StupidiNews Focus: Message Pitch Edition

Indeed, the Senate defeated GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski's bid to strip the EPA of its power to regulate greenhouse gases.  It would have been vetoed if it passed anyway be President Obama.  Why do it?  Digby reminds us the point was a message pitch:  the 53 votes that defeated this bill is far, far short of the 60 needed to stop a GOP filibuster on climate change legislation and they are letting Obama know there are more than enough Democratic senators who will backstab the President on this should they even try to pass it...and let's not forget the energy industry is still very powerful in this country.

There seems to be some confusion as to why the Republicans would introduce this clean air bill they know can't pass a presidential veto, but it isn't really all that hard to figure out. Republicans often do this when there's a Democrat in the White House to highlight the differences with the administration and draw contrasts with the Democrats, even though they know they will lose. It also shows fealty to their Big Money donors and tells their base that they are "principled."

They see value in waging battles for their own sake (something that the Village only criticizes when it's Democrats doing it.) They are, essentially, fighters who appeal to other fighters.

In this case, they may be overplaying their hand, but I think what's really happening is that we are beginning to see the oil industry really pushing back hard.

The message is clear:  the President going after BP for this oil spill means the energy companies are done with this whole green legislation thing for good.  They see the President's assault on Tony Hayward as Obama's breach of negotiating faith, because frankly they really don't give a damn about the oil spill.  Accidents happen, why is Obama making a big deal about it?

So now the energy companies are hitting back.  No climate legislation for you.  Not now, not ever...and we've got enough money to make sure you never have the 60 votes.  It's not tilting at windmills, it's an ultimatum from the people really in charge.

Indeed, the Kerry-Lieberman bill is most likely dead in the water...along with millions of Gulf Cost fish.

The people responsible for giving the energy companies all this money and the power that goes with it?  You and me.  Think about that.