(Richard Drew/AP/FILE)
Congress to vote on drilling ban
In a shift on Saturday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the House will take up comprehensive energy legislation next month that includes partially lifting the 1981 ban on offshore drilling.
By Gail Russell Chaddock | August 17, 2008 edition
Reporter Gail Chaddock talks about why congressional Democratic leaders are shifting position on offshore oil drilling.
Gail Chaddock
Nearly 40 years after some 80,000 barrels of oil washed up on the beaches of Santa Barbara and launched a move to ban offshore drilling Congress is heading toward a vote to end that moratorium.
For a generation of Democratic politicians, the notion of opening protected sites to drilling was toxic. But with soaring gas prices, public opinion is shifting toward anything that promises relief at the pump and congressional politics is moving with it.
In a shift on Saturday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the House will take up comprehensive energy legislation next month that includes partially lifting the 1981 ban on offshore drilling.
“It will consider opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling, with appropriate safeguards, and without taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil,” she said in the weekly Democratic radio address on Saturday.
On Friday, Senate majority leader Harry Reid said that the Senate will also examine lifting the ban, which now covers all but central and western portions of the Gulf of Mexico and some parts of Alaska.
“That’s something that you know we¹re going to take up. And there¹s nothing wrong with that,” he said in a conference call with Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens.
Until Saturday, Speaker Pelosi called the notion that more drilling would lower prices at the pump a hoax and said that there would be no votes on this issue on her watch.
With the US controlling some 3 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves, drilling in protected sites won¹t solve the problem of high gas prices in the short term, if ever, Democrats said.
Their solution: increase conservation and alternative fuel sources, tax Big Oil for its record ‘windfall profits,’ rein in speculation in the commodities market, and end billions in tax subsidies for oil companies now written into the tax code.
Before opening any new sites for exploration and drilling, Big Oil should first prove that it has used available leases on some 68 million acres, Democrats said.
After President Bush lifted the executive moratorium on offshore drilling last month, Republicans called on the majority to allow votes to lift the congressional ban, as well.
Senate Republicans, citing support from constituents worried about energy costs, reduced their legislative agenda to a single item: increase domestic energy supply. In a bid to force an offshore drilling vote, GOP senators blocked votes on all other elements of an energy plan, including a popular measure to extend tax breaks for renewable energy. Both houses broke for August recess without a vote on offshore drilling.
On the House side, Republicans have held nearly daily protests on the floor of the House during the August recess to force Pelosi to allow a vote to lift the congressional moratorium on offshore drilling.
Since Aug. 1, 109 Republicans have returned to Washington to argue the case for offshore drilling on the floor of an adjourned House.
“Our members are finding at home that what we¹re doing here in Washington is appreciated,” said Rep. Roy Blunt, the House Republican whip, at a press briefing off the floor of the House on Thursday. “At least somebody is willing to fight for the No. 1 issue for their families today and that’s gas prices, soon to be followed by energy prices, as we get to the fall.”
Meanwhile, Democrats are gearing up for major energy legislation when Congress returns next month. On Tuesday, Senator Reid is convening a national clean energy summit in Las Vegas. He is calling on Republicans to support a bipartisan summit and comprehensive energy legislation when the Senate reconvenes.
The broader energy bill to be debated on the floor of the House covers conservation as well as new investments in alternative fuels. The plan mandates the release of some 700 million barrels of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to “reduce the price at the pump within 10 days,”Pelosi said on Saturday.
The plan also requires oil companies to pay the billions of dollars in royalties to be invested in clean energy resources and aims to rein in speculation in energy markets, viewed by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as a factor in the run-up of gas prices.
In response, House Republican leaders called on the speaker to immediately reconvene the House to vote on a GOP bill to ‘drill here, drill now, and pay less.’
“While the Speaker now claims to embrace a comprehensive energy plan that includes more conservation, more innovation, and more American energy production, the fact is her new effort appears to be just another flawed plan that will do little to lower gas prices,” House Republican leader John Boehner said in a statement.
Even if proposed legislation on both sides of the aisle derails, Republicans are gearing up for one more flash point: On Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, the moratorium on drilling automatically lapses, unless Congress renews it.
Some Republicans are urging President Bush to veto any spending bill or any continuing resolution to extend spending bills into the new Congress that includes a renewal of the offshore drilling ban.
Comments
3. dman | 08.17.08
Three things; drill offshore will not affect the cost of oil or gas, the oil and gas are owned by the people and they should get a reasonable return on the product either through royalties or taxes and this money should be used to help fund alternative energy, and finally and most significantly drill offshore will help reduce the trade imbalance thereby helping the economy.
4. Andy | 08.17.08
A few items regarding domestic off-shore drilling:
1. I have yet to hear a single conclusive argument proving that offshore drilling will significantly lower fuel prices.
2. Based on their own statements, congressional democrats haven’t heard any such arguments either.
3. Popular support is shifting towards allowing off-shore drilling.
4. Congressional democrats are now interested in off-shore drilling.
After pondering these four points, I am reminded of events leading up to our invasion of Iraq, where congressional democrats were by-and-large against an invasion and changed their tune as public support for the war surged.
A few items for congressional democrats:
1. This is a REPRESENTATIVE democracy, and you need to do the right thing based on what you know, not the wrong thing because the mob tells you to.
2. If this turns into another debacle, please do me a favor and don’t blame Bush again.
3. When has populism ever worked? Try being a leader; it is in your job description.
4. There’s a difference between leading and being pushed.
5. mike wilmore | 08.17.08
May be the first thing on the conservation side would be for Speaker Pelosi to give up the 1,500 gal per hour airplane ride back and forth to california. What is the matter with the train, or tourist class on commercial flights. I believe that there are non stop flight she could use. Probably even get some of the illegal aliens Pelosi inc. employs to carry her bags.
6. mariuccia maternostra | 08.17.08
pfft. get off oil and stay off it. i dont fill up when prices are like this, and it ticks me off when i see ppl gassing their hummers and SUVs up. maybe a required economics class about supply and demand? horse and buggy’s looking good again
7. Dan Hanley | 08.17.08
Most Americans are so uninformed/ignorant that they somehow believe that off-shore drilling will solve our problems. The only financial beneficiaries to this ludicrous plan are the big oil companies…again.
The Republicans have been trying to stifle legislation that would improve oversight of the Commodity Futures Trade Commission, while claiming that the root of the problem is supply/demand with a campaign slogan of drill more/drive less. Why would they want to block this legislation? It is this same corrupt party that rubber-stamped this administration and provided virtually no congressional oversight during the years 2001-2006, as is evidenced by the ongoing multiple congressional oversight hearings the past 19 months.
Why, after seven years, with a secretive energy policy that was hatched by Cheney in collusion with Big Oil do we suddenly see the Republicans trying to push for a meaningful energy policy, while still catering to Big Oil? I believe the answer is quite obvious. Unfortunately, too many Americans believe the corporate-owned talking heads spewing out their empty diatribe on the likes of Murdoch’s Fox Noise, etc.
The American citizenry deserves four more years of the last seven years because of their stupidity.
8. mwf | 08.17.08
Why do Republicans want to destroy the environment?
Why can’t a feasible alternative to oil be created within the time it would take for any new offshore drilling to even start producing oil?
