McCain: Allow offshore drilling

Sen. John McCain today said he will call for lifting the two-decade old federal moratorium on gas and oil exploration that covers most of the U.S. coast and let states decide whether to allow drilling.

"We must, we must, embark on a national mission to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," McCain said during a media availability at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va.

Drilling "would be very beneficial in the short term."

He said he would leave it to states to decide whether to allow drilling off their shores. In the past, McCain has supported the federal ban that prohibits such drilling.

- Wes Allison

Comments

Grampa McSame has lost it officially..

NO DRILLING OFF FLA'S COAST!!

[Gas is too expensive]

We want drilling off Florida now !!!

[kitty]

Gas is too expensive; what are you driving, how far is your commute, and did you file a police report against the person who held a gun to your head and forced you to purchase that vehicle and make such a long drive?

[Kim]

Let' DRILL, and EVERYTHING else we can do to get off foreign oil. We need to show the World we are serious about being independent.

[Disgusted Republican]

Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less

http://www.americansolutions.com/actioncenter/petitions/?Guid=54ec6e43-75a8-445b-aa7b-346a1e096659

12:58 - One can assume based on your negative response, that you can afford $4 plus gas prices and are happy about the way the democratic controlled congress has handled the energy bill(s).

[jason straight]

Please restrict drilling only in areas that the GOP dominates..on the East coast we will take care of our tourist industry..I dont think an oil Derick off SOBE will be very popular during MTV promos..The oil slick should be limited to Florduhs RED coastal counties..Go FE it!!

[Don't listen to the Tree Huggers]

I can't wait for us to start drilling off Florida. Let's get it done, like yesterday.

Wow, McCain must be a loyal Hannity listener. Hannity said on Friday that McCain needs to be hammering away on the energy issue. No, listen to Newt and pick Jindal as your running mate.

Build the derricks and then build casino's out there too! We need the oil and we need the cash!!! Better us than the tribes!!!

[Dave]

The idea that allowing drilling offshore will make gas prices magically go down is pure lunacy. By the time the people advocating this would ever get around to pumping oil, the rest of us will have already cracked the world's next real energy solution thanks to an effective President with an eye on solving our energy crisis. You'll just be left selling 8-tracks to a guy with an iPod.

Wake up, Dave. You're dreaming again.

Call to abolish the death penalty and Social Security, and McCain can make it a trifecta.

[alex]

Um Dave, that argument was given 13 years ago for ANWAR. They said that it would be 10 years before it would be producing. Well, we are 3 years past that point. If it takes 5 years before off shore drilling produces--OKAY--so 5 years from now we wont have to worry about it. Its called vision people.

[mlm]

I hope McCain is making this statement on behalf of ANWR drilling and adding to the Mississippi and Louisiana drilling areas. Drilling the Gulf Coast of Florida has the chance not only to be in the way of more storms but also risk the Gulf fishing industry. However, it may not matter if people in Florida want or don't want drilling. The Feds have already tried to redraw Florida's borders to get possible oil areas.
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/31/Opinion/Imaginary_lines.shtml

Jesus, there are rigs all in the gulf and not one rig leaked with any of the various cat 4 or Cat 5 storms (Rita, Katrina, etc...) went near them.

This stuff about offshore driling being bad for the environment is a load of crap. Get informed you idiots.

I can't stand McCain, but he may win me over this this position. Its time someone had some cajones!!

10 Top Reasons to Blame Democrats for soaring gas prices:

This started out as an attempt to create a light and humorous, Letterman-esque Top 10 list. But the items on the list, and the drain Americans are seeing in their pocketbooks because of Democrats' actions (sometimes inaction) are just too tragic for that.

10) ANWR If Bill Clinton had signed into law the Republican Congress's 1995 bill to allow drilling of ANWR instead of vetoing it, ANWR could be producing a million barrels of (non-Opec) oil a day--5% of the nation's consumption. Although speaking in another context, even Democrat Senator Charles Schumer, no proponent of ANWR drilling, admits that "one million barrels per day," would cause the price of gasoline to fall "50 cents a gallon almost immediately," according to a recent George Will column.

