This was originally posted on www.barnhartblog.com
This year Barack Obama is promising America "Change We Can Believe In" and it sounds great but before you take Obama at his word, review the 3rd part of my Blog Series "The Audacity of Lies; the Democrats Monumental List of Broken Promises." It details how the Democrat party promised Americans they would change Washington D.C. in 2006 if we would only put them in charge.
Well...we did, they lied, and we are all paying the price for trusting them. Don't take my word for it, read the promises Democrats made to America and then judge on your own if they did or did not fulfill their promise provide change, to lower gas prices and make us energy independent.
Promise: “Democrats have a plan to lower gas prices…join Democrats who are working to lower gas prices now.” – Then Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, April 19, 2006
Broken Promise: The average price of gasoline is now $4.05 cents a gallon and oil is now $140.00 per barrel.
Barnhart Blog Observation: This week the US Senate tried to pass a bill that would have increased windfall profit taxes on oil companies and the oil companies would have passed that cost on to consumers. Last week, Senate Democrats tried to pass the Cap-and-Trade "Climate Security Act" which would have added an immediate $1.50 tax increase to the price of every gallon of gas. Luckily, Republican Mitch McConnell saw it for what it was, started a filibuster on the Democrat money grab and put a stop to both of pieces of liberal legislation.
Promise: “Democrats promise to hit the ground running on energy issues if they win control of the House or Senate. Responding to voters’ concerns about $3-a-gallon gasoline and the soaring cost of home-heating oil, Democratic leaders in both chambers have ranked energy as one of their top priorities for the next Congress.” – “Energy Reserving a Front Burner,” National Journal, September 9, 2006
Broken Promise: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) issued a clear directive soon after Democrats took control of Congress this year, promising a comprehensive energy and climate change bill on the House floor by the Fourth of July. But with five legislative work weeks to go before that deadline, House Democrats are still left with the task of cobbling together a bill from as many as 11 committees…As for the deadline itself, a House Democrat aide close to the process said the package will not arrive on the House floor before the July Fourth recess.” – “Energy Policy Moving on Multiple Fronts,” Energy & Environment Daily, May 18, 2007.
Promise: “The most urgent environmental issue facing us today is global warming.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction for America,” Page 9
Broken Promise: “Pelosi Says Global Warming Bill Might Wait Until Next Year” – Headline, Congress Daily PM, June, 1, 2007.
Barnhart Blog Observation: The reason for her delay…Pelosi was hoping that the Cap-and-Trade "Climate Security Act" would pass in the Senate while the rest of America was asleep at the wheel and being hypnotized by the Democrat primary race. No such luck Nancy, we reject the idea of being taxed for helping you balance the budget while paying for the myth of "solving the climate crisis."
The idea that "We Can Solve It" is ridiculous. There is NOTHING to solve. Bush, Gingrich, Lieberman, Warner, McCain and others who claim to be conservatives should be ashamed for buying into the climate change hocus pocus.
Economists and scientists and even United Nations reports show that to change the temperature of the earth by just two degrees Celsius would cost $26 TRILLION US Dollars, for just $5 Trillion we could give every adult in the world a basic college education and since it is a lack of education that helps create poverty, wouldn't that be a better endeavor to spend our money on?
Besides, even if we all listen to liberal ding-bat Al Gore, his book details statistics that global warming is only going to go up at most 1 degree over the next 100 years. If that is what all the concern is over then let’s use a few million dollars and buy everyone on the earth air conditioning. There is no reason for us to be so stupid and keep listening to climate change alarmists. Damn people ... have you forgotten all the climate change baloney of the 70's, 80's, 90's not to mention the phony Y2K scare?
Anyone who says they believe in global warming, global cooling, or climate change, please ... do me a favor ... go sit in a pumpkin patch on Halloween night next October, if you do I promise the Great Pumpkin will arrive at midnight and bring you candy and toys, I swear.
Promise: “To free America from dependence on foreign oil, we will achieve energy independence for America by 2020 by eliminating reliance on oil from the Middle East and other unstable regions of the world.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction for America,” Page 6
Broken Promise: During the first year of the Democrat-controlled Congress, no energy independence legislation has been passed by the House, much less sent to the President’s desk. But 228 Democrats voted to impose more than $6.5 billion in new taxes on small and independent American energy producers, which will lead to less domestic supply, higher prices for consumers, and an increase in America’s dependence on foreign sources. – Roll Call Vote #40, January 18, 2007.
Barnhart Blog Observation: The cost of gas and other fuels and energy sources not to mention food is much higher than it was in 2006 and 2007. Democrats are pointing fingers at “Big Oil” for the rise in fuel prices but truth be told, liberal hedge fund investors like George Soros are investing in oil speculation but the Democrats are not going after hedge fund speculators ….because they donate to liberal candidates and political organizations 2x or 3x the amount of money they donate to conservative candidates and organizations.
