An e-mail:

Graham says: “But if we can get the Democratic party to embrace drilling on the East Coast and western Gulf and sign off on nuclear energy and the recycling of spent nuclear fuel, I’ll say thank you. I’ll say thank you.”While I understand what Graham is saying, I think he is missing the point. Conservatives aren’t upset about the idea of a compromise, we are upset that they gave the dems so much and received so little in return. Conservatives are in a very strong position on this issue, and the Senate moderates once again rolled over. We could probably get even more offshore drilling, more refineries, ANWR and nukes and give them less spending on alternatives and they would agree b/c they desperately need this issue to be resolved before the election. Instead, they gave us a few crumbs and we gave them everything they wanted. That is hardly a winning compromise.

That’s what I said. Graham replied, “This proposal is not the end of the debate, it’s the beginning of the debate.” He argued that those who want more offshore drilling, ANWR, etc. can push for amendments that do those things.

I just don’t see it playing out that way. The proposal’s meager drilling provisions offer the Democratic majority just enough cover to shoot down any amendments that take things further.

The Democrats are getting beaten senseless on drilling. For them, the gang’s proposal is the beginning of the end of that nightmare.