Painting the Map Red: Part 1

Hugh Hewitt (or Blew Blewitt as WMD regulars may know him) has a new book out called Painting the Map Red which just arrived today from Amazon. I'm going to do a non-traditional review of the book by relating my thoughts as I am reading the book.

Page 8 of the introduction has an important passage that I want to highlight because it reflects directly on some of my political activities as of late.

All of us have a right to demand effective leadership from our party. For starters, Majority Leader Bill Frist should demand a public pledge from every Republican senator not to side with any Democrat-led filibusters in 2007 and 2008. Any senator refusing to take the pledge should be stripped of his seniority. The same demand should be made of all GOP candidates - and we, the voters, are the ones to hold them to it. It is fine, for example, for Congressman Mark Kennedy, who is running for an open seat in Minnesota, and Senator Mike DeWine, who is running for re-election in Ohio, to vote against ANWR exploration, but not against the up-or-down vote on that issue that the American people want to see. If Republican politicians won't support the policies for which we elect them, then we shouldn't elect them - and we should find candidates who will.

I agree with Hugh, in principle, here. From a "national" perspective, it is okay for DeWine to vote no on ANWR; but from the perspective of this constituent and the base of the Republican party in this state, it is definitely not okay for DeWine to vote no on ANWR.

ANWR is more than just a price-of-gas issue. We've been talking about energy independence for years and we have an opportunity to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but politicians like DeWine are blowing it. Somehow, we are supposed to believe that it is okay for Arabs to drill for oil, but Americans sure better not do it. How does that work?

Set aside that the Canadians are actually our largest supplier of foreign oil for a minute and just think about what people like DeWine are actually saying with these no votes. The current argument goes that foreign oil is bad because Arab influence is bad. All we need do is look at the Dubai ports deal debacle to see the racism at play here. BUT, America can't drill in ANWR because...of the caribou, which were once near extention but have thrived since exploration rigs were put in place on ANWR. America can't drill in ANWR because we'll disturb the pristine conditions of tundra... America can't drill in ANWR because the people don't want it...except for the people who actually live there.

How is it okay that DeWine can vote no on ANWR?

Bill Pierce would support drilling in ANWR and the development of alternative energy.

Let us stop the bickering over drilling for oil in ANWR, establish specific goals, and then permit the potential oil and gas reserves in the Coastal Plains to support America's drive to prosperity, security, and energy independence. Future generations will thank us and we likely will leave the world a better place in which to live.

There is simply no option - lets get it done AND soon!

Some might be willing to give DeWine a pass on ANWR. Hugh seems willing to do that, but I don't.

DISCLOSURE: I am blog administrator for Pierce for Senate.