Gang of 10 Continued
I’ve written several times on the Gang of 10. But I wanted to provide you with the link to Rush Limbaugh’s diatribe on the so-called Gang of 10.
Here’s the link and here’s the headline: Gang of 10 Sells Out House GOP; Stupid Senators Give Gift to Obama
And there was some confusion on Friday as some of our callers got conflicting messages on Senator Alexander’s support for the Gang of 10 Plan. Earlier in the week, one caller confirmed that Alexander’s office did support the plan after we discussed WSMV’s announcement of Alexander’s support. He had called Senator Alexander’s office to voice his regret at Alexander’s support. Then on Friday, one office stated that he did not support the plan.
After contacting Senator Alexander’s office in an effort to clear up any confusion, (and thanks to them for such a speedy reply!) they immediately e-mailed Senator Alexander’s official statement as we were discussing the topic on air. He is indeed in support of the plan.
From Senator Alexander’s office:
For immediate release: August 1, 2008 Alexander Says Senate Should Take Up “Gang of 10” Proposals, Improve Them, and Make Them Law
Says Senate Should Act Immediately on Bipartisan Energy Proposal
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today issued the following statement after the bipartisan coalition of senators known informally as the “Gang of 10” unveiled an energy proposal to reduce gas prices, lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and strengthen America’s economy:
“These are the right ideas: plug-in cars and trucks, conservation and producing more American energy,” Alexander said. “And this is the right way to get a result. The Senate should take up these bipartisan recommendations as soon as we reconvene in September, improve them and make them law. Senator Corker has rendered a real service by his participation in this working group.”
The bipartisan coalition is led by Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and includes Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).
Now, I’ve praised Senator Alexander for taking a stand and going to the mat in order to open up drilling. But the drilling provision in this Gang of 10 plan is a complete joke. Essentially, there will be no drilling. The plan limits the area, gives states the decision (states don’t own the Outer Continental Shelf!), and the extra taxes in this plan will be a disincentive for the oil companies. And that’s just a start on this behemoth that will prove nothing more than a burden on taxpayers.
And if you’re in the mood for a morning chuckle, check out the information on the nuclear provision. The Gang of 10 Plan would increase staff at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Now that should help!!
As the fine folks at Institute for Energy Research say, we’re just better off doing nothing and letting the moratorium expire:
“Faced with the prospect of having the ban on offshore energy production expire at the end of September if Congress does nothing, this headline-hungry gang decided it had to do something before leaving town for the August vacation,” Murphy said.
““The New Era plan is the same as the era we find ourselves stuck in today – flush in subsidies, tax credits, and various other government handouts, but short on the energy supplies our economy and our consumers need to prosper. American families would be better served if the Gang and the entire Congress simply stopped trying to help, stepped aside, and let the offshore ban expire.”
UPDATE: Ken over at Blue Collar Muse has a simply outstanding write up on the Gang and Corker. He calls it “ganging up on Americans.” Amen, Ken. Check it out.
10 Comments so far
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IBD had a scathing editorial on this Friday. These “stupid” Senators need to admit their mistake, and back out of this NOW.
I’m watching you on this issue, Lamar. Don’t lose my vote and support over it.
By David on 08.11.08 8:35 am
Stand up to the dems. Start the drilling NOW..What are you waiting for?
Nancy is not speeking for me. She needs to go. Have some back bone. STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE before it’s too late. Thank You
By Margie Tirey on 08.11.08 8:52 am
Bob Corker and Colleagues “Gang” Up on Americans…
A friend emailed me about Bob Corker’s involvement in the Gang of 10. He asked, “What is Corker doing?” To quote Bob Corker himself, he is doing “…exactly what I came to the Senate to do.” To the host of Tennessea…
By Blue Collar Muse on 08.11.08 12:25 pm
How can we expect career politicians to stand up for us in our everyday lives if they won’t stand up on something as serious as this? I don’t think they can or will.
John Edwards summed up what I believe to be MOST politicians outlook on their lives: “But then after that I ran for the senate and I got elected to the Senate and here we go again, it’s the same old thing again. Adulation, respect, admiration. Then I went from being a senator, a young senator to being considered for vice president, running for president, being a vice presidential candidate and becoming a national public figure. All of which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want. You’re invincible. And there will be no consequences.”
