Spank That Donkey

 Jim Gilmore pounded home the message that basically the Democrats have failed to deliver on energy after taking over Congress in 2006, and responds to critics of drilling in the ANWR, or off-shore.

The SNL highlights his Governor Jim Gilmore's visit to Waynesboro, and his message:

"What I'm seeing now is the best thing that I can do as a United States senator is to address these economic issues, which are quite specific in the minds of the people; and that means you've got to have a decisive energy policy, and that means you've got to drill in ANWR (Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)."

Gilmore said that although some won't agree, he and others believe that the drilling can be done in an environmentally-sensitive manner that will benefit the country.

"And therefore I say we should do that, and the same with off-shore (drilling) as well," he said.

Gilmore said he believes in investing in other energy resources as well, listing as examples everything from solar power to cleaner coal and nuclear resources, but he said that expanding U.S. drilling sites and refineries will help relieve prices in the shorter term.

Asked about the time it would take to reach oil at new drilling sites, Gilmore said he doesn't think it would take as long as some critics have said.

"The heart of it is that people who say, 'Gee, it's going to take 10 years to get the oil,' are just trying to deflect the right policy ... it won't take 10 years, but even if it would take 10 years, that's what they told us 10 years ago," he said.

Governor Mark Warner vetoed a bill that would have moved Virginia forward to produce our own domestic resources.  He has also repeatedly stated he will not drill for oil in ANWR.  He would fit right in with the 'do nothing' on energy Democrats in Congress if Virginia's voters if he can fool enough of them between now and November.