That is a great analogy to this issue, which is about long-term survival vs. short-term expediency. Fact is, immediate resumption of drilling won't yield a single drop for a long, long time, and it would be better to dedicate the nation's energy to something truly productive: rendering petroleum obsolete.

No, it's not going to happen overnight and yes, there will be considerable pain, but mostly it's going to take a conscious realignment by Americans to reality. Namely, the huge economic/political wave that this country had ridden since WWII and the Marshall Plan has petered out, the price of gas will NEVER go down and it's going to take some real American ingenuity and daring to put this country back on top.

We've done it before, but we can't rely on Darwinian free market principals to find a solution. It's going to take forward-thinking, intelligent leadership: a trait the GOP leadership completely lacks today.

I have to believe that if people are shown the truth and a real exit strategy, a majority will adjust their lifestyle to make it work.

and called Obama's office. Talked to a polite girl and expressed my deep concern over his endorsement of Barrow and his conspicuous absence in opposition to the FISA "compromise," other than the obligatory statement which is easily forgotten.

Words are not deeds. I've been saving my political $$ for Obama in the general election, but I think I'll spend it here unless he starts showing leadership on this issue.

I'll vote for him, but my confidence will have taken a big hit if he doesn't do something substantive on this critical issue which, to me, defines the core essence of what "America" is.

This means all money which would otherwise be donated to McCain will now go into sleaze ad campaigns by repug 527's.

It's going to get down and dirty from here on.

I say, bring it on, MoFos!

This literally makes me want to wretch. Until someone shows some real leadership, they get nothing from me. Everything will go to BlueAct and taking these motherf*ckers down. I pity the next poor soul at the DNC who is unlucky enough to dial my number, cuz I'm going to rip them a new one.

Should be every Democrats' wet dream. A chance to revisit every security and foreign policy decision of the past 8 years: priceless.

It's going to be interesting when the republicans who feel so great about the passage of this bill start screaming bloody murder about how the Democratic President is infringing upon their rights.

Rest assured, these assholes will turn 180 degrees in a nanosecond come January, '09. They are completely without principle.

105 voted yes and 3 didn't vote (same thing).

I'm from SoCal and Jane Harman is firmly in my sights. I will volunteer and contribute to anyone who opposes her for reelection. Same for Pelosi, but she probably will go the way of Feinstein and retire. She should do the country a service and retire NOW.

Everyone else, pick a rep. near you and track them down like the curs they are.

If the government isn't spying on us, why not let our constitutional framework do its job and have the judicial branch rule on the legality of what actually happened in these cases? What do you fear about our system of checks and balances? WHY DO YOU HATE THE CONSTITUTION?

Authoritarian sheep like you are the true cowards. You'de sell the very thing that defines America for your pathetic soul.