GOP Can Take White House and Congress - In 2008

I know what you're thinking.  He's lost his mind.

I didn't say they would.  Merely that they could.  Bear with me.

Certainly, the Republicans in Washington, D.C. have done very little to encourage such a belief.  To be honest, if the election were held today, I wouldn't vote for my own Republican Congressman. My Republican Senator isn't up for re-election this year, but if he were, and again, if the election were held today, he wouldn't be receiving my vote either.

So, just to make you certain that I am aware of the uphill battle Republicans face, let me lay it out for you:

1. Attitudes like mine are not uncommon among the party base.
2. The Democratic Party has a huge cash edge.
3. Americans are focused on the economy, and that always helps the Democratic Party
4. The War in Iraq (despite it's success), continues to be an albatross around the necks of Republicans
5. George W. Bush's (R-USA) horrible poll numbers hurt can not be encouraging to Republicans either.

So, how can I possibly say that Republicans have a chance to win big in November?

To paraphrase James Carville and Bill Clinton:

It's the price of gas, stupid.

Let me play radio talk show host for a moment and give you a few carefully selected facts:

1. 77 percent of Americans believe that the government is to blame for the high cost of gas.
2. 74 percent of likely voters support oil drilling off the U.S. coast.
3. 65 percent of Americans "reject spending even a penny more for gasoline in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions"
4. 50 percent of Americans now support drilling in ANWR.
5. A plurality (47 percent to 45 percent) now say that drilling is more important than conservation/regulation.

These are all issues where the Democratic Party in Congress is on the wrong side.  On the top three, the Democratic Party is overwhelmingly on the wrong side.  And you can expect the numbers for #4 and #5 to rise as the summer goes on if gas prices continue to rise.

This is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Republicans.

I've said before that they need a new version of the Contract with America.  Right now they can do a very simple one.  A contract with one and only one item.

Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.

It's time to push the Democrats to the wall on this issue.  Let your Republican Congressmen, Senators, and Candidates know that you want them to "Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less."

I realize this blog has become sort of a one-trick pony lately with my endless discussions of gasoline and energy independence.  I'll repeat why:

It's the price of gas, stupid.

Now if the Republicans on Capitol Hill can only figure that out.