9) Coastal Drilling (i.e., not in my backyard) Democrats have consistently fought efforts to drill off the U.S. coast, as evidenced by Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's preotestation against a failed 2005 bill: "Not only does this legislation dismantle the bi-partisan ban on offshore drilling, but it provides a financial incentive for states to do so."
A financial incentive? With the Chinese now slant drilling for oil just 50 miles off the Florida coast, wouldn't that have been a good thing?

8) Insistence on alternative fuels One of the first acts of the new Democrat-controlled congress in 2007 was an energy bill that "calls for a huge increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel and requires new appliance efficiency standards." By focusing on alternative fuels such as ethanol, and not more drilling, Democrats have added to the cost of food, worsening starvation problems around the word and increasing inflationary pressures in the U.S., including prices at the pump.

7) Nuclear power Even the French, who sometimes seem to lack the backbone to stand up for anything other than soft cheese, faced down their environmentalists over the need for nuclear power. France now generates 79% of its electricity from nuclear plants, mitigating the need for imported oil. The French have so much cheap energy that France has become the world's largest exporter of electric power. They have plans in place to build more reactors, including an experimental fusion reactor.

The last nuclear reactor built in the United States, according to the US Dept of Energy, was the "River Bend" plant in Louisiana. Its construction began in March of 1977.

Need I say more?

6) Coal "The liquid hydrocarbon fuel available from American coal reserves exceeds the crude oil reserves of the entire world," writes Dr. Arthur Robinson in an article on humanevents.com. The U.S. has approximately one-fourth of the world's known, proven coal reserves. Coal would be a proven, and increasingly clean, source of electric power and--at current prices--a liquified fuel that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Yet Dems and their enviro friends have fought, and continue to fight, both coal-mining and coal plants.

5) Refinery capacity "High oil prices are still being propped up by a shortage of refinery capacity and there is little sign of the bottleneck easing until 2010," according to Peak Oil News. And, while voters in South Dakota have approved zoning for what could become the first new oil refinery in the United States in 30 years, the Dems' environmentalist constituency vows to oppose it, just like environmentalists opposed the floodgates that could have saved New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina.

4) Reduced competition With consolidation in the oil industry, has come reduced competition. Remember, most of the major oil company mergers -- Shell-Texaco, BP-Amoco, Exxon-Mobil, BP-ARCO, and Chevron-Texaco -- happened on Clinton's watch. The number of oil refiners dropped from 28 to 19 companies during Clinton's two terms.

3) The Global Warming Myth At a Group of 8 meeting this week, host and Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari "described the issues of climate change and energy as two sides of the same coin and proposed united solutions ... to address both issues simultaneously". As a result of Global Warming hysteria, the Al Gore-negotiated Kyoto Protocol created a worldwide market in carbon-emissions trading. Both 2005 --the year that trading was initiated--and this year --when the trading expanded dramatically -- saw substantial and unexpected price spikes in the cost of oil, leading us to reason Number...

2) Speculation "Given the unchanged equilibrium in global oil supply and demand over recent months amid the explosive rise in oil futures prices ... it is more likely that as much as 60% of the today oil price is pure speculation," writes F. William Engdahl, an Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. According to a June 2006 US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report, US energy futures historically "were traded exclusively on regulated exchanges within the United States... The trading of energy commodities by large firms on OTC electronic exchanges was exempted from (federal) oversight by a provision inserted at the behest of Enron and other large energy traders into the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000." The bill was signed into law by Bill Clinton, in one of his last acts in office.

1) Defeat of President Bush's 2001 energy package According to the BBC, "Key points of Bush('s 2001) plan were to:

-Promote new oil and gas drilling

-Build new nuclear plants

-Improve electricity grid and build new pipelines -$10bn in tax breaks to promote energy efficiency and alternative fuels

A New York Times article, dated May 18, 2001, explained:

"President Bush began an intensive effort today to sell his plan for developing new sources of energy to Congress and the American people, arguing that the country had a future of 'energy abundance if it could break free of the traditional antagonism between energy producers and environmental advocates.

Mr. Bush's plea for a new dialogue came as his administration published the report of an energy task force containing scores of specific proposals... for finding new sources of power and encouraging a range of new energy technologies."

[The Bush plan] "mentions about a dozen areas including land-use restrictions in the Rockies, lease stipulations on offshore areas attractive to oil companies, the vetting of locations for nuclear plants, environmental reviews to upgrade power plants and refineries that could be streamlined or eliminated to help industry find more oil and gas and produce more electricity and gasoline."

