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PrintBush urges Congress to lift offshore drilling ban
Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:42 AM EDT
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WASHINGTON — With gasoline topping $4 a gallon, President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to lift its long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, saying the United States needs to increase its energy production. Democrats quickly rejected the idea.
"There is no excuse for delay," the president said in a statement in the Rose Garden. With the presidential election just months away, Bush made a pointed attack on Democrats, accusing them of obstructing his energy proposals and blaming them for high gasoline costs. His proposal echoed a call by Republican presidential candidate John McCain to open the Continental Shelf for exploration
"Families across the country are looking to Washington for a response," Bush said.
Congressional Democrats were quick to reject the push for lifting the drilling moratorium, saying oil companies already have under lease 68 million acres on federal lands and waters — outside the ban area — that are not being developed. Drilling proponents say that number is misleading because sometimes it takes years for actual development to take place.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Bush's proposals "another page from (an)... energy policy that was literally written by the oil industry — give away more public resources."
Sen. Barack Obama, the Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee, rejected lifting the drilling moratorium that has been supported by a succession of presidents for nearly two decades.
"This is not something that's going to give consumers short-term relief and it is not a long-term solution to our problems with fossil fuels generally and oil in particular," said Obama. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, lumping Bush with McCain, accused them of staging a "cynical campaign ploy" that won't help lower energy prices.
"Despite what President Bush, John McCain and their friends in the oil industry claim, we cannot drill our way out of this problem," Reid said. "The math is simple: America has just three percent of the world's oil reserves, but Americans use a quarter of its oil."
White House spokesman Tony Fratto retorted: "Anyone out there saying that something can be done overnight, or in a matter of months, to deal with high gasoline prices is trying to fool people. There is no tool in the toolbox out there that will lower gas prices overnight, or in weeks, or probably not even in months."
Bush said offshore drilling could yield up to 18 billion barrels of oil over time, although it would take years for production to start. Bush also said offshore drilling would take pressure off prices over time.
There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by Bush's father in 1990. Bush's brother, Jeb, fiercely opposed offshore drilling when he was governor of Florida. What the president now proposes would rescind his father's decision — but the president took the position that Congress has to act first and then he would follow behind.
Asked why Bush doesn't act first and lift the ban, Keith Hennessey, the director of the president's economic council, said: "He thinks that probably the most productive way to work with this Congress is to try to do it in tandem."
Before Bush spoke, the House Appropriations Committee postponed a vote it had scheduled for Wednesday on legislation doing the opposite of what the president asked — extending Congress' ban on offshore drilling. Lawmakers said they wanted to focus on a disaster relief bill for the battered Midwest.
Bush also proposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, lifting restrictions on oil shale leasing in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and easing the regulatory process to expand oil refining capacity.
With Americans deeply pessimistic about the economy, Bush tried to put on the onus on Congress. He acknowledged that his new proposals would take years to have a full effect, hardly the type of news that will help drivers at the gas stations now. The White House says no quick fix exists.
Still, Bush said Congress was obstructing progress — and directly contributing to consumers' pain at the pump.
"I know the Democratic leaders have opposed some of these policies in the past," Bush said. "Now that their opposition has helped drive gas prices to record levels, I ask them to reconsider their positions."
Bush said that if congressional leaders head home for their July 4 recess without taking action, they will need to explain why "$4 a gallon gasoline is not enough incentive for them to act. And Americans will rightly ask how high gas prices have to rise before the Democratic-controlled Congress will do something about it."
Bush said restrictions on offshore drilling have become "outdated and counterproductive."
In a nod to the environmental arguments against drilling, Bush said technology has come a long way. These days, he said, oil exploration off the coastline can be done in a way that "is out of sight, protects coral reefs and habitats, and protects against oil spills."
Congressional Democrats, joined by some GOP lawmakers from coastal states, have opposed lifting the prohibition that has barred energy companies from waters along both the East and West coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for 27 years.
On Monday, McCain made lifting the federal ban on offshore oil and gas development a key part of his energy plan. McCain said states should be allowed to pursue energy exploration in waters near their coasts and get some of the royalty revenue.
Obama retorted that the Arizona senator had flip-flopped on that issue.
(This version CORRECTS that oil companies have 68 million acres of undeveloped leases on federal lands and waters.))
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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 | Bush looks offshore for remedy to high oil prices | Associated Press | Wed Jun 18 | 0 |
| Bush looks offshore for remedy to high oil prices | Associated Press | Tue Jun 17 | 56 |
| Bush looks offshore for remedy to high oil prices | Associated Press | Wed Jun 18 | 0 |
 | A Redefined 'GOP': Get Our Petroleum | Yahoo! News | Thu Jun 19 | 0 |
| Bush calls for offshore drilling | BBC News | Wed Jun 18 | 0 |
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{"commentId":1994150,"authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
This reeks of 'political stunt', doesn't it? Especially this part...
