From our friends over the delightfully erudite and rational RedState, specifically the redundantly named honcho Erick Erickson--they're freaking out on the ramifications if McCain decides to support the Gang of 16 (did four drop out?) plan for energy. From broadcast email:
There are troubling whispers in Washington that John McCain might soon endorse the Gang of 16 Energy Proposal. It would be a terrible mistake for John McCain to sign on to this plan. Endorsing this plan would be the policy equivalent of picking a pro-abortion running mate.
For the past several months, John McCain has ridden the energy issue, moreso than any other single issue, to the top of the polls. Governor Palin, one of the nation's leading proponents of domestic energy production, further solidifies John McCain as the candidate who takes the energy issue seriously.
To endorse the Gang of 16 plan would undermine Senator McCain's credibility on the issue. In addition to the terrible politics of the plan for Republicans, the plan itself is terrible, terrible policy.
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At least Erickson is honest; he highlights why it would be bad politics:
Right now, if we do nothing, the entire Outer Continental Shelf ("OCS") will open up for exploration on October 1, 2008. Under the Gang of 16 plan, most of the OCS, roughly 80%, will remain locked up. John McCain has favored opening up the OCS. His support of this plan would directly contradict his call for expanded exploration.
The plan would only allow drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Even then, it would not open up those areas, but allow those states to opt in to a burdensome, confiscatory federal leasing program. And still, drilling could not take place less than fifty miles from the coast, taking coastal reserves off the table.
The plan would also, for the first time, permanently ban drilling in all other OCS locations. Currently, the ban must be renewed annually.
Finally, he asserts that if only McCain/Palin can get elected, then he'll have the will of the people to drill until he gets to China:
John McCain and Sarah Palin say they are the real reformers. Driving up the costs of doing business and half hearted compromises are "politics as usual" solutions from Washington. Today, the opponents of buying American energy are on the ropes; this is no time to let them off the hook. A McCain-Palin Administration, if elected, will have an unambiguous mandate to expand all sources of domestic energy production, and will be able to command bipartisan support for a truly comprehensive energy solution.
John McCain should oppose the plan, and unleash Sarah Palin to demonstrate her experience and expertise on energy issues. And if today's Congress can't or won't choose a real plan for domestic energy production, Sen. McCain, Gov. Palin and Capitol Hill Republicans should trust the American people to make that choice for them on Election Day.
I find it interesting that they're worried about McCain moving to accept the compromise bill; I'm posting because I hadn't actually heard any wind of that. I must say on politics I agree with Erickson--drilling and drilling lustily and repeatedly is about the only plus card McCain has in the deck, and one of the very, VERY few issues where the public may be nominally on his side. To switch now not only invites flip flop charges, it undercuts his message and takes away a table leg he so desperately needs.
I say we immediately begin concern trolling RS and FP, saying the tide is turning and McCain needs to accept the compromise!