Towards An Oil Free Congress

UPDATE: The rally went very well. We had about 50 people turn out and media coverage from KGUN 9 News. Patty Weiss and Franchine Shacter both came in person, along with volunteers and representatives from the Latas and Giffords campaigns. Patty took a pledge on camera, and Shacter and Giffords also intend to take a pedge not to take oil industry and PAC money. We'd like to thank local business Catalina Markets, which operates both the stations we protested at. Their management team was professional and cooperative. Thanks to independent photographer Merrill Peterson for sharing his photos, one of which appears here.

MoveOn.org is sponsoring an action this coming Wednesday to draw attention to the role that big oil's political contributions play in perpetuating our dependence on foreign oil and all the attendant ills it brings. One part of the effort is to publicize the fact that GOP congresscritters have taken in excess of $142,000.000.00 from the oil industry since 1990. This ensures an energy policy that puts private profits over national interest.

We are also calling on the candidates for CD 8, both Democrats and Republicans, to pledge not to accept any money from corporate oil interests. Jeff Latas has already done so, and Francine Shacter has alreay confirmed she will be participating in the event. I honestly don't imagine any of the Democrats will refuse, but I have my doubts about some of the Republicans. I encourage you to call the camapaign offices of all the candidates and ask them to make the pledge and to come to the event on Wednesday to show their support for an oil-free Congress.

The biggest culprit, however, is Arizona Senator Jon Kyl. He's taken well over $300,000.00 from the oil industry in his career in Congress. Enron, Koch, Halliburton, Valero Refineries (which operates one of the stations we'll be protesting at), ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron (which owns the one across the street) and BP are all major donors to Kyl's campaigns.

What have these oil giants bought with their largess? Kyl has been at the forefront of selling American energy policy to the energy industry. 24 American refineries were intentionally taken off line through the 1990's to limit supply of refined oil products and thus inflate prices. Kyl has led the fight to block Congressional investigation into this price gouging by big oil.

So print out a sign or two and maybe some leaflets, and sign up to attend the rally. It's important that we hold our elected, and soon-to-be-elected, officials' feet to the burning oil fields.

Comments

[ucme]

I haven’t been a contributor to many blogs, but I do read them to keep up with the current events that go on around me, not important enough to be picked up by the media. What interest me hear is the dynamic of this CD-8 race. I see now that there is a choice in the Democratic Party. This is something we really haven’t seen here in Southern Arizona in a long time. The choice we have is similar to the mentality we see with the debate recently on Iraq. Stay the course or take the risk for change.

I was a leaning Giffords Democrat, but I have now realized the status quo of political rhetoric is not what we need and we must now take a chance to change the course. The previous discussion on SB 1065 is a fine illustration of what I’m talking about. It was one vote of many, but there is much more behind that vote.

When I investigate the other candidates I see a real choice, one we haven’t had in years here in AZ-08. I’m proud to see people like Jeff Latas willing to pick up the ball which I think the “established” Democrats have dropped. He is reaching to those that this party has left behind. Regardless of what many think of his political experience, he has made quit a difference, particularly of how I see this race. His campaign is of conviction which the others only try to emulate.

I understand that some readers of these blogs on CD-8 are not willing to take a chance with a new comer. It is risky, but I have concluded that we can no longer continue to “stay the course” and change from the political status quo is greatly needed. To read the link in this diary of why the writer supports Jeff Latas is inspiring. I’m awakening and understand some of the passion in the comments of those who have contributed to the blogs. I do believe in the need for change or we will find ourselves in a much direr situation. SB1065 is a tipping point for me, not the only negative action, just an action that puts things out of balance for the Giffords campaign.

Thank you Mike for keeping us aware with a balanced point of view. The other blogs are knowingly bias, but yours seems fair. Thanks for this article pointing to someone wanting to make a difference with conviction.

[Dwight D. Leister: Chair: Committee To Elect]

I keep It Simple as a "Back to The Basics" Democrat! I accept NO endorsements and am supported by NO Organiztion period! I accept support "In Kind" as voluteers and will Not pander to the News Media,as I think we have enough "Media Representation" in Patty Weiss!