Drilling and differentiators
A few days ago, I wrote that I would consider offshore drilling legislation that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives at a later date. Tonight’s entry is to fulfill that promise.
So… have we heard anything about this bill since September 17? I certainly haven’t. 
Nice job, Democrats! (Note added days later: But see THIS!…)
I believe that the passage of the offshore drilling legislation in the House was a move by Democrats to remove the issue of offshore drilling and the “drill, baby, drill” hysteria (sorry, Republicans, that is what it was) of the Republican National Convention from the main stage of the Presidential drama. That tactical move was especially successful because it was fortuitously and coincidentally accompanied by the near meltdown of some of America’s largest financial institutions, and the simultaneous recognition by both major Presidential candidates that “it’s the economy, stupid.” Those of us with substantially less wealth realized that it was the economy, a long time ago (unemployment is a “lagging” economic indicator). Wealth does not make people stupid, but it does help to insulate them from tough economic times.
The Republican House leader, John Boehner of Ohio, asked the rhetorical question of how much drilling will occur as a result of the bill, and answered himself, “zero.”
The Senate should provide a more interesting battleground, if we ever hear of this bill in its current form again, which I doubt.
Now, if I have deflated any Republican egos by the above, I will soothe them with another comment. The Republican tactic (maybe even strategy!) of removing the “Change” differentiator from the campaign was extraordinarily brilliant. Maybe the Democrats, in their move to remove “offshore drilling” as a differentiator, have taken a page from your playbook!
Now, both major Presidential candidates are “pro-Change” and “pro-offshore drilling!” 😉
Sure.
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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