Republican Stunt or Election Pandering?

Election 2008 (USA)

As Congress ended its session, and headed off to the hills for its summer vacation, the Republicans engaged in a unique, and bizarre tirade on the very floor of Congress. For hours they jeered the Democrats, broke with protocol and procedure, to get their point across, that somehow they aren’t the one’s obstructing the work of Government, but that the Democrats are. I can see the television ads being worked out right now, for airing in October & November.

WASHINGTON - The last House vote before a vacation usually sparks a stampede toward the doors and waiting planes. Not so on Friday, when Republicans occupied the House floor for a rare, and at times bizarre, protest against Democratic energy policies. (source - MSNBC News)

While I agree with the sentiment, that Congress should indeed continue to sit, to try and work out a plan to ease the ever increasing Energy Crisis in America, and the World, there is no doubt that the Republicans aren’t any more in touch with reality, than their counterparts. I mean let’s get serious here, the Republicans have come up with No Energy Plan of their own, that even begins to address the issue.

Like John McCain, it seems that the Politicians believe that the answer to America’s dependency on OIl, is to simply DRILL FOR MORE. Course, the Democrats plan to force Oil Companies to USE EXISTING LEASES FIRST is common sense, it too does not address the real issue.

DEPENDENCY ON OIL.

Everything it seems is willing to overlook that simple plan. We are faced with Global Warming, high emissions, and a growing use of Oil for just about everything. Now wouldn’t it make sense, to seriously go after finding an energy source THAT IS RENEWABLE? I am no Scientist, but if I care enough about the future generations, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to rely on a supply of a product, that will DISAPPEAR. I would much rather come up with ways to first off, reduce our use of Oil, until we reach a point where it is no longer needed.

I’d look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, as the catch phrase goes, rather than trying to increase it. I mean we have so many smart minds in the world, yet the best they can come up with is catchy little phrases like ‘Clean Coal for a Cleaner Tomorrow‘. Like get real, there is no such thing as CLEAN COAL.

I know it is impossible, naive even, but wouldn’t it be nice if our elected officials actually gave a damn about us, the Voters? I mean seriously, neither Party are doing a thing about the high prices for Fuel, which in turn is causing higher food prices, higher prices for virtually everything. Yet they can go off on holiday because gee, gas went down a few cents at the pump?

Oh wait, of course they can, after all it isn’t like THEY PAY FOR THEIR VACATION. I wonder where Exxon & MOBILE are sending them too? The Caymans or Bahamas to count their money in their offshore bank accounts?

While the effect of higher energy costs is serious for most Americans, there is another side to this whole crisis. It is that Terrorism is going to have a lot easier time getting recruits. The more recruits they get, the greater is the chance that there will be more attacks like the London Transit Attack, the Madrid Attack, and yes, the Twin Tower Attack.

Higher costs are destroying the economies of the already disadvantaged nations. These are countries which are poor to begin with, now it is even worse. Food riots have already occurred, so you can be that the Terrorists are in there, pushing their ideology, gaining recruits to set loose on the West. These nations are ripe for such actions, and you can bet the farm that these Terrorists are taking advantage of the bi partisanship of the US Congress.

IF Terrorism is such a big threat, as Bush & McCain claim, then why is Congress on holidays? Surely they can see that a healthy vital economy can do a darn sight more in fighting terrorism, than ten times the boots on the ground can. Iraq is still a mess, Afghanistan has deteriorated to an even worse one now, and yet Congress is off on Holidays. It makes no sense, IF terrorism is such a threat.

And just where is Barack Obama on all this?

He should be calling Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid and telling them to get back to work. He shouldn’t be talking about allowing some offshore drilling, if he truly believes we need to find alternative sources of energy. I mean all the flip flops in this election, is enough to give a guy whiplash… and one huge headache.

Ian @ August 3, 2008