Corker and the rest, are you reading this? “self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want” is a decent way of describing how you Washington insiders think of us in the tax pool.
To Corker and the rest of the gang: Nero was not alone when Rome burned. It took a “gang” to destroy Rome. Are you tuning your fiddles?
By BCB on 08.11.08 4:06 pm
How does it feel to help promote a national scam by a departing administration and its friends, namely a bid for control of oil fields that will be worth tremendously greater value at some future time? Throughout the national conversation that has gone on for some time now it has been demonstrated clearly that there are ample opportunities for petroleum extraction that already exist and are lying fallow. The Alaskan reserve alone, west of ANWR has been test drilled and capped. Why is nothing coming out of it now?
By SemiPundit on 08.12.08 9:42 am
Semi, how DOES it feel to be part of a national scam that tries to control those oil fields? I speak of global warming and the facist tactics of Nancy Pelosi. Can you imagine how the media would have screamed if a GOP led house had tried this? So how does it feel to try to control not only the oil, Semi, but the process formerly known as Democracy?
By BCB on 08.12.08 12:28 pm
Let’s ask Nancy Pelosi how it feels to be part of a national scam. Nancy?
Nancy Pelosi Invests In Energy Scheme and Water Grab By T. Boone Pickens
BTW where is the national coverage on the fact she owns 22,000 shares of CLNE stock and is using her postion to promte this scam?
When T. Boone Picken talks… politicians listen.
By Rick Forman on 08.13.08 11:57 am
PS: The MSM hasn’t picked up on the point that the offshore moratorium is due to expire end of Sept. Nancy P-on-the-US would have to bring it to a vote anyway to get it extended and that’s why she is backtracking(lying) and advising her fellow socialists to lie also if it means winning the elections. Then this miraculous gang with a big 10-inch will be presented to the American public as a compromise and win-win for everyone but Americans.
Larry King didn’t mention the expiration when he brown nosed Nancy P-on-US during his interview Monday night. He allowed her to choreograph this scam without any cross examination.
This “Gang of 10″ proposal is a disguise to continue Congress’ OCS restrictions and let the Democrats off the hook and the RINOS are being pimped again.
By Rick Forman on 08.13.08 12:20 pm
Exactly, Rick. Exactly. I called Senator DeMint’s office yesterday and told him that we were here in Tennessee but we were with him and his efforts. Unfortunately, I said, Corker and Alexander are wrong. I honestly wish I didn’t have to say that. It’s not fun taking them to the woodshed, but it must be done.
They’re flat wrong. And Corker sending out from his Senatorial office an editorial from the Johnson City Press praising him??? Well, ’nuff said, Rick. Don’t you think?
By Terry on 08.14.08 4:46 am
I think that they are onto something with the “outing” of Pelosi’s personal investment in Pickens plan. I think we have been looking at things on an individual basis: who stands to gain what and who is supporting whom. That may be an over-simplistic way of looking at things. With the likes of the most ethical Congress ever up there, I think that we should look at things on a broader scale. Pelosi invests in a program and then stops debate on it KNOWING that she stands to profit from it. Shuler votes on TVA issues while profiting from TVA decisions. I am not trying to break on just one party here, as I believe that it is now running rampant on both sides. I HAVE to believe that there is just more than Corker trying to bring home pork to UT. This isn’t an election year for him. There is just too much at stake for him to stick his neck out like this while still being relatively new to the job. Alexander? What is his tag? I refuse to believe that these “powerful” people are doing things like this solely for party or ego. Perhaps the money trail will present itself only after the fact like the Obama-Rezko issues did. Or the “Obama-hospital getting the grant-Michelle Obama gets a raise” issue.
Corker and his co-conspirators are selling out the American people and for what? When it comes out I hope that justice is swift and harsh. But alas, we liken politicians to dirty diapers. They are both facts of life that no one wants to talk about or wants to be around. Consequently, politicians run around passing bills unchecked because everyone is afraid of what might get on them if they get too close to a dirty politician.
Sen. Corker, we stood on Neyland drive 2 years ago for Boomsday here in Knoxville and talked values. I dare you to come back and try to talk about them now.
By BCB on 08.14.08 11:33 am
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