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Published Thursday, May 29, 2008 | 6:25 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.
State Sen. Dina Titus, who's challenging Rep. Jon Porter in Nevada's Third Congressional District, appeared at a gas station to tell the world gas prices are too high. She blamed Porter for voting for tax subsidies for oil and gas giants. That money should be devoted to renewable energy research, which, theoretically, could reduce energy costs by giving us cheaper energy supplies than we're currently getting from dwindling and unstable Middle East reserves.
As always, Titus was quite quotable: "While he just plays in the band, the rest of us fall farther and farther behind," she said, referring to Porter's hobby as a keyboardist in the Capitol Hill cover band, The Second Amendments.
She appeared with Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who heads up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. They were on their way to a fundraiser.
The Titus-Porter race has already drawn plenty of national attention and money. Democrats think it's a pick-up opportunity given the registration numbers in the district: Democrats lead by more than 20,000 voters.
(Van Hollen is a real up-and-comer in Congress and had some interesting things to say about the state of U.S. politics, which we'll be sharing at a later date.)
Matt Leffingwell, a spokesman for Porter, responded to Titus: "The Democrat's key campaign pledge in 2006 was to lower the cost of gasoline. When the Democrats took control of Congress the price of gasoline in Nevada was $2.58 a gallon, today Nevadans are paying $3.94. Dina Titus is continuing the Democrat's habit of not offering solutions on how we can best bring relief to Nevadans at the pump."
To bring some perspective on the whole issue of gasoline prices, check out this Thomas Friedman column in Wednesday's Times.
Friedman argues that higher gas prices are a good thing. Many economists and environmentalists agree: High prices create incentives for investment in alternative energy, and incentives for more efficiency and conservation. High prices get people out of their cars and in public transit. High prices reduce profits of the tyrannical countries that rely on petro-dollars, and high prices reduce our balance of payments deficit to the rest of the world.
So, Madame' Titus? Or, Comrade Titus......... just kidding......
Is choking, gagging and constipating realistic and available carbon-based and natural gas supplies and suppliers really the answer? Is not acting within what we CAN EFFECT to fix something really the American Way?? To leave trump cards unused. In Las Vegas, as in globalities, that's a loser "hand". Drill, Refine, transport, get the (cleanest fuel we have) natural gas and provide jobs and pensions and the economic room to pay for alternatives.
Is locking away trillions of dollars of economic and political gravitas - in which the march toward alternatives could be PAID FOR instead of withered economically. Read that three times and align it with the future...
The 2006 Liberal-Led Democrat Congress' inaction joins an effort not only over the last two years - but the last 35 - to decide that not being all we can be IS the answer.
As someone of the Republican persuasion - who has hosted a Titus event in my home (my mother-in-law, my wife and her girlfriends are lot more liberal and outvoted me, lol....) - in the tussle with Porter, weakness and economic stagnation simply isn't "THE American Way".
Congressional inaction and policies - and the Global Climate Warming Change Algorian Correctness Directorate is foisting the biggest load of baloney to act as strategy since political correctness = these political impediments are to blame.
Don't believe the socialist liberal gravy train will "float all boats". Matt Leffingwell, in the story, pretty much said it all.......
FOREIGN WARS OR DOMESTIC OIL
If the US Government spent a trillion dollars over 8 years on domestic oil production from known reserves in the Gulf of Mexico, the Continental Shelf and coal gasification instead of War in Iraq gas would be $2 a gallon or less. America could quit sending billions to countries that sponsor terrorism. And reducing our trade imbalance keeps jobs in America. Every billion of trade deficit costs 13,000 jobs. $400 billion for oil last year: do the math.
America has 1/4th the coal on planet earth. South Africa is producing 300,000 barrels of gas and diesel a day from coal. And synthetic fuel from coal is cleaner burning than gas. And it can be produced cheaper than from $100+ a barrel crude oil.
Harness your anger at the pump. Call you're US Senators and demand domestic production in this decade. Raise your voice or the oil companies and politicians will assume you are ready to pay even more.
"That money should be devoted to renewable energy research, which, theoretically, could reduce energy costs by giving us cheaper energy supplies than we’re currently getting from dwindling and unstable Middle East reserves."
Right now, renewables are more expensive than other energy sources. So, if by magic, we could pour solar or wind in our gas tanks, then we would paying a whole hell more than $4.00 a gallon.
Only way Patrick can write such trash is that he throws in the word "theoretically" because it is pipe dream.
I guess we should buy the magic beans that Ms. Taxus and Patrick are selling.
The Republican comments here demonstrate their lack of vision - Brazil had the vision to do the right thing 20 years ago by investing in alternative energies of all kinds - and a gallon of gasoline in Brazil is only 12 cents!
Initial investment costs in new energies will, of course, be high at first - but, once all of the infrastructure is built prices will come down and as improvement are made over time America could be energy diversified as well in a few short years!
Porter is a puppet and Bush bag boy! Titus is a true environmentalists and has the vision we need to move forward!
Last time I looked, the DemoRats promised to
LOWER prices if elected 2 years ago down to
$2.00 a gallon. What did they do instead?
Mandate 25% ethanol a WORTHLESS additive that
costs more oil to make than it gives.
They then PANDERED TO THE MULTIMILLIONAIRE FARMERS and companies by giving them HUGE
subsidies. Other stupid Rinos including Porter
went along with this largesse.
I'm voting for CARL BUNCE for Congress,
A RON PAUL REPUBLICAN.
DINA TAXES IS THE MOST STUPID WASTE OF BREATH EVER TO WALK THE FACE OF THE EARTH!!!
Once again Helen you are uninformed or rely too much on the liar Bush for your info.
BUSH said if we went to WAR in Iraq oil prices would plummet... What happened Helen?
Your vote for Carl Bunce for congress is noted and appreciated.
Can't you post a comments without all the name calling and idiocy?
It is one thing to push for renewables and bio-fuels because of national security or green policies.
But one CAN'T make an VALID argument that renewables or bio-fuels are cheaper then oil, gas or coal.
They all cost a lot more. If we were running our cars off ethanol enriched fuels then our MPG will be around 8-12 MPG in the city and the fuel would more than $4 a gallon. Plus bio-fuels cause food prices to skyrocket.
The same is true for solar and wind. They are much more expensive than coal and natural gas.
I am OK with renewables but lets be smart.
Until renewables technology can provide cheaper cost then we should also use coal and drill for natural gas.
The farmer welfare billions should phase out. I mean, really = isn't it time? As Americans, sometimes it's bravery to take one for the team? Grow more food! Grow Hemp for industrial purposes. And on and on....
Streamline the many variations of gasoline and diesel fuel down = to unleash trillions and untold mega-billions in tax receipts.
America, sooner or later, is going to rebel all over the eco-enviros and allow we all to prosper. The liberal constipations and cloggings due to restricted SUPPLY is a losing proposition.
Perhaps, lay aside carbon-based oil fuels for a moment. What IF "we" only drilled for natural gas......
Split the argument.
Hmmmm.....
Aw Gee Whiz! Sure glad she pointed this out to all us stooopidos as nobody probably has noticed it before.
So did she drive her Prius to this photo-op or a gas guzzler?