Make Do With A "Big Stick"

David Brooks as usual wrote an insightful piece in the New York Times.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/opinion/18brooks.html
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David Brooks writes about the five major changes that will need to be enacted to keep our country a leader. We may quibble over the five and or the nature of the changes needed, but the fact remains that changes are needed. Mr. Brooks makes the historical case quite well that Republicans have been good reformers and the people have gone along with the changes because they were not only cautious but they were based upon the values and ideals of the people.
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Two of the most prominent conservative reformers were Benjamin Disraeli and Theodore Roosevelt. Both reframed the political debate so that it was not change versus the status quo, it was unfamiliar change versus cautious, patriotic change designed to preserve the traditional virtues of the nation.
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The quote from Disraeli was superb and spot on.
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“In a progressive country, change is constant; and the great question is not whether you should resist change, which is inevitable, but whether that change should be carried out in deference to the manners, the customs, the laws and traditions of a people, or whether it should be carried out in deference to abstract principles, and arbitrary and general doctrines.”
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Let us make those changes in a Republican way. That in a nutshell was what I have been blogging about for awhile, ever since I listened to David Cameron of the British Conservatives. The Disraeli quote to me symbolizes the idea I’m pushing. Simply stated, the New Republican Image that is forming is not one of smaller government, but rather that image of a party that is capable of taking the abstract pipe dream Democratic ideas of “saving the world” and translate it into a workable solution to save the neighborhoods where “people” live.

We need to be the party of doers that take what authority we have and use it for the common good in very real and specific ways. While others talk and talk and talk. We need to be more like Bobby Jindal who as a State House Congressional member in Louisiana took it upon himself during Katrina and used what limited power he had as a local congressman to push some bureaucrats into action and actually get things done, while the other big shots were stuck in bureaucratic quick sand. The people of Louisiana loved him for it and voted him in as their youngest Governor. He is becoming the poster child for the New Can Do Republican.

I’ve been trying to capture the essence of this type of idea, and the picture of the old MacGyver TV show kept popping up. If you remember he was the guy that could make do with whatever was at hand and come up with the solution to the problem. His methods were quick and to the point and above all they worked. Those solutions were not the best perhaps or even the most efficient but they worked and their success led to other success’ and in the end with the burden and worry of needing to fix the problem alleviated, a better solution could be found.

I call this the “Make Do, Make It Now, Make It Work” plan.

As with the revolt over Drilling Off Shore, just the threat of it has reduced the cost at the pump. If Congress could agree to an across the board systematic attack on the reasons for the high cost then the price would plummet. We “Make Do” by drilling, then with that in hand and the government starting to get some money coming in we can start to attack on the alternative fronts. “Make It Now” will give proof that the country is serious, and the markets will heed it and they will be forced to “Make It Work”.

In the Brooks article he refers to Theodore Roosevelt and how he used Patriotism and core values to help get the country on his side with the reforms he wanted to enact. It worked. We too now have the chance to tackle this problem one step at a time building upon the success of the previous one.

We do not need national leaders to do this. We have gotten the oil drilling debate up through the ranks to the leaders and now they are finally paying attention. Not the other way around. This is the Party I like. Many Republican’s including John McCain like and say they admire Teddy Roosevelt. David Brooks put out the following quote by Roosevlet in his article linked above.
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“The true function of the state as it interferes in social life,” Roosevelt wrote, “should be to make the chances of competition more even, not to abolish them.”
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Once we allow the big companies to compete freely then we can start to find ways for the smaller ones to compete also. If the Big Oil Companies are truly the bottle neck or whether it is the big speculators and hedge funds etc that is the problem I would like to see McCain as the one carrying that “Big Stick” of Teddy’s to give us a “square deal”.
We need to be the ones who are making the changes and we can if we put the debate in the terms of the American values of common sense and the good old American “Can Do” Spirit.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

Them Republicans Sure Like To Cling To Things

The ball is in their hands. The hands of the Republican leaders, and they are clinging for all they have. I’m talking about the American Energy Bill and it’s fate. I'm talking about whether Pelosi will let us use our own resources to keep the gas prices at bay while we find alternatives all in an effort to become energy independent.

