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McConnell on Petrol and Politics
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 16:22
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell knows what we all know.  Gas prices are the big issue in America.  He says the cost of filling up your tank is "off the charts" as the most important issue to voters.  McConnell faces a challenge for re-election from Democrat Bruce Lunsford this fall and he says he's not using the issue to his political gain.  "Nobody manufactured this issue to come up during the election year," McConnell told Action News 36 after a speech in Lexington Tuesday.  "It came up during the election year and people expect us to address it."

McConnell spoke to around 300 business, civic and political leaders at the Commerce Lexington Public Affairs Luncheon Tuesday.  He touted the Gas Price Reduction Act he is a co-sponsor of as a way to address both production and conservation issues.  "We need to find more, we also need to use less," McConnell said of our country's petroleum use.
McConnell supports giving states the option of allowing off shore drilling 50 miles or more beyond their coast lines.  "As you all probably know in Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana and Texas they think oil rigs are pretty."  McConnell says the act also calls for major incentives to entice auto makers to produce battery driven cars.

The Senate Minority leader also told the audience the war in Iraq will "probably" be a less significant issue in this fall's election because of the recent success of the troop surge.  "The surge has been an unqualified success," claimed McConnell.  "Violence is dramatically down."
Comments (7)Add Comment
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written by Sheila , July 05, 2008
Want to help "Ditch Mitch" McConnell? Check out www.ditchmitchky.com and do everything you can.
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written by Bill , July 05, 2008
What a complete "Nitwit," It will take about 16 to 18 years to bring any finds (If any) on line and producing viable results. The US needs to put in place a Kennedy style (As in the space race with Russia) drive to free ourselves forever of our addiction to oil via renewable energy like solar & wind. That would break the back of the middle easterners, and their throat hold on the Democracies of the West. That would leave them trying to tell all of their Muslim brothers where all of that oil wealth went when they are being overthrown.
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written by Cleareye , July 04, 2008
McConnell thinks that oil wells are "pretty!" That sounds like a typical comment from the prissy friend of Senator Craig. I'm sure that Cheney and Bush would agree that oil wells are pretty- pretty profitable for them at the peoples expense. This man has insulted the people of Kentucky for 24 years, that's enough!
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written by Cleareye , July 02, 2008
Bush and Cheney will be just miserable memories by this time next year. They should take all their flunkies with them, and McConnell is at the top of the list. His only accomplishments seem to be slipping through earmarks to benefit himself and his rich buddies. It's time to clean house folks. Out with the old, in with the new.
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written by Steve , July 02, 2008
Mitch is a joke!!! He REALLY needs to go!!!
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written by Mary Steckbeck , July 01, 2008
Not only did I vote for KY to have some kind of law to prevent the use of cell phone usage while driving Period! No bluetooth, texting, or whatever. I have seen hundruds of folks cause accicidents or almost causea an accident because they are on the phone or texing. I think if a passanger in the car who sees a driver on the phone, they sholld have a number to call to report a driver on the phone. I thhink we should be able to buy a sign for those of us who care to can hold it up to remind the person on the phone that they are breaing the law and their license number is being reported. I can imagine the police are very busy - and chasing violators has to be secondary to anything else. However, if a person is reported, x number of times ( I don't know what number would be reasonable) than that person should be fined or warned. Cell phone use while driving is huge problem. Drivers appear to be completely unaware of how they are driving. Recently I followed a woam who was weaving all over the road, sometimes ding the speed limit, most of the she time exceeding the speed limit. It just so happened that she pulled into Jesse Clark (I gather she was employed thre as a teacher or aid)). I followed her to her parkieng spot and tapped on her window. She opened the window and I could hear her say to whoever she was talking to, to hold on a minute, because someone appaently wnated to talk to her. I was calm and tried to be polite, but I told her had I been a police officer, I would have pulled her over thinking she was a drunk driver. She immediately said in a loud voice"you need to mind your own business. I politely told her that a person driving like she was when I was in the car beind her is "my business". I actually would have pulled over and called anumber had I had a number t call and eeport her.

Here is my pledge - I will offer to volunteer x number of hours every week until we can see change the way most drivers think. I personally keep my cell phone off unless I am expecting an immportant messaage. I forworn anyyone that tells me they will callthat I willpull oer and return their call asap. I do not give out my cell phone to very few people. When they complain, I tell them that the phone is for my use and I do not want to be called on my phone unber because I have my phone turned off almost all he time; because I am normally on the way some where or I am going to a meeting or whatever and don't want to be disturbed. I absoltely think most drivers are making calls that they could make at home. My daughter is a realtor and is always on the phone - she does have a blue tooth device. Things got so bad that we have set a bounary that she may not bring her phone into our house...it was interrupting her visits with us. Both my husand and I are in our 70's and we don't see her that much "because she is just so busy". When she is here visiting us...her cell phone has to be in her car. I would like to know how many people are involved in an accident because they were on th ephone. Maybe that is a way a volunteer can help....to keep track of how many accidents are cell phone related. Perhaps this is the kind of information that would be helpful in getting a law passed. I also know people who do not have a current license because they are afraid when they go to renew their license they might be checked and then not allowed. One guy is in his nineties. He does not drive a lot but he shold not be drving at all!

Thanks for asking for feedback on this issue. I think it is very important for drivers to be concentrating on their driving and not talking on their phone; it is important that useing the phone while driving is a serious issue.
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written by Mary Steckbeck , July 01, 2008
McConnell has been blind to what KY citizens have been saying for years. Has he ever proposed any suggestions for alternative gas? In my opinion I will be thrilled if McConnell is replaced. He thinks he is above the law and has Bush's coattails for years. It is time to DITCH MITCH.

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