Now hang on a moment, I can't stand liberal-communists anymore than you, but lets not get crazy here. Drilling or not drilling in ANWR is not going to make ANY difference to the price of a barrel, even if they started pumping tomorrow. Also, on this one I don't know why conservatives waste any time. That oil is not going anywhere, and when the need is great enough, it will get pumped.

I really don't understand why Republicans and Conservatives don't or won't take advantage of opportunities when they are presented to them -- not just on oil drilling and ANWR, but on issue after issue.

When Katrina and Rita caused gasoline prices to shoot through the roof, the American public was focused on gas prices and were paying attention to discussions about the reasons for shortages and prices. They were receptive to suggestions and efforts that might help increase supply or reduce prices. I fully expected Republicans to come out swinging and hit hard on the need to build more refineries, drilling for domestic oil, especially ANWR, and to explain to the American people how Democrats have and were blocking these efforts.

Instead, what do we get from the Republicans? Mostly silence. We briefly hear a few words, but not a sustained effort -- not the hard hitting attack I expected. It was yet another opportunity to talk to a receptive American audience, and another one blown by the Republicans. The Democrats should have been put on the defensive, but instead, they did most of the talking and turned the blame back on the Republicans.

The Democrats, on the other hand, take every opportunity to blame Republicans, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Halliburton for high oil prices and shortages. The Democrats block the drilling in ANWR but they still manage to successfully blame the Republicans for the higher oil prices.

What's wrong with the Republicans? Why do they waste so many opportunities to get their message out? Have they become so complacent as the majority party that they are willing to take a defensive position on every issue? It seems like they are content to "circle the wagons" and hope to minimize their causalities! They don't or won't get moving until they are boxed in a corner and put on the defensive on issue after issue. They are becoming more like Democrats whose answer to any problem is to increase spending! We got more fight from them on conservative issues when they were in the minority!

Perhaps we need a "Conservative Branch" of the Republican party -- one that can and will stand up and speak up on controversial issues and motivate the American public.

It's really irritating to some of us Republicans.

AAR

Matt, you sound like an idiot.

[Sick of Lies, you sound banned]

By the way... let's think about this.

Gas prices at ridiculous levels. I just paid $2.75 today for regular unleaded.
Yes, oil is up to $70.80 per barrel, so the price of gas would have to go up some.
However... oil companies making INSANE profits. So obviously their expenses have not gone up at the same rate as the revenues.

Wouldn't that would mean they are charging a hell of a lot more than what the "market price" should be at.

Who everyone should be pissed off at is Congress. When they had the Oil Execs on Capital Hill, why the hell wouldn't you put them under oath?????? You want to blame Democrats for that? I don't think so. That would be the Republican majority that decided that. But hey... at least the Republicans were sure to get the baseball players under oath when talking about steroids!

As for Bush and Cheney... Why the secrecy over who was in the meeting and what was discussed when making the energy policy? Why? Because it was the oil execs making the policy!

I don't know what domestic oil sources you are refering to AAR. But on the ANWR issue I believe the most liberal estimate of the deposit is from 9-30 billion barrels will be discovered there, and with U.S. oil consumption right under 30 million barrels per day, if it was on the low end we are talking about a month's worth of oil. Not really worth destroying pristine natural reserve when there are so many other places to drill.

steve, your numbers are off... way off.. ANWR.org offers much higher numbers of potential barrels of oil in ANWR.

Tim,

We should have drilled for oil in ANWR long before now, as well as wherever else we can drill within the United States. The demand for oil is increasing around the world and prices will continue to rise. We have approximately 300,000,000 Americans and the number is increasing, both legally and illegally. Our demand for oil will continue to increase even if we conserve more. We also need to build more nuclear power plants, expand the use of our coal, and increase our use of other renewable biofuels, solar, and other sources of energy.

