ANWR: The good, the greedy, and the dishonest.
The GOP tucked an ANWR drilling amendment into the budget, and the measure passed by a vote of (sigh) 51-49. Apparently anti-filibuster provisions were in place, so there wasn't much chance of preventing the move for a second time.
Why is ANWR drilling so important to the GOP? Couldn't tell ya. It represents a drop in the American oil consumption bucket, and won't even start producing oil for years and years. In short, we lose a part of America's wilderness for little in the way of benefits. But a few oil companies stand to make a pretty penny. You'd think that a responsible administration would opt to explore alternative fuels, rather than prolonging American dependence on Middle Eastern oil-- which requires us to prop up dictatorships, hurts the environment, and means a prolonged period of high consumer prices. After all, with several of the world's most populous countries, like China and India, becoming ever-more dependent on oil themselves, the prices simply aren't going to drop. We could become world leaders in alternative fuels, but instead the Republicans are selling out the American people, the economy and the environment in the name of... what? Profits for oil executives, I guess.
Interestingly, John Kerry was fighting hard to defeat the amendment. I'll be the first to admit that I think it's just motivated self-interest on his part-- in anticipation of another run for the presidency, he's eager to establish his bona fides with the netroots. If he keeps it up, though, I'll be a happy man. McCain is doing much the same-- except that he's toeing the GOP party line in anticipation of his run. And in the process, alienating Democrats who admired his integrity. All for a party that stabbed him in the back in 2000. Wake up, pal. All you have left is your integrity-- what exactly is your plan to attain higher office after selling out for four years? I'll work on finding info on this, but I heard on Al Franken's show today that he's even working to block investigations into GOP improprieties. Let's see, shilling for people who've double-crossed him? Maybe he should run with Lieberman....
Why is ANWR drilling so important to the GOP? Couldn't tell ya. It represents a drop in the American oil consumption bucket, and won't even start producing oil for years and years. In short, we lose a part of America's wilderness for little in the way of benefits. But a few oil companies stand to make a pretty penny. You'd think that a responsible administration would opt to explore alternative fuels, rather than prolonging American dependence on Middle Eastern oil-- which requires us to prop up dictatorships, hurts the environment, and means a prolonged period of high consumer prices. After all, with several of the world's most populous countries, like China and India, becoming ever-more dependent on oil themselves, the prices simply aren't going to drop. We could become world leaders in alternative fuels, but instead the Republicans are selling out the American people, the economy and the environment in the name of... what? Profits for oil executives, I guess.
Interestingly, John Kerry was fighting hard to defeat the amendment. I'll be the first to admit that I think it's just motivated self-interest on his part-- in anticipation of another run for the presidency, he's eager to establish his bona fides with the netroots. If he keeps it up, though, I'll be a happy man. McCain is doing much the same-- except that he's toeing the GOP party line in anticipation of his run. And in the process, alienating Democrats who admired his integrity. All for a party that stabbed him in the back in 2000. Wake up, pal. All you have left is your integrity-- what exactly is your plan to attain higher office after selling out for four years? I'll work on finding info on this, but I heard on Al Franken's show today that he's even working to block investigations into GOP improprieties. Let's see, shilling for people who've double-crossed him? Maybe he should run with Lieberman....
posted by Matt Sandwich | 7:31 PM
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