[Professor S]

For anyone who cares, I found out why the Republicans blocked the bill: They wanted to attach a rider that would open the continental shelf and other areas to drilling.

While I agree we should be drilling and exploiting every avenue we have to bridge the energy gap between current energy and the future of energy, this is NOT the way to go about it. We need to stop trying to barter legislation. This is not about quid fucking pro quo. This is about doing whats right and not continuing the cycle of doing NOTHING because every bill becomes a PISSING CONTEST on both sides of the isle.

Investing in alternative energy should be discussed and passed on its own merits, just as sensible and responsible drilling and coal gassification should be discussed and passed on its own merits.