Graham's Office Rude With Callers on Oil Issue

While GOP Representatives in the House are working diligently and effectively to get the nation moving on drilling for oil here in the U.S., 5 Republican Senators in the other chamber are doing all they can to stop their efforts, thus allowing Democrats to escape responsibility for their obstructionism on the issue.

The Senate's Gang of 10, which includes Republicans Graham, Isakson, Chambliss, Corker, and Thune, are pushing a so-called 'compromise' measure that will placate the demands of liberal Democrats who have opposed offshore oil drilling here at home for over 20 years.

When Rush Limbaugh called attention to these Republican turncoats on his radio show on Monday, the phones began to ring off the hook at the offices of the Gang of 10.

Many of these callers were greeted by some very rude office staffers who, rather than responding rationally to the concerns of taxpaying citizens, chose instead to argue with the callers who had a problem with the sellout by the 5 GOP Senators.

One rude staffer in particular works in the office of S.C. Senator Lindsey Graham.

With Graham facing very little opposition in the Fall election, does he think he is so all-powerful that he can do whatever he wants with little or no accountability to the peons who comprise the citizenry?

One Senate staffer actually had the audacity to suggest that it is more important to 'pass a bill,' 'cooperate with Democrats,' and 'get something done' rather than hold firm to principle, in spite of the fact that over 70% of Americans support the House GOP floor revolt against the Democrats.

Perhaps the ignorant office staffer should be informed that it is vitally more important to pass a bill that actually addresses the problem, such as 'drill here, drill now' than to pass a compromise bill that retains most of the restrictions on drilling we now have.

But apparently Graham's Gang believes that we citizens are such morons that we will buy into the moronic explanations of rude office staffers.

With each passing day that this gang of 5 Republican turncoats in the Senate insists on continuing with this sham of a 'compromise' with liberal Democrats and environmentalist wackos, the more I am convinced that they should be targets for defeat when they come up for re-election.

S.C. GOP Senator Joins Anti-Drilling Democrats

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, has joined the so-called Senate 'Gang of 10' that is working on an energy bill that will placate anti-drilling Democrats.

The 'Gang' is comprised of 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Fair enough. But the Republicans in the Gang have basically sold out to those liberals who are against oil drilling in the very areas that are richest in crude.

GOP Congressmen and Senators who are now demanding that Democrats return to work and join them in 'drill here, drill now' are incensed that these 5 Republicans would go for such a sham, particularly when it would effectively shut down the floor revolt the GOP has mounted on an issue that finds broad support in the electorate--offshore drilling in the areas shown to be rich in crude oil.

Graham is joined by Republican Senators Saxby Chambliss, John Thune, Bob Corker, and Johnny Isakson in this slap in the face of their colleagues who demand action on drilling, and drilling without miles and miles of restrictions and red tape.

The bill that the Gang of 10 supports would not allow drilling within 50 miles of the coastline--the very area where there are some of the richest crude oil fields. Drilling is limited to only 4 coastal states and then only if the state legislatures approve it. ANWR is still off limits. And get this--federal taxes will be raised on oil companies to pay for developing 'alternative fuels.'

Nancy Pelosi and the Sierra Club couldn't have asked for a greater gift.

On the other hand, the bill that House Republicans demand includes provisions for drilling anywhere in the offshore region where there is an ample supply of crude. ANWR is included in the plan. This is key. If we don't get our own oil there, the U.N. has already said it will, and Democrats are ready to give it to them!

In addition, the GOP plan in the House includes development of wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and hydrogen fuel cell technology. And it does not call for more federal taxes on oil companies, which already pay over 50% of their profits in taxes. This is in addition to the cents-per-gallon taxes the government collects at the pump.

In South Carolina politics, Graham is an enigma. When it comes to certain issues he can certainly sound as conservative as any. But on some major key issues he is nothing more than a RINO.

In contrast, S.C.'s other GOP Senator, Jim DeMint, is a stalwart conservative all the way. DeMint is leading the effort in the Senate to get Harry Reid and the Democrats to delete the ban on offshore oil drilling from the 2009 budget resolution.

DeMint has also threatened to shut down the government, i.e., approve no budget at all, unless the ban on offshore drilling is lifted. THAT is leadership.