Why didn’t we find an alternative to wean ourselves off oil begin in 1973?
There wouldn’t have been 3rd world country nutcase terrorists if we hadn’t been so married to oil.
Why don’t politicians do what is BEST (not easiest) for America? Drilling for oil is just a temporary fix.
Find a REAL solution, not a bandaid.
9. bill stickler | 08.17.08
This ridiculous lie that drilling won’t reduce gas prices for years is absurd. Just talking about drilling has already reduced prices and if we actually started producing more of our own oil domestically prices will fall even more. We need a comprehensive energy approach to eventually get off of oil, but we won’t get off of oil for many decades and maybe not even this century. Does anyone on here even have a clue as to how many petroleum products we rely on each and every day. They are so vast and ubiquitous that even the so called environmentalists are using them everyday. We will need oil in the short term…period! Remember, you can’t legislate new technology into existence. If you know of a better and cheaper way to do all that oil does for us then by all means start it up. You’ll be bigger than Bill Gates and people will love you.
10. James Moore | 08.17.08
Drilling will not affect the oil price for 7-10 years. Probably yes. But the real questions are- why are we not planning 7-10 years out, and most importantly- If we did this ten years ago- we wouldn’t be in this problem TODAY! Plan ahead- save problems.
11. Informed | 08.17.08
To everyone who assumes everything, here are some facts:
1.) This is not a ‘Supply and Demand’ issue…..every station you go to has fuel. No exceptions. There is not an imbalance, demand does not outweigh supply.
2.) Big oil is not to blame for the high prices. They make a PERCENT off of what they sell. If their sale price is higher, their price is higher.
3.) The COMMODITIES market dictates the price of oil, NOT THE US Government. The reason why oil prices keep going higher is because all the rage in investing is in oil futures. The securities market and, wow FREE TRADE causes the price higher.
Look what happened in the past few weeks….reports that everyone is consuming less oil, much less….and the investors stopped madly buying…and the price has dropped considerably.
So — drilling for more oil will not fix this problem. There is plenty of supply. The lawmakers *could* remove certain types of speculation from oil commodities, but wouldn’t that kill the whole idea of ‘free trade’ ??
12. Sang Ze | 08.17.08
Once again, the democrats are set to bow down to Bush and his cronies. There is little evidence that offshore drilling will do anything more than give short-term relief from current gasoline prices while it could well add to the destruction of our environment, including some of our best fishing grounds. I feel I have been betrayed, sold out by what was once the party of the people. We need something better. A vote for a third party candidate offers a potential solution. The other parties should simply merge.
13. Elwin Valberg | 08.17.08
I am not at my own computer so this will not match up. I retired less than a year ago. With the price of gas it was the wrong time to do it. My wife retired at the same time. Neither of us should have done. It wouldn’t be so bad but the idotic dem’s will fight opening up more area to drill in. We don’t need them in Congress because they didn’t look ahead to see what was coming, of course the Republicans didn’t either. The congress should have taken action as soon as the price of gas/oil started moving up beyond a reasonable price. That is one reason why we don’t need any of the incumbents that are in Congress at the present time. I will keep on trying but we both are going to have to go back to work if we don’t get some relief pretty soon.
14. Schmaltz | 08.17.08
I can’t believe Pelosi is so ignorant as to cave in like this! At least Obama’s plan makes sense. Allow some drilling so the unbelievably misinformed (by the Republicans) public won’t think you’re un-Amenrican and require more alternatives in exchange.
15. mike | 08.17.08
The more freedom they give the oil companies the better. The richer the oil companies get the better. They should lift the ban and allow as much drilling as possible. Time for the environmentalist to loose their control and the federal government to get out of the way of the economic interests of the people.
17. MATTHEW J MULLIN | 08.17.08
I agree people are not interested in the truth,we are so spoiled and lazy that we are willing to sell out mother nature again.we know it will take at least 8 years to see a drop of use able oil by then you will here how much it cost them to get the oil and the price will go up.we need to make terms for these politician’s 4 years that way they can’t become so dishonest or so powerful and stop all influence pedaling.
18. mthomas | 08.17.08
Pelosi Family, T-Bone Pekins (billionair wanting to make more billions), Gore (wants another noble) are all looking for the big pay off.
As you know the future of our world is based on clean cheap energy for everybody.
Wind Power (electromagnetic radiation and sub-sonic noise), Solar array, and nuclear are all expense, dirty and unreliable sources of energy.
Don’t be sucked by these wolves in sheeps clothing.
We must get off of OIL if we are to have economic stability in the world.
I have invented a new method to exploit a percentage of the Trillions of FREE solar watts the Sun puts out everyday !
We need clean, reliable, renewable, environmentally friendly energy forever.
http://nlspropulsion.net/default.aspx
I dont care if I make dollar one, if it saves our planet and helps ALL people to have clean affordable energy forever !!
19. Bob | 08.17.08
After 8 years of no energy policy, Bush has called for drilling NOW. The republican base are a bunch of ignorant crackers. They will believe anything that is told to them by the Republican leadership, but will forever doubt science and reality. Maybe we should deport them instead of the 12 million immigrants who are working hard to make this country better instead of tearing it down with their ignorance.
20. Jeff Franks | 08.17.08
Sorry Democrats, you’re wrong on this issue. It is a supply and demand issue and that’s what affects futures markets. If the supply of oil seems threatened, either through war or the oil cartel’s lack of interest in producing output, that is when the price per barrel begins to skyrocket.
In my opinion, it is high time we move to alternative energy sources; for most intelligent folks, which is most folks, that is a no-brainer. The problem is that it is the move to alternative energy and the constituent technologies (new engines, new vehicles, new batteries, new transmission media, etc…) that will take the 10+ years Democrats screech, yes screech, in the redundant talking points, ad nauseum, I might add, about how long it will take to get the oil flowing into tankers or storage facilities from new wells. That is simply not true, the return from wells, while not immediate, will be nothing like the 10+ year horizon the Democrats keep repeating.
Look, this is more of a strategic issue and not a tactical one. We need to buy some time, drilling 20 years ago was the correct answer then and it is the correct answer now. We need a national incentive program, something akin to a 21st century Apollo program to develop the next big solution for our energy needs and we need to stop being single minded, stubborn and stupid in our approaches to solving the problem. Isn’t this something that all of us have a stake in; if we cannot come together as a nation to solve this issue then we deserve the consequences of our partisan bickering. Get over Democrats, we need oil and we need to go and start developing our oil fields now before our options are really limited.
21. B Toups | 08.17.08
Why is the G.O.P. blocking bills encouraging alternative energy sources? Why is it that Republicans only embrace the dirty fuels like oil, coal, and ethanol? What is it about hydrogen, wind, biomass, and solar energy that causes them so much grief? Our beaches and beautiful ANWR are worth 5 cents a gallon? Oil spills are disastrous and expensive to clean up. Where are the worst beaches in the USA? Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Coincidence?
And for the poster who suggested that us “talking about” expanding offshore drilling is what was causing lower gas prices, that is pure nonsense. Gas prices always peak in June and July due to peak demand. The fact that gas is now $3.65 instead of $4.10 a gallon is not due to any “psychological effect.”
