Phew: Gang of 20 sellout bill is dead for now
Breathe a small sigh of relief. A capitulationist bullet has been dodged. Looks like the Gang of 20 sham energy bill won’t come up for a vote before the November elections.
The Hill reports:
A bipartisan group of senators who sought a compromise in the rancorous energy debate won’t introduce their bill before lawmakers adjourn for the elections, several Senate aides said Thursday.
Instead, the so-called Gang of 20 will offer a statement of principals outlining their agreement on a host of divisive issues, including expanded offshore drilling. They plan to offer legislation once the political season has ended, according to an aide to a Democrat involved in the discussions. The aide said that the election-year environment has poisoned the atmosphere and hampered the chances of passing a bill on such a controversial campaign topic.
The bill was a high tax (Biden-esque patriotic!), bogus drilling nightmare.
I say: Hooah!
Ace says, “Huzzah!”
It’s one less GOP-supported sellout we have to worry about.
For now…
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Dems Energy Bill Dead for Now | Skeptics Global Warming
- Obama Svengali, Reid and Pelosi Clueless: « Riggword Weblog
- Understanding The Domestic Enemies « I Took The Red Pill (and escaped the Matrix)
- Sierra Hotel! The Gang of 20 Folds! | Jeffrey A. Setaro
- Thune Not Making Friends And Influencing People | Politics and Hypocrisy
- Domestic Drilling Victory -- For Now | Axis of Right
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There was general consensus in Washington that this bill sucked and that it was dead on arrival to the President’s desk. The actual bill didn’t even address the fundemental underpinnings of our economy… that we need gas and oil that’s not imported from our “fake friends” like Russia.
It’s so nice to know that Americans know that this Congress sucks but either a) they will send the same dirtbags back, b) will throw out the old for some new, unoriginal dirtbags, or c) don’t know why Congress sucked in the first place. If we had a more intelligent and informed electorate, perhaps we wouldn’t be gettin’ such an undermining piece of bunk bills like this one.
It’s hurrah so what until the next emergency…..
On a sidenote:
Hey, Michelle, do you ever sleep? Are you a night owl like me?
Nice to know I keep such good company this time of day….
Okay…dumb question here.
Does this inaction mean that the ban on OCS drilling will expire since no action is being taken to renew it?
BTW I should clarify that I’m ecstatic that this bill is dead.
Powerpro:
Yes, the OCS drilling will expire since the Dems have decided to “adjoun.” It’s supposed to expire soon…. until the Dems can enact another ban.
I’m also ecstatic that the bill is dead but this victory is hollow. Unless Republicans make a good showing in the elections in both the House and Senate, it won’t matter a damn.
Where I live (but do not vote) it looks like VA will have two Dem senators because Warner is popular and Gilmore not so much. Hopefully will get some better results in the House because that’s where any progress will occur.
Yes, I think the OCS ban does expire without Congressional action on October 1.
I also heard that the Democrats decided to let it expire for the election season to cover their own asses, then when they have larger majorities in the next Congress plus President Obama, they will “fix” it. Whatever the hell that means.
Interestingly, isn’t that VP debate on Oct. 2?
Hmmmmm…….Sarah’Cuda!
Fanfreakintastic. So nothing on the energy front is going to get accomplished before the election. Great stall tactic they used there. Let’s write something up that is so ridiculous, they’ll actually be relieved when it doesn’t pass. That should hold them off until our boy’s in office. Then we can really accomplish our goals.
Whatever those goals may be. They will no longer be the “do-nothing” Congress.
This has turned out to be the most “nothing” congress in recent times, as well as the most unethical. So much for Pelosi’s “most ethical congress” declaration. I wonder what sort of nonsense will come out of D.C., if the dems control everything….
Both of the senators from GA were for this bill and I want to apologize to America because of them. I stopped voting for them and just don’t know know what else to do. They are a couple of the worst RINO sell outs by supporting this bill and the amnesty bill. I just don’t know what to do because I can’t vote for a democrat and can’t support these these spineless chicken hearts. I guess we could med-flight a backbone to Washington
I believe the Dems intentionally threw the last two years as do nothing.
They were holding to a longer term strategy. During the FISA debate there were any number of Dems testified on their turns at the floor mic hitting the same points over and over and not even related directly to the debate at the time
More dems to stop the vetoes
More dems to stop the OBSTRUCTIONIST republicans
Dem in the White House to stop the vetoes
I expect you would hear a lot of the same and get those mic talking points as campaign clips along the way.
All bills totally over the top so Republicans could be framed as obstructionist along the way.
Only the absolute minimum funding bills get done.
Operative words by Michelle, “For now…”
I’ll not be shocked when the bill passes anyway. Congress is surprising me less and less and…
On the way to the Vaseline cabinet.