Bush is not lifting the executive order, saying he wants Congress to take the first step. He said he will lift the executive ban once Congress lifts its moratorium.
Where was Bush and his dire concern a few months ago?
{"commentId":1994150,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
- 8 votes
#1 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:38 AM EDT{"commentId":1994358,"authorDomain":"geejay"}
If he were so concerned, then he should lift the executive order.
{"commentId":1994358,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"geejay"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":1994391,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
After decades of Republican controlled Congress and privitization of the Nation's Reserves this is a joke to suggest that we need to add to the profits of big oil!! More Enron era deregulation has caused the problems and adding to the oil Baron revenues won't fix it!!
On February 5, 1998, the Department of Energy and Occidental Petroleum Corporation concluded the largest divestiture of federal property in the history of the U.S. government.
The sale agreement completed a privatization process that began in 1995 when the Clinton Administration proposed selling Elk Hills. The divestment removed the federal government out of the business of producing oil and gas at Elk Hills.
In May 1995 the Clinton Administration proposed placing the federally-owned Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve on the market as part of its efforts to reduce the size of government and return inherently non-federal functions to the private sector. In February 1996, the Congress passed and the President signed the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 containing authorization to proceed with the sale.
{"commentId":1994391,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 10 votes
{"commentId":1994854,"authorDomain":"dungbeetlemania"}
TheJonesGirl - He just doesn't want to have yet another black mark against his name.
"There is no excuse for delay," the president said in a statement in the Rose Garden. [....]
it would take years for production to start.
In that sort of time-frame we should be some way down the road of abandoning fossil fuels. Reliant on them, sure, but not looking for vast new supplies like this. If oil is always plentiful we will never be weaned off.
{"commentId":1994854,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"dungbeetlemania"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1995233,"authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
He and his oil buddies first removed the profit restrictions from the oil industry around 2002. Then they sought to sell more oil. The war was a good move for them, lots of it was sold to the military for the wars. They threw money at the lame american auto makers and even encouraged them to build and sell gas hogs. When they see that the war is not going so well, they artificially raise the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. When the price goes up and people start to hurt, they press the people to do more exploration. Next, they will ask for federal funding to pay for it.
I am looking forward to the next administration. Perhaps, we can dump as much money into wind and solar energy as the last several administrations dumped into oil exploration and transportation. The US was a leader in hydro electric power in the mid 1900's. Oil prices were low and most of our goods were transported on the rivers or on the railroad. Why has this changed? It is a long term trick to get people more dependent on oil - oil - oil!
We have witless morons in the middle east (Cheney included) who we have to associate with because they own the oil. I would not want these people cleaning my outhouse. We are hosting them at the White House! This has to stop! I want everyone in the Bush Administration to go to the POOR HOUSE! STOP USING OIL!!
{"commentId":1995233,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1995256,"authorDomain":"fur1245"}
Do you all know that the oil companies make 4% profit from oil sales?!!!!! Do you all know that the government makes 15% PROFIT from oil sales?!!!!!! I know that seeing Exxon posting $33 billion in profits seems overwhelming, but thats only 4%. And we use alot of oil in this country. The rest of what they make is spent employing thousands of americans, shipping, refining, exploring, etc..... Stop to think that maybe the Democratic controlled congress may like these skyrocketing prices, because they are making 15% off of each and everyone of us for doing NOTHING. They are not investing time and money and energy to fill our cars, all they are doing is filling their own pockets with perks(free gas, daycare, healthcare, etc.), earmarks and wasteful spending. Is drilling off shore the answer, I don't know. Its very easy to put the blame on Big Oil companies, but in this great country of ours, they are a business, one I wish I had, and who says a business can't make a profit? When did this country turn into a socialist or communist country where the government puts stipulations on how much a company can make? Who will they go after next, Microsoft? They make huge profits!!!! Bill Gates didn't become the richest American without making profits. And we all 'need' our computers to run so we can partake in this chat.
All I'm saying is, where does it stop? Who is next? Look it up, you can go on any web site and find profit percentages for thousands of companies, then come back and see who's really doing what. You'll be surprised to see that the big bad oil companies are not the ones gouging us.
{"commentId":1995256,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"fur1245"}
{"commentId":1995489,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
lol oh my not another one of these"they only make crap% proffits"
lol what ever
street painters make almost 100% proffit.
ink for printers anotu 100% proffit.
clothing stores, about 13%-30% proffit..
you simply cant compare industries and showing that proffit is only a small bit of cost doesn't change the record proffits.
{"commentId":1995489,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1995595,"authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
@fur1245: Did you consider that part of the "expense" to these big oil companies is the money which is paid to the executive staff, you know, payroll? Also, some of the "expense" to big oil is their investments in other companies. Are you saying that the oil boys are actually just hard working paupers who dress well?
{"commentId":1995595,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1996988,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
good point. Add back into those profits their discressionary spending and they have much higher % profit.
