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Since the invasion, the condemnation of Russia has been remarkably bipartisan.

But on the matter of imposing the ultimate economic punishment – a complete ban on Russia oil imports – we saw a little politics creeping in.

The loudest voice for banning Russian oil was Nancy Pelosi.  She was ahead of the president on that … But when she said she would push for a vote in the House this week, that seems to have forced the president’s hand.

Because that would easily pass, and so it looks like President Biden will take the plunge and announce the boycott.

Every time those pictures flash across the screen – Russian shells blowing up occupied residential buildings – you can feel the anger rising. And to think that some of your gas money is paying for that can really ruin your day. Even Joe Manchin – America’s leading fossil fuel fan – can’t believe we’re buying 650,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia.

But for Republicans, it’s a dilemma. Because if they vote to cut off Russian oil, it undermines their plans to rip Biden for the even higher gas prices that would result.

So, their new strategy is to blame Biden for stopping the Keystone Pipeline, and for putting a stop on further oil leases on federal land. But … pipelines just transport oil, they don’t discover more of it, and as for leases, oil companies already have hundreds of them that haven’t produced a drop.

The oil industry says that’s because it takes years to develop those leases … and I believe it. But that’s an admission that granting more leases would do zero to lower gas prices NOW.

It’s disappointing to see all this maneuvering because the issue here is a lot bigger than gas prices.

We are witnessing a modern Russian army using a military strategy straight out of World War II: collective punishment. To bury families in the rubble of their own homes to create terror.

All because Ukrainians dared to elect their own leaders.

If the Putin regime has the will to do that with so-called conventional weapons, what would stop it from using nukes?

Especially if we send the message that Americans are ready to tolerate anything – just don’t let it raise the price of our gas.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O’Brien weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.