No one can say for sure how much oil is in ANWR, but estimates I have read put the oil reserves at from 6 billion to 10 billion or to perhaps 30 billion barrels or more. One website states that the oil reserves in ANWR could equal the amount of oil we have gotten from Saudi Arabia over the past 30 years, and roughly the amount Texas has produced over the past 58 years. It could fuel California's 37 million residents for approximately 15 years, or the needs of New York for 33 years, or the needs of North Dakota for about 393 years! Another website says that full production in ANWR would provide as many as 735,000 jobs and billions and billions of dollars in revenue to the state and federal government. This doesn't sound trivial and inconsequential to me!

We can't wait until we absolutely need that oil to start drilling for it either. It takes time to locate the oil, drill for it, and build the pipelines, storage, and other facilities that are needed. Even if we don't start using it immediately, the oil could be ready for us to tap when we do need it. We could have it ready ass a strategic reserve which we could tap into in times of a crisis like when the prices shot up with Katrina, or if our oil supply is cut off from Arab producers such as Iran. It could possibly help reduce some of the spikes in oil prices, even if it is just quietly sits there waiting to be tapped. We don't need oil just for fuel either. We need it for our plastics and most of the synthetics that are used in most of the products we use today.

It's time Republicans push the issue and make certain the American public clearly understands that Democrats are the ones blocking the drilling, building refineries, and building more nuclear power plants!

steve,

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) contains about 19 million acres. This is an area roughly the size of South Carolina. Congress currently proposes to permit drilling on about 2000 acres which is about the size of the proverbial gnat's whisker when compared to the total size of ANWR. The way I figure it, that's less than 1/100 of 1 percent of ANWR or an area about the size of several of today's housing developments.

ANWR won't solve all of our needs, but it will make a significant contribution. If we don't get started, each time a crisis comes up we will hear the same thing... it will take time to drill for that oil and start production. How many times are we going to listen to that? As to other sources, there are oil reserves off of our coasts. There is also oil shale and coal gasification.

I hardly think the oil companies are going to destroy all of this "pristine" tundra, the environmentalists will be there watching every drop. The caribou don't mind either. There are more than ever around the Alaska pipeline. Alaskans want to drill. We need the oil.

START DRILLING!

AAR

I have just finished reading an article by Carl Bernstein (Senate Hearings on Bush, Now)linked on Drudge... It seems the "Impeach Bush" nonsense is gathering steam. We, you, and all clear thinking and thoughtful citizens better pay attention and start gathering an immediate response. The assault begins! Let's not "fiddle while Rome burns". I predict a confrontation in the U.S. greater than the Veitnam war!!!

what are Liberals upset about? Al Gore wanted gas to be $5 a gallon to get rid of cars two-faced sounds about right

Hmm - wonder why there's no mention of ANWR in MSM?

Yea, thats where I got my information. It is correct. What exactly are you talking about?

Oddly enough I got my information from there because it is a group dedicated to drilling there, so I figured their stats would lean your way the most. The stats I posted here are accurate. Please specify what about my post you disagree with.

ANWR's never going to happen AAR. It is a line that has been drawn in the sand and even with the majority the Repugs have in all branches of the government, they haven't been able to get anything done. How about putting all of the anger towards better efficiency. Alternative sources of energy. Better mass transit?

I'm afraid "Sick of Lies" is right on this one, you sound like an idiot.

There is not one study anywhere that claims that ANWR drilling would reduce the price of oil. (Steve's comment should give some perspective.) While it is clear to economists on both sides of the aisle that our military strategy has brought about higher prices. (Not to mention that little storm that blew through New Orleans.)

Now, everyone can decide for themselves if the war is worth higher fuel prices. (As an economist I frankly don't care that the price has gone up.) And people can decide for themselves if they want to give up a pristine wilderness area for an EMERGENCY supply of oil. (I currently don't see the emergency unless you think the Middle-East can outgun us.)

The real solution to this problem has yet to be addressed by your fearless leader, and these Democrats have their heads up their ass too. What we need right now, before we do anything else, is to build some new refineries. That is the only viable short-term solution.

After that, you can all start arguing again like a bunch of ninnys.