Graham is in a re-election bid this November with very little serious opposition. But the problem is that he has already created opposition within his own Party in South Carolina by supporting measures that conservatives deplore.

The fact that he is part of this 'Gang of 10' certainly does nothing to improve his image.

Read more about the 'Gang of 10' at dontgomovement.com.

Day 6--GOP Action on Energy Continues Growing

First, it was a small group of GOP Congressmen in the House of Representatives who refused to leave the chamber when Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats adjourned for a 5-week vacation at taxpayer expense.

Then, citizens and tourists got in on the action, traveling in to the Capitol to fill the gallery to listen as GOP Representatives spoke on the importance of lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling here at home and passing a comprehensive energy plan that includes oil, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Next, the fever spread across to the Senate as Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina warned Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that unless the Democrats delete a provision to continue the drilling ban from the 2009 budget resolution, Republicans will shut down the government.

Fourth, GOP leaders sent out a memo encouraging members to come to Washington to speak on the floor concerning the importance of passing the energy bill that Nancy Pelosi has vowed to block, and to plan the future strategy of the floor revolt with former Speaker Newt Gingrich.

And now, action in the Senate is growing among GOP Senators as Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and others have asked their constituents to send in to Congress their gasoline receipts, which they will in turn present to Harry Reid to show how desperately Americans need the relief at the pump that drilling for oil here at home will provide.

House Republicans have also called the Democrats' bluff on their supposed support for oil drilling. The GOP leadership challenged such Democrats that if they indeed actually believe in 'drill here, drill now' to put it in writing.

Further, the GOP has called on the rank and file Democrats to come back to Washington from vacation if they are serious about passing a comprehensive energy bill.

So far, not a single Democrat has either put their views on drilling in writing or offered to come back to Congress to join the fight against the extremism and obstructionism of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

It is time for the citizens to demand of their Democratic Senators and Representatives that they either put up or shut up. Either they sincerely want drilling here at home to ease our dependence on foreign oil or they do not. And if they do not, they need to say so upfront and honestly.

But if they do, then they need to make it clear to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid that the Democratic leadership does not have a Nazi-stranglehold on their consciences.

Sources for this post are as follows:
Calling the Democrats' Bluff
Show Congress Your Gas Receipts
Inhofe Wants Your Gas Receipts

Newt Gingrich Visits House GOP

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-GA, paid a visit to the GOP members of the House of Representatives who refused to leave the Capitol when Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic lapdogs voted to go on vacation rather than deal with the oil drilling issue.

Gingrich expressed support for the floor protest and chided Speaker Nancy Pelosi for being more concerned about selling her new book than doing something about drilling for oil here at home.

The former Speaker also suggested that Barack Obama should encourage Pelosi and his fellow Democrats to allow an up or down vote on offshore oil drilling, given that Obama has hinted he could support such a measure, albeit on a limited basis.

However, as Michelle Malkin notes, it was only a few months ago that Gingrich was making nice with environmentalist extremists on climate change and even went as far as making a commercial with Nancy Pelosi on the subject, parroting some of Al Gore's hysteria.

But even Johnny-come-latelys are welcome to the new movement to get something done in this country about our own vast oil resources.

If a visit from Newt did the job of encouraging GOP House members to continue in the fight for energy independence, then the whole thing was worth it.

After all, it was Newt who led one of the most historic new movements in the House in the early 1990s--the 'Contract with America'--resulting in the GOP taking control of Congress for the first time in decades.

New Website Builds on GOP Floor Protest

Since last Friday Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have staged a floor protest on the Democratic leadership's refusal to allow an up or down vote on offshore oil drilling.

As the protest moves into Day 5, a new website is up and running that builds on the GOP insistence that Congress take action on drill here, drill now.

The website is www.dontgomovement.com.

The name 'Don't Go' arises from the cry of the American public and the GOP that conservative representatives remain in Congress, in session, despite the Democratic leadership's vote to go on a 5-week vacation while the nation faces a crisis of gasoline prices at the pump.