{"commentId":1996988,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2001499,"authorDomain":"jade-log"}
Well you all are off in per cent land. Great, meantime there are a bunch of us who don't care that much about%. We care about living without the tension and pain. Get off the issue, corporate spinners are flooding the net.
{"commentId":2001499,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"jade-log"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1994316,"authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}
Definitely just politics: ignoring the fact that oil companies won't drill on the land they've already leased, for some reason they are just holding on to those leases and preventing anybody else from actually drilling...
Proponents of drilling in Alaska are most often focused on a 1.5 million acre area in the ... Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
However, in addition to ANWR, there are another nearly 91 million acres currently open to leasing in the Arctic region of Alaska, including onshore and offshore lands. Oil and gas companies have leased only 11.8 million of the 91 million acres.
Within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), oil companies have leased 3 million acres of 22.6 million acres available to lease. No production has occurred on any of those lands and industry has drilled only 25 exploratory wells there since 2000.
Source: House Committee on Natural Resources, (Special Report), The Truth About America's Energy: Big Oil Stockpiles Supplies and Pockets Profits
{"commentId":1994316,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}
- 11 votes
#2 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:55 AM EDT{"commentId":1994418,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
they are just holding on to those leases and preventing anybody else from actually drilling...
You liberals just don't appreciate the efforts of capitalists to make healthy profits! *smirk*
Exxon shatters profit records - Oil giant makes corporate history by booking $11.7 billion in quarterly profit; earns $1,300 a second in 2007. link
Of course the price we pay for fuel oil and gasoline has no bearing on their profits!!
{"commentId":1994418,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1994495,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
Yes, Just another political ploy to pin the energy crises on the Democrats. When The oil companies just want to become the De Beers of oil.
8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia
18-times as much oil as Iraq
21-times as much oil as Kuwait
22-times as much oil as Iran
500-times as much oil as Yemen
James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says, "We've got more oil in this very compact area than the entire Middle East."
More than 2 TRILLION barrels. Untapped.
"That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in the world today," reports The Denver Post.
When asked about America's least-publicized oil supply, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch said:
"The amounts of oil are staggering. Who would have guessed that in just Colorado and Utah, there is more recoverable oil than in the Middle East?"
{"commentId":1994495,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1995575,"authorDomain":"jade-log"}
Dan,... What study do you refer to? Before I jump on the bandwagon I need a more credible expert than Hatch. How much money does that loony in the White House want anyway?
{"commentId":1995575,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"jade-log"}
{"commentId":1997011,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
Umm... the link was to a government report.
{"commentId":1997011,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1998085,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
I can't get more credible, then the U.S. Department of Energy. Did you know that there is ove apound of diamonds for every man women and child on earth? De Beers owns 99% of the reserves and only releases just enough to keep the prices high. Oil Companies want to do the same thing to our oil.
{"commentId":1998085,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1998095,"authorDomain":"simon-says"}
I can't get more credible, then the U.S. Department of Energy.
So you believe the US government is credible? Ha!
{"commentId":1998095,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"simon-says"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1998455,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
when it contradicts the allies of the Administration? yes.
Besides that, reports issued by the Bureaucracies are much more accurate than anything you will see from corporations or political entities.
{"commentId":1998455,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1999757,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
So you believe the US government is credible? Ha!
More then I do you.
{"commentId":1999757,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1994412,"authorDomain":"simon-says"}
Drilling for offshore oil or in Wildlife Refuges wont lower the "high" gas prices in USA.
Its time to adapt to the future (dirty fossil fuels is not part of the future) or face the severe consequences.
{"commentId":1994412,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"simon-says"}
- 8 votes
#3 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:06 PM EDT{"commentId":1994416,"authorDomain":"cbeers"}
With oil topping $140 a barrel, I would think that an initiative of exploring and producing ALTERNATIVE energy sources would be at the top of the TO DO list. I'm not opposed to drilling, building refineries and creating jobs and income for the USA... we should become more self-sufficient. However, I do believe that with the enormous profits the oil companies are making, some of that profit (most) should be utilized to produce alternative energy sources instead of raping the working men and women of America of their paycheck.
The oil will not last forever. Isn't it about time we get serious about alternative sources of fuel and harming the environment? The ice caps are melting and sea levels are rising. What will we do in 50 years that can be done NOW?
{"commentId":1994416,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"cbeers"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:07 PM EDT{"commentId":1995650,"authorDomain":"jade-log"}
Cricket,...Many of my generation have been saying this since the 60s. It has not been a resounding success so far. Just putting in place the advances of European technology would be an advantage and to do so would put many back to work.
{"commentId":1995650,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"jade-log"}
{"commentId":1994488,"authorDomain":"NowhereMan7"}
This is a ridiculous political stunt, and Obama has it right. With McCain and then Bush taking this position, how can McCain claim that his energy policy doesn't mirror Bush's policies. More oil is not the answer, and this offshore drilling will cause more harm than good. Olbermann was talking about it last night and he hit the nail on the head. It's just like the ANWR debate. More drilling will not lower gas prices. More drilling will not solve our energy problems. We need alternative fuels, and renewable sources of energy, and we need a president and a congress willing to invest in the future of these technologies.
