06/10/2002 Archived Entry: "Gore, Bush, WOT, Environment: FL vs CA, wedges"
"He ought to stop using the war as a political wedge, it is not the right thing to do, and it hurts our country." Who said that? Gore did. But how the Republicans are acting right now, with Ridge stating last week, he would advise Bush to veto any legislation creating a congressionally authorized Office of Homeland Security if Congress, and then, presto, a fortnight later, Bush and Ridge were making the same basic proposal he had spent almost nine months fighting. Now, assuming political amnesia amongst the network media, Bush will turn the issue on the Democrats, telling then to quit stalling and arguing on the issue.
I don't think Gore needs to be too worried about the Republicans efforts to turn the WOT into a wedge issue, as the WH doing fine playing all sides of the wedge. From creating too high of expectations, muddled leadership, and a general fog of where this all is heading amidst the creation of diversionary fear... add in, whenever their poll numbers slip a bit, the turning on their allies. Once again, like CFR & ASA, Bush capitulates to Daschle, abandoning his political allies that had argued for Bush's positions during the past 9 months.
Bush has rejected Gov. Gray Davis' plea to extend the same protections against oil and gas drilling to California that he granted Florida last week. Said Norton: "A major difference between Florida and California is that Florida opposes coastal drilling and California does not." This sounds absurd, and it is, here's her proof:
Norton reasoned that California does not oppose coastal drilling because there are 77 active state and federal leases off the coast where more than 260 new wells have been drilled since 1990. California not only approved the wells, but is profiting from the royalties, she noted. By contrast, no gas or oil had come from the Florida leases, she wrote.
And here is how Davis responded,
"All the 'new drilling' that the administration refers to was undertaken from existing platforms whose leases date back close to 50 years. State law prohibits new leases except in the case of a national emergency. What is good for Florida's coast is good for California's. The administration continues to fail to establish a reason to treat California differently than Florida."
The clincher is that Davis will urge the state's congressional delegation to include California if Congress makes money available to buy the Florida oil leases. Now, are there any Republicans left who think that Bush has even a remote shot at winning CA in 2004? Hopeless, indeed, even Simon has abandoned Bush. Once again, Davis trumps Bush, what's this, the 3rd or 4th time this has happened? I bet the WH didn't even see it coming, as a potential negative, in their ploy to re-elect Jeb in Florida. Gore should learn something from Davis. The administrations thoroughly cynical environmental policies provides a stronger opening for Gore than does the WOT wedge. I am sure that there are lots of states that have their pet environmental preservation programs that want to be included with Florida in the Federal gov'ts borrow and spend conservation efforts. I sincerely doubt that Bush will get the money for Jeb (opps, I mean Florida), especially if McBride beats Bush in November. I wonder how that would go over in 2004?
As either a sidenote, or the real note, the Republicans have convinced themselves that political & cultural purity is their ticket for the future. They will wedge themselves out quite well on their own. There's a big pragmatic middle that the Democrats are better positioned for capturing with their multicultural inclusive politics.
