Denny Hastert's Blog

I haven't seen it posted on any of the other blogs yet aside from on /. so let me introduce the rest of the sphere to the Speaker's Journal, Speaker of the House and part time funnyman, Denny Hastert. Oh yes, he's blogging.

From his first post yesterday:

This is Denny Hastert and welcome to my blog. This is new to me. I can't say I'm much of a techie. I guess you could say my office is teaching the old guy new tricks. But I'm excited. This is the future. And it is a new way for us to get our message out.

Most of you know me as a coach by nature so I hope this gives you some inside access to the Republican playbook.

The internet is changing the way we share information. My office has been talking a lot about some of the conversations going on in blogosphere. So I thought, hey, I should start one and give you unfiltered updates on Capitol Hill.

There are not, however, comments. That would be a coup.

I never knew he was a coach by nature, I thought he was a part time Drew Carey impersonator, but fatter and without as rediculous looking glasses. He had this funny quip:

Speaking of the Hurricane season, renewed attention has been brought to the way we refine gasoline in this country. Today, energy companies started reporting their 3rd quarter earnings, and while Americans paying were record prices at the pump, energy companies were making record profits.

This is America. And Republicans don't believe in punishing success. But what are these oil companies doing to bring down the cost of oil and natural gas? They haven't built a refinery here in America since the 1970's. They've built refineries overseas, but nothing here at home.

We want some answers and you folks out there in the blogosphere do too. When are new refineries going to be built here in America? When is the Alaska pipeline deal going to be signed so we can get natural gas to consumers quicker? Conoco Phillips has reached an agreement with the state of Alaska on the pipeline. Exxon Mobil and BP need to do the same. These companies need to invest in America’s energy infrastructure and resources. Until they do, we're going to be asking some tough questions.

Hastert's proposed solution to the reliance on oil? Alaska. Not alternative fuels. Nothing on ethanol, hybrid, solar, hydrogen or any other non crude-oil based alternative. Thanks Denny.

Comments

[Daryl]

You've singled out the really choice parts, but if anyone wants to read Denny's first post in its entirety without donating him hits (don't want to encourage him too much, do we?) I've posted it here.

[Ajayi Harris]

To bad he doesn't have a comment section. I have some comments, as I am sure other folks do. Oh well, that would to much to as from an elected official anyway.

[Jerome Gaskins]

I didn't read his blurb about oil & gas that way, Al. It sounded more like he was talking about two different things, rather than a solution to a single problem. The pipeline is the solution to the NG problem, and more refineries here solve the gas problem. Not imaginative by far, but it could have been worse: what if he was saying that we should just accept the increased prices and the oil concerns' increases as proof of a vibrant economy? That's what I'd expect a Republican to say!

What about typing is technical?

[Digitalni fotoaparati]

I agree with Daryl.