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DEL.ICIO.USOf energy and sugar: For Chambliss, a boost from Obama and more questions from Savannah
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss caught a big break over the weekend on his compromise energy package. And from the strangest source — Barack Obama.
On the other hand, the Republican senator, in the beginnings of a re-election bid, continued his tussle with the Savannah Morning News.
The newspaper has criticized the senator for harsh comments aimed at a whistle-blowing executive for Imperial Sugar, who says he warned the company of safety hazards at a local sugar refinery that exploded only weeks later. Thirteen died.
First the oil news:
The Democratic presidential candidate didn’t endorse Chambliss, who finds out tomorrow who is opponent in November will be.
Nor did Obama officially sign onto Chambliss’ signature issue of the general election — a bipartisan, “Gang of Ten” compromise on energy exploration and conservation.
But Obama did have kind words for the approach, which could be enough to give the package, pitched late last week, some legs when Congress reconvenes. And that might give Chambliss a significant platform well into the fall season.
From Dow Jones/CNN:
The campaign office for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., posted a statement that stopped short of an endorsement but praised the proposal as “a good faith effort” and “an important step in the process of reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
Although Obama said he remained ” skeptical” that new offshore drilling will bring down gas prices in the short term, his comments opened the door toward working with the group, saying he welcomed “the establishment of a process that will allow us to make future drilling decisions based on science and fact.”
And here’s the word from Marinelog, an electronic newsletter for the oil platform industry:
A sign that the proposal might just overcome the partisan split on the issue is that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama has said that he welcomes the bipartisan effort as “an important step in the process of reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.”
Now, on to Savannah. In the Sunday editions of the Morning News, Larry Peterson highlighted Chambliss’ donations from the sugar industry:
Since January 2005, the industry has spooned the Georgia Republican $58,000 in campaign funds - more than any other U.S. senator except for New York Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.
And during the 2005-2006 election cycle, when Chambliss chaired the Agriculture Committee, he received $36,500 - tops in the Senate - according to the online political database OpenSecrets.org.
Observers say such rankings - plus his demeanor Tuesday at a Senate subcommittee hearing - suggest Chambliss is fronting for Imperial Sugar Co.
An op-ed piece by Chambliss appears today in the Savannah paper. In part, Chambliss says:
During the hearing, I believed it was necessary to ask the witness, who held himself out to be in charge of safety at the plant and had described the conditions as “shocking, dirty, dangerous, and combustible,” why he didn’t recommend the plant be shut down and cleaned up. The company had adhered to every one of his recommendations to that point, so I wanted to know why he had not proposed to management to shut down the facility and make it safe.
Because of that question, some accused me of taking a “cheap shot,” but the unfortunate reality here is people were seriously hurt and lives were lost when this situation clearly could have been prevented.
It is disappointing that members of the media chose to come down on the side of political cynicism. That is not what Georgians want, but unfortunately in this case, that is what they got.
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Comments
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Saxby is now on Obama, Pelosi, Reid, & Teddy Kennedy’s side. Why is this big spending, big government, pro amnesty LIBERAL call himself a Republican??
By Bob P
August 4, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
It’s both amazing and sad that a bipartisan approach to ANY major issue is noteworthy. While sadly lacking in past years the only way we will solve major issues such as this is by recognizing that no one side of the aisle has all the answers.
It is important to recognize that no single technology will give us the energy independence that is critical to sustaining our economy and way of life. Nuclear power, wind and solar, shale oil and other technologies must be developed on fast track basis. Still, anyone who believes we will see any relief from foreign oil dependence in the next 5 years, regardless of which approach we take, is absorbed in fantasy.
This problem is even more complex than the race to the moon or the Manhattan project, since free market drivers will always seek the cheapest energy sources even though they may not be viable in the long-term.
By FRANKLEEDARLING
August 4, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
This whole offshore drilling issue is a republican stunt. they are misleading people by omitting the facts. I will do nothing to help our dependance . they know this but do not care. just pain out BS to stir up peoples emotions.The world is changing and a certain group of people need to wake up and deal with it .no more bussiness as usual
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
You left out the best part of the interview:::
“Chambliss also said he has not been influenced by any lobbyists for the Sugar Land, Texas-based company or by his son, Bo. The younger Chambliss is an in-house Washington lobbyist for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which also is represented by an outside firm that lobbies for Imperial Sugar.”
By todd
August 4, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
I know that the AJC loves to bash Saxby, but why dont they take a look at JIM MARSHALL’s sugar daddy PAC receipts???
$27,000 from American Crystal Sugar $6,500 from American Sugar Cane $2,000 from Florida Sugar Cane $1,000 from Michigan Sugar Co.
My rough math brings that to a grand total of $36,500. Keep up the good work Jim!!
