Bush Rebuffs GOP’s ‘Boston Tea Party,’ Won’t Request Special Session For Oil Drilling Stunt
Bush Rebuffs GOP’s ‘Boston Tea Party,’ Won’t Request Special Session For Oil Drilling Stunt
House conservatives have been engaging in political stunts to demand a vote on oil drilling. Last Friday, they stormed the floor after Congress adjourned “to attack Democrats for leaving town without doing something to lower gas prices.” Today, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) brought to the floor a “large garish photo” of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) with the words, “I am trying to save the planet” written beneath it. (Watch some of Friday’s shenanigans here.)
These conservatives are desperately trying to convince the American public that this crude political stunt is actually important. To do so, they are casting the protest as historic, akin to what happened at the founding of the nation:
– “Today is the 2008 version of the Boston Tea Party.” [Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ), 8/1/08]
– “Without your help we won’t be able to do anything…like the founders of this country we’re going directly to the American people.” [Rep. Tim Price (R-GA), 8/4/08]
– “Tell your congressman- we don’t want you back home. We want you in Washington. This could be America’s greatest hour. Insist that we come back to vote.” [Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL), 8/4/08]
– “As a part of their history-making efforts to continue the fight to lower gas prices, House Republicans held a press conference just a few moments ago to demand that Speaker Pelosi allow a vote on the American Energy Act.” [Blog of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), 8/4/08]
But even the White House refuses to endorse this political theater. Last Friday, Reps. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Mike Pence (R-IN) asked the White House to “convene an immediate energy special session of Congress.” The Hill reports today that administration officials have rejected this request, deciding to sit out the so-called 2008 Boston Tea Party:
The White House has rejected calls from House Republicans that it convene a special session of Congress on energy, saying it wouldn’t make a difference.
“We don’t have plans to call Congress into session — it won’t make a difference if Democratic leaders are unwilling to bring up a bill for an up-down vote,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.
The conservative stunt is a waste of time. As even the White House has admitted, there is no “short-term” solution to high gas prices. Both the Energy Information Administration — and McCain’s own economic adviser — have stated that expanding offshore drilling “would not have a significant impact” on oil prices.
A real “tea party” would have people dumping the offending product. Bad analogy, once again. Opening up drilling is “America’s greatest hour”? If so, welcome to disaster capitalism.
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As even the White House has admitted, there is no “short-term” solution to high gas prices.
So, every time a Republican tells you that Democrats are responsible for today’s high gas prices, you know they’re lying.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pmInterrupt his Beijing family and rich donor get together? Not a chance. Bush won’t break a sweat over this issue, record oil company profits have him joyful. It’s a campaign wedge, for political purposes only.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:19 pmHow pathetic is this attempt by Republicans if even the 23% White House won’t stand behind it?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:20 pmIsn’t this the same “up or down vote” that the Reps blocked last Wednesday?
I’m almost beginning to feel sorry for some of these idiots. Almost.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:21 pmSo, the reich-wingers held a majority in the House and Senate for 10 years and only now they decide they want something done. Morons.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmThey all work for big oil. Why not give big oil more land to rape when they havnt even finished their dessert?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmWould it help if Boner got up and cried?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmNo need to report on the fact that the vote was avoided because there is a clear bipartisan majority supporting expanded oil drilling!
Nope, just keep pretending that drilling is a non-issue. It only helps your opposition.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmA real “tea party” would have people dumping the offending product. Bad analogy, once again.
Opening up drilling is “America’s greatest hour”? If so, welcome to disaster capitalism.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmI have no problem with allowing oil companies to drill offshore, as long as every other drilling lease they own is producing first. Use it or lose it.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pmMore red herrings from the stupid mindless Goofy Oil Party. Let’s instead, talk about how unregulated electronic oil futures market rigging has doubled the price of oil (and gasoline) in the last year.
