I was reading this piece about oil drilling and it occurred to me how this issue is fast become the GOP's last gambit to turn back the forces of change, and how Democrats seem to be falling for their trick.

I've argued this issue many times, and I've always tried to make my arguments based on economics, not the environment. Sure, reducing oil consumption will help curb global warming and lessen chances for oil spills and other pollution. And opening up a wildlife refuge in Alaska to oil drilling goes against the entire purpose of having refuges. (Funny how conservatives won't believe scientists who say global warming is a fact, but they will believe scientists who say they know how much recoverable oil lies under the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge without a single test well being drilled. But that's another story.)

So it makes me cringe when I hear Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats saying she is adamant against expanded offshore drilling because she wants to save the planet. It plays right into the GOP attack. For the small number of independent voters who will decide this election, the price of gas means more than possible damage to the environment.

Democrats need to get united to make their counterattack work. It's about the economics, stupid. New drilling will not drop the price of gas, near as much as a little conservation and seeking new energy sources.

In fact, this would be a good time for Dems to cut a deal. They should propose to open up new offshore drilling, but under a little stricter environmental safeguards than before. And, they should throw in a provision that oil companies must begin production on their oil leases in a certain amount of time, or they lose those leases. They already lease 68 million acres that they aren't trying to get oil from now. And it's not like they don't have the money to drill on those 68 million acres, with their record profits rolling in.

The Dems could take this issue off the table by making a bold move like this. But if they continue to make this about the environment, they may just lose this thing.