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DEL.ICIO.USChambliss and Limbaugh tangle over the “Gang of Ten” energy proposal?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buzz Brockaway over at PeachPundit says U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss found himself defending his “Gang of Ten” compromise energy bill this afternoon on Rush Limbaugh’s program.
The transcript of their conversation hasn’t shown up yet, but ‘twas a Wall Street Journal criticism of Chambliss’ bipartisan approach, by Kimberly Strassel, that had Rushites grumbling.
Here’s a taste:
And so, last Friday, in stumbled Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker and Johnny Isakson — alongside five Senate Democrats. This “Gang of 10” announced a “sweeping” and “bipartisan” energy plan to break Washington’s energy “stalemate.” What they did was throw every vulnerable Democrat, and Mr. Obama, a life preserver.
That’s because the plan is a Democratic giveaway. New production on offshore federal lands is left to state legislatures, and then in only four coastal states. The regulatory hurdles are huge. And the bill bars drilling within 50 miles of the coast — putting off limits some of the most productive areas. Alaska’s oil-rich Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is still a no-go.
The highlight is instead $84 billion in tax credits, subsidies and federal handouts for alternative fuels and renewables. The Gang of 10 intends to pay for all this in part by raising taxes on … oil companies! The Sierra Club couldn’t have penned it better. And so the Republican Five has potentially given antidrilling Democrats the political cover they need to neutralize energy through November.
In the spirit of self-defense, the Insider offers up Chambliss’ explanation of his “Gang of Ten” proposal, as recorded this week for YouTube purposes — although the video was conceived of as a defense against Democratic attacks, not skepticism from the Republican base:
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Comments
By GT College Republican
August 8, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
-Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi want higher gas prices – they want to reduce our usage due to their environmental concerns, and they see higher gas prices as helping the Democrats in November. This is wrong.
-This is a simple supply and demand issue, and the fastest way to bring down prices is to reduce demand and increase supply. We have domestic resources that are not being used, and so far the Democrats have blocked every attempt to do so.
-The Democrats are in control and their leadership does not want to increase domestic supply in any form.
-Since Saxby brought this group together, just the talk of increasing our domestic supply has reduced the price of a barrel of oil by over $30 and we have seen gas prices follow. Increased domestic supply will bring prices down.
-Saxby brought together a group of 5 Republicans and 5 common sense Democrats to address the Democrat’s stonewalling on increasing domestic supply and to try and find some common ground to move this issue forward. This effort has highlighted just how ridiculous the positions of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi actually are and put the pressure on them to justify their unwillingness to address the problem.
-Saxby is leading the effort to increase our domestic supply by negotiating with the Democrats and finding common ground – he is not giving up drilling in ANWR (there is not drilling in ANWR and never will be under Democrat leadership) – but it is going to allow for off-shore drilling, which is a major step in the right direction.
-There is no new tax being placed on oil companies…this legislation closes a tax break that has been in place. In the face of the multi-billion dollar profits, clearly the oil industry does not need a tax break that other industries do not receive. The Democrats have been pushing for their “windfall profits tax”, this is not the right approach.
-Saxby’s position on drilling in ANWR has not changed, but this is not his focus of the negations. He is moving us in the right direction.
-This is good common sense policy – good policy is good politics.
-If Barack Obama wants to change his position yet another issue and get behind this, welcome aboard. It’s obvious that he will say and do anything to get elected, regardless of whether it means completely changing his position on an issue.
By Ga Values
August 8, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
GT College Republican —Who are we to believe RUSH or Saxby?? By the way the gang of 10 are mostly Saxby’s buddies from the Pork Filled FARM BILL. Remember how closely Saxby worked with Obama, Reid, & Pelosi on over ridding President Bush’s Veto of the farm bill.. When is Saxby going to come out of the closet & admitt he is really a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.
By Churchill
August 8, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
Listened to the interview this afternoon on the way to the mountains, and I think that Saxby’s intentions are in the right place. I do not like the gang of 10 deal, but Saxby and the other republicans in the Senate do have to work with a ton of No We Can’t libs when it comes to energy. Saxby if still far better that the democrat alternative. Peace.
