I was once a Democrat. I must say that the thing that drove me from the party was when McGovern declared that he would go to Hanoi on his knees if necessary to gain peace with the communists. That was the last straw. Later, the collapse of the party into rank liberalism confirmed the validity of my decision to leave. There must be millions of citizens in this country who have experienced the same thing, although the catalyst for their move might have been different. The Democrat party has become an “outlaw” in our republic. Their policies and philosophy are antithetical to what the founders of this nation had in mind when the constitution was ratified. They use whatever deceit is necessary to achieve their goals. They place jurists in positions of authority who give lip service to the clear written words of the founding documents, while at the same time they are reading their own subjective feelings and beliefs into their decisions. They give every indication through massive, expensive boondoggles like national health care and climate change bills that they have no respect for our personal liberty and freedom. The Democrat party is now controlled by a leftist fringe that, with respect to the Constitution, is American in name only.

It seems that the most effective current rhetorical mode of gaining political advantage is an appeal for change. Obama used this to good effect last year and he continues to attempt to invoke that tactic in the health care debate by deceptively invoking the charge that those who are opposed to his program want the status quo, not change. Another mode of attack is the “Take back”.   That would be to take back the country or take back the reins of power, as if those in power were there illegitimately. That tactic has been very effective in the recent tea party movement and, of course, was effective during the last national election. 

Is it time to take back the Democrat party? Is it time for change in the Democrat party? There is already a thorn in the side of that party represented by the group known as the “Blue Dogs”. I don’t know if the “Blue Dogs” are truly fiscally and socially conservative as they claim to be, but some no doubt are. The success of the “Blue Dogs” suggests that the Democrat Party is very vulnerable right now to a conservative revolution from within its ranks. 

I believe that it is time to take back the Democrat party from its liberal wing. It’s time for a return to the ideals of the type of Democrats personified by Truman, JFK, and Scoop Jackson. I am not endorsing everything these guys stood for, but their policies are light years away from what we face now with the likes of Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Frank, and Baucus. The knee jerk socialist anti-defense, high tax Democrat Party of today bears no resemblance to the party of history. Granted, the socialist overreach of FDR with Social Security and Truman with the takeover of the steel industry reveals a dangerous socialist tendency, but historically the party has never been characterized by the all out crass socialist agenda that we see today. The high tax anti-growth agenda of the majority in Congress has now sparked a grass roots movement that reaches across many demographic lines and is in the process of gutting a vital constituency of the Democrats: senior citizens. The removal of 500 billion dollars from Medicare is more than even a yellow dog democrat can take. Obama has now attempted to bribe seniors with a $250 government check to keep them on his side of the political ledger.  In those states where voters can cross party lines to vote in primaries, the Democrats could be particularly vulnerable.  Rush Limbaugh’s “Operation Chaos” last year showed that crossovers can be a very effective strategy. I believe that it might be time to recruit conservatives to run against democrats in the democrat primaries. It seems that whenever an “independent “runs, it is as a Republican or Libertarian. The Democrats get a free ride to the general election. We should be challenging Democrats in their own primaries with independent, conservative, fiscally responsible non politician candidates in the mode of conservative democrats of the past and blue dogs of the present time. It’s time to flush as many liberals and bogus blue dogs out of the Democrat party as possible.

This tactic could have beneficial effects right now as listed in #4 above. Simply by announcing that an exploratory committee has been formed to decide whether to run might drive current “Blue Dogs” to stand by the promises they made when running last year for Congress. It could drive a stake into the heart of the ill-advised Obama Care program and the Cap and Trade boondoggle. It might cause current conservative Democrats to make true bipartisan coalitions with Republicans to advance a healthcare reform bill that doesn’t take a wrecking ball to our current system.

Perhaps this is just a pipe dream, but I suspect that the comments to this post will be interesting. 

The United States economy is heavily dependent on energy. It is imperative that the US government not stand in the way of our ability to produce affordable energy to run our industries, our infrastructure assets, our commercial and residential real estate assets, and our individual and corporate transportation systems. I noticed on your website that a component of your long term vision is to "Lower energy prices, create hundreds of thousands of new 'green' jobs, provide incentives for clean, renewable energy and fight potential energy price gouging and price fixing by OPEC". I believe that your long term goal to lower energy prices is commendable but I believe that we need some short term relief right now from the escalation of energy prices. The goal of new "green jobs" is a good one also but many of your constituents in the airline industry, the travel industry, the automobile industry, and the trucking industry are quite concerned about the jobs that they have right now. The high price of all types of transportation fuel is causing increasing layoffs and business failures. Many working class folks are unable to even afford getting to work. I'm all for development of alternative, clean, renewable energy sources but that is a long term vision that will not affect our energy problems for some time to come.

What we need from you and the Congress is an energy policy that includes alternatives like solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, clean coal and coal to liquids, and also increased domestic oil production. I keep hearing from your caucus that we cannot drill our way out of our energy problems. That argument disregards what I have already said about a comprehensive policy. The production of domestic oil through drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf, ANWR, oil shale in Colorado and other western states, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico is our energy bridge to a future of renewable energy and nuclear energy. Without the drilling, our economy will go into a tail spin. You say on your website that you have "...been working in Washington to make certain the economic challenges facing ordinary people aren’t forgotten." This is your opportunity to put your statement into action. The poor and the working class are hit the hardest by high energy prices. Poor folks spend upwards of 50% of their income on energy. A doubling of prices is devastating to their budgets and their ability to survive. You can do something about that right now.

