(CNN) – As House Republicans continue to focus on energy policy, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas launched a new Web site Tuesday that highlights October 1 as the day the congressional ban on offshore oil drilling will end unless Congress takes some action to continue the ban.
The site prominently features a YouTube video clip of DeMint and Hensarling discussing energy policy and encouraging the public to contact their representatives in Congress about lifting ban on offshore oil drilling and oil shale recovery. The site also contains a clock-like widget counting down the time until October 1. Visitors to the site can copy the HTML code for the widget so that they can embed the countdown clock on their own blogs or Web sites. Visitors can also sign an online petition on the site and read a blog about energy policy.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, also recently launched a Facebook application that allows users to add a gas-pump-shaped October 1 countdown clock to their profiles on the popular social networking site.
These online developments come on the heels of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement Monday on Larry King Live that she would be open to holding a vote on offshore drilling if it were part of a larger energy package. Pelosi’s change in position echoes a similar change in position by Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Since August 1, House Republicans have been staging a protest against Pelosi’s refusal to hold a vote on an energy bill before Congress’ five-week recess began.
From CNN Politics
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Quacks like a duck.
It's about time the Republicans higlighted the Democratic Congress and Nancy Pelosi for their Opposition to oil and gas drilling..
Lorna, NY took the words right out of my mouth/keyboard.
It has been reported that it will take 10 years for anything to happen. 10 years to show results. To wait another 10 years until we began this process is rediculous. we better get with it ASAP because one day it will be bad enough/high enough to demand it. Then it's too late. The cream for your latte will get so high you might give a crap.
It is easy for a bunch of ignorant non-driving people to say no...no...no. When was the last time Obama or Pelosi filled up their vehicle to go to work? When was the last time any of the bleeding hearts that don't live along a subway line, depending on their vehicle to put food on a table filled up???? It is easy to cry about the environmental effects too when it doesn't directly involve you.
We should be doing everything we can to bring down the cost of fuel and provide for ourselves, including using our own resources.
Stop stalling!
Lorna, NY
Yea... why would they want to vote on something 65% of America supports... How dare they do what the people want... what kind of democrat congress would that be!
McCain/Clinton 08
the entire nation(USA) can only pray that this Anti-American has no use for a Veep. McCain is not a prime choice to be sure, however, a blatant socialist such as Barack Hussein Obama should not even have a squeeky voice in this election. The fact that Obama is a contender for the oval office is an outright disgrace. All ye Democrats!; Please bring Hillary Back!!!!! Atleast she and her family speak highly of the greatest nation the history of the world has ever known.
CNN media in all areas have done nothing but be negative
toward Obama every since the primary.General election it is
even worst. The seem to be racist more so than w.virginia
and Kentucky.Please Fox CNN let the two candidates face
off with you all making matter worst by false information just
to get rating and money.Now fair to the america peoples we
donate to much money into ours candidate.
All Congress has to do to repeal the ban on drilling is to do what Congress does best: NOTHING
Let it expire.
Also leave the Edwards family alone,give them their privacy
and stop beating up on his family to make money. American
men and women cheat at some point,do you put all american in the
news.Back of this family,it can to someone in your family and you
woudn't like them in the news.
I, personally, support the ban on off-shore drilling. No one has convinced me that it will make a significant difference in the supply or price of oil. We know it will not get into the pipeline for 7 – 10 years. In that time, Obama's (or Pickens') plan will have had time to make an impact. It is a 'gimme' for the oil companies from their buddies the Republicans.
The oil companies would have to prove to me that they can:
a. drill in an environmentally friendly manner with minimum impact.
b. demonstrate that they have an effective and immediate disaster response plan in place.
c. commit to being responsible for all clean-up and restitution, in a timely manner.
Their response to the Exxon Valdez was abysmal and they're still fighting it in the courts. So I don't see a change in attitude and, therefore, see no reason to allow them additional drilling rights.
Besides, why are they drilling on the 68 million acres they currently hold leases on ?
Great. That's what we really need....another Republican gimmick. Have the Republicans recently looked at the National Debt Clock website to see how their out-of-control spending is doing?
If they want a countdown clock... they should make kissing clock for the November election. When it gets to zero, the big spenders can kiss it goodbye.
Why is it that Republicans can get news items for posting some of their BS on a web site? In 2008, who could still view that sort of thing as news?
Ya
how comes when dnc does the same thing, it doesnot get attention from the media?
I guess the Shrub/Chinny secret energy plan needs a little retooling, unless you are one of the big shot oil boys. These two war-for-oil draft dodgers really have done a number on the good ole USA. But then again we asked for it didn't we, I mean we asked for it TWICE. The public got oiled all right, didn't even hurt after they greased us first. Their energy plan put in place with a nod and a wink from the Rebulican Congress has worked wonderfully. Now it's time for the right-wingers to start carping about the do nothing Dems.
; paraticularly amusing is mac's whining about all this pork ear-mark spending. 26 yrs in Senate and this dude never filabustered one time.
Shrub never vetoed any big time spending , even the war is off budget, can an entire nation handed a great Republic be so STUPID? YES!!!!!
We are disgusted with the lack of action on the part of Senator Clinton and the rest of the Democrats that are trying to undermine Senator Obama. Senator Clinton needs to step up to the plate, admit she lost fair and square and publicly denounce the efforts of Mark Penn and the like. Until she does that, she can not be trusted and she can forget ever getting our votes. She won't even be elected dog catcher!! We will not forget the backstabbing folks that are and have given the Republicans ammunition to try to use against Obama. You don't air your laundry outside the family and that is the oldest rule of thumb that has and is still being violated.
Also, why is the media not talking about the lack of unity in the Republican party. Bush & McCain and having worst problems that Obama and Clinton. Why is there no mention of the Republicans for Obama? Also telling Republicans not to attend the Convention speaks to the problem of loyalty. But I understand the ratings game all too well.
CNN you have lost Americas trust as a leader in news!!!
"Conservative think tank"... is that like military intelligence, jumbo shrimp, and rap music?
It's amazing. The oil companies get everything they want from the Republicans. They have leases, they don't use them. They want more.
More
More
More
Guess what happens when the drilling brings more oil?
They'll tell us prices are STILL high because we lack refining capacity!!!
WE CAN'T WIN against Big Oil!
Senator DeMint? Isn't he the one who recently confused sub-committee and full-committee hearings?
Perhaps Senator DeMint should heed the efforts of a bipartisan energy compromise his fellow SC Senator Graham negotiated with 10 other Dem & Rep senators, which Obama is willing to consider as part of a comprehensive energy plan for Americans. McCain has unfortunately expressed slight opposition to the compromise.
as long as the drilling takes place off the coast of Texas and South Carolina
*This website paid for by Exxon-Mobil.
"American Energy Freedom Day"
Are these guys serious? Something that represents a very small increase in domestic oil production a decade down the line is "American Energy Freedom"? I wish I lived in Texas or South Carolina just so I could vote against these idiots.
At least they are going to get some thick headed peoples attention. No one seems to understand how drilling and oil independence are a huge part of our economy and security. Why should we be paying the billions to other countries when we have so much use for that kind of cash here. The list is to long to go into but look at Obamas list. anyone think that isn't going to raise taxs is living in the same dream world as he is. Then we also have to pay back all the money idiot Bush borrowed. Stop and think people.
Count down till Christmas for the oil companies. Can't wait to get their greedy hands on all that land and then sit on it.
Please continue the ban! This will do nothing but prolong our addiction to oil! Its worse than heroin or cocaine. Continue the ban on offshore drilling! Rehab is for junkies but Oil-Addicted Americans have no way to cure themselves except banning offshore drilling!