Pelosi to at-risk Dems: Go ahead and oppose me on drilling
posted at 10:50 am on August 5, 2008 by Allahpundit
Politico confirms what many suspected, that the internal Democratic “debate” on drilling is really just a puppet show starring Pelosi as the bad guy and Dems like Jason Altmire with tough re-election bids as glorious pro-drilling heroes pleading with their leadership for action. (“Democratic House aides say the energy agenda has been carefully gamed out in strategy sessions…”) The point, of course, is to protect the current majority and stall until the election, when they’re bound to pick up seats and can use their new leverage next year to water down any GOP drilling proposals even further than they might now. In other words, they’re running out the clock — on the public, which overwhelmingly supports action in this area and is going to get much less of it if Pelosi’s strategy works.
The depressing part:
Democratic insiders said that Pelosi and other party leaders were “not rattled” by the GOP floor rebellion, and at this point, it’s not clear if the Democrats will even pay a price on energy. State-level polling conducted by Democrats suggests that voters still view President Bush and the GOP as the incumbent power in Washington, and Democratic strategists believe any anti-incumbent wave would hurt Republicans more than Democrats.
Gallup’s out this morning with data about incumbency that doesn’t quite confirm that assumption but points towards it. Only 36% say most members of Congress should be re-elected in November; good news, as that’s actually lower than the numbers at the time of the GOP wave in November 1994. But break it down by party and district and the data is more discouraging. Those with a Democratic representative say they should be re-elected by a 64/29 margin. Those with a Republican representative break 57/35. What explains the difference, disgust with the GOP brand or throw-the-bums-out anti-incumbency fervor misdirected at Republicans as the “incumbent power”? Hard to say, but bad tidings either way.
Exit question: Politico notes that if there’s no vote by September 30, the federal congressional moratorium on offshore drilling will lapse and the issue will devolve to the states for regulation. What’s the better option if you’re Pelosi? Let it lapse and then try to restore it next year, or renew it (at least in part) this year and run the risk of it becoming an election issue?
Blowback
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Thank God again for Politico. I think when cynical tactics like this get exposed, the public does eventually figure out who is really the problem. Pelosi and her pals have been used to a compliant media keeping all this under wraps so they can fool the voters.
rockmom on August 5, 2008 at 10:53 AM
The RNC needs to unleash a massive ad campaign tying high gas and heating oil prices to the Dems.
Buy Danish on August 5, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Pelosi the dictator. Her seat is safe, so she can be the despot ruler of this nation.
Can Bush do nothing?
This country is being held hostage by a few wackos and it’s maddening.
fossten on August 5, 2008 at 10:55 AM
So its a scorched-earth policy then, great idea.
Stall until the election and hope you hold the majority…then what? Do nothing substantial about oil prices for two years and watch that majority slide into the ether in 2010?
Genius.
Bishop on August 5, 2008 at 10:57 AM
If it is true that the federal moratorium will expire on Sept 30, returning the issue to the States, I’m frankly rather skeptical that this would be seen as preferable by Pelosi et al.
They may be able to keep their enviro-credentials intact with the base, but wrestling control of the issue back from the States would be a particularly bloody and politically eviscerating fight.
LimeyGeek on August 5, 2008 at 10:58 AM
RE:Democrat concessions on drilling.
If, that’s a big if, the democrats allow any concession on drilling for oil the Republicans should immediately demand another concession.
That is what the left has been doing for at least 50 years if not longer. What Republicans usually do is accept the victory and then consider the issue solved.
Do not let up on this issue, do not let the democrats buy you off. Do not consider the war over just because you appear to have won a minor skirmish. Don’t quit now, keep pushing for more. Never be satisfied.
rockhauler on August 5, 2008 at 10:58 AM
The GOP is still and utterly completly clueless on how to cmapaign in today’s politics. They still cling to the old style elitist campaign that has cost them the last election.
Maybe its a good thing that the GOP gets its clock clean yet again. Maybe the will finally STOP listening to the pundits who are leading them over the cliff.
William Amos on August 5, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Playing not to lose is a gambit used when you’re well ahead and winning. More often than not, such a strategy leads to eventual defeat.
Pelosi is taking this approach when clearly the Dems are not ahead, not winning and are in fact denying their constituents the vote on drilling they are clamoring for.
Playing not to lose when you’re already losing is a strategy destined for failure.
fogw on August 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM
BTW can get a glimpse at all the congressional approval polls over the past few weeks and months here
William Amos on August 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM
The vulnerable Dems can oppose her all they want, but they chose for her to be the majority leader. It’s their fault and will continue to be their fault, no matter how much they oppose her, until they force her to step down as majority leader.
Any Dem Rep that doesn’t say “Ms. Pelosi, Step Down”, is in on this scam.