Twenty-five days ago President Bush lifted the executive ban on Outer Continental Shelf, ANWR, and other oil production. Up to this date Congress has done nothing to lift the Congressional ban on such drilling. In fact neither house of Congress will even allow an up or down vote on such drilling due to the obstruction of Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid. I am personally unhappy that the Congress went on vacation for five weeks without taking a vote on this vital issue. A growing number of members of the House of Representatives has called for Speaker Pelosi to reconvene the House for the purpose of allowing a vote on increasing American-made energy. Human misery is not acceptable when we have the resources in the ground to enable a smooth transition to sustainable energy. I urge you to take a courageous stand apart from the obstructionists in your party for the people of Missouri and the people of the United States. Take a step toward the liftng of the ban on drilling by calling on the Speaker to reconvene Congress for a vote on a comprehensive energy plan. This could be the most important vote you ever make for our economy and our national security.

It has now been 24 days since President Bush released the ban on Outer Continental Shelf, ANWR, and other drilling and production of oil.  How many more companies will have to be shuttered, how many jobs lost, and how much pain will it take until the Democrats of Reid, Pelosi, and Sherrod Brown say no to enviromania and yes to the American people?  The days of vacation for no-drill Democrats must end or we must put them on a permanent vacation in November.

Gentlemen: Thank you for taking a stand for your country. This issue is one that crosses all economic and cultural boundaries. It is an issue that will have profound consequences on all aspects of the security of our nation. It is an issue than can have a ground shaking effect on the political landscape if you are steadfast in your efforts.

President Bush led this effort 3 weeks ago by removing the executive order banning drilling on the OCS, ANWR, and other locations. In the 3 weeks since the Democrat leaders of Congress in the Senate and in the House have poked their finger into the eyes of the citizens of this country by ignoring their desire for drilling. They have done absolutely nothing to ease the pain of sky high energy prices. The economy is quaking and they do nothing. The travel industry, automobile industry, trucking industry, and other energy intensive industries are under severe economic stress and the Democrats do nothing. Poor and working Americans find their family budgets and jobs under assault and worry how they are going to pay their heating transportation, shelter and even their food bills this winter, and the Democrats do nothing. Tomorrow will be 22 days since the President did his part and the Democrats are on vacation. How many more days will the American people have to wait for the Democrat leadership to act. Every day that they are on vacation is one day closer to the day of a personal tragedy for an American citizen that might have been avoided. It may be a lost job by an autoworker or airline employee. It may be an American in the northeast whose electricity is cut off for non-payment. It may be a young girl who has to drop out of college because of the strain on her family’s budget. But for the Democrat leadership their spurious explanations and political posturing not to mention their vacations are more important than representing the people who elected them to office. This is irresponsible and borders on malfeasance.

Please do not compromise with Senator Reid on the offshore drilling ban. His most likely action will be to allow a little drilling here or there with obstructive restrictions that will allow either a little bit of exploration and no drilling or exploration with the necessity for congressional approval for production later.  Some Senators are attempting to craft compromise packages that will open certain offshore areas on the Alaskan North Slope or offshore Alaska.  I have also heard of allowing "study" of offshore drilling in certain places which is just a way of delaying production.  All of these piecemeal tactics are a sham and will be rescinded as soon as the Democrats have the opportunity to do so. Our nation needs a complete removal of the offshore drilling moratorium akin to the lead of President Bush 15 days ago, and we need it now. 

Senator Reid has, in the past, shown himself to be untrustworthy with his promises and later obstruction of judicial nominees. He reminds me of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. He will without a doubt yank the football away just as you are about to kick it. You have them over the barrel and their tactics on this energy policy will sink them in November if they continue down the path they are on. Make them bend to the will of the American people or let them sink.

The moratorium on drilling is a war on poor and working class people who are losing their jobs and who will not have the money to pay their heating, gasoline, and food bills this winter. This could be a defining moment for the Republican Party and you as a leader have the opportunity to stand up and be the champion of those who are in need. I pray that the Lord will give you strength for this task. God bless you and your colleagues.

Sincerely,

Joe Stephens

You Americans just don't know what's good for you and the country.  We cannot continue our addiction to carbon based energy.  We don’t have a supply problem in the US, we have a consumption problem.  Americans are using too much energy, far more than their share of the world’s supply.  The United States Congress, under our leadership, is going to encourage America to use less by continuing to block development of oil reserves in the outer continental shelf off the east and west coast.  We will continue to block additional drilling for oil in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.  We will continue to protect ANWR from oil production.  Nuclear power plants will also be blocked, although we may study that energy source for a few years before we decide not to allow their development. 

To control our excessive consumption we will mandate the following measures: an emissions cap, hybrid and flex fuel cars, 25%-30% renewable fuel electricity, zero emissions buildings, reduction of speed limits, personal carbon limits, and decreased development in suburban areas. 

All of these mandates will most likely keep gasoline prices below $10 per gallon.  That’s our energy plan for the future. The result may be massive unemployment, freezing poor people, and a chaotic economy but we're willing to impose those sacrifices in order to cure this unhealthy addiction.  Call it a cold turkey solution if you like, and we're not referring to lowered thermostats, but we, with our vast experience and wisdom know that this is the best medicine for our country. Vote for the Democrats and Oback Arama in November and you can count on it.

Saudi Arabian Oil Company 295b

National Iranian Oil Company 287b

Qatar Petroleum 165b

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company 137b

Iraq National Oil Company 137b

Gazprom 115b

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation 107b

Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. 102b

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation 62b

National Oil Corporation (Libya) 45b

Sonatrach 40b

Rosneft 35b

To claim that Exxon controls world oil prices is simply goofy.

The dems want to tax the "windfall profits" of our domestic oil companies. You don't have to be a high school graduate to know that stealing capital from the oil companies reduces their ability to compete for resources on the world stage. Also, the theft of money from oil companies affects millions of pension plans of retired and working people by confiscating a portion of the book value or dividends of oil companies invested in by their pension plans.