I loved the part where the aide said “the election-year environment has poisoned the atmosphere art where they said the ”
Yeah idiots that is called WE THE PEOPLE PISSED off…..it will be the exact same in November and the 20 who write their intent only keep the Senatorial Committee from getting donations…..we DON’T FORGET
Will The Gang of 20’s statement be followed by statements of vice-principals, custodians and teacher’s aides?
We’ll have a LOT more GOP-supported sellouts if McCain gets elected. An Obama Presidency will assure at least 20 years of Conservative control after 4 years; if we can find one.
Here’s my wishful thinking for the day. McCain wins, Palin gets him to change his mind on ANWR, enough pressue is brought on Congress from the public, and we begin drilling.
Alright, now back to reality.
Political theater production “Let’s Drill!” has flopped on Capitol Hill.
The do nothing congress has their “Bush’s fault” excuse to hide their incompetence. Fire them all!
Gang of 20 principles? Har…
I’m ashamed that my two senators were some of the biggest supporters of this bill. It is precisely because of his support that I refuse to put a “Saxby” button on my blog supporting his reelections.
I’ve never a radical but my stupid government is pushing me that way. There is a tipping point for everyone!
Michelle, can we have a list of the RINOS who were members of this gang?
Since today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I say these scurvy dogs be hung from the yard arm for their mutinous words.
GO SARAH!
Here ya go.
Republicans:
Saxby Chambliss, GA
Johnny Isakson, GA
Lindsay Graham, SC
John Thune, SD
Bob Corker, TN
John Warner, VA
Norm Coleman, VA
John Sununu, NH
Susan Collins, R-ME
Elizabeth Dole, R-NC
Nancy Pelosi’s failed Congress.
Harry Reid’s failed Senate.
These banners should be put everywhere to remind the electorate of how much we’ve paid for so little results.
Their major contributions have been acrimony; vitriol; and the further polarization of the two parties while doing nothing for the country.
They and those thieves that headed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be held to account.
Just a reminder. Japan attacked us at Pearl Harbor because we were threatening their oil supplies from southeast asia. We are now leaving ourselves open to foreign control. What’s wrong with our representatives? When my daughters ask me why the democrats are blocking our independence, I don’t know what to tell them.
Lindsay Graham is no surprise. He’s a weasal if ever there was one.
John Warner has been a RINO for a long time and is leaving office after this election so he doesn’t care what his constituents think.
The rest are willing to compromise their values in order to get re-elected.
Dismal failures all.
McCain/Palin have been handed another campaign issue on a silver platter.
Senator McCain I implore you, please let “Saracuda” loose on this issue and follow her lead. This is not a time to “reach across the aisle” /reality on
Thank the Lord. There’s always hope. Now let’s kick em’ in the arse.
Nice piece at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28586 by my Representative Jeb Hensarling and Senator Jim Demint on letting the ban expire 31 October 2008.
That would be a real Treat for All Hallows Eve!!
Welcome to Friday my friends.
Can any of you honestly tell me why congress is blocking our energy independence? Not that they’re socialist, communist or that they are crazy. What is the core reason they are failing us?
It’s tremendous good news that this insane bill is in the tank. But it only underlines for me that Congress has spent an awful lot of time doing absolutely nothing in support of our energy independence.
Drill here! Drill now! Pay less!
Is it really so difficult?
I’ve got nothing. Nope. Can’t add to that.
TexasEngineer – good article you pointed us to. The bottom half of the article in particular let’s us know that we need to let those bozo’s in Congress know to not pull any shenanigans in order to extend the ban.
Their ties to far left organizations.
John Warner-VA is retiring with this term. There is a general feeling that he will be replaced with a Dem. I say so what, Warner has been a Dem in all but name as long as I can remember. I would vote against him even if he ran again. Weasel.
Are the ties to the far left about power or money. Look, I’m just a guy running a small business on a mountain top in Idaho. My wife and I have no inside information. We saw the energy problem 10 years ago. We talked about the collapse of Fanny May 4 years ago. There a better informed people out there than us. How did this all happen?
Greed, quid pro quo politics and regulators becoming a part of the problem when they were supposed to be part of the solution. Both Washington and Wall St. are to blame….
That’s my two cents.
The day after Energy Freedom Day?
Should be a verrrry interesting debate!
Aw, did Lindsey throw a hissy fit again?
Don’t blame Coleman on Virginians. He’s from Minn. Where it gets cold in the winter. There can be no compromise with the Democrats on this issue. If Republicans can’t grow a pair we will be right back here very soon.
I told this board a long time ago, even if they pass a bill that wildly encourages drilling everywhere, no drilling will ever happen. The democrats in congress are just the first line of defense for the green nuts, but by no means the last.
