enough. the number three house republican, mike pence, also blasted the decision today, saying the president's announcement today is a smokescreen. unfortunately this is yet another feeble attempt to gain votes for the president's national energy tax bill that is languishing in the senate. now, not all republicans have reacted like this today. the president appears to have bamboozled republicans a bit actually by giving them what they said they wanted. alongside the negative reactions from people like john boehner and mike pence came mildly positive statements from senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, senator lindsey graham, senator john mccain and even senator james inhofe. but man does not govern by press release alone. the real question is whether obama's big concession to republicans on policy means that he will actually get republican votes for his energy bill. the white house obviously hopes that will be the case. in leaking this news to "the new