SMUG ALERT! I drive a Prius. Yeah, I know... dig me, I'm all that.

But here's the deal: I can't wait for gas prices to go above ten bucks a gallon. The reason is clear. The army of SUV owners, mid-sized sedan, mini-van, heck ANY car getting under 30 miles to the gallon, will be DRAINED by their short-sighted purchases to satisfy their egos.

Don't ask me why, by my insurance company gives me a 5% break because I drive a hybrid.

My brake pads don't wear out. Something about the electronic recovery system that extends their lifespan.

And the latest stats from edmunds.com say I can safely expect 180,000 out of my battery packs before any big repairs kick in.

Remember, it's NOT how much money you have, it's how much MORE you have than the other guy. And this car is saving me after-tax dollars the pig-mobile owners are pouring down their gashole.

Bring it on.

Steve,

Were you educated in public schools? You must have been. Otherwise you would have calculated that if you have 9 billion barrels of oil (your low-end figure) and you are using it at the rate of 30 million barrels per day, the supply would last 300 days, not 30 days (one month).

Further, it has never been said that the ANWR oil fields would completely replace all of our oil imports and other domestic production. They would lessen our dependance on foreign oil. If we drill on a tiny fraction of the vast ANWR and also expanded our offshore drilling (as Cuba is planning to do in areas the environmental wackos have prevented us from drilling), we would be far better off than we are now.

No one is saying that drilling in ANWR will immediately lower gas prices. However, had we started drilling 10 years ago, in ANWR and elsewhere, we would have lower gas prices now due to the increased supply.

Steve,

Were you educated in public schools? You must have been. Otherwise you would have calculated that if you have 9 billion barrels of oil (your low-end figure) and you are using it at the rate of 30 million barrels per day, the supply would last 300 days, not 30 days (one month).

Further, it has never been said that the ANWR oil fields would completely replace all of our oil imports and other domestic production. They would lessen our dependance on foreign oil. If we drill on a tiny fraction of the vast ANWR and also expanded our offshore drilling (as Cuba is planning to do in areas the environmental wackos have prevented us from drilling), we would be far better off than we are now.

No one is saying that drilling in ANWR will immediately lower gas prices. However, had we started drilling 10 years ago, in ANWR and elsewhere, we would have lower gas prices now due to the increased supply.

Sorry about the double post.

Ash,

You mean alternative energy sources like wind farms off Nantucket (blocked by Democrats), or more nuclear power plant (blocked by Democrats)?

Sorry about the double post. The server made me do it.

Ash,

You mean alternative energy sources like Wind Farms off Nantucket (blocked by Democrats) or more nuclear power plants (blocked by Democrats)?

Everyone who believes the economically challeged Sean is an "economist" raise your hand. No one, didn't think so. To far left wing lunatics a baron wasteland is "pristine wilderness." Man, we couldn't make this up.

A-10

All clear thinking people know that there is enough oil in ANWR to replace Saudi Oil for 30 years.

Sorry about the double post. The server made me do it.

Ash,

You mean alternative energy sources like Wind Farms off Nantucket (blocked by Democrats) or more nuclear power plants (blocked by Democrats)?

A-10 & CJ,

Right you are! Unfortunately when you are talking to a liberal you might just as well be taking to a bag of hot air! Both have the same capacity to comprehend and understand!

Like Ash so eloquently stated, to liberals... "It is a line that has been drawn in the sand and even with the majority the Repugs have in all branches of the government". It is a piece of tropical rain forest with thousands of thriving and endangered life forms. It is a pristine piece of artic tundra unique to that one spot on the earth. It must be protected with the lives, lifestyles, and tax dollars of all Americans!

Why?... because the liberals say it must be that way!!!

Too bad a group of terrorists don't make ANWR their next training camp and base of operations. The liberals would have no problem raising their white and yellow flag and heading for the hills.

