Republicans have finally found their issue for the General Election.

Or so they think. The reason Americans are paying $4-5 per gallon for gasoline is because the Democrats have prevented the oil companies from drilling off the coasts and in the ANWR area of Alaska. They know this is an issue that hits Americans hard. If they can blame it on the Democrats, then they are back in this race. And they believe it will work for them.

Expect to hear more and more in the coming weeks. The Democrats in Congress will be forced into taking another vote on ANWR and the Repubs will rub their faces in it. Because they can.

The Democrats have been attempting to fight back. They have stated that there are more than 65 million acres of lands that have been leased to the oil companies which they have simply ignored. In order to get in front of this issue, a few Democrats are suggesting that we take these leases away from the big oil companies if they do not want to drill in those areas. But at the moment, the Republicans are salivating at the idea of blaming high gasoline prices on the Democrats. Surely the American people would not be so stupid as to buy their argument??

They'll believe ANYTHING. Many American idiots will buy the argument ... look how well the gas tax worked for them
with the rest of us, though.

although it happened under his watch

And Limbaugh screams that the "Democrat Party" is trying to take your freedoms away. The examples are endless. I think little Newt Gingrich clones are sitting in unmarked buildings in Northern Virginia thinking this shit up, 24/7.

It's one of the right wingers main strategies: Attribute your own vulnerabilities to the opposition. At worst it will diffuse the criticism against your own party; at best it will stick and the gullible populace will buy the bullshit. It's worked very well for them.

In my opinion, we should use the George W Bush strategy in reverse. Just do and let them scream all they want. Nationalize the oil refineries. Buy oil on the world market at the lowest price but the big oil companies can also bid on it. If they want to preach to us about supply and demand, then let them practice what they preach. The present situation is a controlled market, not a free market. In the same spirit, pass universal health care for every American. Raise the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour. Cut all the waste out of the military monster that is draining us dry. Put some type of oversight on the banking industry and the Federal reserve. Spend whatever is necessary to put the American people to work re-building our infrastructure. Investigate the hell out of the criminals by appointing a bulldog for Attorney General. Throw a few of the rascals in jail just to show we are serious about it. That is what I would like to see...

and the Saudis are saying there's no supply issue, and US refiners are only running at 85% capacity. People are also probably aware that global demand hasn't increased 200% since Bush took office. There's clearly price manipulation going on in the oil/gas market right now, and the American people are smart enough to know it, and smart enough to connect the dots between record oil prices and the two corrupt ex oil-men in the White House.

Whether or not it would be enough to tip the election in McCain's favor depends on our ability to clearly communicate a set of facts that Republicans are, as always, conveniently ignoring in their pursuit of political gain. It's good, however, to see Republicans such as Schwarzenegger (as much I hate his politics) coming out against offshore drilling as well. That way it doesn't look like it's just the Democrats opposing it not to mention the fact that McCain himself wasn't previously in favor of it and, true to form, has once again flip-flopped and adopted another one of Bush's policies.

We should starting chanting "If you don't use it, you lose it!"

What happens to these oil rigs in the Gulf or off the coast of Florida when a hurricane hits?

It just seems to me that this alone has the potential to be a catastrophe.

too smart,ect" because time and time again they have voted against their best interests.