Open Thread

July 3rd, 2008 9:54 AM

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: When will Democrats heed America's call for more American energy?

Poll after poll shows strong support for more energy production here in the United States in order to help lower gas prices. We have vast resources that can be explored in an environmentally-safe way in Alaska, the Rockies, and far off our coasts. And the American people overwhelmingly favor doing just that. Even self-described liberals, according to a Pew Research Center poll released earlier this week, are now moving in the direction of more American energy. But the Democrats in charge of Congress are turning a deaf ear to these calls. While even a growing number of liberals now recognize the need for unlocking America’s natural energy resources, Democratic leaders are proving themselves to be to the Left of the Left. Indeed, Speaker Pelosi and her allies have been worshipping at the altar of radical environmentalism since well before I [Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh.)] got to Congress back in 1991. Since then, the Speaker and I have had the opportunity to cast 46 votes to increase the production of American energy. I was proud to cast the “pro-energy” vote all 46 times. The Speaker, in contrast, did so all of two times.

Thoughts?