By Ga Values
August 8, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Republican Energy Fumble August 8, 2008; Page A13 Politics has its puzzling moments. John McCain and most of the GOP experienced one late last week. That was when five of their own set about dismantling the best issue Republicans have in the upcoming election.
It’s taken time, but Sen. McCain and his party have finally found — in energy — an issue that’s working for them. Riding voter discontent over high gas prices, the GOP has made antidrilling Democrats this summer’s headlines.
AP
Members of the “Gang of 10” discuss their energy plan, Aug. 1. Their enthusiasm has given conservative candidates a boost in tough races. And Mr. McCain has pressured Barack Obama into an energy debate, where the Democrat has struggled to explain shifting and confused policy proposals.
Still, it was probably too much to assume every Republican would work out that their side was winning this issue. And so, last Friday, in stumbled Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker and Johnny Isakson — alongside five Senate Democrats. This “Gang of 10” announced a “sweeping” and “bipartisan” energy plan to break Washington’s energy “stalemate.” What they did was throw every vulnerable Democrat, and Mr. Obama, a life preserver.
That’s because the plan is a Democratic giveaway. New production on offshore federal lands is left to state legislatures, and then in only four coastal states. The regulatory hurdles are huge. And the bill bars drilling within 50 miles of the coast — putting off limits some of the most productive areas. Alaska’s oil-rich Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is still a no-go.
The highlight is instead $84 billion in tax credits, subsidies and federal handouts for alternative fuels and renewables. The Gang of 10 intends to pay for all this in part by raising taxes on … oil companies! The Sierra Club couldn’t have penned it better. And so the Republican Five has potentially given antidrilling Democrats the political cover they need to neutralize energy through November.
Sen. Obama was thrilled. He quickly praised the Gang’s bipartisan spirit, and warmed up to a possible compromise. Of course, he means removing even the token drilling provisions now in the bill. But he’s only too happy for the focus to remain on the Gang’s efforts, and in particular on the five Republicans providing his party its fig leaf.
Equally gleeful was Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu, the Senate’s most vulnerable Democrat. She had been sweating the energy debate, especially after her vote against more oil-shale production — a position her Republican opponent, John Kennedy, had used against her to great effect. Yet there she was, chummily standing with the Gang of 10 and boasting that she is working with “five Republicans” to “lower prices at the pump by increasing offshore drilling here at home.”
Mr. McCain, who had been commanding the energy debate, was left to explain why he, of all people, wasn’t more enthusiastic about a “bipartisan” effort on energy, especially one that includes “drilling.” His camp was forced to take refuge in taxes, explaining that their boss couldn’t sign up for a bill that included more. If this is what Mr. McCain’s good friend Lindsey Graham considers “helping,” somebody might want to ask him to stop.
And pity poor Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been working overtime to stanch GOP losses this fall and head off a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate. His dogged efforts to highlight Democratic opposition to drilling has kept energy in the news and laid the groundwork for GOP candidates to use the issue to their advantage.
In the Colorado Senate race, Democrats had christened former GOP Rep. Bob Schaffer “Big Oil Bob” — hoping to smear his oil industry career. “Big Oil Bob” has instead embraced his pro-drilling positions and is pummeling opponent Mark Udall for his antidrilling stance. In recent weeks, Mr. Schaffer has erased Mr. Udall’s lead. Polls show Republican Sens. Norm Coleman (Minnesota) and John Sununu (New Hampshire) both climbing in the polls on the back of strong energy arguments. As two of the GOP’s most vulnerable senators, both might well have run for cover with the Gang of 10. Instead they’re fighting on the merits.
The “bipartisan” Republican senators have undercut these efforts, and boosted Ms. Landrieu. They’ve even put a smile on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s face. He’d been struggling to tamp down the energy debate through November, where he hopes to increase his majority and permanently shelve drilling. He’s now counting on the Gang to fruitlessly continue “negotiations” straight through the Senate’s short September session and solve his problem for him.
Not one of the five Republicans in the Gang is facing a tough election this year. That’s the sort of security that leads to bad decisions. And theirs is the sort of thinking that could leave Republicans in a permanent minority.
