Joe Conason: The drill is gone: Republicans argue over offshore oil

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/news/louisiana_oil_spill/index.html?story=/opinion/conason/2010/05/05/terminator

The drill is gone: Republicans argue over offshore oil
While Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin still promote offshore drilling, moderate Republicans are not on board
By Joe Conason


If Republicans in Congress hope to use the BP disaster to cudgel Democrats (as the New York Times reports), they may yet find themselves fighting a rear-guard action against saner figures within their own party. The looming ruin of beaches and fisheries, which now threatens to spread beyond the Gulf, is renewing hostility to offshore drilling among GOP moderates, while the right screams "drill, baby, drill" even louder. As the Times dryly observes, “enthusiasm for going on the offensive for more production amid a drilling-induced environmental disaster is far from universal among Republican leaders.”

snip//

Undoubtedly there is a substantial Republican constituency, roughly congruent with the Tea Party faction, that rejects environmental values. But expanding the party’s reach beyond the Limbaugh fan base, as Republican leaders hoped to do in the 2010 midterm, means attracting independent voters who must be appalled by what is happening to the Gulf and beyond -- and who understand that climate change is real. Those prospects may be disappearing now in clouds of oily smoke.

[Cha]

1. Good!

[polichick]

2. Funny how so-called "pro life" people despise the natural environment. nt

[babylonsister]

3. I don't even understand the connection. Why would they

despise the environment? They just don't think, and don't care to. otoh, thinking people are going to see right through this and hopefully rethugs will pay the price.

[CTyankee]

6. I think it is because environmentalism affronts their "religion" which is unfettered

capitalism. It IS a religion to them. And we've seen what religion has made people do in its name. They would burn environmentalists at the stake if they could. It makes them react violently. I can't think of any other rational explanation...

[AlinPA]

4. IMO, there are very few republicans that care about the environment. The "drill, baby, drill"

demonstration at the republican convention had every leader of their party (including Lieberman) screaming like a bunch of cheerleaders at a football game.

[Supersedeas]

5. the GOP strategy is to EMBOLDEN the Far Right and discourage all others from voting

They don't give a DAMN about moderates, independents or young people.

They hope and EXPECT that their foaming mouth base will be enough to overcome those regular people who turn out...and if it's close...DIEBOLD