And Ash, why do you think the Republicans haven't been able to get anything through Congress? Because, like the Democrats do with everything else, they block each attempt to do so by more Democratic amendments and threats of filibusters, and the Republicans don't have enough of a majority to stop it... yet! Check back through the records and check for yourself everything the "Dims" have blocked. What do I fault the Republicans for... for not getting themselves in gear and fighting, really fighting the "Dims" on every issue every day until the American public understand who stands where!

Another little calculation for you mathematically challenged Dims and libs, 30 billion barrels of oil at $70 per barrel is $2,100,000,000,000 that wouldn't go overseas to some other nation, one that can use these dollars to expand their military and develop nuclear weapons. And the figure will rise as the price of oil climbs and more oil is discovered. I know. It's a trivial amount when compared to those few thousand pristine acres of frozen tundra! Get Real!

That's 2.1 TRILLION DOLLARS that would not go toward increasing our balance of payments with foreign countries! Much, hopefully most of it would stay in America... pay American wages... pay American taxes to fund liberal programs... or perhaps... to toward reducing the national debt or even paying some of it down!

How about this... if you liberals believe that pristine piece of tundra is worth that much money, then take up donations from your wealthy liberal friends and buy that piece of real estate!

If liberals and "Dims" want to blame someone for higher oil prices and not doing all we can to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil... blame the liberals, blame the defeatist obstructionist Democrats, and blame yourself. Put some of the blame where it really lies!!!

AAR

Just a note to remind. You know who eliminated the tax credit for alternative energy research.......yup reagan. That was 25 years ago. He was a genius, I wish he were around so we could thank him.

Thanks to warthog for helping us with our clear thinking.

What I find interesting is (note we are all in this together) why the progressive view is for conservation, changing our habits, research, patience, respect for environment and the right wing says drill now, wilderness be damned, lefties just want to save the stupid pristine wilderness, there is too enough oil in ANWR.

Why is this a political debate instead of what is the righteous thing to do, what is best in the long run, how do we exercise our responsibilities as good stewards of the earth etc.

A-10

I was thinking more of biodiesel, public transportation, WALKING when possible. I was thinking of car pooling and solar heating. Where is all the American ingenuity?

I don't care who comes up with the plan. This one's non -partisan folks.

congressive,

I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid. I had never thought of it that way ($10 a gallon gas would certainly reduce traffic).

Isn't it wonderful to see the mileage we get? And realize how much better our cars are for the air quality?

Yes smug alert.

I'm so concerned about gas prices I bought this last week.

Sucker!

Sorry CJ, that was flippant. Can you really afford to fill up that hog? If so why would you want to? Do you use it for work or live on a farm?

Sorry CJ, that was flippant. Can you really afford to fill up that hog? If so why would you want to? Do you use it for work or live on a farm?

Okay so this letter is from 15 senators among them are Biden, Clinton, Kerry and Reid...Well in 2005 when Congress passed first piece of legislation for energy in over 10 years let's go back and remind ourselves who voted AGAINST the energy policy

HR 6 - To ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy.

Here's the link...
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00213

Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Dodd (D-CT)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Sununu (R-NH)
Wyden (D-OR)

I had to buy it for work. The restaurant/bar I bought requires something bigger than the Buick Park Avenue I used to have. Plus it's a chick magnet down here in North Carolina. :)

I had to set up another account at typepad. I'm not sure if it's gonna say CJ or Capitalist Infidel. In any event lets see if it works.

None of this really matters. According to DOE, US Army core of engineers, the Pentagon and numerous oil experts/executives (including Cheney), we are fast approaching or have already passed the maximum global production levels of oil. For those of you who watch the news, you are aware the Mexico's largest field, Cantarell, has begun to sputter, Kuwait just announced that their largest field Ghawar, is now in decline, and as of January 2006 have reduced their stated reserves by 50%! Many also believe that the Saudi's have overstated their reserves by up to 100% since independent audits were stopped and even if not, don’t believe they can safely increase production above 12mbpd (at 9mbpd now). What does this mean? It simply means that the American way of life, as with most of the planet that depends on oil, is threatened. DOE estimates that 20 years is required to convert our infrastructure and economy into alternatives. If the max has happened, this means 20 years of oil shortage and severe economic hardship. If not yet, then we better get started changing over. From the Hirsh/DOE report, “The problem of the peaking of world conventional oil production is unlike any yet faced by modern industrial society.”

