Where to start………. I guess Laura from OK………. are you stupid or just uninformed? Car companies have been making vehicles to meet govt mandated standards for generations. Why do you think your car in OK will pass the emissions tests in CA? DUHHHHHH……..

Another poster states that candidates should go back to Washington to vote. Though I agree with that statement I have to wonder if this person expected the same from the likes of Bob Dole?

Matt from Chitown……… you hit the nail right square my friend!!!

There's nothing wrong with the regulation here in my opinion. If the oil companies have to face a burden on the product that they make, it would make economic sense for them to put money into R&D and create something new and more efficient in order to maximize profits.

The person complaining about the strain on employees is right, if they don't try to change their market strategy. However, that may be the choice they make. Unfortunately for many, that could lead to an exit in the market for the company.

And for the person who says to let the market decide: Though the free market for the most part will prevail…in the case of the environment…it's bad news. Not to mention if we don't figure out something to fix the problem now with our oil dependency, we won't be ready when we're suffering from withdraw.

FAIR TAX, NO ILLEGALS, NO SOCIAL MEDS!! HUCKABEE!!!!

CLIMATE CHANGE? JUNK SCIENCE, GIVE ME A BREAK. MOST STATEMENTS IN HERE ARE FROM PIPE DREAMERS!!!!!! GREAT- REAL PEOPLE!! THIS IS A GOVERMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE!! THE GOVERMENT OWES YOU NOTHING BUT AN ARMY TO PROTECT YOU!!WE TAKING THE GOVERMENT BACK WITH HUCKABEE!!

At least Obamfrey can go to his rally with a clear conscience…he won't have to miss yet another important voting opportunity.

Yet more proof that republicans are out to make sure NOTHING of value gets done. All these idiots need to be replaced.

For you young pups ask your parents about the last CAFE Standards in 1975 that gave us the K-Car and 55 mph on the Interstate. THe K-Car was lucky to get up a good hill before you had to find a bathroom they were so wimpy and flimsy. Imagine you and your 6 friends go to a movie in an SUV the size of a Yaris. Also any tax increase on energy will just be passed on to the consumers so the dems will have thier wish for $10.00/gal. gas to please their SUV driving enviromental wanabe friends.

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, had said earlier that he would require the four Senate Democrats currently on the presidential campaign trail to return to Washington if the bill came up for a full vote this weekend."

~God forbid that the candidates would have to do the job they were elected into.

I can't understand why some Americans think it is okay that their representitives are not as involved as they should be in the law making process. I'm not saying that someone needs to be there for each and every vote, but when you are talking about only 100 votes, a few really does matter, though not in this case.

I don't understand why in this age of technology that elected officials cannot vote remotely in their respective houses. Or can they?

I can't imagine anyone surprised by the Legislature. As long as big oil reps and senators are in, we citizens will be out. The money to get them in comes from big oil and it keeps them there. Citizens do not match their contributions or even come close. Unless and until we take action to remove these idiots from office and put in representatives of the people, we can expect more of the same.

Blame the repubs all day long if you like. Somebody please tell me why the majority party can't get squat done? It is easy to blame the repubs especially since the majority can't pass anything!

Posted By Laura Tulsa OK : December 7, 2007 12:19 pm

Good grief, Laura, I have never read such backwards, twisted, fallacious logic in my life. You really don't have a clue, do you?
I would say more but enough other poster's have pointed out the flaws in your reasoning.

What is the price of a gallon of gas in Europe?

That's the price we'll be paying next December.

Looks like Big Oil said, "Omigod, we can't lose our tax loopholes and fund alternate energy studies. It may be good for America, but it's bad for our business" and their Republican lap dogs replied, "Sir,Yes Sir, we'll stop this heinous threat to your obscene, but necessary, profits."

Only 11 months left folks and we can put these GOP bounders out on the streets.

Can't wait to put in people who represent the average American family.

Good job, CNN, in protecting the repubs. from another one of my posts. Guess it didn't make it through your "screening". They need all the help they can get, but do you think you could let some cogent arguments thru?

The nutjob demagogues on the right who don't want any CAFE standards, or any progress at all for that matter, need to hear some direct responses to their inane positions.

Are you just trying to level the playing field, so they don't feel at an intellectual disadvantage on your ticker? I like that: "political correctness" for the benfit of the disadvantaged "right-wingers".

People, use your heads: go back and look at the nonsense apparently sincerely perpetrated by the right-wingers on this ticker thread. These are the people that put all the bums with the (R)'s next to their name in office….and you see what good that has done our country. VOTE INTELLIGENTLY THIS NOV.!!!! Stop the slide back to the middle ages.

As long as G.W. is in power with his oil execs bedfellows I don't think this nation will ever see a transition from oil inspired politics. It is a sad day for this nation. I just hope that we are able to recover.

The market will decide when we switch our energy sources: It will be much later than now, extremely disruptive, and incredibly painful but it WILL happen…eventually. We COULD act now to avoid all that. Or we could just sit on our asses, twiddle our thumbs, and wait for the world to come crashing down before getting a clue. Ya know, whatever works…

Out gradious 110th Congress has show the America people again what it does best. FAIL TO WORK FOR US!

