February 13, 2009 07:53 PM UTC

Doug Lamborn = GOP Brain Trust?

• 4 Comments
• by: ClubTwitty

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Casting about in the fog, America’s Republicans are wondering what can bring them out of their political exile.

A couple of weeks ago we learned that Joe Sam the Plumber unlicensed handyman, was moving up to GOP strategist.  This week we hear from the Politico that it might be Doug Lamborn, as the party tries to figure its new simplistic, non-reality-based catchphrase to describe the GOP energy platform:

In the meantime, some House Republicans aren’t waiting around for a Steele brainstorm.

A handful of lawmakers in both the House Natural Resources Committee and the Congressional Western Caucus, which deals with natural resource development, are currently mulling over potential replacements for the phrase, according to Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn, the ranking Republican on the House Natural Resources energy subcommittee.

One potential option includes putting new emphasis on an oldie but a goodie: “all of the above.” House Republicans have been using the phrase for years, well before $4-a-gallon gas was a reality.

“A more accurate depiction of the Republican message is ‘all of the above,’ rather than ‘drill, baby, drill,'” Lamborn told Politico. “It shows Republicans are sympathetic to the need for alternatives and renewables to be developed further but absolutely must not neglect conventional energy resources.

Whether the GOP–after decades of shilling for Big Oil–can really convince their dwindling voter-base that they are now the party of change, new energy, and balance in public lands management, remains to be seen.

But what we know is that if consumers are paying less then oil and gas companies don’t want to drill here and they don’t want to drill now.  Rather they want to sit on the reserves, lay off workers, and shutter drill rigs so they can manipulate supply and drive prices back up.

As long as the Republicans allow the oil and gas  companies to determine which of the public’s lands to lease and under what regulations they should be drilled, the GOP is enabling the very corporations that hold our energy economy hostage.  

If their new found wonderment at voters actually thinking a bit deeper than their latest mindless slogan is more than just a ‘doh!’ moment (as in, we just got spanked) then what voters need is action–not more words.

Today the Sentinel is reporting that the latest oil and gas lease sale in Colorado took in a paltry sum.  With energy prices low, it makes no sense to sell off the public’s assets now–especially since most of these companies already control tens of millions of acres of public lands and public leases.  

If the GOP end-game is simply to embarrass Democrats and open up more minerals to oil and gas companies–return to the American taxpayer be damned–then my advice would be “Chill, baby, chill.”  

Most Americans have seen through the tired rhetoric and want to see real solutions. Repackaging the same old failed talking points from elections (and decades) past will keep the GOP in minority status for years (and elections) to come.