True North

We're already seeing the Franken camp's plan for victory. It's apparent that Franken will go negative. I realize that that isn't news. It isn't news that they'll use the Bush-Cheney card, either. That's why this SC Times editorial from SD-14 chair Buzz Snyder is easy fisking. Look at this opening spin:

Senate Republicans are doing more than their part to assure that public approval of the Congress does not rise above 20 percent.

Last week, in again blocking advancement of legislation to help the American people, they have cemented their new GOP moniker: Graveyard Of Progress. And our own Norm Coleman is pitching inasmuch as calculations of his own political survival will allow.

In Mr. Snyder's world, Republicans are to blame for preventing Democrats from getting virtuous things done. That's spin so bad, it'd make a Clinton flinch. What's funny is Mr. Snyder's proof:

Republicans excused Senator Coleman (and two other incumbents in tough re-election contests) from joining them in blocking a vote on S-3044, a bill to provide energy price relief to Americans and hold oil companies accountable for their price-gouging actions regarding skyrocketing energy prices.

I decided to check which bill that was. Here's what I found:

5/20/2008--Introduced.

Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies producing at least 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily) a tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, gas, or primary products thereof; (2) conform tax treatment of foreign oil and gas extraction income and foreign oil related income for purposes of the foreign tax credit; (3) impose a windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies; and (4) establish an Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund funded by revenues raised by the tax provisions of this Act to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources <strong>and reduce the risks of global warming.

Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act - Declares it unlawful for a supplier to sell crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel at an unconscionably excessive price in an area for which the President declares that an energy emergency exists. Grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce this Act.

Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the well-being of U.S. citizens is at risk because of a shortage or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel because of: (1) a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in the national energy markets for such products.

Authorizes state attorneys general to bring civil actions to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations.

The most fitting irony is the legislation's title:

S. 3044: Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008

The legislation does nothing to increase energy production. It doesn't lower gas prices. In fct, they're inflating the price of a gallon of gas because it's driving up production costs. This is what Mr. Snyder wants us to believe is Sen. Coleman's egregious sin against Minnesota? I think not. Mr. Snyder should, but won't, be ashamed of himself for peddling this spin. It's condescending and insulting to the thoughtful people of Minnesota.

Granted, slapping a windfalls profits tax on 'Big Oil' will give some airhead liberals some momentary jollies but it won't ease the pain at the pump. That's because the dirty little secret that Mr. Snyder is trying to hide is that Democrats have hated oil production for a generation. Mr. Snyder knows that if he said that outright, Al Franken would get his head handed to him this November. That's why Al Franken and his mouthpieces resort to spin when the subject is energy policy.

Here's more of Mr. Snyder's spin:

It is no surprise that Coleman wants to talk only about Al Franken's satirical writings from a decade ago.

Let's put this in perspective. Sen. Coleman doesn't want to talk about his record. He only wants to talk about Franken's disgusting writings. (No, I won't call them satire. I can't even call them humor.) I guess Mr. Snyder means that Sen. Coleman doesn't want to highlight the fact that he got an important hospital built in Walker because that's too small bore of stuff to be proud of. I suppose Mr. Snyder thinks that Sen. Coleman wants to run away from the legislation he just introduced on increasing energy production that increases oil exploration and that advocates building nuclear power plants.

No editorial would be complete without this line:

With his record as the Bush/Cheney senator from Minnesota, that is the only strategy available.

This is what happens when you send an amateur to do a man's job. It's also what happens when you have to shill for a candidate like Al Franken. I just hope that Mr. Snyder doesn't quit his day job because I'd hate to think of him making a living shilling for Al Franken.

Comments welcome at LFR.