A simplified message on oil

Knuckledragging conservatives absolutely lurve this map:

ZOMG! DEMOCRATS ARE BLOCKING ACCESS TO 97% OF ALL THE OIL WE NEED TO KEEP OUR HUMMERS ON THE ROAD! ALL BECAUSE OF THE EEEEVIL ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO HATE GOD AND OUR COUNTRY!!!

Why does the media feel the need to use this narrative? And why do Dems hold onto long drawn-out (albeit factually accurate) explanations about how little impact this oil will have on the price of gasoline?

Democrats and environmentalists said that even if obstacles to new drilling in the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico were quickly lifted...

Democrats and environmentalists. Screw that: Dems aren't the puppets of environmentalists; they're opposed to this because of the thousands of families who've worked hard to save up enough money to buy a vacation home at the beach. These beach houses are rented out to other hard working families until the owners decide to retire in them. Subsequently, these homes are passed on to their children. Additionally, there are thousands of families who own restaurants and businesses in coastal communities whose livelihood depends on catering to tourists. One little oil spill can sour up many American dreams. Environmentalists have painfully little say in this matter.

Remember back in the days of "Healthy Forests" when Republicans urged professional biologists to butt out because of the superior "experience and judgment and hard work of local people"? [Come to think of it, how's that going these days?] In the case of off-shore drilling, Republicans graciously allow "states to have a say in what happens off their shores" knowing full well that the outer continental shelf is under federal, not state, jurisdiction. As Bush rightly said today: "the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the U.S. Congress." The Federal government is going to ram drilling down peoples throats whether they like it or not and the only thing standing in the way are Congressional Democrats.

Why do Republicans hate home owners and states' rights?

Then there's oil shale, which is an even simpler case for Democrats. It takes tons of water to squeeze a little oil out of the rock. In the West, ranchers desparately need that water.

Why do Republicans hate ranchers, home owners and states' rights?