By Believer
August 4, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Saxby did not think that the OSHA findings were valid I guess. After all, OSHA has real educated individuals with real college degrees and they do real research and real studies and real investigations. They do everything that Saxby does not do. He jumps on an innocent individual and tries to blame those poor people’s deaths on him. He doesn’t say anything about the need for safer work environments or for strengthening the roles of the EPA, FDA or OSHA. I’ll bet he’ll work to eliminate these agencies. After all, these Republican pinheads have been working diligently to do just that. If it weren’t for the Republican’s efforts, we could have had easier means of tracking down sources of salmonella on jalapenos as well. Saxby the Scum. That about sums him up.
By RJ
August 4, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Chambliss participation in the the Gang of Ten is too little too late.
The extent of contributions Chambliss has received from the Sugar Company robs him of any credibile participation in the investigation of the Savannah Sugar Company disaster.
Based upon his poor performance over the last five plus years and these continuing revelations, the best thing Chambliss can do for the people of Georgia is to resign immediately.
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
todd —I have been using Open Secrets to work on Saxby, who are you using on Marshall?? Is Marshall part of the Chambliss lynching of the whistel blower at Imperial Sugar?
http://opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00002685
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
By Todd —- I do not want to give you false hope. I am one of a few that truly hate Saxby. I know that all my “working” on him will do nothing in the end, but it makes me feel better.
I did not mean to be racist when I used the “lynching” terminology.
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Churchill, see you are out of school for the day.. Don’t let Clayton county’s loss of accreditation get you down, after all you have 4 years to go before graduation. Have you talked to your mother about what you & GT Rep. are doing?
By Churchill
August 4, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Tom/GA values, how does it feel to be completely wrong about everything, all the time? Even you characterization is not based in fact. In order for it to work you need some kernal of truth. I assure I am out of school. But keep it up. I would never live in clayton county, by the way. You futility is an encouragement. Peace.
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Churchill, check this out Saxby raised $1,339,000 from Agri business, you know the special interest group he wrote the Farm Bill for, $1,248,000 from banks the special interest group he is bailing out & $603,000 from Lawyers & other lobbist. This is a really neet link check it out
http://opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cid=N00002685&cycle=2008
By Churchill
August 4, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
You are not going to change my mind on this Tom GA Hunter/Ga Values. I do think that this is good therapy for you now, though. I wonder what you will do to yourself when Saxby is reelected. I know your family and friends are used to looking out for you, but you may want to have some sort of network in place come November. Peace.
By Surprised?
August 4, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
Saxby prostituting himself for another industry that gives him a nbunch of campaign contributions, and we’re surprised???
Saxby is the definition of an “empty suit”. Throw some money his way, and any industry has a lap dog for life.
By Ga Values
August 4, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
By Churchill —just got back in from feeding the horses.. hope your mother’s double wide has A/C. When you get a little older, you will understand what a CONSERVATIVE is & Saxby is not one.
By Bad S Mitten
August 4, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
All right, you guys. When are you going to learn that Churchill is just going to keep on ragging on you as long as you pay him any attention. Come on. Just look at the twit’s posts. He never adds anything to a debate — he just attacks your hard work. Ignore him. He won’t go away but he’ll learn that he brings no value to his master any more. Even better, his master will eventually learn that he is of no value.
By Churchill
August 4, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Bad S Mitten, I constantly argue that libs are bad for this country. I know that I will not change the mind of a lib, they are mindless. Plus, I am the token conservative on this board and you better not be judging me on performance. I will try to extol the dangers of liberalism in more depth, if you like. Heck, I’ll do it even if you don’t like it. Peace.
By Bad S Mitten
August 4, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Churchill, judging you on performance would require, well — performance. So, you have nothing to worry about, do you. Further the only “constants” in your posts are a lack of arguments and an abundance of rantings. I’ve even taken the liberty of compiling some of your “rantings” below:
OSUR
Oh No U R Not
OSUR
O S I am
O No U R Not
OSUR
Of course, there may be some out there, somewhere, that might consider your performance worthy of judgment. Have you considered beaming it up to a larger audience. “Live long and prosper” — \// — Spock [stardate unknown, on a yet undiscovered planet, somewhere in the Milky Way].
By Churchill
August 4, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Ok so you are some sort of trekie-loser-lib. Lemme guess, 911 was an inside job. Right? You have spelled out what I was saying about libs and mindlessness. Thank you. Peace.
By Bad S Mitten
August 4, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Ha Ha Ha HA HA HAHAHAHAHA! Churchill. You are a riot. Even after I called you out about your rantings, you continue to rant instead of trying to “defend” yourself and your claim to be the “lone ranger” (a.k.a., token conservative) fighting for the cause of conservatives. Your welcome, kimosabe.
By bbwofnanncy
August 5, 2008 3:15 AM | Link to this
Nothing new since we have had so many before=.=”. Im dying for a promo or something I mean, isnt it almost time? We should be seeing the girls by now.Just look at Lindsay’s hot and sexy photos at celebrity big people dating site ~~~ Bigdaddymatch.com~~~ who wants to find a real man to spoil and be spoiled! Is she unhappy with her bf? Just curious!