Clinton County Republican Party

For the National Review print edition, I give you this quote from Travis Kavulla in his article "Regulated Unto Death":

If energy prices rise only for America or a particular state, as is the case when cost is tied to a new environmental regulation rather than anything fundamental in an energy resource's supply, the difference between the cost of production in our nation or a state and the cost for an economic rival elsewhere grows

And when you force reliable and cheap energy producers to pay higher costs for regulations that don't do anything to help health or the environment, up goes those costs. And It doesn't help that the federal government is shoveling cash at industries that perhaps shouldn't be receiving that money:

CBS News counted 12 clean energy companies that are having trouble after collectively being approved for more than $6.5 billion in federal assistance. Five have filed for bankruptcy: The junk bond-rated Beacon, Evergreen Solar, SpectraWatt, AES' subsidiary Eastern Energy and Solyndra.

So our "brightest bulb" government officials attack and demean real energy resources like coal and oil and instead embrace the "rainbows and unicorns" solutions of wind and solar. Don't get me wrong, windmills have their place... on 19th century farms, and as decorative pieces in gardens. And solar panels are great for the paranoid fellow out in the Arizona desert trying to live "off the grid". But for everyone who is well-adjusted, give us the reliable and plentiful fossil fuels.

And by now, you've heard that Obama has made a pipeline from Canada illegal until after the 2012 election:

However the administration will allow TransCanada to reapply after it develops an alternate route through the sensitive habitat of Nebraska’s Sandhills. Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns will make the announcement, which comes in response to a congressionally-mandated deadline of Feb. 21 for action on the proposed Keystone pipeline.

I can't decide if he is delusional or autocratic. They're both probably correct, come to think of it.  He dreams of a nation with citizens forced to drive hybrid Chevettes or take high-speed trains, but in the short term, he has to get reelected. And to keep his base (rabid left-wing extremists and welfare cheats) happy, he has to make rabid, left-wing extremist decisions. Thus, a no-brainer decision to increase domestic oil supply with a country that doesn't want to kill us or force us to live under Sharia law becomes a victim to politics.

Further down the rabbit hole we go.