Well, those bad old Republicans have held the Democratic Majority in the House and Senates feet to the fire and have them cowering in the corner once again!

The Spineless Party has agreed to allow the ban on offshore drilling to expire next week, opening up the ability for those bastions of good old American profiteering to go forth and make profit.

Damn the torpedos, boys, full drilling speed ahead!

From The Raleigh News and Observer / AP:

Full story here: http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1230124.html

Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts -- including North Carolina's shoreline -- to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4-a-gallon gasoline prices this summer.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat, told reporters Tuesday that a provision continuing the moratorium will be dropped this year from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Congress recesses for the election.

Republicans have made lifting the ban a key campaign issue after gasoline prices spiked this summer and public opinion turned in favor of more drilling. President Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling in July.

"If true, this capitulation by Democrats following months of Republican pressure is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices," said House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio.

My emphasis

Oh, yeah! The people of America just got a huge break with this smooth move, Mr. Boner. We get to watch our pristine beaches and national fisheries possibly become an oil slick, and the oil companies get to make more profit while not affecting the price of gasoline bought here in the USA not one iota. Hell of a deal, Boner!

You see, Mr. Boner, oil is a world wide commodity. Drilling here in the USA will not mean that all the oil produced from these new oil wells will STAY here in the USA or be sold only to refineries here in the USA for consumption in the USA. The oil produced here will go on the world market, just like all other oil and will be subject to market prices....just as it is today.

So, Mr. Boner, please take your lying bullshit that you are trying to hand to the American people and shove it somewhere that ths sun don't shine, OK? Thank you! It's all about the money that you will reap, and we that pay attention know it.

snip

More fights ahead

Though the ban on energy development will be lifted if the Senate goes along with the House action, it doesn't mean any federal sale of oil and gas leases in the offshore waters -- much less actual drilling -- is imminent.

The Interior Department's current five-year leasing plan includes potential leases off the Virginia coast but probably would not be pursued unless the state agrees to energy development. And the state is unlikely to do so without Congress agreeing to share federal royalties with the state.

Oh, yeah! I'm sure there are going to be some BIG FIGHTS ahead (snicker, heh, snicker). No doubt the Democrats will hold the line and fight the good fight until the bitter end, or until the Republicans say BOO!, whichever comes first.