For all you political complainers, remember in the mid 90’s when Clinton/Gore were pushing to raise CAFÉ standards. They were soundly rejected by guess who? Big Oil, Big Auto, K-street and my fav’s the republican congress. The same ones who have been fighting it ever since. That alone would have brought us 10 years into the changeover. Funny huh? Gore campaigned on that again in 2000. That and removing SS$ from the budget. More bad ideas from those damn liberals.

With Global demands increasing daily from China, US and virtually everywhere in the world, where do you think all this spare capacity is going to come from? ANWR? Tar sands? Coal liquefaction? Be serious. In the short term it’s going to come from military actions. Ask yourself, is it a coincidence that we’re making plans to invade Iran? What about Iraq? What happened to North Korea, the other member of the “Axis of Evil?” They actually have the bomb! But alas, they have no oil.

It’s past time to face some simple truths. We need to change our ways – Fast. You may call me one of those tin foil, doomsday, wackjobs, but maybe you should look at what our government and military are actually saying. Read the reports. It’s not the big news like Natalie Holloway, but what we do now will effect the outcome dramatically and for a long time.

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/ - good starter website, frequently referenced by Roscoe Bartlett (republican from MD). You may have seen him and this on C-Span HR coverage if you watch.

http://www.simmonsco-intl.com/research.aspx?Type=msspeeches - Presentations from Matt Simmons, CEO of Simmons & Co. Intl., Energy investment banking company.

err, core=corps

"Remember, it's NOT how much money you have, it's how much MORE you have than the other guy." congressive

Spoken like the true class warrior that you are.

3more

Sorry to disappoint you old chap, but now that oil is at $70 per barrel it is now economically feasible to produce oil from shale. Our reserves of shale oil in Colorado are estmated to be 300 years at the present rate of oil consumption.

BTW: One more note to all of you leftist doom and gloomers. The inflation adjusted price of gasoline during the Iran Iraq war was even higher than it is now. In present dollars it would be around $3.87 per gallon. And guess what...the sky didn't fall!

OBTW: I thought Algore and all you environmentalist wackos were infavor of $4 plus gasoline, so what are all you lefties winning about?

phnxbmed,

You are correct that it is economically feasible now. The trouble is that it will take DECADES to bring enough capacity online to make a difference. Please check your sources. As I said, perhaps you should read some of the listed sources. Alternate fuel technologies of all types are addressed and are quite honestly left wanting. The point here isn't who's right or wrong but that we need to get moving now.

Regarding your other statements on the price of gas, if you remember, that war and OEPC's actions caused some of the largest inflationary times in US history, coupled with a rather severe recession. No, the sky didn't fall because there was an end to the war. There is no equivalent end to maximum oil production. It just gets smaller and smaller.

Regarding Gore and the $4/gal price. This is what Europe has done and it's why the European fleet mileage is > 36mpg. I would also have spurred development at a time when the economy was much stronger.

With all these environmentalist wackos here it makes me wish I would have bought this instead of my Dodge Ram 1500

i live in alaska right now - we are stationed here.

there is so much flippn land sitting around untouched - probably never been seen by man.

drilling in alaska is NOT going to take away from nature here. the amount of land they want to use for drilling is sooo minute compared to the entire state of alaska.

that is such a dumb excuse libs use.

Mark, Matt,

I have been having intermittent problems posting comments to "Blogs For Bush". Seeing the number of multiple posts from others, I am wondering if they too are having the same problem.

I recently started using TypeKey. The majority of the time, my comments are accepted by your server and post (show up) as soon as I hit the "post" icon. Frequently, though, I get a dark blue screen with the Blogs For Bush logo and a "server error" message. I don't recall the error code off hand though.

