This is the one issue we as conservatives can use to drive home why we actually care about voters and actually helping them make better lives for themselves. This is building to be the defining issue. I am so thankful that a lot of Republicans have removed their binders and are starting to see it too. I doubt the Democrats will see it until around the end of August. However, I do expect them to allow legislation to come to a vote, and they will water it down as much as possible so they can proclaim their energy independence (we really care about you the voter) campaign commercial. That is all they will do. However, that is just my opinion.

The energy policy issue will be a defining piece of this years election. There are some very sharp differences of opinion on how we are going to reach energy independence.

I support aggressively pursuing every source of energy—including nuclear, clean coal, shale, wind and solar. We need it all. But as we move toward alternatives sources, our infrastructure relies on traditional energy.

This last sentence is what everyone will need to remember. In the near term we are still reliant on fossil fuels for much of our energy needs. We need to allow oil companies to explore and drill for the needed oil and natural gas that will allow the research into alternative energies produce results.

Again, thank you for all the work you are doing on this issue Senator.

Dear Senator,

I humbly wish for your kind initiative in seriously raising the issue of ANWR drilling to our good candidate, Senator John McCain. I believe that Governor Palin has made a good case for the reversal of Congressional Ban on the ANWR oil drilling. She will be more than glad in helping you on this matter.

We, Republicans/Conservatives, and even many of our fellow Americans in other parties, are one in supporting the opening of ANWR sliver area for oil drilling, including other off-shore sites.

I wish that you can convince the rest of our Republican Party leaders on the wisdom of fast-tracking ANWR and other potential areas for oil exploration.

I salute you, Senator, and thank you for your leadership on this issue.

Best regards.

Rod

PS: RS Guys, Senator Cornyn also needs our support for his reelection, though we know that he is currently leading in a wide margin at the latest Rasmussen polls report. Pls. visit his campaign website.

It is a pleasure to see you participate in this environment with the same clarity that you do with your constituents.

You have fought well on the immigration and energy fronts among many other areas.

I would encourage all Texans to support the Senator who has supported Texas and American values.

By the way, this transplanted Yankee loved your cowboy spot. It was humorous. Which, come to think of it, always annoys liberals. That made it even better!

You have my vote!

Senator:

Recently, I was watching a late night session in the House where our side was trying to make the case for more drilling in ANWR and offshore. All I heard was “drill, drill, drill.” Then, the democrats had their turn. They believed drilling would do nothing to help us, but they neglected to give one good idea. In essence, they liked the idea of higher prices, because their radical supporters like the idea of higher prices – ala Thomas Friedman from the NYT.

Even with these two distinct positions, it seemed like something was missing and that was the idea of new, innovative ideas for energy or a real plan for real reform to harness all the possibilities our country’s own resources have to offer.

We can’t simply be the party of “big oil” or we’ll be a minority party forever. Big oil doesn’t necessarily have a good name right now.

We’ve got to drill more, but that idea has to be a bridge to something more, like the ideas you put forth. We’ve got to tap the possibilities of nuclear, clean coal, natural gas, solar, wind, hydrogen, etc. We’ve got to be the party of big ideas. We’ve got to be the party that puts our country on better footing than when we found it, and we’ve got to have a good spokesperson to articulate it. This is why we loved Reagan. He was a big thinker that knew how to get the message across.

We got to have one voice that clearly speaks to the American people. The people are ready for leadership. The question is whether we’re ready to lead?

but we only have limited quantities of oil. What do we do after we burned up our supplies? How much do we have in order to support ourselves before we run out? The time for wind, solar, and geothermal is now. The sun has another 5 billion years worth of energy under it’s belt. I suggest we start working with it.

As a constituent and supporter, I appreciate your efforts on this subject and your time to post at RedState. I picked up my Cornyn bumper stickers last night and look forward to pulling the lever for you again in November.

On the topic of energy, I think Americans need a little reminder about the importance of liquid fuels in shaping our country and the world. Just over a 100 short years ago our major cities were choked with coal smoke and the air hung heavy with the dust of horse exhaust. Cities were gritty, dirty, unhealthy places. Liquid-fueled vehicles not only changed that, but they also allowed an almost unbelievable technological burst the likes of which the world has never seen before. Think of the inventions of the last 100 years and compare them to the inventions of the previous 1000 years. Many of these inventions came from the minds of Americans who combined the can-do spirit with inexpensive and readily available energy. These innovations changed the entire world. In a hundred years. I maintain that this is due to the availability of inexpensive, safe to handle, liquid fuels.
Going forward, it really doesn’t matter too much whether the liquids are derived from petroleum, biomass, or synthesized from coal or shale. The important thing is that it is available and relatively inexpensive. I would urge Republicans to phrase the argument in favor of liquid fuels, not just oil because in the long run, the source really doesn’t matter.

So how can the federal government help?

1. Get out of the way of domestic oil production and refining. Open the lands, cut the red tape.
2. Promote nuclear for electrical production by streamlining the regulatory process – a lot. This saves coal for…
3. Encourage syn-fuel production of liquid fuels from coal with tax incentives. See Sasol in South Africa.
4. Encourage long-term incentives for electrical production by renewables such as wind, wave, and solar by making tax breaks last long enough to actually make investment in these technologies practical since pay back is so long.
5. Encourage conservation, but don’t mandate it. This nonsense about what kind of light bulb some congressman thinks is better for everyone is anathema to the American spirit.

Finally, make it clear in every speech you give that energy is not a dirty word. Clean liquid fuels rid our cities of horse dung and provided the high standard of living and comfort that the current generation of legislators was able to enjoy.

Energy is good. Let’s put some more good in life!