Brace yourself. The House Republicans released "A Pledge To America," their gameplan for taking over the 112th Congress. Unsurprisingly, it was written by former Exxon lobbyist Brian Wild and Republicans claim their document is "one in which the people have the most say and the best ideas trump the most entrenched interests."  

The Wonk Room has a great post, pointing out the language is lifted from the big oil playbook. There's even a a key line about support for more offshore oil drilling after the BP disaster when the majority of Americans oppose this horrible practice.

From TWR: Rather than listening to the American people, the pledge listens to polluter lobbyists. The GOP leaders want to expand offshore oil drilling rather than reduce greenhouse gas pollution. They want to abandon clean energy jobs when they are most needed. The pledge is nothing more than an oath of allegiance to big oil, dirty coal, and other special interests. Fulfillment of the pledge would leave the United States with fewer jobs and more pollution.

We live in fascinating times. Officials described the agenda as the culmination of an Internet- and social networking-powered project launched earlier this year to give voters the chance to say what Congress should do. It's called the "America Speaking Out" project and via this program they collected 160,000 ideas and received 1 million votes and comments on the proposals. This is similar to the Republicans' 1994 "Contract With America," a list of poll-tested proposals unveiled six weeks before the GOP gained 54 House seats and took control of the House for the first time in four decades. But the mood is different today - there is more anger. "Regarding the policies of the current government, the governed do not consent," read a preamble to the agenda. "An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many."

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