We’re being ENRONed again: this time by oil futures contracts speculators who are unnecessarily and very profitably driving up the price of crude oil and hence retail gasoline prices. Curious as to why you are suddenly paying over four dollars a gallon for gasoline? No, it’s not due to “supply-and-demand,” no, it’s not due to “OPEC,” nor is it due to “peak oil.” It’s due to totally unregulated electronic oil futures trading in world markets. Check out the very lucid article that explains the unseen financial machinations in oil futures markets written by F. W. Engdahl on May 2, 2008, entitled, “Perhaps 60% of Today’s Oil Price is Pure Speculation.” It may be viewed at .
http://www.financialsense.com/ editorials/ engdahl/ 2008/ 0502.html
In a nutshell, he suggests that the Bush Administration dropped the ball in January 2006, when they allowed totally unregulated electronic trading of oil futures contracts in New York. Previously these electronic trades had been made at the London Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Market. With that decision by the Bush Administration, all of the world’s oil prices were then opened to upward pressure from speculative futures contracts. In essence, oil futures contracts made by speculators, banks, hedge funds and pension funds all competed with real demand on the spot markets and had the effect of driving up both wholesale oil prices and retail gasoline prices. Speculators have made billions of dollars on their trading of oil futures contracts. All of their profits come right out of our pockets.
Even with a stable oil supply, there is a slow worldwide increase in demand for oil, which creates a long-term upward pressure on oil prices. However, with the relentless saber-rattling and war-mongering by Bush and Cheney in the last several years, and the more recent war talks by McCain and the Israelis, the oil futures markets are rife with speculation and paranoia. This war talk keeps ratcheting up the prices on the oil futures contracts and hence the wholesale spot market prices. It is an endless spiral of greed and paranoia.
As long as there is no tough and effective oversight of the electronic oil futures markets by the Bush Administration, the oil prices will climb endlessly. These oil prices will be quickly followed by hikes in the retail gasoline prices at the pump. The 60% speculation share of the $4.25/gallon gasoline price, is about $2.55/gallon, which is what we consumers are paying to these oil speculators as a “service fee.” Not a bad “fee,” since the speculators produce no usable goods or services…Just a few large greedy oil futures traders helping themselves to your gas money.
Without this added-on oil futures “service fee,” you would be paying about $1.75/gallon for gasoline. Write, call or smoke-signal your Representatives and Senators today and suggest that they read the June 2006 report by The U. S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations entitled, “The Role of Market Speculation in Rising Oil and Gas Prices.” Then demand that they investigate and then force the Bush Administration to firmly regulate the computerized oil futures contracts trading in New York, London and Dubai.
This electronic oil price futures scandal is costing US drivers about $969,000,000.00 per day! That number is based on 60% speculation fee of a gasoline price of $4.25/gallon and on US 2004 consumption of 380,000,000 gallons/day. Tell you Senators and Congresspersons to simply shut down this unregulated electronic oil futures contract trading market. Then the price of gasoline will slowly drop to about $1.75/gallon…The only way that oil price futures contracts make money is if the price of oil goes up in the future, say, 30, 60 or 90 days later. This futures market serves no social need. It is just for corporate greed. The corporate speculators are probably also gaming/ENRONing the wheat and corn futures markets the same way.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:26 pmPerhaps someone in the White House got the message that now is not the best time to draw extra attention to the oil industry? The granting of new leases would sure invite a lot of scrutiny that, one would think, the oil industry and their friends in the White House could do without.
In fact, the oil industry itself hasn’t exactly been leading the charge for “magic drilling”. If it’s such a necessity, why isn’t Exxon Mobile screaming for new leases?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pmIf it’s such a necessity, why isn’t Exxon Mobile screaming for new leases?
Oh, make no mistake… they want the leases. The drilling? Not so much…
August 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pmTea Party
America’s Finest Hour
And they say Obama has a Messiah complex ?
and Dumb Question: As the oil is a public good and offshore is owned by the American people (as well as oil in nationally owned land): Why don’t we charge the oil companies market value for the oil they get ?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:32 pmThemis Says:
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Why are the House Democrats so afraid to simply have an up or down vote?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
They were so “afraid” , that the garbage GOP was responsible for blocking voting on it last week , you GOP tool……….
August 4th, 2008 at 3:33 pmOh, make no mistake… they want the leases. The drilling? Not so much…
Yes. I know. My point, however, is that the current campaign for drilling isn’t coming from the oil lobby. It’s strictly a move to give Flippy McSpin some semblance of credibility. The industry it self isn’t bloody likely to make waves when they are collecting record profits and probably wish McSpin, and others, would just shut their yaps and find another issue.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:34 pmThemis Says:
——————————————————————————–
Stephanopoulos’ interview with Nancy Pelosi on this subject was very telling as she keep dancing around the issue of why she will not simply allow an up or down vote when she claims the majority backs her.
http://newsbusters.org/ blogs/ noel-sheppard/ 2008/ 08/ 03/ stephanopoulos-pelosi-why-no-or-down-vote-drilling
August 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Ummm , the Dems are the majority , clueless wonder ………
August 4th, 2008 at 3:34 pmA real “tea party” would have people dumping the offending product. Bad analogy, once again.
