Sun editorial:

A political ploy

Republican protest on energy policy rings hollow, undercut by repeated failures

Thu, Aug 7, 2008 (2:05 a.m.)

A small group of Republicans on Tuesday marched into the House of Representatives, quiet and dark during the annual August recess, and demanded that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., call the House back into session.

Over in the Senate, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has written to President Bush, asking him to call Congress back into session. The Republicans want Americans to think they’re working hard to solve the nation’s energy crisis and could do so if only Congress weren’t in recess.

But the problem isn’t that Congress is out of session. The problem is that Republicans have continued to block significant energy policies that would help drive down prices at the pump. And they have been doing so for years.

For the first six years of the Bush administration, Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and they did nothing to address the issues that have led to the current energy crisis. Since Democrats took control of Congress, Republicans have stymied legislation that would provide stable sources of energy for America. They have blocked tax credits for renewable energy projects and instead supported lucrative tax breaks for oil companies, which have recorded astronomical profits from the spike at the gas pump.

More concerned about their energy industry patrons, Republicans have argued that the country needs to expand offshore oil drilling and build more coal and nuclear power plants. They just don’t get it.

The nation doesn’t need more polluting power plants, it needs a broad energy policy that encourages alternative energy such as wind, solar and geothermal.

Such policies have been in the works in Congress for some time but have failed to go anywhere because of the Republicans’ obstructionist tactics.

Instead of working with Democrats on policy that would help Americans, Republicans are pulling election year stunts to try to divert attention from their own failed record.

Americans should remember that as they fill up at the pump.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

By NVMakz

8/7/08 at 6:31 a.m.

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With San Fran Nan, Barry Obama and Harry Reid involved in different ways to INCREASE SUPPLY (as an election-year stunt only), the op-ed here and the Democrat-liberal's mantra about how increased supply making no difference is hereby self-negated.

The Socialist Sun can whine and pout about their denial of basic Economics, but the truth is that the pressure is building on the liberal - and the liberal is caving slow, but sure.

I applaud the Republicans who ran San Fran Nan and "pinkie" OUT-OF-TOWN last week - the end of a process in which the lib-leadership shut-down hearings, committees and discussion about relief at the pump.

And, Tom Daschle led the Senate after Jumpin-Jim Jeffords gave it to them in early 2001-2003. Republicans led the Congress for FOUR years, with the LSDs filibustering the alomst everything the whole way in the Senate.

Liberals can not escape their primary complicity in today's fuel supply problems. Without a plan as to WHEN alts will replace the massive volumes of energy America has and will need (30% more by 2030, ims) - the liberal plan is as false, hollow and fallow as this whiny op-ed here today.

Congratulations, Republicans! You have the congressional liberal on the run-away as much as they are here on this message board.
By KDR81

8/7/08 at 9:29 a.m.

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If we spent $2 trillion (read TRILLION) we could build enough wind turbines to supply the U.S. with ONLY, read ONLY 20% of our CURRENT energy demands.

So we could sacrifice our standard of living, improverish some, remove food from others, take away educational opportunies from others still, etc etc etc, and give ourselves wind power that will, given the worst case senario for our enviornment, not do a darn thing to save the planet from increasing temperatures over the next 100 years.

Ironically, Nuclear power plants will do more to save the enviornment than Wind energy because it can meet our energy demands without increasing poverty. It is simply more cost effective.

In fact building 2,000 Nuclear power plants across the world has a bigger positive impact on the enviornment than banning all carbon emitting cars in the U.S.
By ksand99

8/7/08 at 10:29 a.m.

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I will not applaud the republicans, who put obstructionism and zealotry above real relief for consumers.

The republican reich in this country is hell bent on keeping gas prices high for several reasons.

It increases profit for their main campaign contributors the oil companies. One only look at the recent indictment of Ted Stevens, a senator from Alaksa for taking bribes from an oil company to see the disgusting symbiotic relationship the republicans have with big oil.

It is something they want to exploit for the upcoming election. Their obstructionism was aimed at one thing: keep prices as high as possible, for as long as possible. That's the only reasoning behind blocking votes on actual reform of the futures market.

The myth of the republicans who are interested in helping Joe and Jane America is quickly being realized by everyday America. Look at the congressional tracking polls, which have Democrats over republicans by 10+ points overall.

Nevada residents will not forget this willful continuation of republican greed, Jon Porter!
By neiman1

8/7/08 at 11:02 a.m.

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Let china save the planet. I don't want to stave or freeze while they build their economy and Reid and Pelosi destroy ours. We wont lose this country in a war, we will lose it in a foreclosure sale. We buy Arab oil and they buy American banks. What's wrong with these idiots. Tell Harry to come home from asia and let the Senate vote. What a coward, he is so afraid his own party will pass the bill.
Contact Harry and make him represent Nevada before the lights go out.

email link
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm...

Las Vegas
Lloyd D. George Building
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 8016
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-388-5020 / Fax: 702-388-5030
By ksand99

8/7/08 at 1:16 p.m.

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The Senate can't vote because George Bush won't call them back into session. Get your facts straight!
By neiman1

8/7/08 at 8:12 p.m.

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Harry Can call them back and so can Nancy P.