22. R L Collins | 08.17.08
What is it about democracy that Nancy Pelosi doesn’t understand? No wonder the approval rating of congress is so low. Simple up or down votes on questions of energy will make things clear to the voting public whether or not their interests are being served by their elected representatives. Back room bargaining, trading favors for votes,and including unrelated earmarks deny the voting public the information they need. We need to know who is for us and who is against us. Complex bills that mix things up serve only to obfuscate. Keep it simple. As for earmarks, these should each go for an up or down vote and not be hidden in other legislation.
24. Jr.Hagler | 08.17.08
1.) Even if they do agree to off-shore drilling. It’ll be a minimum 4 to 5 years before the general public benefits. So the price of oil will remain as is…for some time.
2.) Refineries….you need refineries to process the crude oil to products like kerosene, gasoline, diesels, propane, butane, etc. Right now were currently shipping crude oil to other countries for processing. We need to get rid of this “Not in my backyard” mentality concerning refineries and power plants. We have the technology and experience to prevent another Santa Barbara, California oil spill.
3.) Politicians, as a whole are only concern about getting re-elected….so there view is almost always short term, i.e. the next election. And these short term decisions have long term consequences.
Bottom line: The day we accept the fact that cheap oil is gone forever (not under $3.00 a gallon) That’ll be the day our abuse of this commodity will end.
25. Carl D’Alessandro | 08.17.08
Supply and Demand. More oil available=lower fuel prices. Products that are necessities are more insensitive to price changes because consumers will continue buying these products despite price increases, ie oil is not a very elastic product, so the only way to reduce the price is to increase the supply in the marketplace. Why not drill? Its not doing any good in the ground. Using it reduces our dependence on foreign oil and strengthens the economy. Drilling means more jobs for americans. As for blame, the Dense Dems shot down votes for expanded drilling through out the years that would have reduced the effects the US is feeling today from the worlds (China) increase demand for oil. Start drilling today or else. Gas prices today are mega cheap compared to what we will see in another 10 years. Go ahead and fall for the CNN/Communist News Networks party line; “The sky is falling, its the end of the world as we know it, Stick your heads in the sand, unless your drilling for oil, then stay out of it.
26. Dinko | 08.17.08
There are two options to consider.
1. Drill here, drill now and eventually pay less. Let the free market decide what needs to be done.
2. Let the Democrats pas a law that all cars run on water. Yeah thats it. They did such a bang up job with social security. I am sure they have some brilliant ideas to increase out oil supply.
27. F Johnson | 08.17.08
I have never heard a Republican explain how long it will take for this drilling to produce results, what percentage of our daily consumption this drilling will replace, by how much it will reduce the cost of a gallon of gasoline, and most importantly why are we turning to more oil, when the goal should be replacing oil ASAP with Solar, Wind, and Nuclear power.
For those of you with blind faith in offshore drilling; do you realize you are maintaining our nations reliance on oil? The Democrat’s position is to meet and replace our demand for fossil fuels with alternative energy and conservation. What is dishonest about that? The fact is the Democrat’s position asks all American’s to make sacrifices, not just the minority of our countrymen who are spilling their blood fighting our enemies who are financed by your reliance on oil. Why can’t you drive less, turn to public transportation, or buy hybrid/electric vehicles if you can afford to, to reduce our consumption now and get us closer to producing affordable plug in vehicles that everyone can afford. The fastest and surest way to reduce the cost of gasoline is to start buying less of it, and demonstrate that our nation is committed to ending our use of fossil fuels starting now.
The Republican Party has once again manipulated the emotions of many Americans, to everyone’s detriment. As a former Republican I am in disbelief that each and every year for the last twenty years my former party outdoes itself to compromise our timeless and few remaining pristine wild lands and waterways for the most temporary, selfish, and irresponsible reasons. In so doing it stands in the way of our progress towards freeing the United States once and for all from our self defeating reliance on oil.
28. anon | 08.17.08
The arrogance of a country that consumes 25% of global production yet won’t allow expanded drilling in its own territory is truly deranged. The argument that domestic production is insufficient to make a difference in the price of a gallon of gas is not a valid reason not to drill. Any additional production will increase supply and that is what matters.
29. xthat | 08.17.08
Russia is flush with oil money, thy want more so thy go to war in Georgia, If know one stands up, then all the Caspian and Central Asia oil, goes through Russia. The E U and U S better wake up and Nancy and the dem. need to get out of the way, and drill now, before economic blackmail happens.
30. Stan Bernsteen | 08.17.08
If we spend the money and resources it takes to drill for more oil, where will we be in five years? Exactly where we are now. Is that what we really want? The oil companies should think long-term and invest in the only long-term solution — an oil-free economy.
31. Larry | 08.17.08
I believe all Democrats should watch closely as their elected leaders, Pelosie, Obama and the rest, one by one toss all of their official and unofficial convictions aside to get aligned with the rest of the country.
You people on the left must be terribly dissappointed in them. Meanwhile, the work of congress sits and waits on the vacationing liberals in charge to return.
America can not afford another term for the Pelosi ingrates.
32. Chris | 08.17.08
Of all the stupid arguments used by the loony left against the energy future of America these are my two favorites: “It will take 10 years to develop a new field” and “No new field will solve all of the nation’s needs forever”. As if this was not also true of any alternative energy source. Pardon me for that obvious politically incorrect observation. I love the idea that the government planning ten years into the future is considered an evil thing. Lets have a race between new American oil and alternative energy to see who can produce the most energy fastest. The US will be the inevitable winner of that race.
33. einstien | 08.17.08
Itsclear if you find more oil especially a big strikeit will make gas cheaper ,of coursethe democrats which are really communists cant see that ,but then again they can only see fairy stories ,if you grow more crops for fuel it will make less food and more expensive and it will never replace oil ,the green scamis nothing more than a con to fund green companies when in fact they should be funding themselves like any other company ,that is a conflict of interest and should no be allowed in gov as the greens are a political party as well ,the fact they use fake science for their cause of ripping off your taxes supports this ,if a political party owned oil companies there would be an outrage !and it should be the same here ,the only difference is the name .
34. Wade | 08.17.08
The point of this lifting the offshore drilling isn’t to necessarily get oil out of the ground, it’s just the announcement that the U.S. is drilling for oil will lower gas prices. The day after Bush said that he was lifting the executive ban on offshore drilling, oil went down $7 a barrel. And this isn’t my idea, it’s Dick Morris’.
35. jon | 08.17.08
I don’t like Pelosi… I think she’s weak, but I wish people would stop blaming her. It’s the Media.
Where do the People get the idea that giving more leases to the Oil Companies, will lower prices? The Media.
For whatever reason, whether it’s corporate ownership, intimidation, whatever, the Media always follows the GOP talking points. Thus, the information that people are using, to formulate their opinion that new leases will lower prices, comes from the Media.
Until the Media decides that truth trumps loud lies, this is the way it’ll always go. It’s exactly the same as the runup to Iraq. Loud lies repeated over & over in the Media, and the People believe Iraq had something to do with 9/11. Yet, how many people heard Bush say, *Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11,* when he said that?
It’s the Media… which is also why Senator McCain will most likely be our next President. He gets no scrutiny. McCain’s narrative that he’s the Maverick, Hero, GOP-Defying, Independent, Straight-Talking Foreign Policy Wizard, is portrayed as Gospel, by the Media, despite tons of evidence to the contrary.
