You Gotta Love Those Spineless Republicans

The other day, I blogged about how the U.S. Senate had passed an authorization for oil drilling to begin in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). I mentioned that the bill would then go to the House of Reps where, "supposedly, the Republicans have enough votes to pass it." My pessimism was well founded. Yesterday, some of the Republicans in the House assisted the Democrats in shooting down the ANWR portion of the budget bill. Once again, the Republicans have been thwarted by members of their own party. Here is what my Libertarian hero, Neal Boortz, had to say about what happened:

Yesterday, the House Republicans caved in and got the measure erased from a budget bill that would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, also known as ANWR. Despite the fact that the area where they would drill was designated for such activity and despite the Senate passing a similar measure....drilling in ANWR is dead .... for now.

The move against new drilling was led by leftist Congressman Charles Bass of New Hampshire. Said the "moderate" Republican: "Rather then reversing decades of protection for this publicly held land, focusing greater attention on renewable energy sources, alternate fuels, and more efficient systems and appliances would yield more net energy savings than could come from ANWR and would have a higher benefit on the nation's long-term economic leadership and security." Sounds like somebody faxed Howard Dean's talking points to Representative Bass' office by mistake.

On the one hand, politicians sit on their committees grilling oil executives about their profits and the high price of gasoline, yet when it comes time to actually doing something about it, like drilling for more oil...they stand in the way.

So the next time you fill your tank, remember it is the government keeping the price high, not oil companies.

I figured that he could put it better than I. What a shame that this happened. Think about it the next time you stop at the pump.

Update:
Here is a link to Michelle Malkin's blog where she put up a bunch of forwarded emails that Republicans sent to their congresscritters voicing their anger, frustration, and disappointment at the Republicans acting like they are the minority party. Very good reads.

Good Day to You, Sir