Write to kim@wsj.com
By Tom ga hunter
August 8, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
I thought that Saxby was ad great. I may be warming up to the guy. Seemed pretty level headed to me.
By GeorgiaValues
August 8, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Georgia Values likes results, not rhetoric…
“Shrugging off concerns about a sabotaged oil pipeline in Turkey, investors pulled their money out of commodities and put it back into stocks — giving crude oil a weekly loss of nearly $10 a barrel, and driving the Dow Jones industrial average up more than 300 points.
With energy losing its luster in the marketplace, the cost of roadside gasoline has been crawling lower. The average retail price for a gallon of gasoline slipped to $3.836 Friday. That’s down about a penny from Thursday, and down nearly 28 cents from the record high of $4.114 reached July 17.
“We’re probably going to see gasoline at the retail level around $3.50 for Labor Day,” said James Cordier, president of Tampa, Fla.-based trading firms Liberty Trading Group and OptionSellers.com.”
By Tom Ga Hunter
August 8, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
Churchill has stole my name again..All I can say is that after McCain’s speach this week opposing Ethanol & Farm subsidies, My vote switched from Barr to McCain. If McCain loses this election, We can thank SAXBY CHAMBLISS & his Gang of 10 TRATORS. Churchill, when are you going to admitt that Chambliss is 1 of your hated “Libs”?
By Tom Ga Hunter
August 8, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
I have some real mental difficulties I know. Aside from the fact that I live on the AJC Insider blog, and am a raging liberal…I’m really not that bad once you get to know me.
Obama/Edwards - Martin 08! My best liberal buddies!
By Georgia Values
August 8, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
Churchill has stole my name again, like Saxby he is a coward.. I am also concerned that this is all the Democrats need to elect OBAMA. As I said above Saxby is a Closet Liberal Democrat. Johnny, Lindsey & Saxby have shown their colars.
By ObamaSax
August 8, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this
The art of the deal.
By TW
August 8, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
It’s a litmus test for idiots.
‘We need to drill offshore’ is either said by those in bed with big oil, or by those who think they are going to get a home-town discount from ultruistic big oil with the mighty 1% bump in supply…maybe moron is a better word.
At any rate, if we agreed to pay for Saxby’s green fees and his liquor could we could get him to quit?
By Crystal
August 8, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
I am willing to wager that TW is an environmenalist wacko who has now idea how markets work. Once all rigs are pumping it will be far greater than 1% and it will take far less than 10 years to see some increased supply. If anyone tells you otherwisee they are in the pockets of the Capitalism hating Environment Left or Democrats that hate this country enough to have it brought to its economic knees. In most cases it is a little of both.
Off to watch the Olympics. I will be cheering on the USA. Don’t tell the left, they believe that if we win the world will not like us.
By Sand Hill
August 8, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Set Up! Saxby and Lindsey (from my side of the Savannah) are setting up the Dems!
They will get their 5 Democrat friends on board, knowing that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will never allow drilling even if it means the election.
This “Gang of 10” is just a tactic to demonstrate how unreasonable the liberal leadership of the National Democrat Party is!
I hope it works.
By Wackolibhack
August 8, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault that we democrats do not want the USA to do well at the Olympis. It is Bush’s fault that we democrats hate America. It is Bush’s fault that the world uses oil. Before Bush no one every used oil and it is his fault that we have to use it now. I hate Bush!!!!!!!!!
By TW
August 8, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Thank you, Crystal, for providing an example for my post.
By righwingnutjob
August 8, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
it’s my fault I lack all creativety and repeat the same self-defeating negativity over and over and over ….
By Taxpayer
August 8, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
I’d be thrilled to just see these bunches of confused Republicans come out with a consistent story. What happened to that idiotic line going around about oil prices dropping because the Bush administration lifted the Bush half of the off-shore drilling ban. Now we have five Democrat and five Republican Senators putting together one proposal and we have Rush Limbaugh bashing them while a group of Republican legislators are talking up their own version in the dark while Congress is adjourned and Bush and Cheney still trying to strike a deal to get Iraqi oil. This is absolutely great and it’s just the opening act for The Greatest Show on Earth. Oops, that line is probably already taken. I can’t help but sit back and watch these Republicans and their blowhard supporters trying to get pole position for the November ballot. They should sell tickets.