Before you start pointing fingers at "Big Oil", Bush, Cheney, Halliburton, Exxon or anyone else, go check out Madison Avenue and Wall Street and start knocking on the doors of oil speculators, the same companies that helped to create the Dot-Com and Real Estate busts of the past are now over inflating the market value of oil.
Promise: “Besides encouraging the bio-fuel market and infrastructure, it also aims to encourage coal-to-liquids as an alternative fuel through the U.S. military’s purchasing power. The majority leader said the bill is complementary to the rural working group’s bio-fuels act and has the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich.” – “US Representative Hoyer: $15B Energy Bill Outlines House Democrats’ Plans,” Dow Jones, March 1, 2007
Broken Promise: “The coal-to-liquids amendment showcased the difficult debate ahead for Democratic leaders as they try to craft multiple bills this year dealing with energy and global warming. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) is not an advocate of coal-to-liquids plants…” – “Coal-to-Liquids Vote Caps House Energy Markup,” Environment & Energy Daily, June 21, 2007
Promise: “Our New Direction will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not to the Middle East.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction for America,” Page 9
Broken Promise: “The Rahall energy bill proposes a systematic stripping of provisions from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) that aimed to increase access for new energy development on federal lands.” – “Independent Oil Producers Ally with Wind against Rahall’s Energy Bill,” Energy Washington, June 6, 2007.
Barnhart Blog Observation: Massachusetts is just one among many other states including Alaska, California, Arizona, Idaho, Texas, Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Louisiana, Virginia, Minnesota that have asked for the right to either drill for oil, produce coal oil, shale oil, hemp fuel, sugar cane fuel, or open wind, solar or nuclear power plants that are still being denied by Congress, all while we all are forced to pay $4.05 a gallon for gasoline. More than a year after Democrats took power in Congress; no comprehensive energy reform has happened and virtually no energy bills were sent to the President.
Liberal environmentalist nuts and others, who have caved to global warming or climate change nonsense, have refused to drill for oil in ANWR or in states who have asked for more ability to drill in their borders. Montana alone has enough shale oil and coal oil available to last us 40 years.
Promise: “Double the percentage of renewable fuels sold in America. Make sure that… cellulosic sources, such as switch grass are a key part of that increase.” – Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “A New Direction for America,” Page 10
Broken Promise: “Currently, according to the ethanol industry’s list of producers in the United States, none of the ethanol comes from cellulose and even if commercial plants can be built, the process may still prove too expensive to compete with corn ethanol.” – “Will Cellulosic Ethanol Take Off?” Technology Review, February 27, 2007.
Barnhart Blog Observation: The only thing Congress did in reference to increasing Ethanol production was dictate that more of our fuel supply should come from Ethanol corn. You might say that seems to make sense, we need more fuel and Democrats see themselves as the only friend that farmers have, so helping farmers by giving them an increase in the Ethanol fuel subsidy is a good compromise. Well, not exactly. Ethanol does come from corn, but it is not extracted from the same corn crops used to feed animals or humans, but since farmers were provided a government subsidy to plant more Ethanol corn, that was what they did. As a result, there is less corn for animal feed and even less for use in other products used or consumed by humans. It seems congress has yet to figure out that when people are given an incentive to do something, they will usually do it. I know if the price of gas was lower, millions of Americans would have more money to save, invest or use to buy goods and services. No wonder our economy is in such terrible shape right now.
Promise: “Democrats stand for… finding meaningful solutions to our energy crisis. We will make America more competitive and not heap mountains of debt on future generations.” – Then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Conference, June 16, 2006
Broken Promise: “The main challengers to U.S. economic power – Brazil, Russia, India and China – have overtaken the United States in dominating the global energy industry, according to a new study by Goldman Sachs.” – Study: “‘BRICs’ Overtake U.S. in Energy,” Associated Press, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.
House Democrats weakened U.S. energy competitiveness by voting to repeal the American-energy production initiatives crafted by Republicans as part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act and instead replacing them with new bureaucratic roadblocks that undermine efforts to increase domestic energy supplies for consumers in the future. – Roll Call Vote #40, January 18, 2007
Barnhart Blog Observation: Brazil is using fuel made from sugar cane and is now energy independent. Cuba, China and Venezuela are “slant drilling” for oil off of the US coastline and are therefore obtaining oil that is actually under American territorial waters. The US could be growing industrial sativa hemp, and it alone could produce 4x the amount of ethanol and other bio-fuels than corn, flax or sugar cane.