Dusty on August 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM
This just makes my blood boil. The Democrats are blatantly LYING to the American people on drilling to get re-elected so they can then STOP the drilling.
ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rightwingsparkle on August 5, 2008 at 11:02 AM
The average voter is stupid.
BadgerHawk on August 5, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Well, I can tell you that my congressmonkey, Ciro the Zero, should be feeling the heat. He swindled his way into my district. The district runs from NW San Antonio all the way to the outskirts of El Paso.
He’s a Pelosi lapdog.
john1schn on August 5, 2008 at 11:05 AM
I think most voters are only dimly aware of Nancy Pelosi. They didn’t vote in 2006 to throw out Denny Hastert either. They voted to do something about Iraq and to punish George Bush and the Republicans for their spending and corruption. If Republicans want those seats back they aren’t going to get them by running against Nancy Pelosi, they are going to have to have a seat by seat game plan, because this is not going to be a “wave” election like 2006. But 2010 might be.
rockmom on August 5, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Garbage Inspector. Is this one of those jobs that Americans won’t do?
stenwin77 on August 5, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Putting the people last, as always.
WisCon on August 5, 2008 at 11:07 AM
“Congress Sucks” is one of my homegrown bumper stickers.
john1schn on August 5, 2008 at 11:08 AM
The RNC needs to unleash a massive ad campaign tying high gas and heating oil prices to the Dems.
Buy Danish
Yes! There needs to be some hard hitting ads going out!
JellyToast on August 5, 2008 at 11:10 AM
The
depressingdemocrat leadership is totally clueless and obstuse in what is becoming the major issue this election cycle part:Fixed.
thirteen28 on August 5, 2008 at 11:12 AM
SO how is this supposed to work, vote for me because I oppose the Democrat nut job who runs the party? So why not just vote for the other party and get rid of you and the Democrat nut job? I like #2 better.
In the day and age of the new media it’s not going to work.
tarpon on August 5, 2008 at 11:12 AM
White House rejects calls for special session to vote on drilling
fossten on August 5, 2008 at 11:13 AM
This woman is a joke like the District and for that matter the state she represents.
TroubledMonkey on August 5, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Gaia, Godess of the Earth, who has been laboring to save the earth is now saving her ass.
burt on August 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM
This assumes that there will be a time in the wilderness and then a comeback. The Dems know this, and are preparing for a permanent majority, and no comeback for the GOP.
They want “same day” registration for voting.
They want federal laws wiping away voter ID requirements.
They want voting rights restored for felons.
They want to turn as much of the country into Cook County, so the overwhelming numbers of Democratic voters will keep the GOP as a permanent minority in federal offices.
Add to this a host of social programs, such as universal health care, equal pay for comparable work, beefed-up affirmative action programs, and opposition to school vouchers that will give the masses their bread and circuses, and keep them on the Dem plantation, and keep the special interest groups happy.
They will nominate federal judges who will push through the socialist agenda so it is precedent that cannot be undone for generations.
Wethal on August 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I think this explains the level of ineptitude that the democrats have managed to rise to. They know that, sadly, Americans are ignorant when it comes to politics, and will be blaming the Republicans until Bush leaves office and then some.
This is an extremely dangerous time we live in. The level of BDS and ‘RDS’ is so high, that people are making voting decisions based on anything but facts.
Barry ‘Hopenchange’ Obama is evidence of that.
cntrlfrk on August 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Her basic policy and those of her fellow Democrats seems to rely on the ignorant masses remaining so.
Zaire67 on August 5, 2008 at 11:15 AM
So why doesn’t someone check to see who exactly it is that makes up this “State-level poll” that the Democrats are running?
I would be willing to bet big money with no fear of losing it that the poll members consist of reps of such level-headed agencies like Moveon.org, Media Matters, Code Pink, the residential majority of Berkeley CA, and every left wing liberal fringe group you can possibly imagine.
Because everyone I speak with or overhear on the street is saying the complete opposite and are holding the Democrats and Pelosi responsible for the current mess!
pilamaye on August 5, 2008 at 11:16 AM
No, not really hard at all. It’s not that I don’t want a Republican representing my district. I just want a Republican with a set of BALLS!!
CurtZHP on August 5, 2008 at 11:20 AM
I dont want to lose in November but apparently the GOP does. They have not done ONE thing to counter the democrats other than just this one issue of gas prices.
That alone wont win them the election.
William Amos on August 5, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Good,succinct summary.
.
.
How would it play if “Big Oil” got with a pro-drilling state and bucked the feds? With such a powerful collusion and public sympathy, it maybe could fly.
davidk on August 5, 2008 at 11:26 AM
What he said. (But I got Biden.)
davidk on August 5, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Don’t forget amnesty as another tool to secure their long term majority.
