Mr. McMahon you are wrong on drilling

I feel the need to preface this, as I do most things when I venture into criticism, by saying I am neutral in this primary race and focusing my efforts on first removing Fossella (almost done!) and second electing a Democrat to this seat (becoming more realistic daily). That said Mr. McMahon I find your reported stance on our energy crisis, notably on the issue of drilling to be horribly wrong and out of line with our party. Not to mention our country's needs. Via the Times (as painful as it is to link to this bad article);

The councilman favors nearly all means of addressing the nation’s energy problems, including offshore drilling, something Mr. Harrison opposes.

Across the political landscape Republicans are latching onto anything to buoy their chances of survival and have found this "offshore drilling" framing of our energy crisis successful. This is not something to embrace. This is a change year, a year where Republicans are trying to align themselves with Democratic policy and leaders to survive, not a year where we need to align with Republican policy to win.

Let's make this clearer. President Bush supports offshore drilling;

On Wednesday morning President George W. Bush urged Congress to overturn a 26-year ban on offshore oil drilling in the U.S. ...

Read the whole piece, especially the parts that say if we opened all possible areas to drilling at best we "would trim the price of gas by 3.5 cents a gallon by 2027." Again let me point out you are siding with President Bush. Not convincing? Here is John McCain on offshore drilling;

John McCain Will Commit Our Country To Expanding Domestic Oil Exploration. The current federal moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf stands in the way of energy exploration and production.

Not enough? John McCain is running ads trying to claim Obama is tied to high gas prices because he opposes off shore drilling. Obama don't forget is the guy at the top of the ballot for us this November. Obama is going to drive north shore voters to the polls in numbers we have never seen and considering this is your council district that is amazing.

It is not just that you are taking a Republican position on this issue that I find fault with, it is that there is plenty of room on the other side of the debate for us to stand and offer real solutions. Solutions that are good for our environment, that create jobs and actually address the long term problem instead of trying to just grab headlines today. As someone who is garnering strong union support maybe I can sway you with news that the Teamsters are rejecting drilling as a solution;

“We are not going to drill our way out of the energy problems we are facing—not here and not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,” Hoffa told labor and environmental activists at an Oakland, Calif., summit on good jobs and clean air. “We must find a long-term approach that breaks our dependence on foreign oil by investing in the development of alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power.”

snip

“Our economy is in shambles. Gas is climbing to $5 a gallon. The dollar has collapsed. Inflation is on the rise. Americans are seeing their paychecks shrink. Their family health care is being slashed,” Hoffa said. “Finding a long-term solution has a tremendous upside. It will be environmentally friendly and will serve as a much-needed boost to our sagging economy.”

We are all struggling with fuel costs. I understand that. We all understand that. Well Bush doesn't (why again are you agreeing with him?). So instead of just disagreeing with this policy stance let me offer some suggestions. Last week Congress voted on H. Res. 6578, allowing the release of 70 million barrels of oil from the strategic oil reserve. Unlike drilling which would take years before the first drop of oil would be removed from the ground to be processed, this bill would inject oil into our system within days immediately easing costs. The bill garnered 268 votes, an overwhelming majority, but failed on a procedural issue requiring a veto proof majority. Rep. Fossella, the guy you are hoping to replace, voted against that bill. He voted against immediate fuel cost relief. He voted against helping those struggling with costs. Come out forcefully in support of it and call on Straniere to reject Fossella's failure to help your constituents. My point is this, be a Democratic candidate and offer policy solutions. Do not come out siding with Republican tactics that prevent legislation from passing, that attack our presidential presumptive nominee, that do very little to help consumers and instead add only to egregious pricing and revenues of oil companies.