Blogger’s Note – Will Charlie Brown Stand Up and Denounce Nancy Pelosi’s Fraud and the raft of Environmental Lawsuits aimed at stopping drilling?

Now is the time to man up Charlie? you were endorsed by the Sierra Club – are you going to follow them to court to thwart energy production?

Take a look at this report about enviro lawsuits to stop drilling – note how the Dems are ignoring the fact that these have occurred. The Enviros have sued to stop EVERY new lease in the last two years. This really underscores that Nancy Pelosi is a bald-faced liar with the use-it-or-lose-it policy, she knows there is nothing to lose because it is tied up in court!

By JOHN SHADEGG

After a five-week paid vacation, Democrats are back in Washington and claiming that they want to do something about oil prices.

But the problem is that their plan, which passed the House yesterday and will likely come up for a vote in the Senate later this week, will not produce a single drop of oil.

Why? Because it does nothing about environmental groups that are suing to stop drilling.

The Democratic proposal is not a death-bed conversion, it’s designed to solve their political problem. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her members in August that they can say they are in favor of drilling, but that she wouldn’t allow a vote on a drilling bill. Now that she has been forced to, she knows her environmental allies will block new drilling from going forward.

The Sierra Club has told its members that it is “working to ensure that the final bill’s focus is on real clean energy solutions rather than expanded offshore drilling.” Democratic Rep. John Murtha, a Pelosi confidante, went further last week in noting that his party’s not above cynical politics: “This is a political month. There’s all kinds of things we try to do that will just go away after we leave.” And Legislative Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council Karen Wayland has said “This is about politics, not necessarily about policy.”

The green lobby, however, is not going away. EarthJustice, which employs over 150 people, has filed hundreds of lawsuits. On its Web site, it says “Because lawsuits can be so effective, we have a team of policy experts in Washington, D.C. that work hand-in-hand with our attorneys to stop legislative backlash . . .”

Indeed, incessant legal and administrative challenges make true the Democrat claim that oil from newly opened areas will not reach the market for years. These groups make use of a wide range of laws and regulations to challenge development. And they will make sure that the Democrats’ proposal is meaningless.

In February 2008, the administration issued 487 leases in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, which holds an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and 76 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, and other groups used the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act to challenge and delay progress on all 487 leases. In a separate lawsuit, they challenged the entire national outer continental shelf (OCS) leasing program, seeking to block all future leases.

Even if a lease makes it through these challenges, it isn’t clear sailing. Right now, there are 748 leases in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Exploration activities in every single one were challenged in May of this year by EarthJustice in conjunction with others.

The Alaskan OCS contains 26 billion barrels of oil and 132 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Not one offshore lease has escaped litigation.

And it’s not just Alaska. Wild Earth Guardians and others recently filed suit to block energy exploration on all leases in recent sales in Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Last year, almost 50% of gas leases in the Rocky Mountain states were protested in court.

Environmental protections are necessary. But, there must be reasonable limits on litigation.

During the oil embargo in 1973, Congress waived environmental laws for the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. That waiver, Democratic Sen. John Tunney of California said at the time, “in no way dilutes or diminishes the applicability of NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act].” Rather, he said, it “brings into balance grave concerns of national security” with our nation’s environmental safeguards. In 1996 and again in 2006, environmental laws were waived for the construction of fences along the southern border of the United States.

Absent provisions to stop abusive litigation, the bills Democrats support will not lead to oil production. Any serious energy plan would encourage the development of alternative and renewable fuels, and open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the OCS and the Western U.S. to drilling. It also would put a stop to never-ending litigation. But that’s not what Democratic leaders are offering.

We’re told that the Democrats now favor drilling. That they have seen the light after feeling the heat all summer. What’s really happening is we’re mid-way through a political hoax.

Some 70% of Americans favor increased domestic drilling. Unfortunately, if Mrs. Pelosi and her party’s leaders continue to play politics, we can be sure Americans won’t get the energy they want.

Mr. Shadegg, a Republican, is a U.S. congressman from Arizona.

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Here we go again. McCain’s moderate political views are showing up again, and not too soon. Only 5 days until the RNC Convention and McCain is already showing his true colors. For those of us on the Conservative side of the GOP isle, we knew this all along. The RNC caved on some very important issues so that McCain can feel comfortable with the platform. What about those of us who like the platform and are in this party because of it? If McCain doesn’t like the party platform than I suggest McCain find a different party. I’m not quite sure why he’s a Republican anyway. First George W. Bush let’s the Neocons take over the party and now McCain has pulled the GOP all the way to the middle of the isle. Just as the Democratic Party left many blue collar, pro-American voters over the past 40 year, I feel the GOP is leaving, or has left, many of us Conservatives out in the cold. I may have to find a new party.

“Republicans are putting John McCain’s campaign priorities above some of their pet issues, including drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and denying citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

“The panel turned back a move to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.”

“The platform acknowledges a human role in increased carbon emissions…”

“Committee member Trey Grayson of Kentucky called the document “the greenest platform we’ve ever had.”

Wow, I feel like this is the Democrat platform. I think my party has left me already…

Full article

“California is making it mandatory for cars to be labeled with global warming scores, figures that take into account emissions from vehicle use and fuel production.

The law requiring the labels goes into effect at the start of next year for all 2009 model cars, though its expected the labels will be popping up on cars in the coming months.”

LINK

Eco-Nazis sue to stop forest clearing – people’s lives are destroyed, the air is filled with smoke.

Eco-Nazis buy politicians with endorsements and campaign cash (Republican Mainstreet Partnership / Democrats) no Oil is Drilled, No refineries built, Gas hits $5 a gallon.

Now, the latest… Food riots in Third-World Countries.

