New Hampshire’s Democratic Reps, and former NH governor, tell us they have great ideas on how to resolve the high cost of energy, how to help the “struggling” middle class with the costs associated with it.  But they never seriously relate the two with facts because anyone with two brain-cells to rub together knows that democrat policies on energy only hurt the middle class.

So let’s give credit where credit is due.   Democrats take cash from the green lobby, they continue to boycott oil and gas production–which favors that lobby, oil has more than doubled in price under their watch, so they pushed mileage standards that will make cars less safer, and ethanol subsidies which made food more expensive, and their fall back excuse is that drilling won’t help, profits are bad, because republicans get campaign donations from oil companies.

Did I mention that oil was around $80.00 less a barrel when they took over congress in 2006?   

So it’s probablt safe to say that when it comes to energy policy, democrats cling to evil oil profits and the environment.  And they are half right.  Oil profits really are bad in the hands of  the federal government, which makes more than twice as much money from a barrel of oil as US oil companies do.  But what do they do with it?  They make food more expensive too.  That’s helping the middle class…move to a lower class.

Here’s a shout out from the middle class.  Drill stupid!

But our Democrat suitors don’t see it that way.  They remain trapped in the green fungus spreading across their party platform.  They insist that the government can solve the problem, which is of course a lie.  In two years the government has reaped twice as much in profits as “big oil”, with none of the pricey legislative restrictions placed on oil companies that prevent them from using their money to explore and drill, and the result is less for more.  Again, how does this help the middle class?

But an opportunity for them to break free has presented itself . The congressional moratorium on offshore drilling expires on September 30, 2008.  They could let it expire, they could act now to renegotiate it and get a jump on domestic production, or they might continue their invertebrate ways and continue to bend over backwards to the green lobby.  So do they stand with us or against us?

Here’s a brief glimpse of the current campaign rhetoric on oil and energy.

Carol Shea Porter

ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT  As Americans suffer from the rising cost of gas and energy in our country, Big Oil and Gas is benefiting from record breaking profits. For too long, these corporations have received special treatment from Washington politicians. America needs an Energy plan that serves the people’s interests and promotes conservation and innovation.

The 110 Congress has passed legislation to combat oil price fixing, temporarily suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and increase vehicle fuel efficiency to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

(What Carol knows about energy or energy policy Nancy Pelosi tells her; nothing more.)

Jeanne Shaheen  (Regarding oil specifically)

END OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL
Our dependence on foreign oil threatens our economy and our national security. The price of a barrel of oil is at a record high, and the cost of gasoline and heating oil is squeezing our families and strangling our businesses. Because of our dependence on foreign oil, we are transferring massive amounts of wealth to countries that are hostile to our interests. In the Senate, Jeanne Shaheen will push to end our dependence on foreign oil.

(She explains the problem, but none of her actual policy positions reduce dependency or cost at all–they do the exact opposite.  So this is vacuous populist pandering for political points.  Say that 5 times fast.)

Paul Hodes

Has nothing on his re-election site about energy.  This is almost refreshing, but then given the nature of the problem, it is actually insulting.  But his House site offers up some party tripe.  If you really care GO here. It’s so cliche’ I can’t make myself reprint it.

The Democrat no-drilling mandate

It’s 28 Years old and when the administration tried to drill back in 2001-2003 the Dem’s shut them down.  5-7 years later we are desperate, and instead of bringing new domestic reserves on line today, we are playing the same game as in 2001.  The result in another 5-7 years could be $300.00/barrel oil and gas close to $10.00 per gallon.  By then we’ll all be broke.  Not one of these folks has a viable suggestion for even slowing this advance.  Don’t be surprised it the congressional approval rating, currently at a record low of 18% gets lower.

George Bush

Self-serving “oil man” GW Bush on Monday announced that he had lifted executive branch restrictions on offshore drilling.   (again) The result of this simple act was an abrupt decrease in the price of oil buy $9/barrel.   It’s at $134/barrel  as I write this.  It could go lower if congress acts now.

The current congressional restrictions will automatically lift on September 30th but if we act now, and expansion programs begin immediately, (California believes it could have some production on line in twelve months), Oil futures would stop advancing (barring any catastrophe–like say electing a democrat president) and speculators would start selling off bids tomorrow.  Middle east suppliers would begin moving stock piles to get the $130 or $120/barrel before the price dropped any lower, but the added supply would begin a downward shift in the cost of oil and gas, well in advance of the next heating season.  something that might actually be good for the American Middle class?

The Democrat’s talk about energy independence like someone is going to hand it to us.  And this is because they are convinced it is they, the government, that will do this.  But that’s never going to happen.  They have had congress to themselves for two years and all we have to show for it is increased reliance on unstable foreign suppliers, energy that’s more than twice as expensive, and a policy of fiscal in-breeding. 

Call, write, fax, visit, email.. your congressman now.  Contact your Senator.  Let them know we want action today, and don’t let up until it happens.  The do-nothing congress will DO NOTHING unless we make them.

You’re all Drill Sargent’s now.  Make the call.  Let the Oil flow!

http://www.hodes.house.gov

http://www.sheaporter.house.gov

http://www.gregg.senate.gov

http://www.sununu.senate.gov