{"commentId":1994488,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"NowhereMan7"}
- 3 votes
#5 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:14 PM EDT{"commentId":1994572,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
What Bush, mcCain and Gingritch does not tell you is that 80% of the geologicaly recoverable oil off our coasts is accesable from new drilling techniques off of current oil rigs that are being operated now.
{"commentId":1994572,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 5 votes
#6 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:21 PM EDT{"commentId":1994593,"authorDomain":"martin556310"}
Top ten reasons to blame Democrats for high gas prices:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/top_10_reasons_to_blame_democr_1.html
{"commentId":1994593,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"martin556310"}
- 3 votes
#7 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:23 PM EDT{"commentId":1994724,"authorDomain":"NowhereMan7"}
Brilliant, lets blame the people that haven't been in charge. Listen, I'm all for blaming Democrats when they deserve it, but this list is a load of hogwash (oh yeah... I went there). A smart, sustainable energy policy starts, not by investing in oil and coal, but renewable alternative fuels. Democrats aren't claose to perfect, but they have been a lot more progressive with energy policy than the Republicans. How is it that gas has jumped so high in such a short amount of time when the Republicans controlled all three branches of government?
{"commentId":1994724,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"NowhereMan7"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":1994912,"authorDomain":"usafails"}
Yeah dems want us off oil but offer nothing to go onto, you want a wind powered car? Dems control congress.....what does congress do??? They make up bills!! What does the president do??? He signs bills. So who has the ball in their court??? The Democrats.
The dems in congress have all the power to do something but anymore it looks like they like high gas prices. Idiots.
{"commentId":1994912,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"usafails"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1994963,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
They don't have a veto proof majorety by a long stretch and they certainly don't have a fillibuster majorety in the senate. How do they have the power?
As to teh cars... umm... Electric, Ethanol, Hybryd, Bio-Desil, lots of alternatives. in a few years we will have a number of fully electric family sedans that get 300 miles a charge and take 15 minutes to charge to 90%.
{"commentId":1994963,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":1994999,"authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
"The Global Warming Myth"... says the self-proclaimed American Thinker. This website is strictly for preaching to the converted.
{"commentId":1994999,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"b-shaughnessy"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1995151,"authorDomain":"comsen"}
Brilliant, lets blame the people that haven't been in charge
Those against oil drilling say that it won't fix things for 10 years or more and then complain about blaming those that didn't push for drilling 10 years ago. LOL
{"commentId":1995151,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"comsen"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1995527,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
yeah they can gert a lot done with the gop doing stupid things like voting for mothers day, and then calling a revolt and then voting against mothers day.. all to waste time in congress.
the actually numbers are 50/50 in the senate, with liebrman breakign the tie.. the dems arent exactly in charge of the senate.
comsen.. would a 4 cent drop help us any? noep..and that is what would have happened if we drileld 10 years ago.. but also mind you ten years ago.. oil was at 10$ a barrel and even the oil companies didn't want to drill ten years ago. but hey lets rewrite history and pretend oil was high back then. That's what yous guys are good at huh/
at anyrate the high cost of oil is mainly the dollar.. we are printing up dolalrs as fast as we can to pay our interest on our debt, to bail out the banks, to give us a stimulous.. the dollar has lost over half it's value since bush took office.. oile should be $2.00 a gallon not $4.00.. and all that can be laid squarely at bush's feet.
{"commentId":1995527,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":1995541,"authorDomain":"cyregray"}
Actually there is a water powered car, check youtube.
If the oligarchy in this country actually wanted us to go green they'd give huge tax incentives for suppling your home with electricity via mini-hydro dams, mini-wind catchers and solar panels. There's a company close to my home that's developing mini-wind turbines for $8,700 that can supply half of a home's electricity needs.
There's so much alternative energy technology out there it's literally sick and twisted that we're still using oil for all our automotive and transportation needs. It's so obvious that the psychopaths at the top just want to mine blood and sweat out of the people below them that it hurts the brain to contemplate the sheer idiocy of our way of life. I guess people will have to be starving or worse before they see a need for change.
{"commentId":1995541,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"cyregray"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":1996970,"authorDomain":"NowhereMan7"}
USA..you Fail.. said:
The dems in congress have all the power to do something but anymore it looks like they like high gas prices. Idiots.
The Dems don't have all the power, and even so, gas prices were rising long before they won a small majority in 2006.
JoulesBeef said:
at anyrate the high cost of oil is mainly the dollar.. we are printing up dolalrs as fast as we can to pay our interest on our debt, to bail out the banks, to give us a stimulous.. the dollar has lost over half it's value since bush took office.. oile should be $2.00 a gallon not $4.00.. and all that can be laid squarely at bush's feet.