Everyone knows how many silly stories about Obama not wearing a Lapel Pin.
Yet, last night, only one candidate was wearing a Lapel Pin… Obama.
Any stories today about McCain not wearing a Lapel Pin? Nope.
We’re living in Revisionist Reality now people, where what is real isn’t.
Whatever the Media wants people to think… they just follow.
Even to the point of voting against their own pocket books.
It’s quite amazing.
36. Ed | 08.17.08
Yes they will drill for oil in the U.S. and that oil will go onto the world market to the highest bidder not in our gas tanks here in the U.S. It will go straight to China, India, Europe and elsewhere. You do know we send oil overseas refined and unrefined by the tanker load from the U.S. If this oil goes on the world market it will not help us.
37. Steve | 08.17.08
Listen up people, both Parties are screwing you over! The majority of the funding the Enviromental lobbyists give to our politicians comes from OPEC. There is also no doubt that more Democrats than Republicans benefit from that money. The Republicans, on the other hand, want no stipulations placed on the trading of oil stocks\futures. That has been a huge problem with the run-up in price, along with hedge funds placing their money into commodities.
Off-shore drilling will not give any relief in the near future, but it can be used with other stipulations as part of a new Energy plan that will get us off oil permanently. Remeber this: Since the oil embargo of 1973 we have had 2 Democratic and 3 Republican administrations, and they have done NOTHING as far as crafting a new Energy policy for America.
38. Greg | 08.17.08
Quit bawling and buy stock in the cos. that are making the money.They are all public and anyone can own a piece.Idiots.
39. charles slaugher | 08.17.08
People…just look at the contract in these responses. This is the problem. This is NOT a Republican or Democratic problem. This is a NATIONAL problem. What is wrong with trying EVERYTHING??? Be environmentally sensitive yet go after ALL of the resources we have. I have faith in the PEOPLE to solve this issue, not the government. We have got to work together and stop sending 700 Billion Dollars a year to the Middle East. Boone Pickens makes a lot of sense. TRY IT…also, go to http://www.zeropollutionmotors.com and look at the solution to our oil dependecny. One or two more years at the most.
40. Billy | 08.17.08
first of all, i love you all. everybody who says “find new energy sources now!” “make our cars run on cow urine now!” you all want answers now. the bottom line is, its difficult to find an energy source to fuel our cars. the fact of the matter is, (sorry pyromaniacs) not everything is combustable. oil is a very efficient fuel. and so long as there are millions of cars that burn gasoline on the road…there is going to be a major need for oil. that is a fact of life.
you all think its so easy…you do it. you cry for a solution, but NONE of you are willing to try for yourselves. so do the rest of us a favor. the next time you come up with a way to make our cars run on the byproducts of an ant farm…let us know and we will talk about it. but until then…if you have a thought…forget it.
arguing + Blaming (rep. Dems. ect) = waste of time.
41. Richard D | 08.17.08
Pelosi and her left wing anti energy terrorists are so far out in left field that they cannot reason with any sense of logic. She should be removed from office but unfortunately, she is from a state of left wing nut cases so we are stuck with her. Maybe enough of the voters in her state will come to their senses and vote her out. She is nothing but an energy terrorist. Deny America their energy needs. That is her and her left wing flunies battle cry.
42. OneOldFart | 08.17.08
Energy is abundant and replaceable today from petroleum to goal and safer nuclear. The problem is nobody wants energy created anywhere near their own back yard. I hear my older friends badmouth windmills because they are “unsightly.” I live by two of them and they are quiet and the models give off no noise discernable to even a bats ear and they haven’t killed off birds in the neighborhood either. They do deliver enough energy to offset the energy needs of two small colleges.
A physicist friend of mine claims we can have synthetic fuels from coal now for about $35 per gallon.
T Boone Pickens wind and natural gas plan make huge sense. I would add we should ban incondescent lightbulbs today. They are energy hogs and we can reduce our costs of use substantially right now. In fact, why replace with CFLs’ when LED is ready to replace that technology NOW. Every recessed can in my home runs on a really neat, rightly colored and illuminating LED bulbs that consume 93% less energy. That is real dollar savings with increased performance. Energy companies will not rebate LED technology because they would go out of business. Let them go out of business!!! Let’s all save now. We can do so much better but we are all too damned lazy to make the change or is it too damned stupid?
43. Sam_S | 08.17.08
How strange that so many people believe increasing the supply of oil won’t affect the price! Doesn’t anybody read the news about prices going up when natural disasters knock out refineries, or offshore platforms, or oil shipping lanes? To say nothing of the fact that we would also be giving more of our dollars to our domestic producers, and less to corrupt regimes who wish us ill. Nothing wrong with increasing our supply AND developing alternatives.
44. Russ | 08.17.08
Drilling has to help lower prices, it will not be the complete answer, but it will be a good start
45. Smack Dab | 08.17.08
Oh and there is the comment that I would rate as third place…
“The oil and gas belong to the people.” Hallelujah. Absolutely correct. Oil and gas should be nationalized as an asset of the people and the people should get the dividends on a quarterly basis. The same with agriculture and all other natural resources. Those running these vast national interest companies would be under direct oversight of the congress and the congress would be in direct oversight by the people, not congressional oversight committees made up of members of congress for God’s sake.
You’ve been Smacked…
46. Jim | 08.17.08
With the worlds oil drills all being used to poke holes in Mother Earth, there are no more available to drill more holes until some are returned to Rent-A-Rig. I don’t understand why a Repuke is speaker of the house. She is too scared to impeach the P and VP and other crooks. Even Pakistan can impeach their crook why can’t we?
47. Don | 08.17.08
First Lets end the War ASAP
Then the government should wage WAR on OIL.
And spend 100 billion dollars a year to get us
away from oil. But their is lots of oil left
and the more we use something else the lower the price will
be They wish us to be scared to do anything
So then thing stay the same as they have for 40 years
Rep and Dem alike neither wants enough change to really
change Take an honest look at our government its
corrupt to the core run by financial self interest
Say anything do much of nothing We should
demand that the government scale itself back by at least 50%
48. Johnydoogood | 08.17.08
We are all being held Hostage by TERRORISTS in this energy crisis,from those in the middle east,those who supply USA,Political parties are holding us hostage.Even those who think we should just throw away our combustion engine monday morning.This is an Oil crisis,its raping our nation,its raping working poor families,and you all make a game out of it.Wall street is raping us!
We need to do everything in our power to reduce the price of gas,utilities.By transitioning over to greener energies.By drilling more.By tougher mandates to Auto manufacturers,and by throwing Wall Street in prison.
Anyone who says,or cant agree to the idea at this moment,the problem is to reduce enrgy costs while transitioning over to alternative transportation and energy,is a pawn in Terrorists hands.
They are know it alls who cant consider the pain of others,nor can the fathom the thought we are sending 700 billion a year to other countries.
49. Debbie | 08.17.08
Gas prices are already down in Miami and all they have done so far is talk about drilling! Yes to alternatives, but in the mean time lets drill and keep the middle east out of it!
