by Deb Cupples | A few days ago, congressional Republicans threatened to shut down the federal government (by refusing to pass major spending bills) if Democrats didn't vote to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling. Apparently, the Republicans' tantrum-ish threats worked. The New York Times reports:
"For decades, opposition to new offshore oil drilling has been a core principle of Congressional Democrats, ranking in the party pantheon somewhere just below protecting Social Security and increasing the minimum wage.
"But a concerted Republican assault over domestic oil production and the threat of political backlash from financially pressed motorists have Democrats poised to embrace a fundamental shift in energy policy.
"Even more surprising, the turnabout is led by the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who has a history of fighting oil drilling going back to the early days of her career in California." (NY Times)
We voters have got to vote (most) Republicans out of office and find a way to pressure Democrats to grow spines.
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