By Wackolibhack
August 8, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault that rightwingnutjob lacks creativity and repeats the same self-defeating negativity over and over and over…. I hate Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Copyleft
August 8, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
YEAH, Taxpayer. Everyone should sit on their hands and watch the prices to continue to rise. We democrats are right and frankly high gas prices a good thing. It will force our idiotic population to cut back and decrease our national carbon foot print. Not to mention the fact that this country deserves to pay dearly for its energy. The world hates us and we deserved to be punished. Obama was right. $12.00 a gallon gas is a good thing. i just wish the prices had not risen so quickly. Has it taken longer the Republicans would not have it as an issue this fall.
By Flabbergasted
August 8, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
The price of oil tumbled because the dollar stabilized recently. These politicians are unbelievable bald-faced liars.
By Wackolibhack
August 8, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault that the dollar stabilized. It is Bush’s fault that politicians are unbelieveable bald-face liars. I hate Bush!!!!!!!!!
By Katharine
August 9, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this
It’s all taxpayer money. The demand for oil has been artificially inflated from the get go by huge government subsidies, mandates, and other market manipulations to addict Americans to an overbuilt highway system, the private automobile instead of public transportation, trucking instead of rail freight, overuse of plastics (a petroleum product) and plastic packaging, and the “global economy” which has shifted manufacturing to third world countries and created the need for excessive shipping costs. Our perpetual wars with everyone we can exploit is the largest drain of all, and the Department of Offense is the average American’s biggest competitor for oil.
Oil has become the de facto currency, because the dollar is imploding fast. It is backed only by the federal government’s promises of future taxpayer productivity, but everyone is maxed out on credit, out of work, on the public dole, and not generating enough cash flow to feed the government’s insatiable appetite.
The government is exporting money and resources out of the country as fast as it can get away with it, while we drown in environmental toxins, with oil breakdown products one of the worst. No one is looking at the contribution of pavement, parking lots, and urbanization to global warming.
In this election year, better to force candidates to get real about the enormous waste of resources, and look carefully at Congress’ priorities. A notable example is the enormous subsidies and mandates for corn (and the like) to feed cars and the oil/auto industry instead of voter-citizen-taxpayers.
By oil
August 9, 2008 4:07 AM | Link to this
oil es malo
By bobpiat@bellsouth.com
August 9, 2008 4:15 AM | Link to this
i want the president’s emails now
By Obama Obama 08
August 9, 2008 4:59 AM | Link to this
The Georgia Committee To Elect Obama would like to thank Senator Saxby Chambliss for all the help he has been to our cause. It would be impossible to get the windfall taxes through Congress without the help of Liberal Saenators like Saxby Chambliss. The ploy to only drill offshore in the 4 states without oil ia a god sent our Liberal wing. After Senator Obama is elected, we look foward to working with Senator Chambliss to pass his life ambition an AMNEST bill to free all undocumented aliens.. THANK YOU so much Senator Chambliss, we big spending, big government libearls have to stick together.
By DMac
August 9, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this
If offshore drilling is so safe, why do Republicans lie about the oil spills associated with hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I think Bobby Jindal (R-LA) may have been the first to falsely claim that not one drop of oil was spilled from these hurricanes.
About a week ago on the senate floor, Saxby Chambliss repeated the lie. You can watch it yourself, he proudly features the video on his home page of his senate web site.
According to the US government’s Minerals Management Service, over 730,000 gallons of oil were spilled from hurricanes Katrina & Rita. 113 platforms were completely destroyed. Over 200 piplines were damaged.
If drilling is so safe, why do they lie?