Was that what was happening on the Mississippi last week?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:35 pmOT - But worth noting. Explains a lot about McDepends’ paranoid controlling of the Press from this weekend:
http://floridacapitalnews.com/ apps/ pbcs.dll/ article?AID=/ 20080802/ CAPITOLNEWS/ 808020312
August 4th, 2008 at 3:36 pmThemis,
1. They have tried to have an up or down vote on it - it was blocked by the GOP.
2. Why is Coburn refusing an up or down vote on more than 40 bills he is currently holding?
3. What was so wonderful about the last 8 years that you want 4 more just like them? The economy? Immigration? Iraq?
4. The republicans held the majority in congress for 12 years, and the presidency for the last 7 years. During that time gas prices tripled. What makes you think they would do anything to lower them now, and why didn’t they do that before - when they had the power?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pmSend us better trolls!
Themis isn’t even worth responding to. Is this the best they have now?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pmChris L:
August 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pmWhat are you cracked? No intelligent answers will be offered.
OilCo - the mother of all welfare queens.
Why are they pushing so hard on RepubCo to make this happen? OilCo just wants more stuff.
http://www.dailykos.com/ storyonly/ 2008/ 8/ 2/ 13152/ 24931/ 498/ 560880
August 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pmCan you see in his eyes just how pissed off the dude on the far right is that the dude on the far left wore the exact same thing?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pmNelson Muntz: Ha ha!
August 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pmPelosi does not trust the Dems to vote the right way. Can’t say I blame her. But she is right about the current mess. It’s all Bush/Cheney. Instead of sound energy policy they thought they could get away with stealing it in Iraq. And now they are scampering like rats.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pmMcCain/G.O.P. to America: Let’s give more tax breaks to big oil, since they give us millions of dollars in campaign contributions.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pmWe already export 580 million barrels of oil each year. If we start drilling more domestically, who is to say that the oil would be sold here in America? The oil companies would be free to sell it to whoever they want, or whoever pays the most. Also, why aren’t they drilling on leases they already have?
August 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm“As a part of their history-making efforts to continue the fight to lower gas prices, House Republicans held a press conference just a few moments ago to demand that Speaker Pelosi allow a vote on the American Energy Act.” [Blog of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), 8/4/08]
Well , it’s about time ; the Republicans are responsible for the history-making highest gas prices in US history these past 8 years ………..
August 4th, 2008 at 3:50 pmTo counter their political stunt, Democrats should hire camera crews and rent helicopters and fly around some of the 65 million acres to show the American public EXACTLY what acreage is available RIGHT NOW to drill on… and the oil companies aren’t drilling there.
It won’t be a stunt; it will be educational.
Then the democrats can say that they will consider leasing offshore right after they see oil being pumped from the existing acreage.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pmChris L Says:
We already export 580 million barrels of oil each year.
Most if not all of the oil coming out of the Alaska pipeline gets shipped to Japan and never gets shipped to the lower 48, as was promised when government funds were used to build the pipeline.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pmWhy should we believe any new wells drilled would help the US and not just be sold off in other countries to fatten the wallets of the oil barons?
pete Says:
….Flippy McSpin…..
hey pete, would you mind if I used that? It made me spit coffee at my screen….
August 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pmGreedy Oil Companies - didn’t your mommy teach you to finish what’s on your plate before you get more?
Try drilling the available leases, and have Exxon invest more than 1% of the current quarterly record profits into alternative energy before handing Big Oil more welfare.
Why is the GOP so deeply in the pocket of Big Oil? I’m sure it’s going to be a winning election strategy this year.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:57 pmThe repubs in Congress are rushing to aid McSame because if McSame is elected, the Congress will have another 4 years to rape the treasury and stall any investigations into Bushco’s illegal behavior.
