If you want to talk about lipstick on a bulldog just take one look at the California Raisin House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.  Every once in a while she wakes up from a puddle of drool and barks at the neighbors.  By now no one notices because she never bites anyone.  Back to sleep Pelosi…

Remember when she was saying “No Drilling Offshore“?  She was pretty serious about it too, going as far as to turn off the lights and microphones on the House floor as Republicans were speaking.  Well its nap time again, and she is going back to her pile of drool.

The drilling ban, which has stood for 26 years, will be allowed to expire next month.  House Democrats tried to say no drilling within 50 miles of the coast, but they were pushed around by the Republicans, and eventually caved.  Keep in mind there are at least 35 MORE Democrats than Republicans.  But once you realize the Democrats were the drum majors in high school and Republicans were football quarterbacks, the bullying makes more sense.

How is this Weakonomics related?  Because one of the weakest parts of our economy is the 110th Session of Congress.  I support offshore drilling so I believe this was the right move to make, but Congress took 2 months to fight it.  With pressure from the few Republicans left and the White House, Democrats are showing the same people that controlled the government from 2000-2006 are still calling the shots.  If the economy is in ruin because of the current Republicans as Democrats have claimed, once again the Democrats are showing there is nothing they can do to stop them.

This is also important to the philosophy of this site because this is a groundbreaking event in the way of our energy policy for the next few decades.  Barring any new legislation brought upon by the next administration, the Summer of 2008 will be remembered as the time Americans decided we’re done with oil.  Yes we’ll “drill, drill, drill” but at least we won’t be partially funding terrorism and religious radicalism as we drive to work every day.  If we’re addicted to oil, then we need to go into the 12 step program.  Getting off the sandy teat of of the Middle East is Step 2 (Step 1 was curbing our usage).

I support alternative energies as much as any tree-hugger, but citizens will not be ready to embrace new technologies until the next generation of vehicles hit the road in 20 years.  Let’s be clear, my support of off-shore drilling has nothing to do with gas prices.  I’ve said before I support $5.00 gas.  Its strictly a matter of not relying on the political instability of the Middle Eastern countries for the growth and wealth of the country I love so much.

Anyway, once again Pelosi still sucks.  Not because she caved on something I supported (that was good news), but because she can’t stand up to Republicans against anything.  Weak.

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Related posts:

1. Pelosi Flexes Her Muscles, Republicans Point and Laugh; Democrats Sigh
2. Weakonomics Weekend Edition: Congressional Approval
3. Top 10 Ways the Government Can Help Our Economy
4. The Weakonomist Endorses a Candidate: Part I
5. Let the Congressional Games Begin: Adding Fat to Legislation

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