By $2-a-gallon
August 9, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
In Truth, conservatives lose with GANG of 10, just as we lose with either McCain or the other guy. America & Congress has been take over by socialists & Marxists. Socialists seek to pull the US economy down to the level of the Europeans.By $2-a-gallon
August 9, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
In Truth, conservatives lose with GANG of 10, just as we lose with either McCain or the other guy. America & Congress has been take over by socialists & Marxists. Socialists seek to pull the US economy down to the level of the Europeans.By Gary
August 9, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Sure it’s good politics. Do you think PETA will let anyone drill. This country will fall apart without oil. You don’t believe me? Shut the trucks off and in three days all large cities will be out of food. Let the price of diesel keep going up and you won’t be able to afford food. With the price of corn and transporation as high as it is, in 6 months meat will double. The reason you aren’t paying high prices yet is that they are still killing contract cattle from six months ago. But that’s about to end.
By Marvin Milktoast
August 9, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Another fine example of the incessant sucking up of Democrats by people we elected to represent us as Republicans. Two of the five out this gang of ten are from my home state, and they will be hearing from me. I didn’t vote for these clowns to pander to the left. These morons are doing exactly the wrong thing on the energy issue. God help us as this nation is getting more dumbed down by the hour.
By The Centrist
August 9, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
The reason that Congress has a 9% approval rating is because the actions of partisan-pandering-obstructionist like Chambliss has been for the past six years. In the last 30-days, he and Johnny have been acting like Senators for finally working for something rather than simply serving up talking points.
“Drill here, Drill now” is a great talking point, but, even if oil companies hit the mother lode in ANWAR tomorrow, they do not have the equipment, workers, or refining capacity to get the end product to the pump. Remember it was a republican congress that pushed through the tax credit for Hummers rather than alternative fuel research or hybrid cars.
By Taxpayer
August 9, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
DMac, Chambliss and other career politicians will lie as needed in order to secure votes. Their very existences on this planet are hinged on getting re-elected. Just look at any career politician’s life — it revolves around raising money for running campaigns followed by running campaigns to get re-elected and starting the process over again. Chambliss is just one prime example of what government has transformed into over the years — a drag and a leech on the taxpayer. He has no desire to see small government because that would take away from his ability to suck blood from taxpayers and feed his lifestyle. At least a Democrat will tell you to your face that government will need more taxes to pay for services that taxpayers ask for. Republicans want you to think that eliminating taxes and borrowing money while increasing expenditures for things like wars and drug plans can continue indefinitely. Well, they can extend it for a while by eliminating social security benefits but that idea may not go over too well with all the people that have paid into the system all their lives. Anyway, that’s not the sort of economic “plan” that works for individuals or businesses yet the Republicans proclaim that it does work. What a crock. If their grandiose ideas truly work, then why are we in a recession with fewer and fewer jobs every day and houses going into foreclosure all around us and property values dropping like rocks and retirement savings sinking like lead weights and never-ending wars and…thank you George Bush and your rich cronies.
By dahreese
August 9, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Poor Saxby. And Johnny is not far behind.
By Wackolibhack
August 9, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault that Saxby will be reelected. It is Bush’s fault that in spite of the wishful thinking of us on the left, and all of the Bush bashing and revisionist history we may try to put out there that GA will remain a Red State. It is Bush’s fault that I hate Saxby like I hate Bush. It is Bush’s fault that only Republicans are evil and bad. It is Bush’s fault that the Democratic party in this state was thrown out of power for their own ineptitude just 8 short years ago. Bush made the GA Democrat party suck for decades and I hate him for it. It is Bush’s fault that people like Hummers and most do not want to drive around in little golf cart cars. It is Bush’s fault that Detroit made the kind of cars its consumers wanted. It is Bush’s fault that we democrats cannot force people to drive what we think they should. I hate Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Crystal
August 9, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer, this country is not in a recession. A recession, like most words, has an established definition. Since we have not had two consecutive quarters of negative growth, then we are not in a recession. I know that you guys on the left want this country to suffer and talking down everything may seem like a good idea. But I have a hard time believing that everyone in this nation is suffering. If that were the case then Obama would not have gotten all the donations to his campaign that he has gotten. No one ever asks this question do they? If the economy is so awful, then how do democratic voters have the extra cash to donate to Obama? The democrats tell us that their voters are all poor, down in the dumps, uneducated, and discriminated against on an hourly basis. How is it possible that they can even afford to breathe? Maybe there is some government program that gives money to poor democrats so they can give money to leftie politicians?
