Watching a little C-Span last week just showed me how lost these Democrats have been concerning the oil crisis. I was to the point of anger towards Pelosi, Reid, Hinchey, Markey, DeFazio, Hall, Rahall, Hoyer, Shea-Porter, Capps, and Blumenauer to name a few. They should all be taken out back behind the tool shed, roughed up then shown the difference between spit and Shinola, if you know what I mean. Chuck puts it in perspective.

Nancy Pelosi vs. Rush Limbaugh

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Editor’s note: Aug. 1 represents the 20th anniversary of the debut of Rush Limbaugh’s national radio show. WND has asked some of his colleagues and some of America’s most popular pundits to tell us what they think of the role he has played in American politics and media.

Despite that 3 to 1 Americans now believe gas prices are a bigger problem than global warming, the Washington Post noted that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., an avid opponent of offshore drilling, vows to block a drilling vote or even dialogue from occurring on the House floor. And Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., echoed a same sentiment when he eliminated energy amendments to his anti-speculation bill. At the same time, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., canceled committee consideration of spending bills for fear of Republican inclusions of drilling amendments.

Even though Newt Gingrich’s “American Solutions” delivered 1.3 million of our signatures to both the House and Senate and that now 73 percent of Americans concur to “drill here, drill now,” Congress refuses to lift the ban on offshore drilling, encourage shale development or even aggressively go after alternative energies. Are you tired enough of being held hostage at the pump that you’re ready for a second round of hounding your representatives?

When President Bush recently lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling, the ball was completely placed in Congress’ court to take the next move. But instead of Congress representing the majority of American’s wishes to drill for domestic oil, it once again favors a minority. Pelosi justified its inactivity by blaming the president, “What we’re saying is, ‘Exhaust other remedies, Mr. President.’ … It is the economic life of America’s families, and to suggest that drilling offshore is going to make a difference to them paycheck to paycheck now is a frivolous contention.”

My first reaction to Pelosi’s recent congressional energy rebellion was to say what an anti-American, anti-reality-based form of representation! To pass the buck back onto the president to “exhaust other remedies” when he took the first step in opening the way for drilling is not only a relinquishing of congressional duties but another deliberate political avoidance to help the majority of Americans. Two years ago before taking the congressional helm, Pelosi blamed the president for the energy crisis – now, instead of providing any solutions at all, she’s still blaming the president. Instead of spending her valuable time leading Congress in resolving our energy crisis, she’s kicking off a national tour with her new book, “Know Your Power: A Message to America’s Daughters.” Is she in political la-la land?!

Dissenters can heckle that offshore oil production won’t make a practical difference for years, and Pelosi can call it a “frivolous contention,” but the fact is that even the lift of the congressional ban would immediately ease market tensions and again drop the costs of oil – just as it did recently after the president lifted the executive ban. Once speculators and oil conglomerates realize we mean business about drilling or energy independence, any investor knows the price of “Texas tea” will drop again.

So just when I was about to go hit the punching bag (again) to alleviate my congressional stress, Rush Limbaugh helped to relieve my tension on his national broadcast. He spoke (again) for me and the majority of Americans against Pelosi’s hypocrisy of even tapping the U.S. strategic oil reserve:

But that strategic reserve oil, a question, ladies and gentlemen, how do we get it? Maybe somebody should call the speaker of the House, send a note to her office: “Mrs. Pelosi, you want to release 700 million barrels from the strategic reserve. How did it get there? We had to drill for it, didn’t we?” I mean, if she wants the 700 million barrels released in order to help with the price, which is not going to do that much, it’s not that much oil, it’s a one-time thing you can do, the oil had to be drilled. So drilling will lead to relief. We can drill our way out of this. We drilled our way into the strategic reserve.There’s something soothing that happens when someone on such a national scale as Rush Limbaugh speaks for you – which is exactly what’s supposed to happen with our representatives and especially the leader of our representatives, but often doesn’t. Compare and contrast the inept inactivity of Nancy Pelosi alone on this gas crisis with the informed activity of conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Rush is practically savvy; Pelosi is politically cunning. Rush confronts government gridlock; Pelosi creates it. Rush gives solutions; Pelosi ground-n-pounds them. Rush says drill here, drill now; Pelosi says don’t drill now or later. Rush motivates Americans to action; Pelosi paralyzes even the House to inaction. I would bet Rush has had more positive influence on Congress through the years by his broadcasts than Pelosi ever will from her House throne. If only Rush would seriously consider a run for her seat!

While I’m not espousing we canonize Rush, and haven’t always agreed with him, I thank God for him and join with so many across the land in celebrating the 20th anniversary of his national broadcasts on Aug. 1. He truly is a father of modern conservative commentary. And he serves for us all as a model of intelligence, perseverance and might, despite personal and political setbacks. He is a leader of leaders among that league of extraordinary gentlemen and conservative cultural crusaders, who consist of people like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Dick Morris, Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter, John Kasich, Frank Pastore, to name a few, and of course a host of other conservative columnists, blogs and websites. I had the good fortune this past year of being among just a few others in a small intimate dinner with Rush, and I found him to be every bit the gentlemen, political and cultural sage, and quick-witted commentator in person as on radio.

Congratulations Rush on 20 years of broadcasting excellence, and many blessings on your next 20! Together, with all of our conservative voices, I hope we all can turn around the waning passion of conservatives and liberal tides of our cultural war – before it’s too late. Most of all, I pray that we can ultimately inspire a new generation of patriots who will fight on-air, on the Internet and in congressional halls with a fire like Patrick Henry rather than Nancy Pelosi.