Thank you! I think you have it right there. Bush has pushed through his energy policies for years, and the Republican congress has voted with him time and time again. Investing in oil and more drilling isn't going to lower the price of gasoline. Giving us a gas tax holiday isn't going to help the consumer.
We need long-term solutions, and the best, most sustainable solutions point towards investing in renewable, alternative sources of energy. We need higher standards for mileage on cars and trucks now, and long-term investment into sustainable solutions in the future.
There are a lot of options for renewable energy sources, and other countries have taken the lead. We should be right up there with Germany and the rest of Europe investing in cleaner, sustainable energy sources like solar and wind energy.
{"commentId":1996970,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"NowhereMan7"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1994908,"authorDomain":"savingideas"}
letting prices run up was the objective this whole time to justify "more oil exploration" and cripple the US consumer
"mission accomplished"
thanks GW
His god is realized in the practice of Petrotheism, a satire by Mark Fiore
Drill more now, everywhere! so we may never see "that of which we shall not speak"
{"commentId":1994908,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"savingideas"}
- 2 votes
#8 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:52 PM EDT{"commentId":1994972,"authorDomain":"savingideas"}
oh, the castrophy
it makes me weep
onward to the gas station
I go humbly as a sheep
never a question I mutter
the price on the pump makes me shudder
fillup at full serve makes it easy
getting the credit card bills makes me queasy
the life of the Sheeple
flock to the steeples
told to just go shopping
while the bills keeps eyes a popping
never a day shall we conserve
Conservatives ain't got the nerve
it's them liberals we are to blame
ignoring our morals is a national shame
I don't have to think,
I hate to even wonder
pondering a future
that looks to be going under
onwards a Sheep I go
it's McCain for me as I please
I've been cut off at the knees
by big oil companies
and thank God I can pay their salary
{"commentId":1994972,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"savingideas"}
- 2 votes
#9 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:58 PM EDT{"commentId":1995049,"authorDomain":"savingideas"}
Rush Limbaugh for president
his lobbyists are evident
push for Big Pharma and Oil
tell us back to work we must toil
and ignore the plight of our country
all dittoheads unite
it's no sleep for us tonight
we love our mentor
an admitted drugged up dementor
spewing hate and slobber on a gold mike
I am a sheep, I think not much
I like my bliss, the lack of such
worries of reality and plight
I face each night
as I can't even go back to sleep
the State of the Union is "strong"
it's corporate heaven we belong
we give them their rights
they treat us not right
and replace the US Constitution's beneficiaries
thanks be to God, alas
I can barely pay for my gas
my neighbors are gone
the banks lines are long
what a Patriot I've become for them
{"commentId":1995049,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"savingideas"}
- 3 votes
#10 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:07 PM EDT{"commentId":1995568,"authorDomain":"cyregray"}
nice bits there miser.
{"commentId":1995568,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"cyregray"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1995271,"authorDomain":"lpwillham"}
First : Even if we dont drill "one drop" of oil, just the fact that congress lifts the restriction will cause world oil prices to begin correction. Commodity traders who often buy years out will undersatnd supply will be going up. THAT will drive prices down.
Second: It should have always been the States right to decide IF they want off shore oil drilling.
Third: With all due respect to environmental groups, We have learned from Katrina that Oil rigs are much safer in terms of spillage than a ship at sea. the technology and equipment is much better than years ago. With more domestic production we lessen oil spills as we will have less Ship bound oil coming to this country.
Fourth: the only component I see missing is we need more refineries, increased capacity does nothing withour refineries to refine crude.
I am all for exploration of alternative fuels and I think the leases should include some componet that is tied to alternative energy research. In a practical real world sense it will take us 50 years to replace Oil with an alternative energy sources. Wind, solar, that all helps, but we still have to find the best technology then create a delivery system to deliver that fuel to the public, Imagine replacing EVERY service station in America with something different? You can't do that overnight and we need to do this. We need to carefully monitor it, but we need to do this.
{"commentId":1995271,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"lpwillham"}
- 1 vote
#11 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:25 PM EDT{"commentId":1995624,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
First : Even if we dont drill "one drop" of oil, just the fact that congress lifts the restriction will cause world oil prices to begin correction. Commodity traders who often buy years out will undersatnd supply will be going up. THAT will drive prices down.
no it wont.. there have been new drilling all the time sine 2000.. I guess you missed the big mexican discovery.., or the other saudi fields that opened(some reopened) and anwar doesn't even have enough oil for th eus to drive a year.. it isnt going to add significant supplies to the futures market. so unless it magically explodes taking out have our currency.. it aint going to do squat to oil prices./
so if an enviromental group convinces a state to not drill you would be ok with that?? as the enviromental groups arent in power.
refinery capacity was cut on purpsoe,,, and at the very last senate hearing he gas/oil compaies have stated they do not want any moe refineries.. at most they want to fix up the ones the have.. bush even offered them free land, with no restrictiosn and they said NO.