They are doing all they can as a minority to keep this vital issue on the table, not under the rug.

Pelosi shut them down but not out. The originators within the US House, the “Young Turks” and the “Young Thinking Turks” are fighting back. Tim Walberg”s blog has been on this since the beginning.
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http://walberg.house.gov/Blog/
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Dan Burton a leading conservative in the House and the Republican Study Group, has also been there all along pushing this concept. He is the mentor of the House debate. His latest video
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http://www.danburtonblog.com/2008/08/dan-burton-to-l.html
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I’ve been too busy to blog what with the primarys in my state just wrapping up last night. But I’ve been getting these updated by Wolf through John Boehner’s office. This is the last one. I’ll get 3 a day.
-----Wolf update-------
For the fourth day in a row, Republican Members of Congress are back at it again, making their case to the American people for lowering the price of energy. It comes with no surprise that Speaker Pelosi has decided to continue with the Democrat August vacation instead of debating real solutions to addressing record high gas prices, such as the American Energy Act, a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Staff-led tour groups are more than welcome to join us on the House Floor. Please enter through the Republican Cloakroom. If staff or tours have any trouble at all, please email me and I will meet you or your tour to bring them onto the House Floor.
Adam J. Wolf
Floor Assistant
Republican Leader John A. Boehner
H-204, The Capitol
(202) 225-4000
http://repcloakroom.house.gov
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Wish I could be there and take a tour of the House Floor, and talk with some of these Turks. This is a once in a lifetime shot. This is an historic battle. Wish I had the money for the gas.

John Boehner’s site has “Leader Alerts“. This one is classic. Last June, 2 months ago the Republican had a bill defeated by Democrat Congressmen that would lessen the effect the high gas prices are having on charities and their ability to collect and distribute donations. The charities can only deduct 14 cents a mile while business has a nearly 60 cents a mile deduction. Now Boehner is warning that the Dems in an effort to wiggle out of their energy pickle and get some egg off their face are going to put up a bill after recess doing what they voted against before the only difference will be that their name is on it.
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http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=99529>---------------
John Boehner has been blogging during this “lights out” ordeal from the floor. Kinda fun to follow.
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http://republicanleader.house.gov/Blog/
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Newt Gingrich, the man who put the bug in everyone’s ear quite awhile ago and has been relentless in his pushing of this through creative and constructive ways: went to the House floor held by the Republicans and gave a talk in the tumult. As always he was on point, correct, and scathing in his inimitable way.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkeu1wtIA50
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From American Solutions the report he commented on.
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http://newt.org/tabid/102/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3615/Default.aspx
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The above is the summary of the finding, if you want to see the actual study go here.
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http://newt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/Newsletter072408_pricingstudy.pdf
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Thank You Newt for your forward thinking.

Man if it wasn’t for the Detroit Tiger’s losing streak, I’d be feeling pretty good.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

Another Young Turk

I heard of a gutsy conservative candidate Her name is Sarah Steelman she is running for the governorship of Missouri. Below is a link to her campaign effort. This is I believe the face of the new conservative message..
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http://www.sarahsteelman.com/media
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Scroll through the videos, you’ll see the no nonsense, common sense, get things done attitude I associate with this new breed. Once the people get a taste of this attitude they start to demand more of it from leaders. My new saying for this is Make Do, Make it Now, Make it Work. She is getting all kinds of flak from not only the Democrats but her own leadership in the Republican party.

She reminds me of Bobby Jindal the way she just went ahead and did her job without the ok from the powers that be, and actually got things done.

