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Obama's drilling flip-flop a major strategic win for Congressional Republicans

Submitted by Soren Dayton on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 11:55
in

Barack Obama's flip-flop on offshore oil drilling is a major strategic victory for House and Senate Republicans.

The Democratic plan was to reup the Congressional ban on offshore oil drilling as part of a long-term continuing resolution. Reid had originally promised a vote on offshore drilling, but has backed off that promise now that it has become a potent issue.

Now it is time to drive this issue home as a clearly branded Republican issue. The longer the fight goes on, the more it paints Democrats into a terrible corner. And there is a synergy between high energy costs and broader economic insecurity that will likely be the driving issue in November.

But let's review the dynamics that will lead to the win on this issue:

First, the dramatic events yesterday on the House floor telegraphed an intent to take this issue into recess. Undoubtedly, this is the major issue that Republican members will be talking about during the recesss. I would be shocked if there were not robocalls dropped in prior to townhalls in Democratic Congressional seats around the country. There will almost certainly be ads. Now the Republicans have a line that "even Barack Obama supports this, so why can't we get a vote in the House and Senate?"

Second, there is a bipartisan group of Senators who are pressuring Reid on this point, not to mention significant caucus-internal pressure on Pelosi. There will be enormous pressure from inside the Congress to force a vote on these issues.

Third, Republicans and conservatives are actually organized on this issue. Drill Here Drill Now has 1.4 million signatures and the American Family Association, with their 3.3 million person list, also seems inclined to play on this issue. You can expect enormous pressure from constituents on these issues.

Fourth,  an enormous majority is with us, and the higher-profile the issue is, the more people are likely to actually vote it. But the Dems have no reasonable action they can take until September while we pound them.

This will be fun. We have to keep track of what happens in Congressional districts and at town halls this recess.

More on that coming.

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Drive it home - drill here, drill now

Submitted by Freedoms Truth on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 15:56.

Now it is time to drive this issue home as a clearly branded Republican issue.

I agree. Drive home this winning issues. I am concerned that any 'bipartisan' actions (that include endangered Dems like Mary Landreiu) will blunt the edge of the issue. We need to stand on firm and united ground with 70% of Americans:

- yes to drilling on OCS; end all federal restrictions on drilling beyond 50 miles

- yes to ANWR drilling and open up federal lands

- yes to using shale resources

- demand action NOW, that is, dont let the Congress push it past the election

As for Obama, we now know that he is a cheap, empty easily-foldable suit. Might to okay for us on a domestic issue or two, but this is not the guy we want sitting across the table from rogue dictators.

Keep the Momentum Going

Submitted by Jonathan Klingler on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 16:09.

The phantom session was a tremendous piece of political theater that uniquely engaged the public, drew attention to a winning Republican issue, and encapsulated the larger issues surrounding energy independence.

Some Members have considered returning for additional sessions during the five-week recess. We have a short window of opportunity to build on Friday’s momentum and drive it through to Labor Day, and even to November.

As conservative Republican internet activists, we need to contact our Republican Members and encourage them to act soon to continue the phantom sessions, but this is not enough. Because Nancy Pelosi has essentially barred the MSM from covering any such sessions in the future, the netroots need to take the lead in getting the word out on Friday’s session and any future sessions.

We can score a huge hit on a key issue in a tough election season, but we need to work together to give the GOP conference the encouragement to keep this going, identify alternative communications venues, publicize future sessions, and do our part to ensure that if future sessions occur, the lines to the House gallery go all the way off the Capitol grounds. The American people deserve to hear about this from the floor of the People’s House.

This situation could provide a new degree of openness to Congress, but it requires technology to accomplish. That's what The Next Right is all about.

It's happening, Jonathan, it's happening!

Submitted by lagomorph on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 21:27.

A great location for one-stop shopping on all the various threads is the Facebook site Let's Rock the House!  I Support the Guerilla Congress!  I suggest that everyone with a similar interest join this group, and the best place to follow real time information about all the fabulous drama is on Twitter.  I started following Hoekstra, Culberson, Boehner et al yesterday along with the NxR crew and friends on Twitter, and I highly recommend it.

Check out Media Lizzy's interview with Eric Cantor (who could be rising in the McCain Veepstakes as we speak!) and keep an eye on her website here.  Michelle Malkin is also avidly following, as is Abby Alger at Real World Republicans. 

This is the best of times, and we will definitely keep that mo going!