Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democrat Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are both known (or notorious, in some circles) for their close ties to energy companies. Writing in the New York Times yesterday, Gail Collins mused about what the new Republican Senate (if, of course, Republicans gain their expected majority) will bring, but she's not so optimistic about the differences between politicians one way or the other. "Well, we know that if the Republicans win the majority, all Senate committees would have Republican chairs. The Energy Committee, for instance, might be run by Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a moderate who is in the pocket of oil and gas lobbies. This would be a dramatic change from the current situation in which the Energy Committee is run by Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a moderate who is in the pocket of oil and gas lobbies."