{"commentId":1995624,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1995663,"authorDomain":"cyregray"}
Dude wood burning stoves, mini wind turbines and solar panels all exist, today, and combined could power a home easily. 50 years to replace oil? Ha.
Have you checked out the youtube video on the water-powered car? HHO technology? It's a sick joke that we have this technology and yet we're still bleeding out our wallets on gasoline.
Further - who knows what kind of technology they have buried in their underground bases... Tesla was channeling electricity up from the earth back in the early 1900s and where did all his technology and pattens go?
{"commentId":1995663,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"cyregray"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1995738,"authorDomain":"dviking12"}
just the fact that congress lifts the restriction will cause world oil prices to begin correction.
Not really, but I think you are close to something here. I think we can agree what this country really needs is to focus on stopping speculation from increasing oil and gas prices. If you support off-shore drilling, you assume that by increasing the supply, the price will go down. I argue that decreasing demand (conservation, alternative sources, ect...) will lower the price of gas/oil.
{"commentId":1995738,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"dviking12"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1995313,"authorDomain":"goldie60"}
Ha! Another misrepresentation of the facts by our "fear-full" leader. There is no "BAN" on offshore drilling, other than what individual STATES have put in place. The Congress is not involved. The oil companies have AT LEAST 10,000 drilling permits already in their possession. The "ban" referred to by the president is a moratorium imposed by George H Bush on further LEASING of lands/offshore territories. The oil companies are sitting on already drilled wells. They are just not actively operating them. The "Naval Petroleum Reserve" has a known volume of 13 Billion Barrels that are already drilled! This push for the leasing and drilling of more territory will allow the oil companies to sit on even more National Resources until their profits from extracting the oil will be MAXIMIZED. The Bush Administration is once again stacking the deck against the people of this country to increase the wealth of Oil Companies and their stockholders. Again, the "Ban" they're referring to, does not exist in the form they are presenting it.
{"commentId":1995313,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"goldie60"}
- 1 vote
#12 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:29 PM EDT{"commentId":1995652,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
yeah people seem to forget one of the reason we dropped the requirement for oil companies to pay us roylaities for stealing our resources was to give them extra money to drill off shore, as it wasn't worth it at $10 a barrel.. and they did not do it.. now they are havign record proffits and they still arent drilling.
What they want like iran/ venezuella and other countries.. is to simply own the resource..
and with the gop and an oil man in the gov, this is their best chance to get what they want
{"commentId":1995652,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1995416,"authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
Big Oil should be nationalized and the thieves (and their collaborators) punished for the filthy colluding hogs they are!
Furthermore, prices on oil, food and all other essential commodities should be frozen!
-- GP
====
{"commentId":1995416,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
- 3 votes
#13 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:38 PM EDT{"commentId":1995692,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
alll national resources should be nationalised.. it is insane not to.
unless they are plants they arent renewible and as such.. anyone who has ever played any RTS games know.. you have to limit the use of resources so that you have the resources you need to do the thinsg you need to do.
and yeah in my state we own the power company.. we enjoy some of the lowest elec rate int he country.. we don't have rolling black outs and when the power company makes too much proffits, we all get money back on our next bill. wrks out great and guess what.. ther guy that runs the power company is still very well off.. he just doesn't have more money than god.
{"commentId":1995692,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1995696,"authorDomain":"cyregray"}
hehe fat chance with psychopaths running the show, expose the man behind the curtain first and then reap the benefits.
{"commentId":1995696,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"cyregray"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1995992,"authorDomain":"lpwillham"}
Since we are not communists I dont think our constitution gives the government the power to take property away.
{"commentId":1995992,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"lpwillham"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1997085,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
most of the oil is on federal land so it is already owned by the US government. We just need to start demanding royalties.
{"commentId":1997085,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1995832,"authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
And to think...people laughed when I advised them to invest in oxen...
-- GP
====
{"commentId":1995832,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
- 2 votes
#14 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:13 PM EDT{"commentId":1995941,"authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
Once again the Democrats are dead wrong about what is best for America.
{"commentId":1995941,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
- 1 vote
#15 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:23 PM EDT{"commentId":1995972,"authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
headinthegame
Once again the Democrats are dead wrong about what is best for America.
Like what? Not any longer being willing to take it up the gazoo...?
-- GP
====
{"commentId":1995972,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"greenpagan"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1996062,"authorDomain":"tinyt2288"}
NO I DON'T THINK SO DEMOCRAT'S AREN'T THE ONES THAT GOT USE INTO THIS MESS. BUSH GOT USE INTO THIS MESS HES REPUBLICIN SO FAR EVER TIME SOME THING HAPPENS TO AMERICA ITS BEEN WITH A REPUBLICIN PRESIDENT.
{"commentId":1996062,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"tinyt2288"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1996487,"authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
It was not just GWB, the Bushs in general, or even the whole of the GOP. It was a few Democrats as well. The trend toward using oil and supporting oil has been going on for over 70 years.
