Ongoing Democrat Obstructionism

By an Unnamed Senate Source: Though Democrats have become enamored with accusing Republicans of “obstructionism,” three editorials rightly examine the ongoing Democrat obstruction of domestic energy production, qualified judicial nominees, and the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

National Review Online once again urges Congress to allow more drilling for domestic oil supplies, writing, “Superior U.S. technology has made it possible to drill in the environmentally sensitive areas off our coasts with minimal disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem. . . . With oil nearing $130 a barrel, there are no good arguments left for keeping this supply off the market. If members of Congress really care about helping Americans who are sacrificing in the wake of high gas prices, the best thing they can do is just get out of the way.”

NRO also notes, “Critics of proposals to open these areas for business argue that they will take up to 10 years to bring any new supplies online. Of course, they were using this same argument 10 years ago, and if they hadn’t prevailed then the U.S. would be less dependent on foreign oil today.” Unfortunately, Democrats yet again voted to block developing domestic energy sources earlier this month.

The Examiner expresses frustration over the “foot dragging on President Bush’s judicial nominees.” The editorial takes Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) to task, saying “he is becoming infamous for ignoring his own stated standards for judicial nominations.” So far, the Senate has confirmed only 2 circuit court nominees this year, certainly not on pace to get the 15 judges that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said would be satisfactory.

Finally, Los Angeles Times points out the efforts that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has gone to in order to satisfy Congressional Democrats, only to watch them move the goalposts. The LA Times also reminds its readers, “the trade pact would boost jobs in both the U.S. and Colombia during an economic downturn and cement Colombia as a firm U.S. ally in a region teeming with anti-American sentiment.” The editorial concludes, “It looks increasingly as though the real reason Democratic leaders won’t vote on the Colombia deal is that they don’t want to alienate their organized-labor backers during an election year.”

The next time Democrats in Congress feel like inveighing against “obstruction,” they might want to consider their own record.

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Tags: Columbia, Democrats, domestic drilling, Free Trade, gasoline prices, judicial appointments, obstructionism, oil To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!