50. Rocky | 08.17.08
Wow,
Let me see if I understand the politics of Democrat “Change”. Uh, we wont’drill in Alaska, we won’t drill off-shore, we won’t cave in to oil, we are outa Iraq (last year??) and now we go to Afganistan! I simply cannot believe how the Democratic party has absolutely sold out its core constituency.
Rocky
51. uninformed | 08.17.08
I have heard both Republicans’ and Democrats’ opinions concerning drilling for oil off shore.
I am uninformed because I can’t evaluate the accuracy or veracity of pros and cons. However, I have been around long enough to understand how a few things work.
First, everything takes time. Thus, if we started drilling for oil off shore tomorrow morning at sunrise, I know that the price of oil at the pump or the heating oil company would not be affected in one week, one month, or even six months because it will take much longer for any off shore oil to make its way from the ground into a gasoline tank.
Second, everybody wants to sell what he has for the highest possible price. Oil companies would not sell oil drilled off American shores only to Americans. They would seek the highest possible return by selling that oil to the highest international bidder. There is no surprise and no change there because that’s the way things are today. With all that international competition driving up the price of oil, I doubt that American off shore oil would lower by much the price of oil.
Third, while we continue to drive gas guzzlers, the Indians, Chinese, and everybody else will be driving millions of rice burners. Even though rice burners sip gas instead of guzzling it, millions of new rice burners will help to drive up the price of gas to yet unseen levels. That’s basic supply for increased demand applied on a planet wide scale. Guess what that will do to our sacred, unwritten, Constitutional right to cheap gas.
If anybody is hoping for an easy fix without making really hard choices, it’s time to wake up because drilling off shore for oil won’t lower the price at the pump anytime soon and probably never.
If what we’ve been doing all along got us where we are today, doing more of the same is not reasonable. Even “dumb” animals try different things when a favorite strategy stops working for them. Consequently, we should try something else, but what? There are dozens of things that we could try: Drive lighter, smaller, more efficient gas powered vehicles, stop pouring money to build more highways and use those funds to rebuild our railroads, build nuclear plants for cheap electricity in the near future, switch heating systems from oil to electricity, use R49 to insulate walls and floors instead of only roofs, install wind turbines in the great windy expanses of this nation as well as off shore, exploit geothermal sources of energy, etc. There are many ways to change a little bit today for a better future, but we have to start planning for the future today.
52. volunteer | 08.17.08
Why do Republicans want to destroy the environment?
Its hard to believe that anyone who follows the issues would make a stupid remark like the above
Wake up
54. Oback Arama | 08.18.08
Fellow Americans, I felt that it was important to summarize my policies concerning high energy prices:
1. I will tax the windfall profits of all domestic oil companies. This will increase tax revenues and the taxpayers will pay higher prices at the pump which will please my enviromaniac followers.
2. I will allow no drilling on the outer continental shelf in any currently unleased locations. Such drilling would decrease the price of oil due to a decline in oil futures contracts and a decrease in the spot price of oil. We must keep prices high in order to force people to move to wind, ethanol and other alternative energy pipe dreams.
3. I will allow no additional nuclear power plants during my presidency. Sure they’re safe now but again, the planet cannot afford lower energy prices and nuclear will drive down demand for oil and natural gas.
4. I will allow no drilling in ANWR. Yes it’s a wasteland most of the year but I will lose too many votes if I endorse ANWR drilling and planet Earth cannot afford lower energy prices.
5. I will endorse a cap and trade carbon emissions law which severely penalizes the majority of our current energy producers and users. This is the best scheme we Democrats have ever come up with to socialize the US economy. With this program, every business in America and ultimately every home in America will come under the thumb of the government, and we will be able to make sure that people have no more than they need of anything.
6. I will enforce conservation through speed limits, automotive MPG requirements, enforced car pooling, enforced mass transit use, centralized thermostat control in commercial and residential buildings, a restriction on suburban residential growth, a ban on interstate trucking, nationalization of the US rail industry, nationalization of the US airline industry, and ultimately the nationalization of all US energy industry.
The above measures will increase energy prices and cause severe dislocation for many of our citizens, but that will be good for America and fair for the world. To those who cannot afford to pay their heating bills this winter, I say just turn down your thermostats and put on some sweat gear. It worked for Jimmy Carter so it can work for you too.
I know that these measures will not be popular, but it’s time we stopped using more than our share of the world’s energy. I know that the United Auto Workers, Teamsters, airline workers, energy workers and other hard working Americans will have some employment difficulties due to the destruction of their jobs, but I am confident that if they vote for me, they can have the audacity of hope that many more ethical and environmentally responsible jobs will be created for them in emerging green industries. With our good Democrat programs we will be able to make sure that everyone is able to work according to his ability and we can ensure that everyone is paid according to his needs.
My hope and your hope should be that we can take our failed Democrat policies of the past and make them work this time. It will just require that we all sacrifice with a little discomfort here and there. I know that we can do it if we unite together, and crush anyone in the opposition with quick and severe enforcement.
Can we do it?
Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!
55. G. Hurst | 08.18.08
Pelosi : US Constitution :: Hitler : Versailles Treaty
Only a Democrat could get away with impeding democracy like that because she thinks she’s “saving the planet.” When is the left going to get a clue? Gas prices already went down where I live by about $.40 just because there was a possibility that drilling would be allowed. I wouldn’t be surprised if it went down at least another dollar if drilling is allowed (I heard it could be up to two dollars), and that’s immediately. Besides, why is it that no one is mentioning the fact that Congress banning drilling is unconstitutional? The Tenth Amendment says that any power not specifically given to the US Congress in the Constitution will be given to either the states or the people, and since the Constitution makes no mention of “protecting the environment” as one of those powers, the Congress has no authority whatsoever to make these laws and moratoriums. If the individual states want to outlaw drilling, I guess that’s their choice, but Congress can’t. Treating the US Constitution as a “living breathing document” is bad enough, but it really saddens me when it is completely ignored.
56. Billy | 08.18.08
the republicans want to drill. so do the american people. and the democrats say…no we cant do that. it will ruin the environment.
mccain wants to build nuclear power plants across the nation thus providing clean very efficient and longer lasting energy…but the Dems say “we cant do that! its dangerous! it costs too much! blah”
so mccain moves to build and put to use wind and solar resources. then the dems say there isnt enough space for that, besides it will cost too much.”
so the dems are about change…
mccain is putting forth the only effort to change anything!
all the democrats are saying no we cant.
whatever happend to hillarys “yes we can?”
57. G. Hurst | 08.18.08
Why is Pelosi’s photo shown for this story? This vote is going to happen DESPITE her, not because of her. She’s the one who wanted to suspend democracy because she was trying to “save the planet” (humble, isn’t she?). Well apparently she wanted to save the planet from the American people. After all, we don’t know any better. We need someone like Pelosi to tell us what’s best for us*. I thought people in her position were supposed to listen to us, not the other way around. But to get back to my main point, if anybody is going to have their photo on this story, it should be the Republicans who gave up their vacation time because they thought Congress should actually listen to the American people, but instead we get a photo of this speed bump on the road to a successful Republic, who is so full of herself that she not only thinks she has to save the planet rather than listen to the Constitution or the American people, but made promoting her book a higher priority than serving her constituents, namely, us.