Did you read up on the bill? Complaining about gas prices now? Would hammer the oil industry with taxes - now…if we were all on solar and wind…we could just say "ha ha" - yet…we are not…and they would turn around and garner money from us…why is the first thing the Democrats propose…is more taxes?? Why not break the unions that choke this country to death…wait…thats the Democrats base…..why not send a message that entitlement programs are not forever…its a helping hand…wait…then they would lose all the new Democrats who really want the government to take care of them (for free)…baffling group..try reading

Republicans once again filibuster and stop the Senate from doing any business whatsoever.
Can we stop headlines like "Democrats can't get the votes.." to the real headlines "Republicans filibuster and stop any business from occurring to protect their own interests rather than those of average Americans"

Isn't it obvious folks why the Repugnantcans are against this bill? It ends tax loopholes for the oil barons, who care not about their employees (Laura in Tulsa) and forces car manufacturers to make their cars more fuel-efficient, which mean less gas used, which mean profits of oh, maybe $7 billion instead of $9 billion. Poor oil companies, sniff, sniff. If they want to explore for more oil, why does Uncle Sam have to pay them to do it?

Thank you REPUBLICANS! God forbid Congress should pass something resembling legislation.

Posted By Laura Tulsa OK : December 7, 2007 12:19 pm

Laura from Tulsa, OK. This senate bill was not about control it was about commonsense. Part of the issue with energy independence is that the Republicans want it done essential one way burning more fossil fuels closer to home. Republican overwhelming favor coal burning, digging for more oil in our national forest perserves and coastlines. Unfortunately, this worsens the climate change, which the Republicans are starting to come around about.

Harry Reid should be requiring all senators back to vote on this bill if their votes will make a definite difference experience.

Why do we even need an energy bill? Every one is always a tax payer give-a-way to some group.

Just let the markets decide what energy we use.

Stop all the tax payer subsidizing of the energy sector be they oil, coal, solar, wind, ethanol, etc.

Where are the bill's details? Senators might not be the smartest people on earth, but I'm sure they had a reason to vote against this bill.

Further proof that when it comes to energy independence that the Republicans are all talk and no action.
It's easy to just agree with take ludicrous statement by Bush, the we are "adicted to oil." Bush said it as if we had a choice, which he and his fellow Republicans don't want us to have. What are we going to us instead of oil for are energy needs?
If we reduce the oil needed to produce gasoline, and find alternative means other than oil to produce electricity, then we are lessening our dependence on other countries.
Here's a senario that could very well happen. Most of the oil producing countries don't like America, for various reasons. China which has 4 times our population and with their ever increasing use of oil and all the rest of the third world countries bringing up their standards of living and going to need more energy' with only coal, oil, and nuclear power supplying that need. The price of oil which is a finite source will keep rising. But the what if senerio is, if those oil producfing countries decide not to sell to us, then what? We will go to War to assure ourselves an oil supply that's what.
Unfortunatly the Republicans want to take the easy way out and that is keeping us using oil, oil and more oil.
Their mouths say one thing, but their actions say another.

Close tax loopholes for the oil industry. You know Republicans don't support this. We are currently sending over 100,000 soldiers to the MiddleEast to kill other human beings for the oil companies. Why would would close tax loopholes.

Jesus isn't happy

The Republicans dont raise taxes,they just put everything on a credit card and leave the bill for the Democrats and your kids in the non-future.Some families operate the same way. I pay as I go and if I dont have it I dont buy it…that is true conservatism.This two party system does not work…Period!

Forcing car companies or taxing oil companies doesnt' change a thing. It only makes oil companies have less profit, which hurts its employees. And it doesn't help the employees of a car co. when they're forced to manufacture something government-mandated. And the tax money only goes to Washington for them to waste. And the American people still will purchase whatever kind of vehicle they want to purchase. So Democrats fail again to try to control us.

Those running for president should want to come back to vote on issues they supposedly consider important issues. The fact they weren't there just goes to show you that they are looking out for themselves and not their electorate…..

The stupid-ass republicans know nothing but obstruction. These idiots will pay the price for their loyalty to Bush in Nov 08. They are hellbent on making the DEMs look ineffective. They are presaging their own demise.

Our whole country is run by oil companies. Does the senate do anything useful. Do they pass any legislation besides what is benefitial for them. We are paying for overpriced oil when we could all be driving better alternative powered cars and not polluting our planet. George Bush doesn't like the bill because his family owns a couple oil companies. All they care about is money while our weather gets worse and more and more people are losing their homes due to catastrophes.

Vote out Republicans so we can have this country back!!!!

Bypartisian bills has enough votes to pass Congress and override vetoes.

Big oil and GW win again. Open your wallets consumers or better yet, just send them to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

I'm disgusted

Obviously we need more Democrats in the House and Senate!! I say let's get to work!!!

I don't know if I should be disappointed that this vote failed (not that I'm surprised) or encouraged that it came up for a vote at all. To think politicians in Washington were actually that close to doing something right for once! I'm sure Bushie would have shot it down anyways! The Republicans won't raise taxes but they will give away millions to the oil industry, intelligent.

Why is this not the lead story of the day?

How can Republicans be so obtuse?!?!

Our vapid dependence on foreign oil is the single most danger this country faces and the "defend the nation" party would rather protect Big Oil companies.

Vote Them OUT!!!!!

It is ashame that we can't move beyond oil and other fossil fuels. This bill in Congress would start that. It doesn't go far enough, but many things must be done in steps. There needs to be a move towards renewable fuels and advances in nuclear fission (and the waste reprocessing) and nuclear fusion. Once we get wind, solar, geothermal, and fusion working to supply the world's power, we will be much better off.

Pathetic. I'm no fan of H. Reid + the cronies, but it's becoming very evident Congress' inaction is the fault of Republican leadership + purposeful stalling for political reasons. The is a necessary + long overdue bill. Bush is also pathetic - I guess that goes without saying. Why is it that just Dems are supposed to give in and compromise?