Harry Reid Knows How to End the Energy Crisis

Last week's Meet the Bloggers was practically dripping in oil.  It's an issue affecting all of us, from the exorbitant price of gas to the war in Iraq, from the billions in subsidies for oil companies to the catastrophic environmental destruction brought on by Big Oil.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sat down with Meet the Bloggers host Cenk Uygur and FOX Attacks blogger Jonathan Kim to discuss ways to combat Big Oil and reach energy independence.

Sen. Reid emphasized the need to cut off government subsidies for oil companies and talked about how speculation has led to us paying up the "you-know-what" at the pump.  Uygur and Kim also directed Reid's attention to the Republicans' overt lies about how unsafe offshore drilling is for our environment.  For instance, conservatives, led by John McCain, have been claiming that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused no oil spills, when the truth is that those two spills alone caused 124 spills for a total of 743,700 gallons, according to some estimates.  

In part 2 of this interview, Sen. Reid explained ways to get off Big Oil and invest in alternative energy sources.  He fielded questions from the audience, and then praised bloggers for framing the energy debate and using their influence to combat Big Oil and conservatives alike. 

That cued our featured bloggers: Kevin Grandia (DeSmogBlog), Nico Pitney (Huffington Post), and Matt Stoller (Open Left).  They discussed the oil framing game; who will truly benefit from offshore drilling; the need to nationalize the oil industry; the disastrous consequences of Republicans getting their way; and the biggest Republican flip-floppers on oil.

Oddly enough, it seems that Meet the Bloggers follows the Beetle Juice rule of thumb: say "flip-flopper" three times and McCain's gross inconsistencies suddenly appear. Two days after the show, The Washington Post reported that McCain hauled in over $1.1 million from oil and gas industry executives last month, three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban on offshore drilling.  So while McCain was out blaming Obama for high prices at the pump, he was reaping the rewards of pandering to the oil industry.  

Of course, the fact that Big Oil is fueling the Straight Talk Express is nothing new.  Even prior to McCain's flip-flop, The Center for Responsive Politics found that the McCain campaign had taken over $1 million from oil and gas industry since 1989.  Furthermore, at least 22 of McCain's top advisers and fundraisers have lobbied for oil companies like Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, Sunoco, and more.  And while the WaPo article certainly dealt a major blow to the McCain campaign, McCain's voting record reveals that he's been giving tax breaks to Big Oil for years. 

For more on McCain's lucrative oil drilling flip-flop, check out http://meetthebloggers.org/.  Meet the Bloggers airs Fridays live at 1pm ET.  

Comments

[JimR]

Harry Reid has got to go.

[tomhuggan]

I don't trust Harry Reid. He represents a state where gaming has been an institution led by dubious people, and run by the folks next door in Utah. They've learned over the years from the mafia. How many Mormon MBA's do you know? Well, their religion takes a 10% cut of gross pay, then invests it in ways that would make Jesus weep. All a secret from the sheep in the congregation. Secrecy is normal to these people, so is power and hierarchy. Reid does not represent the Democrats in general. He is to the Mormons as Lieberman is to the Jews. He was a good "go-between" when the Dems were a minority in the Senate. I think there is someone better for the job, her name starts with a "C".

[obamanation31]

The Dems need to get out there to get their message to the people. The Repugs all get their talking points from Karl Rove and they repeat it over and over like robots till people start believing it.

[demfriend]

A funny thing happened on the way to the gas pump and does anyone else notice it yet? When the amount of gas used went down the price did too. OPEC said there was more than enough gas so it wasn't a supply issue but an oil companies issue with them making massive amoun of money on our backs with no end in sight!!! These companies who are using money to support Mccain are using the money we are sweating our buts off to pay for the gas we have to have. The food we have to have and all of the goods and services we have to have. There is something very very wrong when we are barely getting by and unemployment is so very high and the oil companies are raking in the money then handing it to Mccain and lining the pockets of those willing to look away while we suffer (the administration).

[Marlyn]

" the oil companies are raking in the money then handing it to McCain"

and buying up their own stock.

[long333]

I find it odd that Harry Reid is willing to tell right-wing bloggers information like 124 spills for a total of 743,700 gallons. I think he should call a press conference and tell the public that off-shore drilling caused massive damage to the environment. Once again the vast conspiracies of the oil companies have covered up the blackness of the surface of the ocean that everyone could see.

[peacefulworldcitizen]

"Well I kept hoping it would be like that thing I read when I was a kid, Pinnochio. I kept expecting to see these big noses out there." - Reid.

And therein lies the problem with the Senate and to a lessor degree the House. They keep hoping while standing around doing nothing. It's time to do something! The American people are fed up with this do-nothing Congress.

I am going to do whatever I can to make sure the Democrats that are in Congress right now get replaced by more progressive candidates.

[several]

Harry Reid ladies and gentlemen! Harry Reid!

[TomR]

Don't get too excited yet.

"The legislation, drafted by Reid and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), would open nearly a billion new acres off the coast of Alaska to study for drilling. It would also dramatically accelerate oil leases in the western and central Gulf of Mexico."
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/reid-plan-splits-dems-2008-07-28.html

----
"Well I kept hoping it would be like that thing I read when I was a kid, Pinnochio. I kept expecting to see these big noses out there." - Reid.
----

Same to you Harry. Same to you.

- Tom

[mjt218]

I hope someone can find a way to call out the zero drop Republicans. It's ludicrous to blatantly lie so excessively. However, it's important to note that 9 million gallons was not spilled entirely offshore. Most of that was associated with refinery inundations in the greater New Orleans area.

While I always wonder about the validity of Republican arguments that opening up new areas for drilling will lower gas prices, I wonder even more about Democratic arguments that 10-15 year out investments are not worthwhile. I'm glad my parents didn't take that stance raising me.

[JimR]

"I wonder even more about Democratic arguments that 10-15 year out investments are not worthwhile."

Depends on what the projected payout is. In the case of offshore oil drilling, it's not very much. Economists and oil experts agree it will make very little difference in the price of gas. And the oil that is pumped from those wells will not go directly to the U.S. It will go on the global market, where the U.S. will have an opportunity to purchase it.