They are doing this FOR THEIR PARTY AND AGAINST THE COUNTRY. Party over country - everytime, all the time.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pmJesus, Republicans have their heads SO FAR UP THEIR A$$ES it just plain ridiculous.
They cannot do ANYTHING right!
P.S. Why are they even in the Government when they say they hate government? Hypocrites, all of them.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:00 pmmultilee Says:
pete Says:
….Flippy McSpin…..
hey pete, would you mind if I used that? It made me spit coffee at my screen….
August 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
By all means. Spread the snark. Floppy McSpun is the past tense.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pmI’d like to call my congressman and insist he go back to Washington D.C. TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT!!!
Unfortunately, he’s one of those “impeachment is off the table” Dumbocrats.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pmThe only thing missing with the picture is the view from behind. Big Oil’s hands up thier asses working them like the puppets they are.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pmThe term “dumb show” was aptly coined!
August 4th, 2008 at 4:09 pmTP can scoff all they want at the “antics” but I seem to remember a similar “stunt” designed by Newt Gingrich the “Contract For America” which resulted in a substantial political shift.
I am a Democrat and have been all my life but I’ve gotta tell ya a lot of people on this site and other blogs really underestimate the value of political theater on the minds of uninformed Americans.
We can be smug and above it all, but I’m telling ya we need to do some damage control in a big way or we are gonna lose this next political cycle. I’m not saying the presidency necessarily but we are losing ground to the attack machine and the “theatrics”. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Be smug all you want, but do wake up and smell the coffee.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:16 pmGood point rocks..
When you can’t afford bread, the circus becomes more blatant.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:18 pmBoston Tea Party? (opposition to taxation without representation)
The GOP likens it’s protest to one of the greatest symbolic episodes of American history and stands up for the common lobbyist who feels under-represented for all the money given congress. What a bunch of morally and intellectually challenged idiots.
Question: How many oil lobbyists and republican congress members will Boston Harbor hold?
August 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pmI can’t blame Republicans for hiding out in the Capitol during recess….would you want to go home and face the voters in your district if you had the legislative record that these clwons have?
More leases = more speculation = more stock buybacks. No way will they risk a record busting profit stream, by, you know, actually risking capital investments on wells that may or may not produce results.. Not gonna happen.
The rubes that believe this kabuki theater will somehow produce cheaper oil also believe Barack’s a Muslim….in other words, they’ll believe anything that Sean and Rush tell them.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:21 pmThese Republicans certainly have bloated egos. How elitist to think of themselves as “history-making”; “like the founders of this country”. The founders didn’t resort to childish, useless theater, then brag about how wonderful they were.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:29 pmBarnum & Bailey Barf-Fest is more apropos…
August 4th, 2008 at 4:36 pmrocks911 Says:
TP can scoff all they want at the “antics” but I seem to remember a similar “stunt” designed by Newt Gingrich the “Contract For America” which resulted in a substantial political shift.
And thus emboldened, they tried to shut government down completely - and failed horribly with the overreach.
The same is the case here. These republicans are ducking their constitutents, and it’s going to blow up as badly as the shut down in the Nineties.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pmOn second thought. I think the Dems should fly back to Washington, cosponsor the legislation and then vote for it unanimously.
Then, once they see all the Dems with their names attached, the Senate Republicriminals (I bet his name is Tom) will block it. And McSpin will miss another vote and be free to say he supported it, or fought it, depending on who he’s talking to.
Sounds like everybody wins to me. sarc/off
August 4th, 2008 at 4:47 pmSounds like a tea-bag party. Call Foley and Craig and get them on the floor stat.
-GSD
August 4th, 2008 at 4:49 pmRUCerious Says:
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I have no problem with allowing oil companies to drill offshore, as long as every other drilling lease they own is producing first. Use it or lose it.
August 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
OK, but how about adding:
If these leases aren’t producing in 10 years, they lose it, and pay a fine.
And, these wells cannot be shut down arbitrarily.
And, all the oil that these leases produce cannot be exported, but must be slated for domestic use only.
And, domestic refining capacity must be expanded immediately to meet the expected capacity.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pmBush and the GOP have had 7-1/2 years to do something about this (6 years of which they were in the majority in Congress), yet they did nothing.
Why are they making such a big stink about it now? Could it be that they don’t want to go home and face their constituents?
August 4th, 2008 at 4:55 pmOkay, give the slimey, greazy lil fux their drilling.
