judgement against oil as this does not serve her alternate energy cash flow. If this woman can not put her own finances aside for the sake of our country and millions of families in crisis she needs to step down and NOW. Never have I seen such a display of selvish gratification except perhaps with Marie Antionette.
More Drilling
I beleive along with the drilling we need the the oil companies to make natural gas a viable opition for the regular joe. That will mean a vast amount of money on their part, but they will gain in the long run. The auto industy needs to provide a low cost retro fit on 2000 model cars and up.
American Oil
I find it unbelievable that Mrs. Pelosi is allowing U.S. to continue to sink economically to serve her and her party’s political desires and aspirations. The U.S. voter must speak out to break this strangle hold and pass an energy bill that not only helps make the US energy independent, but a supplier of energy technology and leadership to the rest of the world.
Much like the never ending taxes passed by her party, her actions make her appear to be an advocate for the largest export of American dollars to OPEC nations under guise of “saving the world environment”. Let’s all flood our representatives with the message for Mrs. Pelosi to bring the energy bill to the floor for a vote by the people's representatives. We need to make our representatives behave as statesmen, as envisioned by our founding fathers, not politicians!
Energy
Drill in my backyard -- please. Let's do "all of the above" and get on with it, now!
McCain Against Alternative
McCain voted against every energy bill this year, beucase they are for alternative more than they are for oil. Why- becuase he is an oil insider, his camp manager is an oil lobbiest, his VP- Alaska- come on republicans, get these oil heads out of our government! At any cost- becuase oil = greed = war = another bush term.
Alternatives- the sooner the better!
Monitor Your Banks!!!
The bailout from yesterday is threatening to ruin banks, particularly smaller banks, dependent upon dividends from Fannie/Freddie preferred stock for capital and the FDIC is currently taking approx. 90 days to honor insured deposits from failed banks. Everyone should be monitoring www.fdic.gov for their banksand try to avoid living paycheck to paycheck in these troubled times.