*Big Brother, meet Big Sister…
58. Hilary Smith | 08.18.08
Republicans want to destroy the environment because in so doing, they will make money, their friends will make money, and they will all be a little closer to their perceived vision of control. Republicans do what they do because they fear uncertainty. Nearly every injustice can be explained by a need for control. They think that if they can make enough money and hoard enough money, then maybe when the earth does get too hot to sustain human life, they will have enough cash to buy a ticket to whatever other planet we may have colonized by that time. Maybe they’ll have built a huge underground luxury bunker for themselves and their family and friends. They are super insecure. Americans have got to understand that political representation has to be guarded. We can’t just assume that our interests are being seen to by our elected representatives. We have to pay attention.
59. XDEM | 08.18.08
There is no doubt that allowing offshore drilling will decrease prices at the pump even before the drilling is complete. There is also no doubt that alternatives alone will not help those of us in the lower to middle class. Before we can benefit we will be on public assistance and living in the streets. To believe otherwise would require the willing suspension of disbelief.
60. whs806 | 08.18.08
Those who opposoe drilling in the USA such as Pelosi and Reid would rather export American JOBS and buy $700 Billion in oil imports from countries that don’t like us. Some of that money supports the terrorists that want to kill us.
The way to fix the energy crisis in America is to get the dipsticks out of Washington DC that tell us drilling is bad, oil is bad, nuclear, wind, coal, and sloar energy are bad!
These “ANTI-ENERGY” policy legislators are driving us further into the poor house!
61. Beebo2020 | 08.18.08
“Once again, the democrats are set to bow down to Bush and his cronies…”
“I can’t believe Pelosi is so ignorant as to cave in like this!… ”
“I believe all Democrats should watch closely as their elected leaders,
Pelosie, Obama and the rest, one by one toss all of their official and unofficial convictions aside to get aligned with the rest of the country….”
Right! Get rid of the Dems!
Smack Dab, we actually have access to all these resources at present. A socialist takeover of them will certainly mean shortages. Look at what happened when it was mandated that FOOD was to be used for energy production. Shortage and higher prices. Leave the Socialist crap out of this discussion. Nobody believes that tripe anyway.
62. R. Poling | 08.18.08
People have got to stop this silly uninformed party bickering. Both Parties are at fault here. And You can not keep blaming the current President at the time for all our problems. It take congress to approve all this stuff. We do need to watch our environment, but that does mean we immediately jump from policies that do vitually nothing to policies that stifle our countries growth and well being economically. We must find middle ground that acomplishes both economic success as well as environmental success. As for alternative fuels, we all know we need them. But, that doesn’t change the fact that our country at present is almost soley dependant on petroleum based products. We use it in almost every facet of our lives and don’t even know it. We needed to change this in the early 1970’s when we were hit by the oil cartels the first time. Alternative fuels make up less than 15% of our present consumption of energy in this country. Does anyone have any idea the magnitude of this problem. It will take generations to reverse our dependence on Petro. This must be done of couse, but in the meantime, while we are building all of this alternative energy, we must reduce our dependence of foreign oil. We must increase our supplies at home. This does not mean open up the strategic oil reserve that gives a mere 700 million barrels of oil. We cut our own throats by getting rid of our only backup supply. What happens when it is gone(approx. 90 days or less) and the foreign oil cartels decide to cut our supply off. What then? You think prices are high now! Please think before you just get angry about your present situation and say silly things. This is bigger than just you, and it was caused by more than one person or party over decades of negligence.
63. Reality Check | 08.18.08
BToups, Miss. beaches have never been damaged by oil, only hurricanes. Facts please! Bob, you are the one who lost reality with your meaningless dribble.
Sang Ze, the idea IS to get temporary relief so long term solutions can be developed. That’s why they are called long term. Informed (really misinformed), it IS a matter of supply and demand or you wouldn’t be buying it. Starbucks coffee at $5.00 a cup proves that since I don’t see a shortage of coffee either. James Moore, the only sanity in amongst the insane is correct. By the way Democrats have been in power longer, so why haven’t they developed a plan, and yet they blame Republicans for not having a plan the past 8 years. mwf, your question about 1973 would be bested asked of the Democrats since they were in charge then. Dan Hanley, your comments show how totally ignorant and childish you are. jon, the Demcrats (liberals) control all major media except for Fox news. The media has blamed Bush and Republicans for everything from high priced oil to hurricane deaths with little to no facts.
64. chris | 08.18.08
it’s discouraging how misinformed so many poster seem to be.
This whole issue is simply a game. The oil companies currently have over 10,000 leases for land with known oil reserves, but they aren’t drilling. How will giving them more leases change anything?
Having those “reserves” on their books helps boost their stock prices and the oil companies see an opportunity to exploit the current crisis to boost their stock prices even more by adding to these unused reserves.
It’s that simple, it has nothing to do with helping out you and me. Oil prices are a reflection of a lot of factors but the recent spike is largely due to speculation and is a bubble, just like the dotcom bubble of the 1990s and the real estate bubble that is crashing as we speak.
Democrats are right to work on legislation to reign in the speculation in commodities (like oil) but Republicans have filibusters (quite a change from their mantra of a “straight up or down vote” isn’t it?)
This bubble isn’t ready to pop yet though, we’ve seen a small dip recently but it’s not going to crash any time soon. Supply and demand are pretty much in balance right now so that doesn’t really have much to do with the price of oil. Demand is increasing but so is supply with large reserves in central Asia, Canada etc.
Even if we gave unfettered access to oil companies to drill anywhere they want (assuming they wouldn’t just keep those leases as “reserves”) the total amount of oil is so small compared to the global production it will really have a minimal impact on supply.
So there it is in a nutshell. I hate to interrupt the finger-pointing and name calling on both sides with the simple truth of the matter, but sometimes you gotta do it.
And as for alternative energy, we have a number of technologies that are ready right now, we just don’t have the economic or political will to roll them out. With just a few simple tax incentives at the federal and state levels we could have dramatic utilization of solar and wind power within a much shorter time frame than any new oil wells could be drilled.
Combine that with some simple conservation measures (power strips on energy leaching appliances, compact flourescent bulbs, proper insulation, efficient vehicles or plug-in hybrids) we could dramatically reduce our use of fossil fuels in a very short span of time.
The problem is that many of these solutions don’t promise the obscene profit margins of our current system, so there is a LOT of foot dragging by the filthy rich and the politicians they own.
65. Justin | 08.18.08
Let me get this straight …
“Big oil” (as BIG is added to any thing the Dems want to demonize) has hordes of oil in these “reserves” that they wouldn’t drill and sell AT THE HIGHEST PRICES EVER …. ok you’re right!
Also, when you say “economic or political will” what you’re really saying is “Tax and pay subsidize”. Why is that any better for those companies than it is for the “Big Oil” maybe we should start calling it “Big Enviro”. I’ll tell you what the difference is … those companies are owned by the dems and their friends. And either they have you fooled with the enviro global warming BS … or you’re one of them.
FOR Hilary Smith:
You want to talk about control. Look at the enviro movement. It’s ALL about control. MAN controlling the environment, and environmentalists whackos controlling other people because they “think” they are hurting mother earth. It was all cooked up in the 60s by hippies high on drugs. I think its time to let it die.