Promise: “We have a strong commitment to research and development.” – Then-Minority-Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Conference, September 7, 2006
Broken Promise: As part of the FY 2008 Interior Appropriations bill, Democrats voted to eliminate the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas Research and Development Program created by Republicans in 2005 and utilized by petroleum engineers at 23 major research universities and four non-profit research institutions. – H.R. 2463, FY 2008 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Roll Call Vote #579, June 27, 2007
Promise: “Senate Democrats are renewing their effort to require electric utilities to produce more power from renewable sources such as wind and solar. . . Many House Democrats . . . are on record supporting a renewable standard . . . House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. . . . ‘Believes we need to increase the amount of electricity that comes from renewable sources in the United States above where we are today,’ a Pelosi aide said.”– “Senate Democrats See Opening for Renewable Standard,” Congressional Quarterly Green Sheets, May 25, 2007
Broken Promise: “Wind energy advocates say the House Democrats’ bill could significantly cripple the burgeoning industry, and they brand the measure ‘anti-wind.’ A release from the American Wind Energy Association last month said the House Democrats’ plan could ‘essentially outlaw’ the generation of electricity from new wind power plants in the United States.” – “A Pesky proposal for Wind Power Plants,” Associated Press, June 4, 2007
Promise: “Democrats will energize America by declaring energy independence … That is our commitment.” – Then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Annual 2006 Take Back America Conference, June 14, 2006
Broken Promise: During their first six months, House Democrats have declared only that they are incapable of governing when it comes to matters such as energy policy. Instead of passing comprehensive legislation as promised to make America less dependent on foreign energy sources, House Democrats have offered legislation that would make energy independence more difficult by dissuading U.S. refiners from investing billions to expand refining capacity to meet rising demand. Instead of lower prices . . . the legislation could cause higher prices by unintentionally capping or restricting domestic refinery capacity.” – “Wrong Direction,” Houston Chronicle Editorial, June 24, 2007
Promise: “As the U.S. chases larger oil supplies, we are failing to notice the flashing neon signs pointing to the potential of our most abundant domestic energy resource – coal. Liquefaction and gasification technologies are available right under our noses. They are being used with success by some of our most assertive foreign economic competitors who recognize the folly of dependence on oil and are doing something about it. It’s time we did as well.” – Then-Ranking Member of the House Resources Committee, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Press Release, April 26, 2006
“With a nation hard and fast on a petroleum diet for decades to come brought forth by the pending legislation, the widespread commercialization of coal-to-liquids technology to fuel our vehicles will continue to be an elusive goal. I have never forsaken the coal miners in my Congressional District, and I am not about to do so now.” – Then-Ranking Member of the House Resources Committee, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Floor Statement, June 29, 2006
Broken Promise: “Republicans also may offer an amendment to boost coal production to put [now-House Resources Committee Chairman] Rahall in a tough spot, the aide said. Rahall represents a coal-mining district but his bill does not address coal.” – “House GOP Plans Amendments to Counter Rahall Energy Bill,” Dow Jones Newswire, June 6, 2007.
Barnhart Blog Observation: Chairman Rahall opposed several amendments to promote coal technology that are in the best interests of his own district, not to mention the American people, all because he is a global warming alarmist and he does not want to upset oil and hedge fund speculators like George Soros.
Promise: “We’ll make this Fourth of July energy independence day...” – Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Conference, May 9, 2007
Broken Promise: “The House energy bill has devolved into a heated battle that threatens to spoil Democrats’ hopes of passing an overhaul of energy policy by July 4.” – “Pelosi vs. Dingell Heats Up; Energy Tension Rises at Meeting,” Roll Call, June 13, 2007.
Note: House members departed for the 2007 Fourth of July district work period without passing energy independence legislation of any kind.
No party remains blameless. Republicans could have fought harder when they controlled congress to help make us energy independent, instead they caved to pressure from foreign allies and from liberal Democrats and created no new nuclear plants, no refineries, or oil pipelines. In their own way Republicans helped Democrats put us in this situation. There is more than enough blame to go around especially when considering the Bush administration agreed to help Saudi Arabia investigate the viability of nuclear power plants when they have an abundance of solar energy available to them.
One final thought...10 years ago liberal Democrats and the Hollywood elite were defending Bill Clinton by saying that his White House perjury scandal was all bout sex and will have no impact on his decision making. Well...that is not exactly true. While Bill was busy playing hide the cigar with Monica Lewinsky he not only neglected to take out Osama Bin Laden multiple times he also canceled billions of dollars worth of oil drilling leases in California, Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and many others so he could do his part to help save the environment.
If you would like to thank the former President for helping add to current gas prices you call or write him by going to this link; http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=734086
If you would like to call or write the current congressional leaders from your state you may do so by using this link for the House of Representatives; http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html
And this link to contact the US Senate; http://www.senate.gov/
Part 4 of my blog series is dedicated to Democrats broken promises in regards to the 9/11 Commission and national security. After today’s ruling by the Supreme Court in regards to the rights of enemy combatants at GITMO you will not want to miss it.
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