The law is permeated at both state and federal level with so many environmental rules, restrictions and regulatations constricting exploration, extraction and refining, that legal challenges at all three stages of the process will be able to tie up, unconscionably raise the cost of, and outright prevent anything happening for just about forever.
The armies of environmental lawyers have already found out which of the thousands of liberal judges will be on their side if any new leasing is done. In fact this legal war has already begun. A few new leases have been granted this year, but there are already so many legal challenges in progress that it may be enough to stop any drilling whatsoever for the foreseeable future.
Why do you think that the left can with such confidence claim that new drilling will have no effect on the price until 2030? Because they know they can make it impossible at least until then to actually get to the oil in other ways than just legislatively.
The only way that anything could ever be accomplished is if, as was done in the 1970’s after the oil embargo, congress waived all environmental restriction to forestall this legal onslaught. But back then, we actually had democrats that cared about the country. What do you think the odds of getting that kind of cooperation from the left are in this political climate?
Even if McCain/Palin win in a landslide, they would need such coattails that they could also have veto-proof majorities in both houses of congress. Even then, legal challenges would be brought against any waiver of environmental rules, and enough lefty judges are out there to force this all the way to the SCOTUS.
All the while we’ll have to deal with the GreenPeace ships anchored over the spots where offshore drilling is planned, and the protesters blocking access to the inland drilling sites.
Given that left wing zealots now comprise a large enough minority to permanently block any actual progress on energy, I think the time has come to consider splitting this great country in two. Let the lefties have the banana rrepublic they would create in their section and let the rest of us alone.
I say let’s take a look at the platform of this party that the First Dude of Alaska used to belong to. It may be the only way to survive the maniacal suicidal tendencies of the left.
Now, if only we could kill these “patriotic” trillion dollar taxpayer bailouts.
Years of listening to groups/lobbyists/individuals all wanting something and compromising in order to maintain a seat in government. I don’t know what the cut-off (in years) is between ’serving-the-peopleism’ and ’sell-outism’ but what ever it is, I believe term limits would help some. Just look at how fresh Sarah Palin’s resume is to us all…..Wouldn’t it be great to have more of that kind? And what a crime it is to see that bright light dimmed by selling out…
What did Matt Damon say to John Voight in the movie in The Rain Maker?? “Just how long did it take you before you sold out?”…something like that…
The link below is a Santa Barbara environmental group that is rational. They point out that the natural oil seepage into the ocean can be slowed by safe offshore drilling. There quest for sanity is being blocked by local government. Why can’t they make headway?
.http://www.soscalifornia.org/index.html
http://www.soscalifornia.org/index.html
Opps; Active link
Like many of you, I e-mailed and called the offices of every one of the RINO turncoats. I am hopeful that the voices of the American people persuaded them to reconsider. I am also hopeful that every single one of these bums will be thrown out of office when their re-election comes up.
I also hope that Santa will bring me a Wii for Christmas.
People in SC HATE Grahmnesty he will most likely be voted out this election!
No, they’ll offer a statement of PRINCIPLES. Sorry–that bothers me.
Funny thing is though – I’m not sure this kind of action actually will help them get re-elected????
On September 19th, 2008 at 8:18 am, FamilyMan said:
Tell them the truth.
So in the face of an economic crisis, Obama will release his plan…at a later date. This guy is a joke. People want to see how he respond rapidly to a nation changing event and he can’t deliver on the spot. This guy is not ready for prime time, he can’t take the training wheels off. Whether it’s the crisis in Georgia or bailing out AIG, this guy cannot give us what he would do. Also, Paulson hinted that he’d act in a fashion similar to McCain’s plan and the market is up nearly 800pts in two days. Tell me again who should be trusted to guide this nation through a crisis.
I sent both Chambliss and Isakson an email and told them they weren’t getting my vote. As a matter of fact, I sent them two: one when they were a gang of ten, and another Wednesday when I found out they were a gang of twenty. For the first time in 51 years I’ll be writing in someone else’s name come November.
And this GDMF electorate looks like it is about to put the socialist trio of Pelosi/Reid/Obama in full control of the federal levers.
Un-frigging-beliveable.
I am beyond stunned at the stupidity of the aggregate American electorate.
That makes two of us.
I wonder if Liddy Dole got an ear full when she was home in here Raleigh the other day?
She was on a news radio program down here and stated that she was a part of the gang of twenty. I was kinda ticked that the host of the show didn’t call her on it.
I would have loved to call into the show and given her what for on that one. But I know that I would have never gotten through.
30 pieces, you hit the nail on the head…governmental interference. along with special interests. You were referring to the, EPA in your “Washington” ? no, doubt you were.
I can’t see why this election is not a land slide for the Repubs…70% of the population want the boarders closed and illegals gone along with drill everywhere for cheaper fuel…shouldn’t even be close. What’s up with these close polls?