The House Democratic Leadership is taking a huge gamble in not locking arms with House Republicans on passing legislation dealing with the rapidly increasing price of oil.

         By not proposing a bipartisan solution, they expose their more vulnerable members to nasty charges of “do-nothingism”.  Inaction also leads to other vulnerabilities.

         First, there is the Al Gore problem.  Al Gore has been quoted time and time again saying that a steep increase in gas prices will be good for the environment.  Well, the steep increases are here.  Do you feel better yet.

         Second, there is the voting record problem.  Over the last decade, House Democrats have voted against domestic oil production pretty much in lock-step.  When prices were low, that was an easy vote because all the passion was on the nimby side.  But now that prices have increased so rapidly, those votes have become a true liability. 

         Third, there is the problem of extreme left of Democratic caucus, who will come to symbolize the true motives of all Democrats in the Congress.  They want to nationalize the oil industry, just as Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela.   Read more...