Over 70% of Americans say drill, and drill now–or yesterday, actually. Yet the foot-dragging by Congress and its do-nothing leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid has been plainly exhibited. The national Democrats are in a bind on this issue, as they know most of us favor drilling, and most of us believe that can be done responsibly, without tearing up the environment. The Left apparently does not agree, since it’s abhorrence for drilling is as strong as ever. Still, the obvious preference of most Americans is to drill here, and get it done, now. As a result, Obama has waffled on this issue, as he has on others, and done his "soft-shoe" routine toward the middle, since he knows he and his party are out of step with most Americans on this problem.

The national Democrats love to repeat over and over that drilling more here won’t solve anything, and continue to claim that it will be "ten years" before drilling today would do any good in lowering gas prices and increasing our energy supply. How long have they been saying that? Well over ten years, we’re sure of that. So, even if they are right about that estimate, if Congress had gotten off its duff a number of years ago, like it should have, then we would not be paying upwards of four bucks a gallon at the pump today. We do recognize that it was not just Democrats who opposed more drilling those years ago, as a number of Republicans did as well, but the GOP has come around on this issue, while too many Democrats have not.

This "ten years after" claim is suspect, at the very least. Ask those experienced in drilling and refining oil, and the figure you will get is more like two to five years. So, the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Democrat position of ten years is at least doubly exaggerated.

Again, we ask you, independents and moderates, do you think it makes a lot of sense to follow the national Democrats–including Obama, Pelosi and Reid–on this issue? There are untold, massive resources right at hand, available to us in the good ole’ USA, and off our shores, and we don’t have to put up with the whims of OPEC or unpredictable dictators who roundly criticize our country, in order to greatly increase the supply. That offshore drilling does not have to be right off the edge of our beautiful beaches and shores, as there are other countries drilling just outside our territorial waters, several miles offshore, while we sit and do nothing.

It is elementary that as the supply increases, the price will go down. The more that supply increases, the more the price decreases. If Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid don’t believe that, then we really have to wonder just what their priorities are on this issue.

Sure, we need to continue to expand the available avenues for energy and reduce our dependence on oil, including foreign oil. Let’s listen to T. Boone Pickens and pursue wind power, and let’s do more with solar and other viable methods. But it makes no sense to stay on the same course that liberal Democrats like Obama, Pelosi and Reid have followed for years, and will continue to, if they think they can get away with it. Are you going to let them?

We think Sarah Palin may have a positive influence on John McCain regarding ANWR. The governor of Alaska does favor drilling there, and sees her state as a huge "resource" for our country–and notes that was a big reason for its acquisition by the United States in the first place. No, that doesn’t mean the Alaskan wilderness will be "strip-mined" and torn asunder. Though leftist environmentalists will not agree, there are ample examples in Alaska of energy production that does not ruin the environment.

We don’t want to see the natural beauty of our country and the waters off its coast ruined by irresponsible energy production. But, we are convinced it doesn’t have to be that way. We believe in being good stewards of what God gave us on this earth. To us, however, that does not mean throwing the baby out with the bath water. We think most of you agree.

Are you going to put that belief where your ballot is on Election Day?

Again, not intending any disrespect to Democrats, we think it is obvious which of the two candidates will move forward effectively, quickly, and yes, responsibly, on this issue, and do what should have been done years ago. That candidate is John McCain.

There is another crucial consideration. Remember, for "drill, baby, drill" to become a reality, Congress will have to be on board. We don’t have much confidence in that happening in a Democrat-controlled Congress–it hasn’t yet, has it? They’ve had going on two years to get this done, and the Democrat leaders won’t even let the full issue come up for a vote. If Democrats still control Congress after this election, we still won’t have much confidence that more drilling will go forward. If their candidate is also in the White House, we just know that whatever gets passed–if anything does–will likely be full of restrictive small print, courtesy of the environmental Left, which may severely hamstring or even end new drilling efforts.

Don’t be fooled by the "mirage" bill that the House recently passed that supposedly "increases" off-shore drilling. Liberal Democrats have a habit of trying to pass a crummy bill that doesn’t go nearly far enough, and then claiming that they "addressed" the problem, but those nasty Republicans kept it from becoming reality.

AND AN UPDATE: Some Democrats in Congress announced they would allow the moratorium against off-shore drilling to expire–which, if true, would seem to clear the way for "drill here, drill now." But, watch out. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that the drilling moratorium was removed from a stopgap spending bill due to the threat of a veto by President Bush, "and Democrats know we cannot afford to shut down the government over this." But the spokesman added: "We look forward to working with the next president to hammer out a final resolution of this issue." [emphasis added]. What was that? What "final resolution"? Back off for now, but after Election Day, come back with the gloves on?

Like we said, don’t be fooled by the mirage.

Therefore, we urge you to vote not only for McCain/Palin, but also for congressional Republicans who support "drill here, drill now." If you plan to vote for a liberal Democrat for Congress or Senate, please consider first this issue, among many others. Why vote for the party which is behind the times on this issue, and which will raise your taxes if they possibly can, and may not provide any relief at the gas pump while they are at it?

The question is not whether we should drill or not. The question is how soon can we get started. Too many liberal Democrats are out of step on this issue, and that is costing Americans dearly at the gas pump and for their heating oil.

 

You can change that on Election Day.