Dear Mr. President,

This afternoon, I put $35 worth of gas into my car and at $4 a gallon, that wasn't enough to fill it up. If I owned an SUV, that might be understandable, but I own a Saturn. A small one.

Now, as a conservative, I don't normally look to government to solve market-based problems. This case is different. Government may not be the solution, but it sure as heck is contributing to the problem. All I want it to do in this case is get out of the way. Our ability to increase the supply of oil has been limited by politicians eager to please special interest groups at a time we can't afford the luxury of such pandering. The Democrats have opposed drilling in ANWR, drilling off the coasts and drilling in the west. So my question is this - why are you being such a mealy-mouthed wimp about it?

I know that increasing domestic production won't lead to an immediate drop in oil prices, but it could serve to calm the speculation markets since they would have to factor an increase in supply into their predictions. Given how much people are paying for oil of all types, this issue is political gold, so why on earth aren't you and the GOP taking the offensive?

Is it too much to ask that you point out the fallacy of the Democratic argument? A Democratic president vetoed a bill that would have allowed ANWR drilling and at the time, Democrats said the potential domestic supply increase was irrelevant since the benefits wouldn't be realized for ten years. That was ten years ago. Would it really be that difficult for you to point out that had the Democrats done something then, things might be different now?

You're a lame duck president with nothing to lose and an economy being driven into the toilet by high energy costs. Are you so invested in the stupid 'new tone' nonsense that you're unwilling to point out the fact that the actions of Democrats in Congress have contributed and are currently contributing to the current oil price crisis? This is an issue of supply and demand - we have little control over the costs because we've all but abandoned a role in increasing supply.

Mr. President, now is the time to start hammering away at the Democrats and show how their fealty to special interest groups has helped lead us to unprecedented oil prices. It's clear the increasingly worthless-to-conservatives GOP nominee for 2008 isn't going to be of much help in this regard, so any effort on your part would be appreciated.

Such an effort may not only help control the spiraling costs of oil, but it would rehabilitate the image of your White House with dispirited conservatives. Frankly, we're tired of watching your administration let the Democrats control the public agenda and distort the truth while you sit idly by pretending your silence is somehow bringing civility to the political process. In short, stop being such a wimp and start going after the party that has put their desire for power above their love of country.

These oil prices are cutting deeply into the pocketbooks of ordinary Americans, and your administration is letting the Democrats block increased production instead of using the bully pulpit to push for more domestic drilling. It's time to stop being meek, stop allowing the Democrats to block progress and start throwing punches on behalf of the American people.

If you want to be known as the president who helped elect a socialist, keep doing nothing. If not, then let's see some fire. This issue is a political gift. Time to open it.

posted by Slublog at 10:12 AM

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