The first few times this happened, I hit "post" again and subsequently got multiple posts; although, my comments did not actually show up until quite a bit later. After a few multiple posts, I decided to hit the "post" only once and wait several hours to see if my comments posted later. Most of the time they did, but occasionally, they still did not post. I had similar problems before starting to use TypeKey, but I did not get the dark blue screen then. As I recall it was white with a different message.

I haven't had the same problem at "GOP Bloggers", but I don't post nearly as often to that site.

I just got the dark blue screen while trying to preview this post. The error code was -- Error 500 - Server Error.

I guess I have three questions:

Are others having the same problem?

Are there any settings I should double check on my PC?

How long should I wait before trying to re-post my comments?

It's been over an hour since I tried posting the following comments. I will include them again here as part of this post, but I there is a good chance the original post will show up later this evening (or not!)... based on past history.

Thanks,

AAR

3moreyears,
RE: "You are correct that it [oil from shale] is economically feasible now. The trouble is that it will take DECADES to bring enough capacity online to make a difference."

And if we never get started, then we will never have access to those reserves... So get started NOW!

ANWR oil can be online much quicker than the oil shale and help out until oil shale production comes up to speed. We need oil for many other purposes than just fuel. The ANWR oil can save as much as $2 trillion dollars from adding to America's balance of payments, plus add billions in taxes and wages for Americans... So drill in ANWR NOW!

We need more refineries... So start building them NOW!

We have the technology to generate electricity from nuclear energy... So start building new nuclear plants NOW!

Yes, we need to look at other sources of energy too, but we need oil NOW!

Democrats... Stop blocking Republican efforts to develop more domestic oil... Stop your obstructing NOW!

AAR

CJ - Don't bother with that girly stretch Hummer. Real men drive a CXT!

"With all these environmentalist wackos here it makes me wish I would have bought this instead of my Dodge Ram 1500

CJ, Yeah, theres a great idea! Bite off your nose to spite your face. A Hummer Limo. Like you could afford something like that.

But I'm sure it's a babe magnet.

"So drill in ANWR NOW!"

Sorry AAR, ain't gonna happen.

If you are serious about reducing our dependence on oil, spend your time convincing CJ to buy a biodiesel Dodge Ram.

Cause you know and I know AAR, that drilling in ANWR ain't gonna happen. Ever.

extramedium

Dude, you got me on the testosterone level with that big bad boy!

Ashwipe

How do you know what I can afford? Here's a little math for ya, my restaurant/bar grosses around 90k a month, product runs 34%, payroll excluding me runs 21% and controllables (everything else) runs at 16%. Me thinks I can afford just about anything I want.

3 more my post about oil shale was just to indidcate that petroleum will be a part of our future for a long long time. As AAR has indicated, we should drill ANWR now, as well as the offshore reserves in the gulf and off of California. By the time these dry up oil shale will be a reality.

As was also pointed out we need to build more refineries now...and we would be if it were not for environmentalists blocking those efforts. So instead of having more efficient refineries, we are limping along on 40 year old technology and limited capacity.

BTW: The threat of Iran cutting off the oil from the gulf is just hot air. Iran does not have any capacity to refine oil into gasoline. That's right, not one refinery. They are 100% dependent upon imported gasoline. So an embargo of gasoline and diesel shipments to Iran would quickly shut down their country pretty quickly.

We are equally susceptible to an embargo, but it would be much harder to impose, and who would impose it? But it is certainly reason enough for us to have our own petroleum to depend upon.
With muslim countries controlling 60% of the world's oil

Perhaps we need a "Conservative Branch" of the Republican party -- one that can and will stand up and speak up on controversial issues and motivate the American public.

This would be fine-and-dandy, AAR, but it wouldn't win us anything, ever. You see, the donks want Bush's hide, and they're bound and determined to win back both houses in November. We need to prevent this, or this country's really in trouble...

CJ

Ah, the American Dream. Congrats. Just remember cause you can afford it don't mean its the right thing to do. Then when has that ever stopped you. e.g. calling me names.

