The Albany Herald newspaper was as sweet as summer wine this morning. It seems that Rush Limbaugh and the extreme right are upset that Georgia Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson are part of “Gang of 10” energy proposal
Their energy plan would allow drilling 50 miles off the coasts of Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, and the Gulf coast of Florida; while eliminating tax breaks for the oil and gas industry to generate $30 billion in revenue, with the money used to fund a new investment in alternative energy.
Other Republicans back an “all of the above” bill that would allow far more new drilling all along the East and West coasts and in restricted areas of Alaska, without the tax increase on domestic producers.
Chambliss and Isakson dismiss the criticism, arguing that voters want Congress to set aside differences and agree on something that will make a difference – even if it requires trade-offs. “Usually if the extremes are raising cain, it means you’re doing something right,” said Chambliss.
I am still asleep and dreaming or did the two senators from Georgia just take about a third of their party behind the woodshed. Senators represent the whole state and not just sections of people or just the people who elected them. People act like their party can not be wrong in the same way people act like their family members are never wrong. News flash: your party can be wrong and your brother might be nuts.
Bickering fueled by talk radio and T.V. makes for fun entertainment but is not beneficial to our nation. I am proud of the fact that the Democrats in the Georgia congressional delegation often work across party lines to seek compromise that is in the state’s best interest and that’s why Rep. Jim Marshall should have been in Denver at DNC Convention arguing that some of our Democrat platform was extreme left.
Then I read the Cal Thomas column about a conversation he had with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush about why the Republicans lost the majorities in both houses of Congress. Jeb Bush said that House Minority Leader John Boehner has confessed to “mistakes” by Republicans when they held the majority. Governor Bush believes too many Republican leaders are “in denial” about why they lost their majority.
Dialog, understanding, negotiations, analysis, reasoning, logic and compromise are elements of proper governing. This Project Logic Ga contributor respects Isakson and Chambliss for putting governing over bickering; and any extreme supporters they might lose will be replaced by many more sensible centrists – ask Senator Nunn.
Project Logic Ga 
We should not forget the bipartisan Farm Bill that the Georgia Senators supported with the all of the Georgia Democrats in the House –Chambliss is the top Republican on the Senate Ag Committee. Renewable energy reduces our dependence on foreign oil, which makes farming a factor in national security. Can I say what many Georgians are think: other than Israel’s right to exist safely, I don’t care what happens in the Middle East but for our addiction to the region’s oil.
The following statement is from Senate Ag Committee chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa):
“Rural America has been rapidly increasing the production of renewable energy – specifically, biofuels and wind power. This is a major win-win development, because domestically produced renewable energy is one of the keys to reducing our heavy dependence on fossil fuels, in particular, imported oil. At the same time, these new industries are a shot in the arm for rural economic growth and farm income.
“What we found is that rising energy costs are an underlying driver for higher commodity prices, both directly through increasing demand for biofuels, and indirectly due to increasing crop production costs. But overwhelmingly, increased production of biofuels is not the chief villain for rising food costs.
“In the farm bill that recently became law – The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 – we capitalized on the energy opportunities that lie in rural America, providing approximately $1 billion to promote the production of cellulosic feedstocks for ethanol, to bring more ethanol facilities online and to aid farmers who want to use more renewable energy technologies in their production.
“I believe that America can and will become energy secure, and that our farmers will lead the way. In Congress, we’re giving them the incentives to do just that.”
UPDATE
‘Gang of Ten’ energy bill put on hold until after November
Friday, September 19, 2008, 06:34 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Washington swamped by the crisis on Wall Street, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his Democratic partner have pulled the plug on their bipartisan “Gang of Ten” energy bill until after the November elections.
Chambliss phoned this evening with the news.
But before the Senate adjourns next week, the Georgia senator said a revised version of the bill will be unveiled — one that will feature expanded territory for offshore oil drilling.
Chambliss, a Republican up for re-election, had formed an alliance with Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) this summer. Support had grown from the original 10 senators to 20.
“When you look at the atmosphere that’s in Washington right now — all of a sudden, the focus is on the financial side rather than energy. Kent and my thought is that this issue is such a critical issue, that it deserves a lot of time, a lot of thought, a lot of debate,” Chambliss said.
Senator Chambliss has pledged to push for the congressional passage of Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens energy plan, which proposals to develop new domestic sources of energy while expanding proven American technology.
I like the plan when Boone introduced it and I am please to see the senator worked with Democrats and Pickens to seek a comprehensive solution.