Republicans in the House have vowed to continue their floor protest during the entirety of the Democrats' vacation at taxpayer expense. The Senate is beginning to get in on the act as well, as Senator Jim DeMint, R-SC, has threatened to shut down the government unless the Democratic leadership lifts the offshore drilling ban.

The mere act of lifting the ban would have an immediate effect on gasoline prices at the pump.

Why?

Because oil prices are determined by the futures market--speculators that bid on how much they think oil will be worth in the future.

If Congress lifts the ban on offshore oil drilling here at home in some of the richest crude oil fields on earth, then speculators will bid downward with the expectation that such drilling will have the net effect in the future of lowering the value of oil.

Most energy analysts believe that by merely lifting the ban, prices at the pump will plummet by at least 40 cents per gallon, providing immediate relief to American consumers.

Another important issue at stake is the plan of Congressional and Senate Democrats to sign a treaty that would allow the U.N. to take oil from the rich American crude oil fields in the Arctic Region.

Thus, while the Democrats insist that there is to be no oil drilling in ANWR, they are secretly planning to allow the UNITED NATIONS to do exactly that--drill in a supposedly 'protected' area,

This is one of the most deceitful, dishonest, and disingenuous acts ever perpetrated by the so-called 'environment-friendly' liberals in the Democratic Party!

If they are so concerned about the environmental impact of drilling in ANWR, then WHY do they wish to allow the United Nations to do it?

This is why we need a massive uprising of the American people to support the efforts of the GOP in Congress to drill here, drill now. If we don't get our own oil, Democrats will either give it to the U.N. or allow the Communists in China, Venezuela, and Cuba to get it.

These countries are now presently drilling near the U.S. coast in the Caribbean.

Dontgomovement.com is thus encouraging citizens who are visiting Washington, or who could plan to visit Washington, to make a trip to the Capitol to see the GOP in action on the House floor. This would be one of the best civics lessons one could ever receive.

By clicking on the link above you will find complete information about how to become a visitor to the House gallery to show your support for the GOP-led fight to drill here, drill now.

Day 4--GOP Floor Revolt Escalates

Today is Day 4 of the GOP-led floor revolt in the U.S. House of Representatives, protesting the inaction of Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership on offshore oil drilling.

The revolt is escalating.

GOP leaders in the House have sent memos to Republican representatives encouraging them to show up at least once this week to speak concerning lifting the decades-old ban on offshore oil drilling here in the U.S.

According to The Hill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) sent a letter to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday criticizing the GOP protest.

Pelosi has stated publicly on several occasions that she will continue to block any up or down vote on offshore oil drilling.

But GOP leaders insist they are prepared to continue with the floor revolt throughout the 5 weeks of vacation the Democrats voted to give themselves instead of dealing with the nation's oil problem.

The GOP said that leaders will meet with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich concerning strategy. Gingrich has praised the GOP revolt, stating that it has been the most energizing thing that's happened in Congress since the early 1990s.

In addition, the revolt has inspired some rather hard-hitting criticism of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV. U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, R-SC, ripped Senate Democrats on their intent to keep the ban on offshore drilling in the 2009 budget resolution and further suggested that the GOP will shut down the government rather than vote for a budget that prevents drilling in the rich crude oil fields just off the U.S. coastline.

Some observers fear, however, that the revolt will run out of steam long before the 5-week vacation is over. One political analyst suggested that GOP leaders need a strategy that keeps the momentum going, perhaps building up to a road-trip to certain House districts across America, culminating in a massive photo-op at an oil rig.

But with 70% of the American public supporting offshore oil drilling here at home, the GOP certainly has an issue that is resonating with voters--a fact that has Democrats clearly worried.

Day 3--GOP Protest Continues in the House

With a least 30 GOP Congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives committed to continuing the floor protest, Day 3 of the GOP-led revolt over the Democrats' vote to go on vacation rather than pass an energy plan that allows offshore oil drilling will continue today.

The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), told George Stephanopoulos at ABC News on Sunday that she will continue to block any vote on offshore oil drilling, refusing to allow a simple up or down vote.

GOP leaders were incensed that Pelosi and the Democrats decided to go on a 5-week vacation rather than deal with the offshore oil drilling issue--an issue that finds heavy support from the American people.