But enable it with legislation that requires ALL resources recovered from US territories be shipped to, refined by, and sold to US consumers.
After all, this drilling’s supposed to help US consumers, innit?
Yeah, prob’ly the GOPhux would block it. Ane the Prez (he chimp, or whomever) would veto it.
Bet it would have the benefit of showing that the vote was NOT for US consumers, but for Big Oil Profits.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:03 pmTechnically, they didn’t “take over” until ‘07. And how many pieces of legislation, crafted to mitigate the crises in the economy and energy market, have been blocked by Republicriminal obstruction tactics?
Is anyone able to make a convincing case that things would be worse if the Dems had a “veto proof” majority or had won the White House?
August 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pmLittle known fact. The U.S. is the third largest oil producer. Does anyone really believe that using our limited resources at a faster rate is a wise course of action?
August 4th, 2008 at 5:09 pmOT
Everyone please report bitblt for abuse on the KBR cell-phone thread. His comment (19) will make you cringe.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:11 pmLets say that the oil companies start drilling in Anwar, the Gulf of Mexico, every where there’s oil:
August 4th, 2008 at 5:19 pmWhere are they going to refine it? The refineries are running at near 100% now!
Do you bozo’s actually think if the world price of a barrel is say $135, that the American drilled oil is going to be sold for way less? American oil companies are exporting 1.3 million barrels of oil (drilled here) everyday. Wonder why they do that?
Face it republicans, if your not exploiting guns, gays or war, you don’t offer anyone anything!
The repukes in this congress has held record number of obstruction/filibusters… it is over 84. They have done this and have even said they would so they could blame the dem controlled congress as a ‘do nothing congress’. Obstructing the peoples business for political gain?
And now they have the nerve to stage this phony event, hoping to incite the public against the dems for again political gain. Bill Wattenburg on KGO.com played along with this stunt on his shows this past weekend and I have to admit some of the idiot audience fell for it.
Now the White House will not go along… LOL
I would say many have eeg on their face.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:25 pmThese crooked morons are drawing a paycheck from the very government they mock. They all voted against four bills put forward to try to help the oil situation. Now they play games on something that will only benefit the oil companies who have made record profits. These crooks should all lose their jobs in November.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:57 pmG- gas
August 4th, 2008 at 8:08 pmO- oil
P- petroleum
(This was used by the Democrats back in the 1920S!)
Unfortunately, Walberg is my Representative (I’m so ashamed). A week or so ago, he defended his vote against renewing funding for the very successful Headstart program because of the “Wiccans from Ann Arbor”. Seriously. More here: http://eclectablog.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 08/ my-us-representative-tim-walberg-is.html
August 5th, 2008 at 6:35 amThe GOP “Bostonians” are really just the strung out, addicted, looking for their next fix, “Huggy Bears,” strutting “out on the strip” pimping their candidacy for office.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:40 amKlem Kiddilehopper Says:
Lets say that the oil companies start drilling in Anwar, the Gulf of Mexico, every where there’s oil:
Where are they going to refine it? The refineries are running at near 100% now!
Do you bozo’s actually think if the world price of a barrel is say $135, that the American drilled oil is going to be sold for way less? American oil companies are exporting 1.3 million barrels of oil (drilled here) everyday. Wonder why they do that?
Correct Klem,
August 5th, 2008 at 8:45 amALSO, do the GOP slime barrons actually not beleive in the FREE MARKET SYSTEM OH!!, do they NOT wish for the oil to be sold to the highest bidder OH!!!, do they think we should Nationalize the oil companies to INSURE that the U.S. GETS the oil pumped from its ground OH!!!!!, do the GOPers think that the oil pumped from ANWR or Off shore ACTUALLY ends up in America’s tanks. How FVKING stupid are these GOPers….Plenty.
Guido the Loving OBGYN Says:
Pelosi does not trust the Dems to vote the right way. Can’t say I blame her.
Hey Guido,
August 5th, 2008 at 8:51 amAre we SURE of Pelosi’s objectives? Maybe she knows the Dems will not vote the way SHE wants them to, because she wants them to vote the same way the WH does? Hmmmmm?
That neanderthal with the little boy, alfalfa, haircut, is really a dumbass. I always wonder if people in Dallas are that stupid to elect a weasel like him.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:13 am