The article went on to quote some rather prescient words from the President, "this great country could face a darker future, a future that is, unfortunately, being previewed in rising prices at the gas pump and rolling blackouts in the great state of California" if his plan was not adopted in 2001.

The Times account continued:
"Mr. Bush talked not only of blackouts but of blackmail, raising the specter of a future in which the United States is increasingly vulnerable to foreign oil suppliers...Mr. Bush was praised by many groups for laying out a long-term energy policy. His report contained 105 initiatives..."

Just as President Bush's predictions have been born out, the article quoted from that most sage of Democrats, former President Jimmy Carter:

"World supplies are adequate and reasonably stable, price fluctuations are cyclical, reserves are plentiful," he (Carter) argued. Mr. Carter said "exaggerated claims seem designed to promote some long-frustrated ambitions of the oil industry at the expense of environmental quality."

But, as a later Times article notes, "the president's ambitious policy quickly became a casualty of energy politics and, notably, harsh criticism from Democrats enraged by the way the White House had created the plan."

In other words, Democrats refused the President's plea to "break free of the traditional antagonism between energy producers and environmental advocates."

Remember that the next time you pull up to the pump ... or the voter's booth.

Sorry to not include cite the source above:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/top_10_reasons_to_blame_democr_1.html

[Heidi]

From Craig Pittman's article on Aug. 7, 2005 "Hurricanes blow into drilling debate": ..."As hurricanes in the gulf have increased in number and intensity, they have posed a greater problem for the nearly 4,000 rigs in the western gulf and the network of pipelines that connect them to the mainland.

In 1992, when Hurricane Andrew roared across Florida and then through the gulf, it knocked down 22 offshore oil rigs and damaged 65 more. Ten years later, Hurricane Lili damaged 17 offshore oil platforms - two of them so badly they collapsed. Then, last year, Hurricane Ivan destroyed seven oil platforms and significantly damaged 24 others."

Florida stands to lose a significant amount of important tourist revenue (as our region did after the 1992 Tampa Bay spill) that can't be recouped through other means. NO DRILLING OFF FLORIDA -- especially considering that hurricanes are getting stronger with global warming.

Overall, we need a much broader energy policy that embraces reduction, reuse, and alternative energy (such as more solar use in the SUNSHINE state). Even if we sucked every drop from the earth now, we are going to run out some day.

50 miles off the coast and you won't see a thing. It's time to figure out if you want to play the waiting game or take action to save ourselves dollars.

This is a list of some of the products made from oil. Nearly everything in our lives is made from oil, made by machinery and systems dependent on oil, and transported by oil as either gas or diesel fuel. Even taking out the transportion of... this is still an indication of the impact of oil on our daily lives...

Ammonia, Anesthetics, Antihistamines, Artificial limbs, Artificial Turf, Antiseptics, Aspirin, Auto Parts, Awnings, Balloons, Ballpoint pens, Bandages, Beach Umbrellas, Boats, Cameras, Candles, Car Battery Cases, Carpets, Caulking, Combs, Cortisones, Cosmetics, Crayons, Credit Cards, Curtains, Deodorants, Detergents, Dice, Disposable Diapers, Dolls, Dyes, Eye Glasses, Electrical Wiring Insulation, Faucet Washers, Fishing Rods, Fishing Line, Fishing Lures, Food Preservatives, Food Packaging, Garden Hose, Glue, Hair Coloring, Hair Curlers, Hand Lotion, Hearing Aids, Heart Valves, Ink, Insect Repellant, Insecticides, Linoleum, Lip Stick, Milk Jugs, Nail Polish, Oil Filters, Panty Hose, Perfume, Petroleum Jelly, Rubber Cement, Rubbing Alcohol, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Shoes, Toothpaste, Trash Bags, Upholstery, Vitamin Capsules, Water Pipes, Yarn

so when women stop putting on makeup and we all stop wearing deodorant, I will then start worrying about my car's consumption.

[Simon]

Don't drill. That oil is a great bank account no one can access yet. We Americans tend to not learn from history but rather from punishment. If we drill the price of gas will go down and people will think the problem is over, until the wells are pumping nothing but air and everyone will look around and say, "What, huh?" If we leave it for thirty years and let people suffer from buying those stupid SUVs and Hummers and burning three times the amount of gas they need, hopefully by the time we need to tap that oil a gallon of gas won't just be for some 15 mpg P.O.S. Maybe, maybe, maybe, this is the one time people will learn a lesson.

