Drill Baby Drill

Today’s message was supposed to be about the economy. Instead, it was another day of tribute to the rather remarkable John McCain biography.

And there was ZERO substantive discussion of policy, with the lone exception of energy independence, which in this crowd means oil drilling. They chanted “drill baby drill” over and over again as prompted by former Maryland Senate Candidate and GOPAC Chair Michael Steele. I have to admit to a bit of culture shock.

There were some references to taxes and small businesses, certainly, but not much of an economic blueprint.

Clearly, however, Republicans think that drilling is a winning issue for them – if not so much for the policy – which most economists would agree would make no immediate difference in oil prices and little difference down the road – but rather in terms of symbolism. This is akin to Governor Schwarzenegger’s “action, action, action” pledge. People are disempowered and want the sense that something is being done. Whether that something “matters” or not is beside the point. It would seem to me that if Dems had framed drilling in environmental terms or in corporate terms (this is just another way to make Exxon money), they’d have
the upper hand here. But it’s either drill or do nothing. And in that frame, drilling wins.