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It’s now clear the Democrats are significantly out of touch with the public over high energy prices. Although they won’t say so, they actually like high gas prices because they believe they advance their ideological goals. So as voters rebel, they’re giving ground only reluctantly...an inch at a time. And if political considerations force Senate Democrats to expand U.S. exploration this summer, they’re counting on Nancy Pelosi and the House to bottle up any meaningful change.
We’re seeing a microcosm of the Democratic strategy here in Texas. Texas has led in both traditional and renewable energy, and the public overwhelmingly supports more production – of all kinds of energy. Until this week, my Democratic opponent was in the “no way” camp on anything except wind and solar, claiming we “can’t drill our way out of this problem,” and vaguely suggesting, Al Gore style, that renewables would soon supply all our future energy needs. This week, he abruptly changed course – but only a bit -- saying states should be allowed to develop the outer continental shelf if they wanted to do so. Of course, in his plan, that “principle” of self-determination does not extend to ANWR, or oil shale, or other needed energy sources. Democrats clearly think they can get away with minor concessions while they generally placate their hard-core, anti-energy base.
With government and private sector encouragement, we’re steadily transitioning away from over-reliance on fossil fuels and towards a much broader set of energy sources, including renewables. I’ve consistently supported marketplace development of “all of the above” -- including nuclear, clean coal, hydrogen cells, oil shale, wind, solar, oil and gas -- because growing U.S. and worldwide economies will demand everything we can produce. We particularly need more oil and gas to see us through this transition, since our infrastructure is based on these sources. But instead of an efficient marketplace-based transition, the Democrats want to substitute government mandates, using the false analogy of a “moon landing” program to disguise their big government enthusiasm.
The Democrats’ initial response to high gas prices was classic. They’re largely responsible for the shortage of energy, since they’ve made the U.S. the only country in the world that isn’t developing its own resources. They’ve placed 85% of our energy-rich areas off-limits. So when the crunch came, their proposed answer was to investigate energy companies, sue OPEC, and raise taxes. This was so transparently ineffectual that they’ve now started making minor concessions – even while they stall any meaningful moves to increase our domestic energy supply. We’re still pressuring Sen. Harry Reid and Senate Democrats for votes on expanding energy exploration. With still more public pressure, I believe we can make some real progress. After all, November elections are little more than 100 days away.
To learn more about Senator John Cornyn's campaign click here.
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Del & Leslie McMillan
07/24/2008 12:10 AM
Senator Cornyn, thank you for your wise words today, and your sacrificial service to our country. Being a public servant is a high calling in the Lord's establishment of civil government, and we pray for His blessing and guidance in your life.
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JULIEE 4 HUCKABEE, CA
07/23/2008 11:49 PM
Dear Senator Cornyn,
It is time for our great nation to become energy independent! Americans are tired of of not being heard by their representatives! We want change! We want progress! We want to be ENERGY INDEPENDENT!
I am pleased that Huck Pac is supporting you!
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Lau, Dianne
07/23/2008 10:24 PM
Dear Senator John Cornyn:
In your statement is the person making a "minor concession, Senator Schummer?
If it is, please go to him and see how, with his leadership in "states should be allowed to develop the outer continental shelf if they wanted to" and your full cooperation and support of this "minor concession, that the two of you can get this done. Senator Schummer is interested in border, port security, I believe.
Please give the above a try.
And you are an extremely valuable man to all of us. Thank you for everything you do for us and PLEASE open the door with the favor of the democrats and develop the outer continental shelf. We have been looking for a tiny opening to show and I believe this is it.
May God continue to Bless us thru YOU.
Dianne E. Lau, Retired Mom
Wisconsin Rapids, WISCONSIN 54495 -
Captain Obvious
07/23/2008 10:13 PM
Thank you for standing against those who would destroy our economy and gain control over our lives through exaggerated or even false ecological fears.
I'm glad we can support you through HuckPAC even though we don't live in Texas. We need many more like you in the legislature.
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Joseph
07/23/2008 10:06 PM
Energy Independence is not just a good idea, it is extremely vital to our survival and prosperity.
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McClure, Chris
07/23/2008 10:04 PM
Whatever gains are made prior to the election will be at risk if we allow the Dems to continue to control the House and Senate. Then, if a Dem ends up in the Whitehouse we'd better hang on to our hat. We need a sweeping Republican victory this fall if Energy Independence stands a real chance.
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Jill 4 America
07/23/2008 10:02 PM
Senator Cornyn,
Once again I am proud to call you my Senator from Texas. I like your common sense approach to this issue. Makes sense to me. You have my full support in November.
God Bless!Jill Anderson
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Amanda Butt
07/23/2008 09:51 PM
Senator Cornyn, thank you for fighting for we the people. These gas prices are killing us. We've got to explore all options and do a little of everything if need be...wind, solar, drilling for oil and natural gas, etc. We've got to become independent as a country. This month, our pocketbook is short, and the gas prices and cost of living are a large part of why we don't have money to make it to the next monthly paycheck. It's tough on us all, especially those of us that were barely making it to the next paycheck before prices started going up. We've got to do something before we lower middleclass people start being forced to be on welfare because we can't make ends meet. I do appreciate all that you are doing, and will spread the word about your fight for us. God bless you. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for being a part of Vertical Day, and thank you for working with Governor Mike Huckabee to help us have a more vertical country.
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Ward, John
07/23/2008 09:38 PM
My single biggest frustration with this subject is that both Republicans and Democrats think that only their way works.
As I mentioned in an earlier post to Senator Dole, this is not just a free market issue, this is a national security issue. We need a "manhattan project" initiative to put whatever resources are needed to getting the problem solved so that we can efficiently harvest and control our own energy resources.
The government can be a conduit to open the market up so that we can be a world exporter of energy technology, not reliant on our enemies willing to feed our oil addiction.
Our congress has been spending so much money, I feel neither the dems or the republicans can speak about fiscal conservativism and small government with a straight face as both parties have forgotten how to balance a budget.
We need to solve the energy problem by all means necessary and the government needs to facilitate it and then get out of the way so that our free market economy takes advantage of it. But it should be considered in the same light as our defense budget. We need energy independence and we need a strong military, because if we don't get independence, I feel we will be using our military much more.
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TOGETHER WE STAND!!!
07/23/2008 09:29 PM
We need to spread it out from different sources.
We need to produce more then we need to make sure we have plenty supply for years to come and what we do not need we can sell our export to countrys that we owe debt to...., This is one export thing we know they need.Now since we import 70% of our oil what we need to do is replace that 70% with stuff from here.
20% more Eternal from something other then corn
20% more from more oil drilling
30% more from shell ( I hear we have allot of this, if any other can't produce enough, could make it up with shell)
20% more from Liquefying Coal (We also have more of this then any other country and burns cleaner then oil when liquefied )
That's 20% more then we currently import, we also will over time need less because of Hybrid and electric cars. Hydrogen will come along in the next 10-20yrs, its just not ready yet.
So as we need less over time we can export more in the name of paying down our debt. -
Downen, Ray
07/23/2008 09:26 PM
It's good to hear the truth! We continue to enrich enemies while choosing to not go after our own gas and oil. Al Gore is enriching himself while helping bankrupt most U.S. citizens. "Global warming" is nonsense.
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TOGETHER WE STAND!!!
07/23/2008 09:24 PM
In a year that looks like it would be big for the Dems. ALL Republicans every time they are in front of a camera should tell the public in a bold loud voice that will sink in, that what it boils down to is The Democrats want us to keep buying oil from over seas and the Republicans do not, This is the opening to get back control in Washington.