WOW, Now I’m asking you to believe me when I say that I just found this on her sight about Bobby Jindal, (after) I posted the above. Great minds think alike. lol
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http://www.sarahsteelman.com/archives/25
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If you’ve read this blog you’re familiar with how much I like Bobby. When I saw the Beck interview with Steelman, I couldn’t help but see the similarities. The article goes on to talk of other GOP Reformers who believe in conservative messages, but more than that believe in doing something about it, right now with what they have to work with. Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, and Sarah Palin.
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“Her sin is in fact to belong to that new mold of Republican – Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint – who know it’s no longer enough to simply hawk lower taxes. In 10 years as a state legislator and treasurer, her target has been the slothful political favor factory that’s led Republicans away from small-government principles and outraged conservative voters.”
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There is a revolution in the Republican party going on, and it is gathering steam. A revolt to get back to the ideas of more efficient government. More Transparent government, leading to a less corrupt government. Actually trying to make the government work for the people again. A get it done or don’t do it attitude, with the prime purpose to help the people. This new Republicanism shown forth through the dark of the US House of Representatives when the power to them was cut they used what they had and got the message out anyway. I’m glad to see some senior members getting onboard and leading or at least guiding the way. Like John Boehner. I was also pleased to see Pete Hoekstra from my district was out on the House floor in shorts. I think he was pleasantly reminded of the previous revolution.

My own state of Michigan has some of this new breed. Our Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, and our Attorney General Mike Cox. They are both fighting the fight for transparency in government. They both have jumped right in and changed their respective offices along those lines, without waiting for any type of approval from the Legislature or from above in the party. My own county clerk is following the SOS lead and opening up things at the county level. There is a definite trickle down effect.
I went to a local “meet and greet” with my County Clerk, Karen Buie, and was pleasantly surprised last night when an individual came up and thanked her for her efforts that had made his visit to the Office a quick and friendly one.

What the old guard has to realize is that open honest government done with a can do attitude trickles down to the voters. It makes them happy. I really don’t see the sin in that.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

A Cuppa Caffeine Anyone ???

I saw a video from Dan Burton’s web blog. It was a camera video actually and the video was horrible. The video was taken of the Republican revolt in the House, after Pelosi shut off the lights etc. I was struck by the flood of light streaming in thru the windows high up in the dome. While the faces of the people there were blurred the light was pervasive. That was an epiphany for me.
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http://www.danburtonblog.com/2008/08/video-from-yest.html
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Pelosi may be able to turn off one kind of light, but there still remained a light, a different kind of light and that light like our freedom is inalienable. It does not flow thru Pelosi’s hand or anyone’s no matter how important they think they are.

I was outraged by that act of Nancy Pelosi. I get mad enough when my rights are shut down. When I watch as my elected Representative’s right can so easily be shut down, I get furious. She has the unbridled arrogance to do that? She has the chutzpah to complain about the Chinese stopping free speech? China is not even a democracy. America was till she flipped the switch. The Chinese must be thinking, “let’s recruit her for that open spot on the Politburo”.

The British probably thought of that tea in the harbor incident so long ago as just those colonists having a hissy fit, acting juvenile etc. Perhaps it was, I wasn’t there. What it spurred on however was not. That tea thing was a catalyst for the anger the colonists had over their lack of freedom. This recent "shut the lights off inside the dome" thing, is forcing us to see that our light and our Freedom are really inalienable, and may just be the catalyst “we the people” need to take back Congress and force it to work the people’s will not theirs.

The only thing missing is a call to arms to those outside the system (Citizens) by the leaders of the “lights Out Revolt”. The Citizens support this, they only need a way to focus their frustration. The anger is out there, the People will come. The technology is there. A call to arms through the internet by leaders like John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Dan Burton, echoed by others could start something that couldn’t be denied. The organizing genius of Newt can readily be used through his pioneering Web presence.

I commented on John Boehner’s blog that we should set up something similar to the British model of a “Shadow Government”, but after Pelosi and her stunt we should call it the “Sunlight Government”. Hold mock legislative sessions outside in the light of day, in the sunshine of Transparency in government during the recess. Invite the country to come and watch, in person!!! Show America what the alternative to a Pelosi Do Nothing House would look like. Show America the common sense, Get Something Done approach the country is literally dying for.

