ProgressOhio

Can Congressman Zack Space, by staying in the middle of the road, avoid being run over in the highly-partisan national energy debate?

Or does he risk becoming road kill?

Space, D-Dover, has sought to defuse the issue of Alaskan and off-shore drilling by criticizing both parties in Congress for failure to act on skyrocketing oil prices.  At the Licking County JFK Breakfast last Saturday, he said he favors a comprehensive study of all options, including drilling but also including conservation measures, development of alternative fuels and energy sources and tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Today, the Dispatch caught up with that story, quoting Space as saying,

"I am frustrated by the lack of debate, by the lack of candid discussion, by the inability of leadership in both parties to cut through all the political nonsense, roll up their sleeves and get down to work and come up with a solution that makes America stronger."

Meanwhile, of course, Republicans continue to howl in chorus to drill, drill, drill, despite the potential environmental cost, even though every expert in the field agrees that that wouldn't produce any increase in oil supplies for decades, and even then wouldn't have much impact of world oil prices.

Seeking to return Space's 18th District to Republican control, challenger Fred Dailey of Mt. Vernon is furiously waving the oily rag, accusing Space of "liberal lip-service...with his support of so-called energy legislation that does nothing to lower gas prices or help America become energy independent."

http://www.daileyforcongress.com/newsDetails.cfm?i=25

The Dispatch interprets the congressman's even-handedness as an attempt by Space and some other Democrats "to distance themselves from their leaders" on the drilling issue.

Isn't it just possible, however, that Space, as a first-termer, just brings a fresh perspective to Congress' partisanship-as-usual way of doing business?  Shouldn't the guy get some credit for calling out party leaders on both sides of the aisle for grossly simplifying the very complicated set of energy problems facing America?

Our resident poet, Hummingbird, has faulted Zack in the past for supporting legislation that weakens protection for wild mustangs.  But on this issue, she thinks the congressman is smart to stay clear of the herd:

GALLOPING TO THE FINISH

There is a young politician //

stumping his Buckeye Partition. //

His name is Zack Space -- //

He's top of the race. //

Despite GOP derision. //

-- A Political Pepper Spray (TM) by Hummingbird