[Disgusted Republican]

To heidi and simon:
Try goggling ALL the news reports from the MASSIVE oil spills caused by that little CAT 5 storm, Katrina.

Here is a hint: There weren't any.

Whining cry babies hippies, SUVs my a**. Drink some more koolaide.

By the way, my SUV has a bumper sticker, "Hydro-Cardon powered Eco-Vechile". It means, "powered by OIL".

[Jimbo]

Any new drilling does the opposite of what we're trying to accomplish: it prolongs our dependence on oil, be it domestic or foreign. We need these prices to keep rising (or at least stay this high) to force the hand of DC and the automakers to finally be serious about alternative energy, and not ethanol, which still requires oil to produce and dwindles our food supply.

It's time to mass-produce hydrogen, electric, and solar as viable sources for transportation. Hydrogen has already been proven time and time again it will work. Electric needs the bugs worked out, but I think the Chevy Volt shows it can, and will, succeed. And solar can be used for the bigger vehicles, like semi's, buses, and trains, since they tend to be outside more often than not.

[ds]

GOP resurrects offshore drilling plan | June 12, story

U.S. should tap its own oil resources There's a lack of intellectual curiosity and a similar lack of balance in this article on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

On the curiosity side, let's just follow through on the reported facts. The story reports that there are approximately 86-billion barrels of oil in the near-shore waters. This is not all available today but can be substantially recovered over time with improved technology. The story also states correctly that the United States uses approximately 20-million barrels of oil per day. Simple math — 86-billion divided by 20-million — means that just the oil in the offshore waters can completely supply the entire United States' needs for 4,300 days. For the next 12 years, we would be so self-sufficient that we wouldn't have to buy a single barrel of oil from another country. And the rest of the world would have an extra 20-million barrels per day on the supply side.

This single step would so dramatically alter the supply-and-demand equation that the price of world oil would drop dramatically. The world economy would experience a growth boom unlike anything that has ever happened before.

But that oil runs out in 12 years, so we have to do more. We have more oil trapped in oil shale deposits right here in the United States than the entire Middle East has in the ground. I have seen estimates that the shale alone could supply our entire energy needs in a span measured in hundreds of years. And again, we do not have to buy a single barrel of oil from anyone. All we have to do is mine what we already have.

We have the natural resources and the technology to become completely independent of foreign oil suppliers. And if we choose this path, it will immediately and permanently drive the cost of energy down while sparking a huge world-wide economic boom.

So where are these thoughts and options in your article telling us that Congress continues to vote against national security, independence and prosperity?

Andrew Demartini, Trinity GOP resurrects offshore drilling plan June 12, story

The only way McCain is going to win is by pounding away on the oil/drilling issue. People vote their pocketbooks. If they are made to understand that it's the Dims' fault that we are paying $4 at the pump, then they will lose.

[Simon]

Hey, Disgusting Republican. Have someone read my last post to you. I said I was for drilling, just not yet.

[mike]

We cannot drill our way out of this. We have to start living smarter and find alternative ways to produce the energy we need. We got to the moon now we we need to get back to earth! How about a government effort to secure our country from oil!

The reason that we are paying $4 a gallon for gas is because of the Democrats? Doesn't anyone remember GWB's re-election campaign in 2004 when he promise to talk to his Saudi friends into producing more oil? Where are his friends now that we are providing their security by deposing Saddam? Their whole country would have been part of Iraq by now if it weren't for the US military sacrifices. Where is our reward?

It will take years to produce new oil from new rigs. The short term solution is to replace gasoline with other fuels. The long-term solution to our need for oil is to replace the energy source. Period.

McCain's national energy strategy is to "leave it to the states." Classic.

[Chris W]

Democrats' fault? Suuure. Like oil futures traders and a weak dollar (fiscal policy set by a Republican president) don't have more to do with oil and gas prices than whether or not we can get oil online in five or ten years.

I don't know whether you're stupid or you think we are.

sweat it not.........by 5 p.m. tuesday, johnnie mcBush will have changed his mind or merely forgotten what he said.

the babblinbastard cant even get the number of troops in vietraq right, after being repeatedly prompted and corrected, what makes anyone think this droolingdouchebag will respond to the energy issue any differently?

vote john McAiNUS for president.

not a DRUNK, getting as senile as RAY-GUN day-by-day!!