If you think that I’m naïve or reading too much into this thing you may be right. Maybe you think the people aren’t behind this. Well see this Pew Poll
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http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:EyM3_tgkAbAJ:www.pollingreport.com/energy.htm+energy+poll&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
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For those of you who don’t think new different ideas can work a couple of people jump to mind. Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. I’ll leave you with this link about (a conservative art teacher no less) in the Midwest, who is trying to cash in on the new conservative craze by opening a Conservative Coffee Shop. Kind of a protest to the whole Latte crowd.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-coffeehouse_31jul31,0,7930045.story
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Hey drink enough caffeine and anything’s possible.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

From the Dark and Quiet. A Rumble of Fury

Last night I was blogging and calling trying to see if something could get organized on the spur of the moment to drive to Washington DC to support Boehner and crew. John Boehner was living up to his word from weeks ago when he said that he would not leave untill he got a vote on the energy bills. Yesterday afternoon, Pelosi had the microphones and lights turned off, leaving the Republicans in the darkI posted on Newt’s site and others. Hoping. Always Hoping. Then around 5pm they gave it up. I was happy to see this morning that the blogoshpere in my neck of the woods at least was getting busy.
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http://www.rightmichigan.com/
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I was extremely pleased to hear that my own Rep. Pete Hoekstra was there in the dark in his "relaxed" attire. lol supporting the cause. BTW Pete has a "bike tour"
that is in my home town (Muskegon) Monday I believe. I have to try to get to it and ask him about the experiance. I would like to see some organizing get done on this legislative recess. I'll offer any help I can.

Then I got a heads up from 42long on Newt’s site, Newt.org. I see it’s on the Drudge Report this am.
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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/state/epaper/2008/08/01/0801obama1.html
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At least Bill Clinton was more cheerful as he changed his position. Obama is now trying to tell us that he is in favor of drilling more off shore, of course he reminds his base that it won’t do any good for ten years, and he is only saying it because the obstructionist Republicans are causing such a ruckus and not letting the Congress get things done.
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"I think it's important for the American people to understand we're not going to drill our way out of this problem," he said.
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He does favor a 50 billion “windfall profit tax” on the oil companies. From which he will give, or bribe the citizens with checks of $500-10000. With what’s left over he’ll invest it in something that will really immediately lower gas prices. Probably a grant to study the crystalization of tar sands in the pre Mesozoic period.

In case he hasn’t noticed the majority of 75% of the people have said they favor more exploring, drilling mining etc over the more regulation and or taxing of the oil producers. Simply, I would say to him. “We can’t tax our way out of this” or “We can’t regulate our way out of this”.

One important thing I saw was at the end of the article. It was about some Black protesters holding up signs complaining about Obama and his ever increasing Right Wing stances. Do I see a little Schism in the Solidarity of the Movement?
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His 30-minute speech was interrupted by three young black men who held up a banner reading, "What about the black community, Obama?"
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One of the men asked about "the attacks against the African-American community" by the "same U.S. government that you aspire to lead." He pointed to sub-prime mortgages aimed at black and Latino communities, instances of police profiling, the Jena Six and the slow response to Hurricane Katrina.
"Why is it that you have not had the ability to speak to the interests or even speak on behalf of the oppressed and exploited African community, the black community, in this country?" he said.
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Makes me think Wright thoughts. Lol

I give him credit he is really working overtime. Just as he is trying to show how he was for the surge in Iraq, he now has to convince us he is in favor of drilling for a hundred good reasons even though he believes it won’t work. If he gets elected, Websters will have to do some major rewriting of their dictionary. Maybe just make an Obama to English and an English to Obama version. Probably be easier to not talk at all just take the money from those who have it aand give it out to those who don’t.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.

STARK DIFFERENCES

This article by the Washington Post, talks of how the issue of whether or not to Explore for more oil, is becoming a defining issue in the November election. The two sides are pretty well defined on both sides. The differences are becoming clearer with each passing day. It is becoming clear which party is trying to use common sense practical methods to get us out of this energy dependence. The party that wants to do something now to lower gas prices, so we as a country will have the where with all to fight to longer battle ahead rebuilding our energy infrastructure to wean us off of oil Dependence. “Energy Freedom”
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072601895.html
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Again the Republican Leadership in the House and Senate has heard the call from “bottom up”, the call of the people and is leading the charge.

I have been blogging like crazy in support of House + Senate Republican efforts to try to force Pelosi and Reid to allow simple debate and or vote on the myriad of Energy bills being held in Committee by them.

I feel that this issue draws into focus the stark contrast between the two Parties in the upcoming election. The Polls show a large majority of Americans favor more exploration as a necessary part of the energy solution.

