Note from the Directors: Congressman Bishop will stop by this evening to participate in the conversation in the comment thread to this post. We're glad we can welcome him into the blogosphere today.
Thanks, RedState, for allowing me to occupy a little bit of your valuable e-estate. This is my first real foray into the blogosphere. Since I’m new at this, please, be gentle.
As someone who typically uses only legal pads (having just
barely missed the days of the abacus), I realize it’s past time for
me to finally embrace the 21st century’s preferred method of
political communication. I couldn’t think of a better place to try
out this series of “tubes” than here on RedState, especially now
that you’ve renovated the place. (By the way, it looks
great!).
As a number of my colleagues have demonstrated on this site over the past few days, energy has emerged as the primary issue of the day. The emergence of this issue presents us with a unique opportunity to draw a clear contrast between Republican solutions that promote American energy and the failed, restrictive energy policies of the Democrats. The good news is the public is on our side. Poll after poll shows that Americans are open to responsibly developing America’s energy resources.
As a Westerner, I know that America has ample domestic energy resources, whether it’s the reserves in ANWR, the oil and gas in the OCS, the oil shale resources found in the Rocky Mountain West, the 200-year coal supply, or the virtually untapped nuclear and other renewable resources such as hydro, solar, geothermal, biomass, and wind. The only real question is whether Democrat leaders of Congress have the political will to develop all of these resources.
One other thing people need to understand is that while soaring fuel prices inflict pain on all Americans, it is especially painful for the poor and middle class. For the rich, $4 a gallon gasoline is an annoyance; for those who are surviving paycheck to paycheck (like me), it can be devastating. The energy debate here in Congress has largely missed this element. This is the real “Inconvenient Truth.” Blogs like RedState can help make a difference in how many people hear the facts about the relationship between high energy prices and the poor.