66. Red Rotor | 08.18.08
What a sham. All this argument over drilling, such a waste of time. I’m sick of oil, I’m sick of it ruling our lives and ruining our international relationships and ruining our environment. There isn’t ANYTHING GOOD about oil anymore. I’m tired of it and I’m tired of hearing talk about drilling for more. When are we going to get on with our lives and develop the numerous other sources of energy?!
67. Russell Riley | 08.18.08
NANCY- the new Republician! Who says $ doesn’t talk? Democrats have been hoodwinked by Nancy the tratior!
68. Barrett Toups | 08.18.08
I understand why the Republicans don’t care about the environment. They read Revelations, and they truly believe the end of days are upon us. Given that belief, why not drill in ANWR? Why not jeopardize the sea turtles that come to nest off Georgia’s islands? Why not ruin Florida’s beaches? Who cares about Charleston’s historic landmarks? God’s about to DESTROY IT ALL ANYWAY!
69. FJ | 08.19.08
“Pelosi and her left wing anti energy terrorists….. Maybe enough of the voters in her state will come to their senses and vote her out. She is nothing but an energy terrorist.”
You need to get out more, and those of you who do get out more need look no further than California to see why offshore drilling is not necessary, not to mention not worth it.
America would do well to recognize and follow California’s example of success and leadership regarding its Energy Policies.
“The state uses less energy per capita than any other state in the country, defying the international image of American energy gluttony. Since 1974, California has held its per capita energy consumption essentially constant, while energy use per person for the United States overall has jumped 50 percent.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602274.html
“California’s electric utility companies are committed to using renewable energy to produce 20 percent of their power by 2010 (and 33 percent renewables by 2017).”
http://www.energy.ca.gov/siting/solar/index.html
http://www.pge.com/about/environment/pge/cleanenergy/index.shtml
Nancy Pelosi is not the one who will be looking for a new job come November. Californians know we can sustain our energy requirements and reduce costs by reducing our reliance on oil. There is a reason you will not see any new offshore drilling off of California. Californians, including our Republican Governor, know better. Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer are doing their jobs, and if Republicans in Florida and Texas want to drill off their coasts let them. In the meantime California will continue to build its lead and increase its competitive advantage over the rest of the country and parts of the world that fail to recognize oil is a losing game.
70. Nino | 08.19.08
All the president has to do is sign an executive order..this is not a new procedure..when Teddy Roosevelt had the courage to enter a submarine and learn the workings of this war machine..the first act he did upon returning to the WHouse was to sign an executive order …re: more pay for submariners.hazard duty!..so Bush can do the same thing…sign one ordering all reserves to be given to the public and drill in alaska and off shore and out west where we know there are tons..but of course he wonth…insiders are getting a rebate check ..they make believe they are upset over the cost of fuel but later get this check in the mail..TR spoke of this in his inaugural and stopped this practice..if only we had decent honest people like him in office as public servents instead of handmaidens for the upper class…
71. Spencer | 08.19.08
Gas prices dropped 35 cents in 30 days since the ban was lifted. Is that enough proof for you democrats?
72. Art | 08.19.08
Long term we must find an alternative to oil as the worlds dominant source of portable energy. It is the very need for portability that cannot be easily and reliably solved with wind, solar, nuclear, thermal, or most other alternative and renewable sources. Not much is heard about Hydrogen as a solution, but hydrogen is portable, and we are a lot closer to a workable hydrogen solution than most people are aware. However, the only thing we know works at this time is oil. The advantages of developing our very substantial resources(oil shale and sands alone equal Saudi Arabia) is multifaceted. Three big ones are: Increased and possibly dedicated sources of supply not only would reduce price, but would reduce the risk of not having enough availability, a truly daunting prospect.
The impact on our trade deficit would be dramatically positive. A 50% reduction of imports would reduce our negative balance of trade by over 300 billion dollars per year. That translates into less debt and probably a stronger dollar.
The royalty income from domestic oil production will produce much needed revenue for some states and the the country as well. I would like to see the government copy what Alaska did with oil royalties from the North Shore fields and create a Trust that these funds are paid into and only allow the income from the trust to be spent. This effectively converts a non-renewable resource into an infinitely renewable resource for the country and its Citizens. Alaskan Citizens get income from their Trust, individually, every year. So many positive things can come from the present situation if our political leadership puts what is good for our country ahead of perceived political advantage. Pelosi and Reid, unfortunately, don’t seem to get it. No wonder only about 10% of the American people think of our Congressional leadership favorably.
73. dan | 08.19.08
Anyone that believes funding oil research is a better approach to the future than alternative energy research is simply not thinking straight. We cannot drill enough wells to meet current or future demand. The research and emphasis has to be based on non-oil alternatives. Oil is old thinking and will lead us to economic ruin if we do not quickly move away from it. All new research should emphasis a new technology.
It’s time people started thinking for themselves and not listening to pundants and media folks who love to tell everyone how to think. Apply simple logic. Abandoning new oil research will come out the winner of this thought process every time.
We need to be a nation of thinking leaders not a group of sheepish followers that want others to tell us how to think. Let’s get that American backbone back in our national thinking! If you have someone in your sphere of influence that likes to tell you how to think, vote, or live your life, stop listening to them. Read and study and then make an informed decision. No one in our country has the right to tell others how to think.
74. johny boy | 08.20.08
the oil companies net profit was about 7 % manufacturing sector had 8% profit windfall profits on who oil or manufaturing ?
oh how about the government treasury they must be getting record tax income ? a windfall instead of lowing the federal tax on gas they in congress have suggested raising the tax. question why
the 110 th congress lead by senator reid and congresswoman pelosi are not doing the job. when the repubs were in control a barrel of oil was $50.00 and now it has hit up to $138.00 a barrel.
here we go again blamming someone else for the failure of congress to keep the prices down.
elected members of congress were sent to congress to do the work of the people.their job is to debate and vote on important legislation.they have been denied their right and obligation to debate and vote by the present leaders of congress.sounds a little like socialistic russia.
the proof will be in the pudding when the congress lifts the ban on drilling.
it is a travasty not to use our natural resources in these troubled times.
75. bioenviro | 08.20.08
Anyone born with a brain would know that oil is an archaic energy source with today’s technology. However, it is a neccesary building block in what is to come, and should be conserved for that purpose (i.e. it’s used to fabricate the plastics for solar panels).
Those who question the effects of fossil fuels on the environment, I challenge you. Let’s compare the combustion of oil to wind. I hope we all can agree that we, as human beings, represent the health of the environment to some degree. One of these days, step outside when there is a slight breeze and take a deep breath and remember how you feel. Now, start your car and slap your lips around your exhaust pipe and take a few hits, and again, remember how you feel. You make the call. It’s that simple.
Nuclear fission is a great source of energy and safe. I have worked at nuclear power plants for ten years and have seen first hand the procedures, protection, and regulation involved with its operation. Unfortunately, it takes ten years to build one.
The quickest fix is conservation, not drilling offshore! Demand drives supply. Let’s make these oil companies choke on their oil. I would love to see oil tankers lined-up with no where to go. We are the third largest oil producing country in the world. There is no reason why we can not lower our demand to the point of using our own resources at there current production capacities. Renewable green energy is the key to making this happen.
76. Paulo | 08.20.08
Amazing that if IBM makes 11 Billion Dollars profit it’s an American success story…If Chevron make 11 Billion Dollars profit, it’s a crime.