DerKrieger on August 5, 2008 at 11:34 AM
“Party over Country” Pelosi strikes again. Is she paying her employees minimum wage yet????
adamsmith on August 5, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Alaska would be a good place to start. They need to assert their consititutional rights and if that fails start proceedings to secede. We cannot be held hostage to Liberals. It’s insane.
On a side note, if all recipients of federal aid, i.e. welfare, AFDC, food stamps, public housing, etc. were forbidden to vote how many Dem votes would that be?
DerKrieger on August 5, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Bullsh*t!!
This might be the “intentional strategy” as of this Monday morning. But it is totally reactionary and their feeble attempt to try to put the best spin on Botox Nancy’s dismal performance on Steppy Stephanouphlis’s Sunday show.
Pelosi is dumb as a stump and the transparency of this gambit is astonishing. Just proving once again that these dipsh*ts and their MSM (Politico) enablers are making it up as they go.
there it is on August 5, 2008 at 11:36 AM
“The reality is we will have a new president in three months, and what Bush and the Republicans are trying to do amounts to a land grab for the oil companies,” said one senior House Democratic aide involved with party strategy.
In other words we think we can control Congress and the White House so we’ll play it save until we get the chance to ram our unpopular policies down the throat of the American public.
darwin on August 5, 2008 at 11:37 AM
The GOP should playu Pelosi’s game. If they get the vote on drilling and it passes they should explicitly thank the Democrats that crossed the aisle and call the measure bipartisan. Also take the opportunity to highlight Pelosi’s obstruction and her failed leadership. When her own party thwarts her to do what is right. The same should be done in the Senate.
Theworldisnotenough on August 5, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Pelosi: Fellow Dhimicras, I realize we have hit rock bottom but… Here’s a pick-axe and a shovel.
Claypigeon on August 5, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Do you know what this may also mean?
Pelosi will get voted out and Sheehan may get voted in.
Mazztek on August 5, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Bullseye!!
Republicans, please read Dusty’s brilliant observation above – and more importantly, PUT IT TO USE!!
thirteen28 on August 5, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I can’t see how this could work. If you have a Dem and a republican running for the same seat, both are for drilling, I see it as more dangerous for the incumbant. Because in the eyes of the voter, the incumbant got us into that mess. Party afilliation be damned.
With low approval ratings for Congress, this might shoot the Dems in the foot.
Pcoop on August 5, 2008 at 11:52 AM
[Mazztek on August 5, 2008 at 11:48 AM]
Sounds like great news! LMAO
Dusty on August 5, 2008 at 11:54 AM
I think Nancy winked at me ;o)
a lot!
cntrlfrk on August 5, 2008 at 11:57 AM
I hope some GOP challengers run ads saying “Candidate X and Nancy Pelosi [or Harry Reid] oppose drilling..” just to put the Dem on the spot in disagreeing with Dear Leader.
Wethal on August 5, 2008 at 11:58 AM
This makes me smile. If it desolves, my State will jump on it like a husband on his wife during a honeymoon!
If Congress and the Senate try to take it back, Alaska may sue! They are doing it with the Polar Bears right now… ZI could see Sarah possibly sueing for the moritorium on this.
upinak on August 5, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I think it is funny as hell! Think about it… the looney fellows in San Fran are going to vote for either Pelosi or Sheenan… if they vote pelosi, well we already know the outcome. If they vote for Sheenan, No more Madame Speaker AND no one will take Sheenan seriously since she is a loon anyways AND the fact she is soooooo off her rocker, no more “ear marks” for San Fran! PRICELESS!!!!!
upinak on August 5, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Progressive means, never having to spin a positive ;)
Cindy Sheehan, oh what is she up to, I thought she was vacationing in Venezuela?
Dr Evil on August 5, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Some states may move so fast and issue leases that the Dems might have a problem with the “impairment of contracts” provision in the Constitution.
Wethal on August 5, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Dr Evil haven’t you heard. Sheenan is going to run the next time Pelosi goes back up (of course this is down the road) for re-election.
I think it is funnier then anything and what is worse, it might actually happen!
upinak on August 5, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Tell ‘em what they wanna hear… Fits right in with the old adage, “the American voting public has the shortest memory on record”… These MORONS will all be re-elected, and WE will sit back and BITCH and MOAN for another two years… You get the government you deserve…
pueblo1032 on August 5, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Yep, you are correct. Depending on State, permit can take 1 week to process, depending on the type of drilling. Sometimes they can take 3 weeks if their is a plan needed for environmental issues etc, but usually most permits go in, go out and BAM… drilling can start!
Congress and the Senate have no clue concerning the permitting process of drilling and what is involved. They are going to probably lose either way…
upinak on August 5, 2008 at 12:16 PM
With all due respect Allah, THIS IS ALREADY AN ELECTION ISSUE
In my humble opinion, this arrogance by the Democrat Party by using this nations energy crisis to advance their political agenda is a borderline criminal offense.