The floor protest began on Friday of last week after Pelosi adjourned the House for vacation at 11 AM.

At contention is Pelosi's refusal to allow an up or down vote on offshore oil drilling, a move that observers say is designed to avoid the embarrassment of having massive defections from the Democratic ranks as Representatives join the GOP in voting to lift the ban.

Polls show that 70% of Americans agree with the GOP that the ban should be lifted, allowing oil companies to drill in the oil-rich regions off the U.S. coast.

Geller: GOP Revolt is a 'Defining Moment'

Even before the day has started the blogosphere and alternative news sources are abuzz about the GOP revolt on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, which will continue today.

Pamela Geller at ATLAS SHRUGS has been in contact with the GOP leadership, which is describing the revolt as 'a defining moment' in the 2008 election campaign.

Geller refers to it as 'a gift.'

And a gift it is. The GOP has finally decided to stand for something after having been reamed by the American public for abandoning its core principles during the 2 or 3 years leading up to the 2006 elections.

Be sure to click on Atlas' link above and read the whole thing. A call has gone out for citizens to contact their representatives in the House, demanding that Congress take immediate action to lift its ban on offshore oil drilling here at home.

While Americans by overwhelming numbers support offshore oil drilling in order to wean ourselves off of foreign oil, the Democrats have turned a deaf ear, referring to the 'drill here, drill now' plan as a 'hoax.'

Even Barack Obama, of all people, heard the outcry of the public on this issue and flip-flopped his position on offshore oil drilling. But even his plan calls for only limited drilling, along with a whopping increase in taxes for oil companies--expenses that the corporations will only turn around and pass along to consumers.

This will NOT provide relief at the pump.

The GOP plan calls for offshore oil drilling in ANY area off the U.S. coast that surveys indicate contains years of crude oil supplies. There is also a renewed call for drilling in ANWR.

GOP leaders insist this is not about ignoring the need for alternative energy sources but a stop-gap measure to get us through the next decade-and-a-half that will be needed to make the shift as a society from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Pelosi Admonishes Bush to 'Free Our Oil'

Like a war protester mouthing a sound byte for the masses who watch the boob tube with glazed-over eyes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admonished the Bush Administration on Thursday to 'free our oil.'

Is the oil being held hostage? Is it enslaved somewhere by the wicked Pharaoh George W. Bush?

Pelosi, of course, was speaking about the nation's strategic oil reserve, the back-up supply of energy the government keeps on hand in case of a national emergency.

A few facts stated up-front are in order.

First, releasing some of the reserve will not effect prices at the pump one red nickel.

Second, the oil in the reserve is not meant to be used as a means of addressing market issues to begin with. That oil is held back in case the nation is hit unexpectedly with a true national emergency of catastrophic proportions, such as a massive terrorist attack, a natural disaster of mega-proportions, a total cut-off of oil from our overseas suppliers, etc.

Third, if the oil in reserve is tapped for non-emergencies, it could severely hamper our ability to address the nation's oil needs in the midst of a real crisis.

Pelosi knows these things.

The only reason she brought up the 'free our oil' mantra was to take the focus off of her obstructive stance in blocking attempts by the GOP and the President to get the nation off its duff and start drilling here, now.

Pelosi as Speaker of the House has single-handedly prevented any proposal to lift the Congressional ban on offshore drilling from reaching the House floor. Thus, in her obstructionist tactics she is to a great degree responsible for the failure of this country in addressing its oil needs in the short-term and medium-term.

Releasing some oil from an emergency reserve does nothing at all to address the need. But Pelosi hopes that the mantra, 'Free our oil,' will gain some traction with the zombies of the far-Left who will mouth off the mantra on cue.

Privately, a few more level-headed Democrats say off the record that the reason Pelosi blocks attempts to bring the bill to lift the ban on offshore drilling to the House floor is that she is afraid of being embarrassed by defections within her own Party.

Apparently more than a few Democrats are willing to jump ship and vote with the GOP to start the drilling now.

It will be interesting to watch to see which is more important to the Speaker: to relent and allow the country to address a problem prudently, or to continue to obstruct and thus drag the Democrats down with her as she sinks the Congress to a new low in public approval.