Typical American Ingnorance of the Truth.
Stupid Americans… Slow Down, Drive Less, Keep your car tuned and your tires inflated and you’ll see a reduction in fuel consumption…Reducing fuel consumption as individuals reduces demand on the whole as a collective and will drop prices significantly… and reduces pollution.
77. quack | 08.20.08
The idea that Nancy Pelosi has any credibility in her remarks is ridiculous. She is also the one that pushed for ending the filling of the strategic petroleum reserve at 70,000 barrels a day because that would cause the gas price to go down by 5 - 24 cents. Anyone that can handle simple math understands the impact of adding another 70,000 barrels to commercial supply of our daily use of 20+ million barrels a day is insignificant. Yet now that we are talking about drilling she is again credible on this point???
Once again, most people understand the idea that drilling today does not cause production tomorrow and that drilling in these protected places today will not increase domestic production for years. However, just the news of adding to our reserve base will cause the speculative market to slow down, which will have the potential of creating a more meaningful impact on the price of oil and therefore gasoline than adding .35% more supply daily, which is the daily impact of the strategic petroleum reserve moratorium.
78. Researcher | 08.20.08
You’re all wrong but you’re alright. We had these discussions 35 years ago during the Arab oil embargoes of the 1970s. Electric cars, ethanol, nuclear, hydrogen, solar, wind, we discussed it all. What was done? We doubled our imports of foreign oil and bought SUVs. Rich folks didn’t want their beach houses to see offshore platforms so Congress banned offshore drilling on the East and West Coasts but stupidly allowed it in the hurricane-prone Gulf of Mexico. And as we all know, Congress follows the Golden Rule, the man who has the gold makes the rule. That set us up for 9-11 and today’s spike in prices because of the massive shift of wealth from America to the Middle East, millions of which fund Al Quaeda. Amazingly, our geniuses from MIT to Stanford, in the country that cracked the atom and put a man on the moon, in 30 years couldn’t come up with a single viable alternative fuel source. One has to wonder why?
So, while it may be that Big Oil rides OPEC’s coattails to insane profits, is selling us out under the guise of “increasing shareholder value” and, thus, compromising national economic security, the real enemy is the one you see in your own mirror. Until we are willing to stop filling our tanks with 70% foreign gasoline, open up domestic production, increase our refinery capacity, form our own cartel and refuse to refine anything but North American crude from Canada to Mexico –and there is enough– and expose oil lobbyists and their puppets in Congress, until we wake up AGAIN, we are the problem.
Excuse me, but I now have to drive somewhere.
79. John Shutz | 08.21.08
I have finally come to the conclusion that Americans are stupid. Just reading the above comments has led me to this conclusion. The no evidence pro drilling nuts don’t even realize they are being suckered in by Big Oil. Its blackmail, pure and simple. They want the other leases on top of the leases they already have in order to increase their stock value. They want it all, that is why they are not drilling where they have thousands of acres of leases. Besides,they own the media, they can tell you anything they want and get away with it. You pro drilling robots fall for it everytime and rationalize it with simple solutions or assumptions that justify drilling.
Get a clue, who do you think is behind this? No one on the right has given a straight answer to the question “how much will the price go down in 7 to 10 years” That doesn’t matter because in their heads they believe since gas went down it has to be because the ban on offshore drilling was lifted. No proof of that, but thats the way they think.
Just their ignorant knee jerk responses tells me we are doomed to repeating what we did in 2000 and 2004, electing George Bush the Oilman. Cheney had a secret meeting behind closed doors with Big Oil, soon after an “Energy Policy” was released. Its called Big Oil in your pocket. More recently, the previous anti offshore drilling McCain had a closed door meeting with big oil too. A week later he wants to drill and drill now! It so happens 1.4 million wound up in his campaign compliments of big oil.
Just wait if one of these wells blow up. In particular in a sensitive region. But who cares if that may hasten the extinction of some species, we are the superior ones here on Earth and it is our God given right to drive whatever we want. I call it the new Unilateral America, screw everybody else, its all about me. Iraq is a prime example of that attitude. Coalition of the willing, what a joke. McCain talking tough because thats what Americans like to hear, a John Wayne approach to world affairs. What does McCain have to back it up with, nothing thats what. Who is he going to call to fight his demons for loosing in Vietnam? The only way to try and achieve oil dominance by the McCain way is to institute the DRAFT. Mark my word, without the DRAFT McCain and his croonies cannot take on the evil doers. He doesn’t have much time left so I think there is a sense of urgency on his part to get it started. Doesn’t matter if it goes unfinished, he will leave that to the next guy. He is geniunely loosing his sense of balance and watching him scares the crap out of me. Here we go again and in a worst way, sword rattling at its best. Bombing our way to promote our principles. But thats what the new Americans want to hear, simple minded answers to very complicated issues.
81. Researcher | 08.22.08
Poor Schutz… the stupidest are those who think everyone else is. He’ll gripe about drilling in his holier-than-thou environmentalism then he’ll go out and jump in his SUV. Stop driving Schutz! And while you’re sitting at home blogging your life away, since you have such superior intelligence, why don’t YOU come up with an alternative, renewable, clean, enviro-friendly fuel? You’ve only had 35 years. And you call everybody else stupid. Give some answers, not your silly rhetoric.
82. Gary | 08.29.08
Why as Americans are we so gullible to political rhetoric? Both parties will tell you anything to get elected. They now know that we are all hurting over the price of gasoline. Offshore drilling has become the new political football. Here’s a thought maybe everyone Dems, and Republicans should really think about. OK say we start drilling offshore and Alaska etc.. Don’t you realize that the oil that is obtained will go on the World Market to the highest bidder. China now has the money (we gave it to them) to take most of the lions share. We’ve borrowed money from them to give out checks to buy things made in China that goes back to them. We have lost insight to buying American made products so much that a lot of American companies have gone under. You think our economy is bad now. Wait until our Auto industry goes the way our electronic companies went. Maybe a lot of people driving around in foreign cars haven’t heard that the “Auto industry is the backbone of this country” They think just because they don’t work directly with the Auto industry they will not feel the effects.
This country will fold like an accordian if Ford, GM and Chysler go under.
You won’t have to worry about the price of gas anymore, just how you will be able to feed your family or have a roof over your head.
Maybe you can live in that Lexus and eat what rice the Chinese goverment will supply their new ownned country who will not be able to repay their loans.
Oh well I will get off my soapbox
Everyone can go back to blaming the other be them dems or republicans!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
2. Apollo Daily Digest » Blog Archive » August 18, 2008: As Goes Colorado, So Goes the West | 08.18.08
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
1. MadSat | 08.17.08
Amusing, the guys who gave the country to big oil on a platter with an apple in it’s mouth, are now all about the energy plan LEAST LIKELY to reduce pump prices any time in the next five years.
The Saudis are already producing 300K bbls per day more than in June, for the simple reason that they do not want a Democratic plan to GET OFF OIL to have any chance.
And the Georgia mess (virtually all oil to Europe goes through Russia or Georgia) shows that we CANNOT fight a big oil producer and will not, so the Repubs are blocking legislation essential to the security of the USA, while promoting legislation that won’t help now or in the future, not even on the margins.