March 11, 2014

Good morning folks,

How much does it cost to rent the Senate floor (and 30 United States Senators) for 24 hours? By the looks of it, more than $100 million. Last night, the majority of Democrats engaged in a so-called, "talk-a-thon" to protest climate change and advocate for policies that hurt American energy development. Yes, this is the same Democrat majority that has controlled Washington since 2009.

As the Los Angeles Times reports, "There has been little talk of legislation to tackle climate change in Congress since 2010, when a bill to reduce carbon emissions died in the Senate. But as they rev up for the midterm elections, Democrats are heeding the call of California billionaire Tom Steyer, who has pledged $100 million to back candidates with a program to curb climate change." The Washington Post is even more blunt: "...There is another more political reason for the decision by Senate Democrats to devote their time to the issue right now. And that issue is campaign cash. Environmental groups spent about $20 million on ads and other activities to help Democrats in 2012 and gave about $742,000 directly to candidates during the cycle... Then there's the billionaire businessman Thomas Steyer. ...Steyer hosted a recent fundraiser at his San Francisco home that netted the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee $400,000 and where Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and the six other Democratic senators in attendance openly discussed plans for tonight's talkathon, according to reports ."

$100 billion for just about 15 hours, or $6 million per hour. To accomplish.... nothing. As USA Today lamented, "The Democratic effort is cause for some confusion because these senators are calling for action in a chamber they control but without any specific legislation to offer up for a vote, or any timetable for action this year."

The problem for Senate Democrats is that being beholden to extremists exposes another vulnerability for Senators already in danger of losing their seat like Mark Udall, Mark Begich, Kay Hagan, Mark Warner, Mark Pryor, Jeanne Shaheen and especially newly named Energy & Natural Resources Chair Mary Landrieu. The Democrats' talk-a-thon makes clear that Landrieu is the Chair in name only, and instead is beholden to whatever Harry Reid wants. Mary Landrieu always brags about being a committee chairman – we all know she talks a good game, problem is - Mary Landrieu just never delivers results.

This morning, the NRSC released a new paid web ad that shows Landrieu's new post is as much as a vulnerability as it is a benefit in 2014 because it cements the fact that she is a rubberstamp for the Obama/Reid/Steyer anti-energy agenda.

Look, we get it - Democrats are desperate. They are desperately trying to motivate their base and resorting to extreme measures and gimmicks like the "talk-a-thon" to appease their special interest friends. The problem is that by doing so, they put their most vulnerable Senators in even greater jeopardy. Then again, perhaps they've already written off Louisiana.

Seize the day,

Brad Dayspring

@BDayspring

Brook Hougesen

@Brook_H