McAiNUS!!McAiNUS!!McAiNUS!!McAiNUS!!

Doctrinaire liberal morons: do you really think that if we pumped in ANWAR, the Dakotas and off the coast of Florida that we would be paying $4 a gallon right now? Not likely.

[Florida Economist]

There is absolutely no doubt that the moratorium has stood in the way of sound energy economics over the past two decades and has left America weaker and more vulnerable to an energy crisis. As a matter of economics and national security, it must be lifted and Florida must open up its coasts for exploration and drilling. Florida should limit the drilling to reserves that are already proven to exist and place reasonable requirements on the size of reserves that future sites must meet before drilling can take place. This will allow for exploration and responsible drilling, eliminating needless drilling for reserves that would not have a significant impact on energy independence.

Communist regimes are already going to be drilling closer to Florida’s shores than our own nation is currently allowed. Moreover, greater damage will be done to Florida’s economy if the cost of energy remains a real problem as it cuts directly into the tourism industry and resident relocations of which without, Florida would be in severe dire circumstances and would absolutely fall into a statewide depression.

Now old John has the Obamabots scared shi.....!!

Their Messiah would have to freak out the liberals if he goes for this. A test of his gonads---which he will likely fail!!

America should begin to learn to be more efficient with finite resources. But we shouldnt have our heads up our butts when it comes to developing more energy, especially nuclear, clean coal, renewable and yes - drilling off our own coasts.

After 40 years of dealing with Muslim nutcases hijacking planes, bombing American discotechs, killing our solders in Beiruit, we MUST start taking this issue seriously and get off their stupid oil.

[DELdaBULL]

Cars should/need to be powered by something other than gasoline. Electricity/Energy should/needs to be powered by something other than hydrocarbons (i.e. nuclear, wind, water, sun). Until this is accomplished the USA will always be dependent upon foreign oil. The dependency is not due to Democrats it is due to the "American" lifestyle.

Hey, Nancy Pelosi promised she and the Dems would solve our energy problems in the first six months they controlled Congress!!

What happened---more broken promises by the Dems. More to come with Obama!!!

[duh]

lets see if we drill off our coasts what will we get? the answer is nothing...the people drilling will export the oil and make huge profits just as they do with the oil they are currently pulling from within the US and Coastal areas. oh but we could get lucky and get a nice oil leak and have our white beaches turn into a nice black beaches littered with dead birds and other sea life. then lets see how everyone likes it down here. Personally i think its foolish at this point to disturb the earths fragile echo system just to pump out a minmal number of barrels of oil just to have them shipped out of the country. I think the country should start working on better functioning engines and mass transit systems and stop living on 1960's technology. call me crazy...but for the sake of our children and their children i think this might be a smarter way to go...plus it would get off the middle easts um you know...

[Jarid]

waaaa.... stop crying hippies and start drilling!

these current oil prices have been aided and abetted by scummy republicans who only care about bottom-line profits. drill all over the u.s. if you want, but it won't bring prices down one bit. that new oil would just be traded at the same high prices on the international market by the corporate thieves that occupy this government. just keep producing children to fight their wars.

[Nasty beach]

I walked on the beach on Galveston Island, Texas last year...it was full of black tar balls that stuck to my feet.

The tar balls came from the leaky oil derricks in the ocean.

That is what you will get if you allow drilling off the coast of Florida.

Our nation's economy is being sucked dry by enormous amounts of cash being sucked up by the oil producing countries. Yet we sit on an abundance of energy including centuries worth of coal and oil shale. Like France, we could significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil by expansion of nuclear power plants. But the Democrats, led by their energy Tzar Robert Redford and lazy lips Jimmuh Carter have thrown up road blocks at possible solution. Jimmy

You mean, if we drill for oil off the Florida coast, Texas will get more black tar balls? I can live with that.

[Rockabilly]

An aggressive and comprehensive energy policy would include drilling domestic oil, including ANWR and offshore; building more refineries; pursuing nuclear; and utilizing oil shale and coal; as well as stressing conservation and more energy efficient automobiles. But we've done nothing really, and will continue to do nothing until circumstances force action.