Keep in mind that the Republican solution as in John Boehner’s “All of the Above” or Mitch McConnell’s “drill more, use less", all have at their core the common sense idea of using what we have at hand as a bridge to allow us the time and capital to wean us off of our oil dependency.

To be able as a country to do all that will be necessary to allow us to wean ourselves off of our dependency on oil, we need time. We need to stop this inflationary surge by cutting it off at the root. Increase Supply. The Republican approach of using what we have at hand to bridge the gap, just makes sense. While the Democrat response is that it will take too long by drilling and exploration to effect gas prices. Somehow they never seem to say how long it will take to lower gas prices by using their idea of not drilling.

President Reagan fought and won the Cold War, from a position of strength. The Republicans believe that we can win this Energy War in the same manner. Let us the weapons we have at hand with gusto to fight the speculators on Wall St. and OPEC through lowering the price of gas by expanded exploration and through more conservation. Our enemy is not only speculators and OPEFC etc but what they cause due to our lack of supply. Inflation fueled by rising gas prices is the real villain. By give the people more spendable money for things they want and need by lowering the prices at the pump this will give our government more muscle to help begin serious programs to develop other forms of energy.

We will need the breathing room to help us more efficiently decide which of the many paths to take towards the path of Energy Independence.

I do not believe the Democrat plan of giving away taxpayer money to everyone to help cover rising gas costs, then raising the taxes on the producers, and forcing more regulation upon them will do anything to help us lower gas prices or gain any political or financial power to set up and make happen what both parties want. Energy Independence.

Lower gas prices will affect all of our consumer products across the board. We have seen the jumps in nearly all areas from the higher prices, well the opposite will happen when we force the price of gas down. Think of the positive power that will create. The idea that people can use the government to help them and not the other way around.

The Ponzi scheme of ever raising taxes on those who earn a living and produce in this country so the government can fund it’s continual growth is becoming apparent to the public. And they want an alternative. The Republican Party is in a position to give them one. I hope we realize this now and present a united front come election time.

If the Democrat Leadership is serious about doing something they should be willing to at least not be afraid to debate the issue, let alone vote on it. The people are getting tired of politics as usual.

To fight this “Energy War” as Reagan did with the Russians we need to fight it economically. We have to financially strangle inflation by unleashing the free enterprise of this country and flood the market with our own domestic oil. When we do that we begin to win this war. By doing that we will refind our strength as citizens we will see what is possible, what we can do. Then we can with pride change our method of powering our lives for the better.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

Ps
Please see my side bar under Old stand by Links for links to Boehner and McConnell, and Dan Burton, and Tim Walberg, and Newt Gingrich. I believe this issue will not be easily swept under the rug and our leaders need all the moral support we can give them to help keep this in the forefront. I will be setting up a separate side bar with Energy links to that effect.

Common Sense + Washington Post ??

Think not that this Drilling ban controversy will go away by wishing it to. That is what Tim Walberg of Michigan’s 7th District, seems to be saying by posting the link below. Tim has been doing all he could and can from the beginning to the present. Tim’s latest blog points out that even the liberal Washington Post is getting upset with the Pelosi Reid tag team for not even allowing debate let alone votes on Energy bills. Below is a link to Tim’s Blog.
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http://walberg.house.gov/Blog/
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How long they think they can get away with this charade is equal to how gullible (read stupid) they think the American people are. It appears that they think they can do nothing forever.

Pelosi has even stopped all appropriation bills according to the article for fear that energy amendments may be added forcing a vote on the bill. As the article quotes. “The result threatens to be the first time since at least 1950 that lawmakers will go home for the August recess without either chamber having passed a single appropriations bill.”

Another telling and obvious question is raised by the Washington Post article.
“When they took the majority, House Democrats proclaimed that “bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the Minority the right to offer its alternatives.” Why not on drilling?”

The final sentence says it all. Sums up what all this hub bub has been about.
“If drilling opponents really have the better of this argument, why are they so worried about letting it come to a vote.”

From me I think Pelosi and Harry “blowing in the wind” Reid should start looking for another day job.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative. Do Something.