Left Flank

Politics is the art of compromise, right? So, environmentalists should ask not only for no new drilling, but...?

«I'm not knee-jerk opposed to anything,» said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). «We're willing to work. We haven't shut our minds to anything.»

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said he sensed there were enough votes from
his Democratic colleagues to expand offshore drilling into new areas —
and that the eastern Gulf of Mexico «should be one of the first places
we should look.»

Although Senate Democrats are slowly easing away from opposition to
offshore drilling, it's clear that the majority party is not giving it
away for nothing.

One idea floated by Reid would require that whatever oil is drilled in
newly opened areas would need to be sold in the United States.

Democrats also want any compromise plan to include investments in clean
and renewable energies, a crackdown on oil speculators and proof that
the oil and gas companies are fully utilizing land that is already
leased for exploration.

«If they were showing in good faith that they were drilling on some of
the 68 million acres they have now, it might change some of our
attitudes,» said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said that he was open to
drilling in new areas but opposed to «offshore drilling if there is any
environmental impact.» Durbin reiterated the call for oil companies to
drill in areas covered by existing leases first, but then added:
«Beyond that, if there is a suggestion of some new area to go into,
I'll look at it.»

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), fresh from his GI Bill victory, said that he is
now making energy a major priority. «We need to look at all our
assets,» he said, suggesting a large package including expanded
offshore drilling, alternative energy, nuclear power and technology to
make coal cleaner.

Was there ever really a chance to stop offshore drilling?

As a registered centrist Democrat, the notion of Barack Obama running with Senator Jim Webb resonates. But, returning to earth, I have to accept Justin K.'s argument, too:

I like Webb, but I've been lukewarm to the Webb-for-VP idea. If we want to pass as much progressive legislation as possible we need as big a margin in the Senate as possible, and his seat would be tough to keep if he stepped down.

That said, really putting VA in play and winning over Scotch-Irish voters in Ohio and PA (most of those other states won't really be in play) is tempting.

Still, on balance, I think Webb needs to stay in the Senate. Obama has other swing state and white working class options for VP (Ted Strickland, Ed Rendell, John Edwards, Tim Kaine maybe? etc); he's probably gonna win no matter what, given the climate this year; and Webb's a little too big and loud for the Number 2 spot.

It still has to be a female, centrist governor.

Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb is doing his fair share to keep the ROK-US alliance going strong.

Echoing comments Tuesday by the Navy's top officer, Adm. Gary Roughead, Webb called for increasing the size of the Navy's fleet beyond its current target of 313 vessels and strengthening maintenance and modernization projects by encouraging more free-market competition among contractors.

"Three hundred thirteen can't do it, I can't see, in the long run," Webb said. "We're building one (submarine) per year and the Chinese are building three per year. We need a strategy based on the United States being a maritime nation, and the United States should be a sea power."

With a current fleet of 280 ships, and only 109 under way, the Navy's fleet, Webb said, is at a 90-year low. During his tenure as Secretary of the Navy, Webb said he oversaw a fleet of 568 ships.

"Simply stated, we are decommissioning Navy ships faster than we are building them," he said. "It is imperative that we reverse this steady slide in shipbuilding."

He said industry, the Navy and Congress all bear responsibility to find ways to cut costs in shipbuilding, and shipbuilding facilities need a steady, reliable stream of work so they aren't forced to lay off workers during slow periods.

Let's not forget all that sealift capability!