Rovin on August 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM
This unbelievable. Peloser is actually telling the dims to represent their voters in the way they were elected to do. In Lyle Rossiter’s book, “The Liberal Mind” he describes a liberal as being sick, driven by an obsessed compulsion to control people. Peloser removes all doubt he is 100% right.
volsense on August 5, 2008 at 12:35 PM
This is like a nightmare. There is a Socialist/Activist/Egotist in charge of congress.
Rogue Traveler on August 5, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Maybe she’s just hoping that this will be the new policy.
ScoopPC11 on August 5, 2008 at 12:41 PM
The RNC needs to unleash a massive ad campaign tying high gas and heating oil prices to the Dems.
Buy Danish on August 5, 2008 at 10:53 AM
No they have to educate the voters that the dems are in charge. 40% of the population doesn’t know the dems control Congress.
unseen on August 5, 2008 at 12:44 PM
In my humble opinion, this arrogance by the Democrat Party by using this nations energy crisis to advance their political agenda is a borderline criminal offense.
Rovin on August 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Yeah well what’s the difference between the energy crisis and the iraq war or the war on terror. Our country is at war and the dems use it to advance their power base by spourting false information, playing up every negative, attacking our troops, etc why would the energy crisis be any different. The dems in Congress aren’t being impacted by the hig gas prices. Hell we pay for their gas!
unseen on August 5, 2008 at 12:47 PM
The GOP is following the direction Americans are going so perhaps the libs can pretend their not “rattled” but Obama’s falling numbers and overwhelming public polls in favor of what Dems are against has to have instilled some trepidation in their strategy to hang tough when Americans are demanding “change”.
Speakup on August 5, 2008 at 12:49 PM
I really doubt this will work. People already have ideas about the two parties and what they support. They aren’t paying attention to the individuals in the party, only the party itself. Just as a Republican could be totally pro-Union yet not get endorsed by the AFL-CIO, a Democrat could be totally pro-drilling and they still won’t fool anyone.
doodleduh on August 5, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I really want to hit something right now.
jewells45 on August 5, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Sadly, unseen, there is no difference. The rhetoric spewing from every Dem Rep this morning alone is enough to make one sick. It’s nothing but “the failed policies” of the Repubs with no offered solutions or intentions of letting any legislation reach a vote. I just hope the voting public are not buying their crap this time. Don’t expect the media to point this out.
Rovin on August 5, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Losers.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 5, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Wow. This really sounds like The Messiah’s campaign strategy.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 5, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Are they not the same person?
Johan Klaus on August 5, 2008 at 1:21 PM
The ignorance of the American electorate is so frustrating. There is no excuse for thinking Republicans are still in charge of Congress. The enabling media does nothing to educate when it doesn’t suit them to do so, either. Aaarrrghh!!!
aero on August 5, 2008 at 1:25 PM
There is a conservative Republican running against Pelosi, Dawn Somebody-or-other, who claims that Pelosi is running scared that another Green is threatening her sinecure. Dawn S-O-O says that the vote may be split so much between the two that her own challenge for the seat may have legs. Let us hope so.
Pelosi is counting on the electorates’ lack of knowledge about which party has been controlling Congress. It is up to the GOP to correct the record and demonstrate how the nation has gone backwards as a consequence. Hit that meeeage hard.
onlineanalyst on August 5, 2008 at 1:52 PM
The dims ran on CHANGE in 2006. Gas was 2.00 agallon and unemployment rare was 4.5%. Harry Reid has entered into the Congressional Record that the Iraq was is lost and taxes are going up. How much more democratic change can we stand? This is the 1st democratic Congress since the Republicans took it in 1994 and the absolute worse congress since then. Nail ‘em.
volsense on August 5, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Pelosi cannot renew the ban on Sept. 30
The Senate will fillibuster it.
The only place Democrats want to drill is in our wallets!
The Rock on August 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
It’s true, and the reason is that the GOP savages did not follow through. They did a little huffing and then let the big one get away. It’s their trepidation, their obsession with courtesy and gentlemanliness, and the tendency toward half-assed, mild-mannered tactics that helped keep them out of power for the better part of 40 years.
Politics is a bloodsport. Check the dumpsters behind Planned Parenthood for confirmation.
whitetop on August 5, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Just let one more arrogant Dem try and tell me that they are the party of the “intelligent.” They depend on ignorance of the people to stay in office, and will propagate that ignorance thru TV news and papers. To all of you No-God types (AH, ahem), I feel sorry for you. I know that my God will overrule these people and their tactics. Maybe not now, but they will be exposed and punished. This is how I sleep at night, Politico notwithstanding.
leftnomore on August 5, 2008 at 3:53 PM