The GOP has released its “Talking Points on the Democrat National Energy Tax,” in an effort to get all Republicans under the same tent in their ad hominem attacks on the Waxman-Markey “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” currently being debated by Congress.

According to the GOP, “The truth behind the Democrat's [sic] cap and tax plan is that it will lead to more taxes, fewer jobs, and more government intrusion.”

Dang, Obama thought they’d never figure out his master plan! The GOP is so good!

The talking points are part of the GOP’s plan for a “communications offensive over the next four weeks” to assert that the Waxman-Markey legislation “amounts to a national energy tax that will destroy jobs and increase costs for every single American.”

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who stayed on message (sort of) when he stated recently that the cap and trade legislation “amounts to an economic declaration of war on the Midwest by liberals on Capitol Hill," has been named by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) to head the new House GOP American Energy Solutions Group (a.k.a. the Drill Baby Drill! Group).

The group is co-chaired by Pence and Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and John Shimkus (R-IL).  Shimkus has recently spouted some truly outrageous statements in an effort to appear relevant in the climate and energy debates, although he isn’t making much sense in the process.

According to Environment and Energy Daily (subscription req’d):

Last week at an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, [Shimkus] said that he considered the [Waxman-Markey] bill "the largest assault on democracy and freedom in this country that I have ever experienced. I've lived through some tough times in Congress -- impeachment, two wars, terrorist attacks. I fear this more than all of the above activities that have happened."

A month earlier, Shimkus quoted the Bible and God's promise to Noah that God would not send another devastating flood onto the Earth. "The Earth will end only when God decides it's time to be over," Shimkus said. "Man will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a flood."

Shimkus even suggests higher temperatures aren't such a bad thing. "Did you know that more people now die from cold than from heat?" he asked a reporter during an interview this week.
[Source: Environment and Energy Daily, “For this congressman, skepticism is a matter of faith,” April 30, 2009] 

Apparently, Shimkus didn’t get the memo with the GOP talking points, instead relying on his Manual for Rapture-Ready Republicans. Shimkus is just fine with being viewed as a raving lunatic, telling E&E News that "To be branded as a lunatic based on your values ... that's probably very similar to great leaders of the past and the founding fathers who were viewed by many as radicals."

Sure it is!  Keep telling yourself that.