Rolling stone
I'm gonna see my picture on the cover
Stone
Gonna buy five copies for my mother
Stone
Gonna see my smiling face
On the cover of the rolling stone

Hey CJ You're rich, Buy me a subscription to Rolling Stone Magazine.

P.S. I hope your Dodge "Ram" fills the gap for you and makes you feel manly. I bet it has a hemi.

keefer,

I can't disagree with your point that by splitting our votes, the Democrats could be the winners and the country certainly doesn't need a disaster like that. I do know, however, that I and many others am getting more and more irritated and frustrated at the lack of any real fight from Republicans, and in the they way they are becoming more like Democrats every day.

For now at least, the only choice conservatives and non-liberals have are the Republicans, at the presidential level anyway. That's why I used the term "Conservative Branch" of the Republican Party; although, I don't know if or how that would work in reality. We certainly wouldn't want to split votes on the president, but I don't know about some of the Representatives and Senators. Maybe we do need to purge some of the RINOs. If they are going to vote with the Democrats, why should the Republicans take the blame?

As I've said before, Republicans had more fight and enthusiasm when they were in the minority. Now, they seem more content to sit on their wins and take a defensive and "safe" posture rather than taking the offensive. That tactic won't keep them in the majority forever. Democrats may be wrong, but at least they are out fighting for "their" positions and their liberal, left agenda!

I hear Democrats like Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, and others speaking out and stirring things up almost every day. Aren't there any Republicans like that who can get out and fight and energize the people, or am I just missing them. If Republicans won't fight and take on controversial issues, we need someone who will -- at least a few vocal ones anyway.

Now Democrats are blaming Republicans [again] for high oil prices, and I don't hear any real fight from Republicans to tell Americans how Democrats have blocked Republican efforts to increase domestic oil supplies. Now is a good time for Republicans to convince Americans that we need to drill in ANWR, but I don't here much coming from them... as usual... again!

One way or another, I want to see some real fighters!

AAR

afwife,

Rational and knowledgeable people know that drilling in that tiny area of Alaska is not going to harm nature or the environment. On the other hand, it has the real potential for huge benefits to Alaska and all Americans. Republicans have an excellent opportunity to explain the real issues to the American people, to put the blame squarely on the Democrats where it belongs, and to get the support of the majority of Americans to start drilling in ANWR... if... if they will just stand up for once and take on the Democrats and environmentalists with in an aggressive, vocal, and hard hitting "attack".

Hopefully Republicans won't blow this opportunity as they have done many times in the past!

AAR

Nope, no hemi, don't really need it down here in southern North Carolina. Although that 500 horsepower would have been pretty cool. If I ever intended to pull anything I would have gotten the hemi but its just for loading stuff into. I did take a quick look at the Ford 250 deisel. But like I said I don't intend on ever pulling anything. don't like camping and not big into boats.

Hey, but I did just order all new windows. 3 of my 9 windows don't close all the way. So I'm going to save on gas and elctric. Does that make me a greeny now? Do I get any brownie points for that?

Only an idiot would link the current high price of gas with ANWAR. Drilling in ANWAR would make no difference in the price of gas today or even down the road. The issue is a red herring, period.

The wholesale price of crude has jumped to over $70/barrel. World wide demand has increased substantially.

While you can't criticize Bush for the increase in worldwide demand, this trend has been forecasted for years, and Bush has done nothing to help the situation. In fact, he has made it much worse by:

a) failing to push meaningful conservation, whether it be CAFE standards or serious funding of alternative energy research;
b) Falsely promising that the Iraq invasion would help boost energy production, which of course has not happened;
c) Pusing a horrendous energy bill through Congess which rewarded big oil with numerous tax breaks....the result being that profits have soared from $24 BILLION four years ago to over $120 BILLION last year.

While we are all paying at the pump, we can rest assured that Bush's big oil Ranger buddies who are behind our "energy policy" are lining their pockets at our expense.