President Trump has scored significant successes undoing the toxic eco-activist legacy of his predecessor, including the executive orders moving the signing of Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines forward.
However, it seems that he cannot rely on certain establishment Republicans to continue his efforts. Before reading this piece further, pause for a moment and ask yourself which 3 GOP Senators would, when given a chance to vote to repeal Obama’s drilling rules, would just say “NO”.
If you guessed John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Susan Collins, you would be correct.
Three Republicans joined Senate Democrats on Wednesday to reject an effort to overturn an Obama administration rule limiting methane emissions from oil and natural gas drilling.
Only 49 senators voted to move forward with debate on legislation to undo the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule, short of the 51 votes needed.
Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Susan Collins (Maine) and John McCain (Ariz.) joined all 48 members of the Democratic caucus in rejecting the resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
Graham and Collins had previously publicized their plans to vote against the legislation. But McCain’s vote came as a surprise.
McCain said that he voted against the resolution because he fears that it would have prevented the BLM from writing an improved regulation in the future.
Lindsey Graham’s stance is perplexing. In 2012, he proposed a plan to drill off the shores of his home state.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham revealed his plan Monday to open South Carolina’s coast to offshore oil and natural gas drilling — and have the state share in any profits from strikes of fossil fuels.
Graham, R-S.C., said at a news conference in Columbia’s Five Points he has introduced a bill giving South Carolina the option to allow for oil and gas exploration from 10 to 50 miles offshore. No drilling would be allowed within 10 miles of the coast.
…Graham — who in the past opposed offshore oil drilling — said looking for oil and gas is worth a try to gain energy independence from hostile nations. He said his plan would be sensitive to the environment, although Graham acknowledged that drilling has risks.
“I can’t promise America that we can get out of this mess without … taking some risks,’’ Graham said. “The risk we’re trying to avoid is perpetual energy dependence.”
John McCain had once been a supporter of “Drill, Baby, drill“.
The “drill baby, drill” rally cry is back.
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, on Wednesday hailed President Obama’s decision to open U.S. coastal waters to oil and natural gas drilling.
Arizona’s senior senator, who faces a tough Republican primary fight this year, tweeted: “Drill baby drill! Good move – where are Reid and Pelosi on this?”
The video of the vote process show just how upset many of McCain’s Republican colleagues were at this decision.
In the C-SPAN video of the vote, McCain can be seen in heated discussion with John Cornyn, R-Texas, the number two man in the Senate leadership, along with John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and an unidentified senator with his back to the camera. After yelling at them for close to a minute, McCain goes over to the Senate clerks and gives a thumbs down to record his vote. He then storms out of the chamber, as Cornyn raises his arms in mild protest.
@ddayen Check the video, clearly a spiteful act, but I’ll take it ????pic.twitter.com/smgaDPmxI8
— 19th Of Brumaire (@delmoi) May 10, 2017
Susan Collins is a straight-up NeverTrumper.
I will not be voting for Donald Trump for president. This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country
President Trump won because he reflected the real and reasonable economic concerns of the voting public. These Three Stooges have made Trump’s America-first energy policies substantially more difficult to implement.
I have a clip of their post-vote get together:
.
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Comments
3 democrats.
it is time for challenges to these RINOS – at the very least vote to oust them from chairmanships etc.
McCain has been challenged and prevailed. Next time he’ll be challenged again. But at the end of the day the voters will do what they want and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Graham needs to be challenged too. But Collins and Snowe are the best we can get from Maine. Maine voters will not elect conservatives. The only alternative to them would be actual Democrats, who will caucus with the Democrats, put Democrats in control of all committees, and give Democrats control of the agenda. At least they don’t do that, and that’s the most we can expect from them.
Toss in Murkowski & Ernst and this is why Obamacare is going nowhere in the Senate……not enough Republican votes.
Murkowski was primaried, remember? She even lost, but she won the general anyway. She doesn’t owe the GOP anything, so the fact that she caucuses as one is a bonus.
The GOP and The Democrats are the same political machine these days. Has been that way for quote some time.
UNI-PARTY
a RINO by any other name
You mean the 3 confirmed democrat operatives in the Republican side of the Senate?
“You mean 3 of the confirmed democrat operatives in the Republican side of the Senate?”
Dear GOP,
These asshats are all yours. Take care of the problem.
Signed,
The Voters
It doesn’t matter whether the GOP or Dems control the Senate. You can always count on just enough Republicans to switch sides to lose to the Dems by one vote. If the GOP had 53 senators, Jeff Flake or some other RINO would have switched to guarantee Dem victory. Even if there were 100 Republican senators, they would lose to the Democrats.
It’s time to get rid of Lindsey Graham, and John McCain. We need to keep trying, I’m sick of seeing them on television. Offer both of them a show on MSNBC, or something, anything! Unfortunately Susan Collins is probably as well as we can get in Maine.
Remember that Mr. Establishment endorsed McAnus. And every other incumbent.
True fact. Deal with it.
Remember that Ragspierre voted for McAnus.
True fact. Deal with it.
Principals before principles.
Gee, when the Democrats vote 48=0 on something, the MSM doesn’t scream partisan politics.
But they will now want to give the 3 traitors a profiles in Courage award for not voting with their party.
The usual three assholes.
Until Sc decides to close it’s primaries the Democrats in our state will continue to send him back.
No possibility of an edit………
Until South Carolina closes the primaries the Democrats in our state will continue to send Miss Lindsey back to Washington every 6 years.
The open primaries are a problem with the presidential primaries. OK is a closed primary – you have to change your party affiliation 30 days in advance of the primary.
Follow the Money.
I suspect they financially benefit much from keeping those regs – whether from sponsors who want the regs, or other donations… IMO.