[Donald Lance]

When the Dem controlled house killed the drilling bill being proposed last week, their reasoning was that we need to encourage energy efficiency vs. a greater supply. The Dems I watched on CSPAN were stating that we Americans need to purchase more insulation and more energy efficient windows in our homes to battle the rise in fuel prices. I took that as the Dem party trying to get me to use my money to offset the govt's misperceptions about what is really going on in the world. Somebody explain to me how murchasing $10k in energy efficient windows and putting another layer of insulation in my home will make energy prices go down. Progress energy's bill statement says that oil is responsible for only 9% of their energy production, yet 1/2 the oil used in this country goes toward fueling autos. What I'm saying is the Dem party is way off base. They want the citizens to pay vs. the govt allowing supply-side economics to work. When the problem has been around for 30 years and the Dems are still blaming me for the energy crisis, their heads are simply in the wrong place. Drill here, drill now, drill often! Supply side economics will demand a change from the auto industry then 1/2 the problem is solved. In the meantime, thank a Dem for $4.00 gas.

I LIKE THE IDEA.
LET EACH STATE DECIDE IF THEY WANT DRILLING OFF THEIR COAST.

WE NEED TO STOP DEPENDING ON FOREIGN OIL.

We want cheap gas, but don't want the consequences to get the cheap gas.

Typical.

Stop driving huge gas-guzzling SUV's or stop complaining of the price of gas.

STOP WHINING!

I agree with John McCain. Let each state decide.

Our state will always say NO.

No difference for Florida.

From the blog in U.S. News and World Report. McCain could cut a big gash in Obama and the Dems. He will do it, just watch his smoke!!

If McCain wants to crush Obama in November he has to come up with a common sense plan to make this country energy independent. That will involve more drilling and relience in technology (better gas mileage, new and renewable fuels, etc). You don't have to be a rocket science ti figure this out.

Yes, the Democrats and the people that put them into power have driven us to $4 plus gallon gasoline. The Democrats being stupid and saying we will allow someone else to drill the oil and gas and refine the fuels we require should be enough to drive the Democrats to bear extinction. Just how stupid is going to the Saudia's with hat in hand when we have at least three times the proven reserves (oil, gas, oil shale, tar sands, not counting coal). Shouldn't we be producing oil from our own reserves? What a radical idea! Its gotton so studid that we can't drill off Florida (in an oil field we discovered) but the Communist Chinese can (with the permission of the Cuban government)! People we are deep in the rabbit hole.

Unfortunately most people are unaware of the energy reserves of this nation. They aren't aware that oil recovery is so technologically advanced that during hurricane Katrine there wasn't a single drop of oil spilled from off shore oil drilling rigs. They aren't aware the Dems placed off limits almost all exploration and drilling on Federal lands where most of America's known reservesare located. Forget about going through the permit process to build a new refinery which can take in excess of a decade. After all but eliminating the ability to to explore, drill, transport and refine oil within the states, territories, and waters that comprise this country Democrats now seemed shocked, shocked that we find our self paying $4 - $5 plus (so far) and we find ourself at the mercy of dictators and despots to maintain our standard of living. Give me a break!

Bottom line McCain must articulate clearly the problem and the solution. "A solution we can believe in" If he does that ...Obama is toast. Obama has bought into the old liberal solutions (forget change and hope) which have clearly failed and he has no ability to move to a sensible solution that would offend those of the extreme left of his party.

MCCAIN IN 2008--Get Palin on as the VP and watch the Obamabots start to sweat!

Florida should not say no.

We have plenty to explore and it is far enough off our coast to be safe. Our technology is more advanced & it would be safer than it was many years ago.

John McCain is correct to suggest ending the ban. Way 2 go John.

McCain just showed some balls. He's got my vote!! That's the maverick we need.

[Dan]

My Friends, you are being conned just like ENRON did. The Oil Companies are exporting 1.8 Billion Barrels a day of Oil based products...Gas, Desiel & Jet Fuel. We are subsidizing the Oil Companies by $38Billion a year and they are manipulating the market and your small minds. Oil wells off the coast has a federal leakage allowed of 500 barrels per well... What happens to our beaches while their greed is insatiable. It is a transfer of wealth from Tourism to Oil Companies through Government manipulation. Wake Up Fool.
http://www.thedieselpage.com/dieselprices.htm

when a liberal says: "new drilling will keep people driving SUVs!"

they are really saying: "drive the car i tell you to drive, live the way i tell you to live because i took a few poli sci and sociology classes in college and i know how you need to live your life better than you"

ah, stalin, lenin, castro, and chavez would be so proud

LET'S PROTEST AGAINAST THIS OIL DRILLING!!!! HEARD OF ANY GROUPS SO FAR?

