There are numerous ways a government acting in an emergency setting would be preparing now to use the authority it was confident that Congress would give them down the road.  The president's announcement was just the first step.  Now he has to demand the rest of the executive branch devote its time and resources to preparing the bureaucratic ground.

Every day Republican candidates should follow the lead of the president and focus on the Congress-made shortage of domestic oil supplies.  We are watching the effects of a Democrat-created oil shock, and Democrats on the Hill --led by Obama-- are very bit as responsible as the OPEC countries for contriving to foist these absurd prices on us when oil sits under the full control of the U.S.   

Voters know the score, and they know more oil is better than less oil.

But they won't fall for a political ploy.  The offshore and ANWR oil is important.  But if it is that important, shouldn't the Bush Administration be doing more than talking about getting to it and blaming Congress for blocking the effort?

Push the point, of course, every day and every way.

But also take every step now that will be necessary later to take advantage of the democrats' surrender to the needs of the American economy when voters' anger peaks.