We know that Joe Biden and the Democrats are content to do all kinds of harm to our country and our energy independence to serve the radical climate agenda.

They proved it in a memo that was accidentally posted by the Department of the Interior on Friday – a memo that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is upset about, and rightfully so.

Former Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Amanda Lefton acknowledged in a memo late last year that charging fossil fuel companies less to drill in the 958,202 acres of the Cook Inlet off the coast of Alaska would provide greater energy security for the country.

“If a Cook Inlet prospect would be developed, there would be additional government revenues and greater energy security for the State of Alaska, especially if development of natural gas resources in the Cook Inlet ameliorated the long-term supply challenges facing the Anchorage area,” Lefton wrote in the memo.

Lefton said that charging drillers a royalty fee of 16.67 percent would attract more bids and “be more likely to facilitate expeditious and orderly development of [offshore] resources.”

But she wasn’t recommending it. Why?

“Nevertheless, because of the serious challenges facing the Nation from climate change and the impact of [greenhouse gasses] from fossil fuels, BOEM is not recommending this option since it would not include an appropriate surcharge to account for those impacts,” she continued.

Lefton’s specifically recommended the federal government charge drillers with a royalty fee of 18.75%….

In other words, they wanted to hike all the fees to punish and penalize the companies to fit their agenda, regardless if that impeded proper development and hurts our energy security and the people of the region.

The Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis went along with this higher fee, despite knowing the facts, “because this rate constitutes the most reasonable balancing of environmental and economic factors for the American public.” She didn’t mention the admission in the leaked memo that the alternative lesser fees would have provided greater energy security.

So what was the result? They got just one bid for one tract. Then the White House canceled that one anyway. However, the sale was mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). He said he was appalled by what the memo admitted.

“I am appalled by its contents, which make crystal clear that this administration is literally putting their radical climate agenda ahead of the needs of the people of Alaska and the United States,” he continued.

Manchin blasted the administration for ignoring Congress’ intent and seemingly pandering to environmental groups “at the expense of shoring up American energy security and keeping Americans safe.”

“The contents of this memo speak volumes – if this is what this Administration truly believes and is how they are going to make decisions, it is unacceptable,” the West Virginia senator continued. “It’s a clear and intentional threat to energy security and the all-of-the above energy policy Congress has consistently reinforced.”

“I will not support anyone who agrees with this type of misguided reasoning.”

I welcome him calling it out now, but he should have known that they are placing their radical agenda above everything else — that isn’t new. It’s what animates everything they do, whether it makes any sense or not, however much it might hurt us both at home and in the face of our enemies who are not inhibited by such nonsense. Meanwhile, Joe Biden will lie and say he is doing everything he can to reduce gas prices and help our energy security.

But there’s no question that Manchin is madder than a wet hen, and, at least at this moment, he is not supporting Joe Biden when he is asked about him running again.

Q: "Are you going to endorse Joe Biden if he runs for re-election?"

JOE MANCHIN: "Oh, there's plenty of time for the election."

Q: "He's the leader of your party…"

MANCHIN: "No, the bottom line is let's see who's involved." pic.twitter.com/INedsa4daN

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 5, 2023

“Are you going to endorse Joe Biden if he runs for re-election?” he was asked. “He’s the leader of your party.”

His response? “No, the bottom line is let’s see who’s involved,” Manchin said.

Manchin wouldn’t even give the obligatory, “Well, I support him if he runs,” or try to deflect.

Is Manchin going to run? This kind of response just might add to that kind of rumor, because he’s surely suggesting that he thinks there are other candidates out there better than Joe Biden. We all know almost anyone would be better but it’s a big thing for a Democrat to say that publicly. We’ve mentioned the possibility of him running before and at this point, he’s not even saying he’s a Democrat. That’s not looking good for Joe Biden and the longer he dilly-dallies deciding to declare, the more people may come out of the woodwork to challenge him.