We see $140-a-barrel petroleum, and its headed further up. Adding to the cost of food, possible inflation and driving the dollar down in international trade. And we are at the mercy of Venezuela, Iran and other bad actors, as well as Nigeria and other unstable places, due to our huge need for imported oil.

So what has congress done?

ANWR Exploration
House Republicans: 91% Supported
House Democrats: 86% Opposed

Coal-to-Liquid
House Republicans: 97 % Supported
House Democrats: 78% Opposed

Oil Shale Exploration
House Republicans: 90% Supported
House Democrats: 86% Opposed

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Exploration
House Republicans: 81% Supported
House Democrats: 83% Opposed

(And the Democrats do this as Cuba and China drill for Cuba barely 50 miles off our shores in South Florida)

Refinery Increased Capacity
House Republicans: 97% Supported
House Democrats: 96% Opposed

SUMMARY
91% of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of American-made oil and gas.
86% of House Democrats have historically voted against increasing the production of American-made oil and gas.

Over the past 30 years: Democrats have blocked the development of new sources of petroleum.
Democrats have blocked drilling in ANWR.
Democrats have blocked drilling off the coast of Florida.
Democrats have blocked drilling off of the east coast.
Democrats have blocked drilling off of the west coast.
Democrats have blocked drilling off the Alaskan coast.
Democrats have blocked building oil refineries.
Democrats have blocked clean nuclear energy production.
Democrats have blocked clean coal production.
Democrats believe taxing and suing oil companies will somehow bring down gas prices.

The Democrats have sold out to radical environmentalists, and in doing so have set in place the conditions that can bring ruin to this nation.

Wonder why your groceries cost more? Why you are paying $4 and soon $5 a gallon for gasoline? Wonder why your power bill is going up, while they're telling you they want to get of off foreign sources of energy? Put the blame where it belongs: the Democrats.

I might be with you on much of this (even without the customary link to back up your numbers), but it would also be nice to add the fact that the Republicans couldn't get their acts together to pass these things even with a majority for almost 12 years and a Republican president for 6 of them.
And you don't mention all those existing leases the oil companies don't use and how they made a conscious decision to not expand their production capacity. And there's also OPEC refusing to increase production, and the big role speculators play in all of this, and the instability of the middle east in general. None of which seems to be under the control of the Democrats, by the way.

This appears to just be another "Democrats bad, Republicans good" thread. It amazes me to think people still cling to the "us vs. them" mentality which obviously has been getting us nowhere.

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

The same ole liberals will be whining about how you are a partisan when its been their party who has voted straight down partisan lines against American families.

There is no question the Democrats have been on the wrong side of the fence on this one.
After the mid 70's the Democrats knowingly voted to allow people who not only hate us, but historically the most unstable region of the world to control our most critical need.

Once again I think of the Cold War and Joseph Stalin...he labeled the Democrats "Useful Idiots" a number of times in his writings, he was both amused and mystified how a government body would on a regular basis do the opposite of what was in it's own best interest.

I believe it still takes 2/3's majority to pass any bill. Therefore, one side may have the majority & still not make the numbers to bring it to life.

The point is the stats speak for themselves. DEMOCRATS historically vote against energy independance.

It takes a 2/3 majority to override a veto, if I'm not mistaken. It only takes a simple majority to pass a bill initially and with a president in the same party as the congressional majority it would seem an easy enough task to pass these things if the GOP were actually as unified as they are supposed to be.

And I'd still like to see where you got those "stats".

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

Remember when Oreo was masquerading as a staunch Democrat Hillary Clinton supporter who was going to support Hillary in the general election and used that as an excuse to bash Barack Obama. Remember when Hillary Clinton didn't support ALL of the things that Oreo is critiquing about Democrats in the Original Post? Remember when hardcore Democrats who support Clinton are anti-basic Democratic party principles? Yeah, me either.

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Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys’ network in Washington.' I’m not making this up. This is somebody been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna take on the old boys' network,” he said. “In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting!- Obama, 9/17/2008

(underlining mine)I notice you choose to make your less-than-eloquent point about partisanship by using some pretty partisan language yourself.

Well done. In some circles that would be called blatant and obvious hypocrisy.

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Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

I think partisanship just sucks ass here in general.

We already know that big oil companies already haven't been drilling in the places they already own, on leases where they're allowed to drill.

But it's besides the point. Drilling for oil that we won't see for another 6 or 8 or 10 years is about the most idiotic energy independence plan around.

Investment in solar and wind and geothermal energy now can cut our dependence on oil in half in less than a decade, if we just had the political will on both sides to do it.

Forget about more drilling, or more corporate welfare for the oil lobby.

Global demand for oil keeps pushing the prices up.

On the flip side, the more that's invested in wind and solar, the more costs go down. It's a no-brainer; the technology is already there, it's just time to start using the sun and the wind to generate most of our power. We'll live cleaner, the hydro bills will shrink, and tons of new jobs will be created.

Trusting the oil industry is about the worst thing we should do. And I don't see it as left or right; it's common sense.

So you're saying that we won't need any oil or natural gas in 10 years? Remember your stance when in 10 years we are still involved in keeping the peace in the middle east at a tremedous cost in lives & national treasure.

Infracstructure for wind & solar will not be up to par for decades either. Solar panels, since we install them, are now only capable of producing electricity for very small homes. Heating homes, including small homes cannot be done with solar panels. Therefore, it's natural gas or propane.

It's also very easy to put up a wind-mill, however our power plants do not have the infracstructure to transfer power from wind-mills to the power plant. This too will take decades to accomplish.

And NO MATTER WHAT--our airplanes will always use gasoline to fly. We will not be able electric power them or use corn or other bi-products to fuel them. Along with semi-trucks that deliver goods from coast to coast, etc.

So if we really want to be completely energy independant, we have to put EVERYTHING on the table, & DO IT. Including drilling in our own country, including off-shore for our own natural gas & oil.

I know the stats hurt some of you political partisans. But, it's true. Democrats have blocked every measure to become energy independant, including voting against nuclear power, & clean coal technology.

The Democrats are thinking of going really green, i suppose But they have to consider, what we have for the short term future. We are bottle necked for all our energy needs. We are the driving economy for the whole world. Any impetus situation in our country affects our whole planet's economy and growth. And Democrats must realize this and allow for a self-sustained energy needs.

This will not only help our economy but also the world as a whole. By the meantime we should adopt and ratify our policies for going more green to nurture our future without any country's dependence.


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Jack Sparrow
Viral Marketing

Sorry you hate the truth but deal with it.

And as I predicted, they are.

So you think a 15 yr war for oil is just?

Sorry dude, but America is no longer the "driving economy". She's the borrowing economy and printer of imaginary money.

India, China, Japan; they're driving. Europe too to an extent. But America has so much debt, that if China were to ask for any of it's money back right now, America would suffer another great depression.