{"commentId":1996487,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1997093,"authorDomain":"simon-says"}
tinyt2288 dont scream, please.
{"commentId":1997093,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"simon-says"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2000282,"authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
the dems don't offer any solutions on how to create more energy supply in this country? why, because they want us all to suffer. that is what they want. more suffering. bring back the misery index. that's what the dems want. they hate america.
{"commentId":2000282,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2001394,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
HitG,
How about the oil companies develop the 68 million acres of off shore leases they currently have? How about they develop the oil reserves under Colorado?
Claiming Democrats have no solutions is a sign of lazy thinking on the part of the person making the claim.
{"commentId":2001394,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2008518,"authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
Behind My Screen--if its so easy to figure out what the Dems plans are, what are they?
{"commentId":2008518,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2010819,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
I just gave you two very simple solutions that have been put forth by Democrats.
Develop the leases they have, and develop the proven reserve beneath Colorado.
other plans for energy? increase funding to the deployment of wind and solar thermal plants. Create tax benefits to the development and sale of electric cars (like the Tesla and the volt). significantly increase cafe standards over a shorter period of time than 20 years. Yes, all of these are short-mid to mid term solutions, but opening the coasts (something Bush can do with out congress) to exploration and drilling will not provide a benefit to us until 2030 and the amount is so small that by that time, it will not even put a dent in our demand.
{"commentId":2010819,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2011303,"authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}
I just gave you two very simple solutions that have been put forth by Democrats.
Develop the leases they have...
Indeed!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rahall to Big Oil: Use It or Lose It
June 12, 2008 CONTACT: Allyson Groff or Blake Androff, 202-226-9019
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to compel oil and gas companies to produce on the 68 million acres of federal lands, both onshore and offshore, that are leased but sitting idle, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) today introduced legislation that gives Big Oil one option - either "use it or lose it."
...
The Rahall bill would force oil and gas companies to either produce or give up federal onshore and offshore leases they are stockpiling by barring the companies from obtaining any more leases unless they can demonstrate that they are producing oil and gas, or are diligently developing the leases they already hold, during the initial term of the leases.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{"commentId":2011303,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2015640,"authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
we should authorized off shore drilling as well
{"commentId":2015640,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"headinthegame"}
{"commentId":2015763,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
Tell Bush then. He can authorize it. It does not take an act of congress to over turn an executive order.
Tell the oil companies then. They should be taking advantage of the leases they have rather than complaining about the leases they want.
{"commentId":2015763,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2016364,"authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}
(This version CORRECTS that oil companies have 68 million acres of undeveloped leases on federal lands and waters.))
What's this?!? The AP has updated the story? Damn, I just re-read the whole thing ... this has been updated quite a bit. The AP is figuring out that they've been dupes.
{"commentId":2016364,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2017167,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
perhaps the AP reads newsvine :-)
{"commentId":2017167,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1995952,"authorDomain":"lpwillham"}
Joelsbeef said: refinery capacity was cut on purpsoe,,, and at the very last senate hearing he gas/oil compaies have stated they do not want any moe refineries.. at most they want to fix up the ones the have.. bush even offered them free land, with no restrictiosn and they said NO.
They have been trying to expand the capacity of the BP refinery in Whiting in Northern Indiana for years now. Within EPA regiulations, they are still in court. Go anywhere in the US that there is a refinery and there is an environmental or no growth group fighting it. It is LOCAL obstructions to expansion that prevent expansion.
As to alternative fuels I am all for it, did you know that we had steam cars in the early 1900's. All the water cars and air cars are nice, but the FACT remains that if GM and Ford and Chrysler started tommorow they are 15 years away from actually building one. You have to retool, you have countless government regulations, you have safety testing, Then you have to build an infrastucture to get the fuel there in short you would have to build a nationwide network of fuel stations, and before anyone says electric? Do you know what plugging that many cars would do to the US electrical grid? Practical solutions are in the works but we are FAR from there . The people who produce solar panels could not begin to produce the amount needed if there was a huge demand , they can barely cope with the limited amount we are doing now. Its all good stuff but business has to make it happen and it takes money and years to get through governmental regulation created by people who want us to not be drilling for oil right now, period.
{"commentId":1995952,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"lpwillham"}
- 1 vote
#16 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:23 PM EDT{"commentId":1995984,"authorDomain":"tinyt2288"}
I THINK BUSH SHOULD DO THE SAME AS CLINTON DID WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT AND PUT A STOP TO THE PRICES. IF CLINTON COULD DO IT WITH OUT CONGRESS WHY CANT BUSH. BECAUSE HE OWNS OIL STOCK WHY ALWAYS BLAME DEMOCRAT'S FOR WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DO WHEN THERE PRESIDENT
{"commentId":1995984,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"tinyt2288"}
#17 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:26 PM EDT{"commentId":1997677,"authorDomain":"dviking12"}
please let go of the SHIFT button. It does not make your argument any more intelligent.