By Jeff J
August 9, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
I wonder if Chambliss and Isaakson have joined the Rockefeller Republican’t side. Sure seems like it.
I listened to Chambliss on the radio today, after reading the WSJ article, and he danced and misdirected enough to tell me he knows this agreement is a crock.
What they did fits into the mold of McCain (as in McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Lieberman, Gang of 14, etc.) perfectly. This is exactly what voters who would consider voting Republican hate - Republican’ts compromising with the liberals such that the liberals get what they want, conservatives get nothing, and the rest of us get shafted. Chambliss, Isaakson, (as well as our Georgia Republican’t legislature) remind me of the clueless Odie being led into trouble by Garfield.
What voters (who are not diehard Democrats) will vote for are Republicans who stand up for conservative principles and do what is right, not what they think gets favor with the left. I guarantee you the folks leading the charge in the House right now are looked upon more favorably by voters than the Senators’ gang of 10.
This agreement puts up so many roadblocks to actual drilling that it will never happen. Chambliss and Isaakson can say, truthfully, it opens offshore areas to drilling, but fail to tell you that there are so many obstacles to go through to get there, it will never happen. And the best areas to drill, though not within sight of the shoreline, are off limits.
There hasn’t been an offshore oil rig spill in about 40 years. They have withstood F5 hurricanes and still didn’t spill.
Chambliss and Isaakson have betrayed their conservative constituents. If they are now going to govern as Democrats-in-Republican’ts clothing, why not have the real thing so we can hold their party responsible? What is the benefit of having Republican’t Odies doing the Democrat Garfield’s bidding?
By TCB
August 9, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Please give us real conservative senators rather than these two who when they show their real colors are not conservative at all. First, so-called “comprehensive immigration reform” and now this approach that ensures that we will get the Marxist Obama elected the leader of what was once the free world.
By DaninMacon
August 9, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Jeff J you might be right, but I will vote for Saxby over Martin any day. When it comes to judges and other housekeeping issue in the Senate, we cannot afford to more Democratic liberals in the Senate than we already have.
SAXBY 08
By Churchill
August 9, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Too late this year TCB. Perhaps next cycle Saxby will have a true conservative opponent in our primary. Would you rather have some Obama supporting lib, like Martin? Saxby may not be perfect but he is a lot better than the Democrat alternative. Obama is a Marxist, but voting for Saxby will not effect that now. TCB , something is a little fishy with you. I think that you are a lib pretending to be a conservative, just so you can slam Saxby from a new angle. I might be wrong, though. Peace.
By Taxpayer
August 9, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Crystal,
I know what the technical definition of a recession is. I also know how this administration likes to play games with numbers and definitions in order to suit their needs. If it looks like a recession and feels like a recession, and smells like a recession but the reported numbers from the folks that can have a major impact on the numbers says it’s not a recession, then you are certainly free to believe those numbers if you want — for whatever good it does the working class struggling with foreclosures, inflation, job losses, etc. For example, you really should not include government stimulus checks and similar items in GDP. It’s bogus. By the way, Q4/07 GDP was finally revised to a negative value. We could very well see more revisions in the future for 1H/08. Check out the following:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/07/31 /the-gdp-debate-did-a-recession-start-in-2007/
By TopAssistant
August 9, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Let us call it like it is, “financial terrorism” conducted by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations. This goes back to 1973, when Saudi Arabia and the other OPEC nations decided to punish the U.S. and western world for our support of Israel when Egypt started a war with them. To punish us, they increased the oil price thus gas at the pump went from .25 to .75 a gallon. Our politicians did nothing! In fact, I remember reading then the Saudi government asked secretary of state, Henry Kissinger what we would do if they did raise the price and his response, nothing. At the time, they needed to buy American weapons from our manufactures. Since then our politicians have not allowed us to stop the energy challenge by drilling, alternative energy, increased vehicle mileage, etc. If we did not need oil form the Middle East it would not be in our interest to protect them form attack by other regional dictators. If we did not have an interest in oil would we really care of Saddam invaded Kuwait or not? I doubt it. We need to start the process of drilling for oil, NOW!
By punkindrublic
August 9, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
Dirtball “politicians” should be walked to the edge of the cliff and pushed off.