Nasty Beach

The prevailing gulf winds blow nnw in a counter-clockwise direction.

It's why gulf hurricanes tend to turn west away from Florida towards Louisiana and Texas. (the ones that do come ashore in Florida are littlerly blown off course by an equally powerful westerly front - however when a front is abent the storms nearly always turn west)

And it's why Texas gets the tar balls and not Florida

when will you suv-driving retards wake up?

we don't need to drill for more oil in the gulf we need to drill for more brains.

Just look at the coast line of La. or Tx. to see what oil spills do. every platform leaks, even the newest ones. the proposed sites are right in the middle of Hurricane alley and the platforms are abandoned when the winds reach 60mph. Go figure.

North Dakota has plenty of oil if we're willing to invest in it. The companies that drill in N.D. have a profit line of $55.00 per barrel.

We could build refineries on the mexican border and 80% of our transportation cost of shipping it, pay more to mexico and get exclusive rights but their is a hidden agenda to high prices that no one is addressing.

What the pin head republicans want to do is break the EPA and the environmental movement. They want, more than anything to take what they want with Impunity.

[Donald Lance]

9:12 PM. The wind may blow NNW, but the ocean currents where the drilling will take place flow SSE. Meaning any spills would was up on - Cuba! If the spill were to avoid the Cuban shoreline, there is a chance it could make it to the Keys. But all things considered, if gas is too expensive nobody will go there anyway.

[K. Rove]

"If we don't drill off Florida's coast, the terrorists will attack us again, and if you're opposed to off-shore drilling, you hate our troops!"

What the hell, it worked in '04!… TO WORK, MY MINIONS!

9:29 pm - thank you for proving my point that liberals have the self righteous need to tell people what to do

well, be true to yourself first before telling me how to live - why don't YOU live with no fossil fuels mr. holier than thou - sell your car, sell your home (which i can bet uses more fossil fuel generated electricity than my place) and go live in the woods - then come tell me what to drive - until then *iss off

[Sasha]

According to the CIA Factbook, the US produces 4+ trillion kWh (2005) of electricity a year, 71.4% of which is generated by fossil fuels. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html

While that includes coal, we need something new ASAP. Drilling for new oil is not the answer. It's not all going into cars. Until 1970, the US produced enough oil for its own use. Then we began to import - thats' not that long ago in terms of the age of the earth.
OPEC has said that market demand should put the price of oil at about $70 a barrel. So if no one bought at $130 plus, we wouldn't have this problem. Let's take a gas holiday week and see what happens.
In GWB's infinite wisdom, instead of giving a tax deduction for energy efficient vehicles in 2003, he gave them for SUVs and Hummers. Have you all forgotten that GWB family and freinds are in the oil business, the nation rebuilding business, etc? So GWB is directly responsible for major contributions to our current problem.

Personally, I would not like Florida beaches to look like those of Oman, Lebanon, etc. where they are "tar beaches."

There are oilfields that are owned with known reserves in Alaska - Prudhoe Bay began depleting at a rate of 10% a year in 1986. Kuparuk has the 3rd largest oil reserves in the US at the moment and as of December was cleaning up a 4284 gallon spill from a leak in the pipeline. Nearly 1 million gallons of crude and product were spilled from 1977 to 1999 on the North Slope according to a report by the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology in 2003 - imagine that on Florida's coastline.

So to those of you who want open drilling, I say "be careful what you wish for." The rest of us are going to downsize cars, use public transportation, use less energy and actively work on renewable energy sources.

[Samantha]

Oil companies are making higher profit margins than ever these past few years. And guess who owns such a big share? Little people like Bush and McCain.

No, we need more effective technologies for driving (better mpg) and eventually completely switch off of gas.

Drilling off shore just lines the oil companies' pockets with even more money, Bush has already admitted that we would see the effects of it for at least 3 years. And, I'm sure in that amount of time, they can find some other scare-tactic to distract us.