What exactly is about Democrats that possesses them to work really hard to lose. Is it chemical? Biological? Genetic? I don't know. I do know that this was supposed to be a year where the Democrats win the White House and expand their leads in Congress. So what do they do? They hand the nomination to a three year Senatore who has been on the wrong side of every issue, has a racist background, and dislikes blue collar people. And those are his good points.

The GOP on the other hand nominated John McCain and the silence was deafening. After 12 years of a Congressional majority that was as effective as a condom full of pin holes the Conservative base wanted a true Conservative. Senator McCain was not what they had in mind. (To be honest I don't think anyone comes to mind).

Needless to say the Republicans were as enthusiastic as a senior citizens home after bingo. The only saving grace for the GOP these last 20 months is the fact that the Democrats are even less effective than that pin hole laden condom I mentioned in paragraph two. Mitch McConnell has whipped Harry Ried like a Soho pervert on every issue. Add in the success of the Iraqi surge and it's effects on the war and the Congress is as popular as your mother-in-law at your Bachelor party. Things were so bad that their approval rating was nine percent. Still the Republican base continued to sit on the front porch and yell at passing candidates walking their platforms.

Then a funny thing happened. The Republicans noticed that the American people were upset about the rise in gas prices. The Democrats were demanding that the oil executives tell them why they are making a record profit. This is not to say they heard the cries of the public. They always investigate any private company that makes money. Anyway once again the cries for exploration and extraction of our own resources grew louder and louder. As usual the Democrats dismissed these demands with the usual tired and disproved talking points. except this time the GOP rallied around it and found a true cause they can unite behind.

Meanwhilr the Democrats ever changing positions on the issue simply bolstered the Conservative calls for more exploration. First it was the oil companies themselves. this seemed to be an annual event for the past few years. Gouging was the accusation, nothing was proven, more demands for taxes on their profits were heard and the public seemed almost satisfied. This year things were a different. With 4.00 dollar gas and the realization that we get more than 70 percent from other countries the demand for drilling here at home gained momentum. So with the oil CEO's outright declaring their need for more exploration and drilling the Democrats were finally forced to change tactics. Now it gets interesting.

While the Republicans called for domestic drilling the Democrats countered by switching blame from the oil companies to the speculators. It was them they claimed were responsible for the strident up tick in oil prices. They have never bothered to explain how they were able to shift the blame from the companies themselves. Anyway now it is the speculators and in a way they are right.s long as supply cannot keep up with demand the speculators will speculate (quite rightly) that the price of oil will continue to increase. This is basic economics. of course the liberal approach has not been basic economics but cries of foul play. One of the main arguments against drilling by the left is that it will not lower the price by more than a few pennies. SO we are to believe that Speculation works only to drive up prices but not the reverse? If our oil supply is greatly increased why would the Speculators speculate the price of a barrel of oil will continue to go up? That makes no sense at all.

Meanwhile we have team of Congressional Republicans heading west to an alternative energy plant in Colorado and then Alaska where there is (GASP!) oil. It's a clever move by the Republicans because it does two things. Firstly it will demonstrate the Conservatives dedication to alternative energy. In doing that it also proves the Democrats wrong that the GOP's only answer is more drilling. Secondly the trip will highlight the fact that we do indeed have oil, oodles of it, and the Republicans hear your demand for more drilling and are ready, as is the President to what you ask.

Does this help John McCain? Yes it does. Republicans always win the National Security issue. Yet this year the main issue with voters is not security but Domestic issues, McCain admits his knowledge of economics is as solid as Obama's knowledge of foreign policy and he may not be able to win the battle over healthcare, tuition, and the housing slump. He will however win the on the issue of oil prices for the simple fact that he advocates action now. Real action not investigations, and accusations, legislation, and press conferences. Boosting domestic alternative energy development, lifting congressional ban on drill on the Outer Continental Shelf, and recovering all the natural gas we can get our grubby little hands on. And he has the majority of the Republican party behind him. and straggling behind the mob are a few Democrats trying not to be noticed. They know this can be a campaign killer and they want to make sure they are on the right side of the issue. This time around the GOP is in fact on the right side. Barack Obama is in Europe.

-The New Stereophonic Bert Spivey