This article was written by the Guardian – an extreme leftist publication from England. The intent of the article was to report a “leaked” report from the World Bank.

The object here was to slap the Bush Administration around, but in this case… the Bush Administration did not hand the media the hammer. In their zeal to make Bush look bad again – they set their friends in the Eco movement on fire.

You see – Ethanol production and other green fuels use Corn and Maize.

An excerpt from the article:

“Rapid income growth in developing countries has not led to large increases in global grain consumption and was not a major factor responsible for the large price increases,” the report said.

Droughts in Australia have also not had a significant impact, it added. Instead, European and US drives for greater use of biofuels has had the biggest effect.

The European Union has mooted using biofuels for up to 10 percent of all transport fuels by 2020 as part of an increase in use of renewable energy.

Translation – Green fuels make people starve.

Just another way the Eco-Movement screws the little guy.

Article

CONTACT:
Dennis Whitfield, Executive Vice President 703-836-8602

ACU to Liberal Congress: Come Clean
Alexandria, VA—The American Conservative Union, the nation’s leading conservative organization and host of the annual CPAC conference, today called on the liberal leadership in Congress to “come clean” over the bankrupt energy policies that have dramatically increased the cost of energy.

“The liberal leadership in Congress has opposed commonsense energy solutions for years,” said ACU Chairman David A. Keene. “Now, as Americans are paying higher prices at the pump, the liberals that run our Congress are scrambling to find ways to undo the havoc they helped wreak,” said Keene.

“Instead of facing up to their foibles, they are trying to follow the same old, tired playbook of taxing energy providers while promoting so-called alternative fuels that are not even currently commercially viable. These policies make things worse by driving up prices and reducing incentives for domestic energy production. They need to come clean with the American public,” he added.

ACU points to specific examples of where liberal leadership has failed the American people:

• On May 25, 2006, the House passed a bill to authorize oil and gas production in ANWR—Pelosi voted no and liberals in the Senate killed it.
• On June 7, 2006 the House voted to expand oil refinery construction—Pelosi voted no and liberals in the Senate killed it.
• A few weeks later on June 29, 2006 the House voted to end the moratorium on offshore oil and natural gas exploration—Pelosi voted no yet again and liberals in the Senate killed it.

Larry Hart, Director of Government Relations for the American Conservative Union, added that as recently as May 13 of this year, the Senate attempted to create a comprehensive energy package to increase domestic oil and gas production only to see it defeated by the liberal leadership once again.

ACU Executive Vice President Dennis E. Whitfield said ACU will continue its push to mobilize grassroots support for a comprehensive energy policy with the following elements:
• No new energy taxes
• Prudent development of known U.S. energy reserves
• A rational permitting process that will allow the construction of new and modern refineries
• Long-term development of alternative sources of energy, including the expansion of nuclear power

“It is time to get real about a commonsense long-term energy policy in the U.S. We intend to hold the liberals in Washington accountable for their inaction and hypocrisy,” added Whitfield.

Click here for the Top 4 Reasons the Liberal Congress Should Come Clean!

First off – picture the scene when Bruce Kranz drives into the venue… 90% of the cars parked had “Charlie Brown” for Congress stickers on them.

This “non-Partisan” group certainly knew who the Conservative was, as they went after Bruce Kranz from the word go. The good news for Bruce is that he didn’t lose any votes as a result of that debate – most there were disciples of Rex Bloomfield.

Also present were Bloomfield disciples Jennifer Montgomery and Millionaire Lobbyist and Bloomfield associate Bob Houston.

(Bloomfield is the Barbara Boxer fundraiser / former Sierra Club Chapter President wanna-be that Kranz defeated for Supervisor in 2008.)

Bob Houston’s positions – Said he is a fiscal conservative yet supported increased funding for Placer Legacy and Sierra Nevada Conservancy. (This suggests anti-growth land grabbing)

Bob Houston claims to have refused developer money, yet +/- 17 of Bob’s 44 registered clients (Houston is a lobbyist) are Cement Companies! Of further concern is Houston’s business with Placer County which is a more direct conflict of interest.

“Cement is a green building product”, in a partial answer to a question about climate change… (Tom McClintock has had some choice words about Concrete in the past)

Houston also said he has much to learn – he said he didn’t know much on some issues but was listening. Actually, he expressed ignorance on several issues.

This suggests that Houston’s decision to run was sudden – this further adds to speculation that Houston is running to get even with Bruce Kranz.

Jennifer Montgomery -

“I support raising mitigation fees” – this should have made the league very happy, she agrees with Charlie Brown on raising our taxes.

“I support a ban on backyard burning” – her answer to the global warming question. I guess forests burning by the thousands of acres pale in comparison to the ecological damage from burning clippings in your backyard.

Claims to support sustainable agriculture – but supports Placer Legacy which prohibits fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides…

Claimed not to be against growth – pointing to the fact that she has not taken developer money. However, her donor list reads like Charlie Brown’s who’s who of Bay Area Liberals. Of note, she has taken money from Gavin Newsome’s father…

Yes folks, Big Brother lives on the West Coast.

“The proposed rules are contained in a document circulated by the California Energy Commission, which for more than three decades has set state energy efficiency standards for home appliances, like water heaters, air conditioners and refrigerators.

The changes would allow utilities to adjust customers’ preset temperatures when the price of electricity is soaring. Customers could override the utilities’ suggested temperatures. But in emergencies, the utilities could override customers’ wishes.”

Article link

Dec. 28 (Bloomberg)—“Climate-change skeptics are taking a beating these days even in France, where people long resisted the green creed.

The most conspicuous doubter in France is Claude Allegre, a former education minister and a physicist by profession. His new book, ``Ma Verite Sur la Planete’’ (``My Truth About the Planet’‘), doesn’t mince words.

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