By Eve
August 9, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
Chambliss does not give a hoot about his constiuents. What I remember most, is his nasty campaign against Max Cleland.
By wackolibhack
August 9, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault the dollar is weak, it is Bush’s fault the economy sucks, it is Bush’s fault Iraqi children have been mutilated by our bombs, it is Bush’s fault our country tortured human beings, it is Bush’s fault we have no energy plan, it is Bush’s fault we have no immigration policy, it is Bush’s fault capitalism is a joke, it is Bush’s fault for bailing big business while sticking it to the common man
By Samsara
August 10, 2008 12:14 AM | Link to this
So, the truth is out. Republicans want to use high oil prices for political gain more than they want to work on lowering them. Sad.
By Carolyn Widmer
August 10, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Has the good Senator taken leave of his senses? I, for one, will be voting in November (and he is running) “NONE OF THE ABOVE”!This is not a compromise it is ‘giving’ the DemocratLiberals the election which I refuse to be a part of. My country and my countrymen are not to be given away to insure votes for turn coat Republicans. Carolyn Ann Widmer,Jefferson, Georgia Independence@Windstream.net
By Jeff J
August 10, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Apparently Samsara has trouble spelling Democrat. Conservative Republicans have been trying for years to open up drilling and get government out of the way of more nuclear power and refineries, but Democrats and Rockefeller Republicans (I know, I’m being redundant) keep stopping sensible, safe expansion of our ability to supply our own energy needs.
The only ones I hear trying to make $4/gal gas prices and $140/barrel oil sound good are the same ones who don’t want more offshore drilling or drilling in ANWR - liberal Democrats and Republicans. They are also the same ones who buy into the ridiculous mythology about being able to meet our energy needs through wind, solar, hydrogen.
By Mark
August 10, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
You and rest of the gang of 10 are what wrong with spineless chicken who causing us give in to dem and as for I a 30 year truck driver I cant stand your love fest with the dem. I hope all repubilican will send money to to whomever to get you and the rest of you spineless babies out of office.
By Mark
August 10, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
I hope everyone will help get rid of these spineless wimps and find someone who has values that don’t blow in the wind.this gang of 5 repubilicans or nothing more than wolfes in sheeps clothing. I am a truck driver who has paid and seen up close the effect of and theses toads need to be fired now.
By Churchill
August 10, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Libs is the problem, if we had one thought, one movement, conservatism, the christian way would grow like a beautiful flower, God smite thy evil-doers, Momma bring me my W hat, praise Jesus
By Chuck Singer
August 11, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Oh Great! Let’s tax the oil companies who will pass on their costs to my family, friends and co-workers. Real smart, Chamblis and Isakson! Real smart.
By Brian K Shoemake
August 11, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
The reason the 5 Republicans caved in to the democrats is for one reason only. To get McCain elected. In fact McCain is behind the whole scheme. Obama is weak and vulnerable on the oil issue, and democrats are embarrased. Obama is vulnerable to Hillary Clinton who is swarming overhead waiting to swoop in for the kill. John McCain is scared to death that Hillary will get the drop on Obama at the convention so he is effectively taking the oil issue off the table in order to give Obama new legs to try and foil a possible Hillary nomination at the convention. If McCain can get rid of the oil issue, then Obama won’t be so vulnerable to a Hillary attack. With the Dems in a state of buyers remorse over the stupid things obama has been saying regarding tire inflation etc., along with his declining poll nubers, there would be a ground swell of dems jumping the “Good Ship Obama-Pop” for a second shot with a Hillary nomination, and oil is her wedge issue against obama. McCain knows he could never beat such a democrat ground swell since he has squandered every bit of his conservative support by poking us in the eye for the last decade at every opportunity. In fact, McCain has been counting on dis-enfranchised Hillary voters for his own election! And every one of them would sprint back to Hillary leaving McCain high and dry! So now all McCain has to do is to act surprised about the whole thing in his typical mealy-mouthed way, and pretend to be un-involved while allowing the whole process to unfold in his favor. This whole “Bi-partisan” scam has McCain DNA all over it! -Brian K. Shoemake