{"commentId":1997677,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"dviking12"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1998057,"authorDomain":"simon-says"}
please let go of the SHIFT button. It does not make your argument any more intelligent.
Or easier to read...
{"commentId":1998057,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"simon-says"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1998073,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
He's right though. Loud and annoying, but right.
{"commentId":1998073,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1998103,"authorDomain":"simon-says"}
He's right though. Loud and annoying, but right.
I dont know. I haven't read his comment due to the CAPS LOCK button... ;)
{"commentId":1998103,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"simon-says"}
{"commentId":1997042,"authorDomain":"jlt75"}
The U.S. has estimated oil shale reserves of 1.5 trillion barrels in Coloroado and Wyoming, greater than what Saudi Arabia has now. Why are we making no effort to develop this oil supply?
{"commentId":1997042,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"jlt75"}
#18 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:09 PM EDT{"commentId":1997734,"authorDomain":"Robert69"}
Bush/McSame are looking for a silver bullet. They need to try anything and everything in order to hit an issue that could make some people vote for McCain. Polls say gas prices are the top economic concern for Americans, mainly because it is literally in your face every day. They know the Dems won't give in on this, so why not play politics? Most of the oil available in the US is not offshore anyway. Offshore oil would help the oil companies (as if they need any more), but provide little for anybody else. The good news is that this has the potential to backfire on McBush big time.
{"commentId":1997734,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"Robert69"}
- 1 vote
#19 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:36 PM EDT{"commentId":1997775,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
Bush has the power to lift the ban on his own. He is doing this to try and make a blame case for the high prices that points to the Democrats.
Forget the fact that the 68 millions leased acres that the Oil companies have on the coast lines are undeveloped, forget that we have 1.5 - 2 trillion barrels of oil waiting for us under Colorado and Wyoming.
Republicans, think about that. the Oil companies are not even utilizing the resources that they have access to NOW!, what good will it do to give them more access if they have 50 years worth of development work sitting in front of them at this very moment?
{"commentId":1997775,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}
- 3 votes
#20 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:41 PM EDT{"commentId":1998025,"authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}
If there's a 20 years supply underneath current idle leases, why do they need to open up new leases? I smell profit motive, for the oil insiders working in the administration, not energy policy.
Consider that they feel the democrats are going to win the election season, lock up congress and senate, possibly get appointments placed in the Supreme Court, then consider that by the next election cycle that Republicans would have majority and the presidency, oil would be outmoded, we'd already have our electric car production ramped up, we'd have renewable energy rolling out in mass, new jobs, different jobs. People wouldn't need oil down the road as they do today.
This is about getting leases now, because they ain't gonna be there in 16 years.
{"commentId":1998025,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}
- 2 votes
#21 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:24 PM EDT{"commentId":1998451,"authorDomain":"geejay"}
This is laughably simple for the Dems to "get" Bush on--just comment that Bush could have lifted the executive order but chose to play politics instead.
{"commentId":1998451,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"geejay"}
- 1 vote
#22 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:31 PM EDT{"commentId":2000385,"authorDomain":"ntq"}
Bright idea. One effective measure to outdo the lousy administrations of certain oil producing countries, such as Iran, and ensure they keep themselves to themselves. As to the environmental concern, I'm sure the environmentalists would figure out appropriate measures to offset the negative impacts. Well, they better do.
{"commentId":2000385,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"ntq"}
#23 - Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:20 AM EDT{"commentId":2001222,"authorDomain":"ninianreid"}
For once, Bush is right. Let's get drilling ; the grandchildren can clear up afterwards. Meanwhile,though, we have to develop new sources of energy. And,yes, that includes all the nuclear options on the table.Do we really want to find ourselves at the mercy of OPEC , the world's most dangerous cartel ?
{"commentId":2001222,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"ninianreid"}
- 1 vote
#24 - Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:55 AM EDT{"commentId":2001272,"authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
Hey! Regurgitating Sycophant! it's a ruse to blame the Oil Crises on the Democrats and solves nothing. And Let your slob children clean up their own messes, don't commit mine to it.
{"commentId":2001272,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"Zoilus"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2002962,"authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
jade-log: Who gave you the one vote?
Everybody else: I heard last night that the "off shore drilling" thing is actually an "off shore pumping" thing. The wells are already there, the rigs are standing idle above them. I have changed my mind. I think in those circumstances, lets pump and let Bush play his game. It will lower prices. But the gig is up. Let them pump oil. We will reduce the need through cultivation of solar, hydro, and wind power. Nobody who votes in the next 20 years will forget these gas prices.
Yes - It is an oil game. But we need relief from these prices and let this be a legacy to GWB. I would like to spit on that man!
{"commentId":2002962,"threadId":"292606","contentId":"1587165","authorDomain":"ljshelhamer"}
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