Rubio: Explore drilling but don't fool public

House Speaker Marco Rubio agrees it makes sense to explore "every natural resource we have" to ensure energy independence. "If people can show us we can drill off the coast of Florida and we can do it safely without harming the environment," he told the Buzz, "then we should do that."

But the Miami Republican scoffed at the implication that it would bear quick fruit at the pump. "Even if we started drilling tomorrow morning, it could take close to 10 years before we start seeing the benefits. It's not fair to tell people that if we drill for oil, we're going to immediately lower gas prices."

Asked if Gov. Charlie Crist was smartly reading public sentiment or pandering to Sen. John McCain, Rubio said: "What's important is the public policy he is espousing. I know he's changed his mind, I know he's been accused of flip-flopping and that this is a different position from one he took just a week ago. But public policy makers have the right to change their mind, especially if it's based on a careful consideration of the issue. If he spent some time looking at the issue and came to the conclusion that he was wrong, I think that's a sign of mature leadership. If that's how he made it, I don't see anything wrong with it."

Comments

Drilling for oil off Florida's coast will not do a thing to drop gas prices, folks.

We need leadership, not lies.

Get a backbone, Rubio.

OH CRAP, I just realized that we're drilling off of Texas! How did we let this happen! There are all these oil rigs that might leak if a hurricane hits.

Oh, you mean they've been there for 40 years and no problems. OOPS... I wonder what the price of gas would be if they weren't allowed 40 years ago?

Nobody cares what Rubio thinks..he is irrelevant....

[Chris W]

10:06 - I guess you've never walked on the beach in Texas and had to scrape tar balls off your feet. They're all over the place,and once they get into your clothes or anything else they're staying.

Chris W, those beaches are clean now. They had a problem for a good while associated with tankers in a couple ports seeping oil that washed onto the beaches and formed "oil balls". The off shore rigs were not to blame.

Chris W, those beaches are clean now. They had a problem for a good while associated with tankers in a couple ports seeping oil that washed onto the beaches and formed "oil balls". The off shore rigs were not to blame.

The oil prices will fall if we begin drilling in the Gulf, and the will fall pretty immediately. Here's why: once the markets (aka the speculators) know that new sources of oil will be making its way into the market, even if it is several years down the road before a single drop hits the inside of a barrel, they will begin to move their money out of oil and into other commodities because there will be an expectation of increased supply. This will lead to a decrease in market price as speculators begin to enter a bear phase.
Additionally, in an effort to discourge full out production of oil from our new domestic markets once it becomes certain that is our intention, OPEC, Venezuala and other international producers will increase supply themselves. This will also contribute downward pressure on the price.

Yes, my SUV may not get a drink of Florida oil for 10 years, but with the launch of the first exploratory rig we will see an immediate and continuous impact on attitudes, and thus prices, in the oil markets.

The oil prices will fall if we begin drilling in the Gulf, and the will fall pretty immediately. Here's why: once the markets (aka the speculators) know that new sources of oil will be making its way into the market, even if it is several years down the road before a single drop hits the inside of a barrel, they will begin to move their money out of oil and into other commodities because there will be an expectation of increased supply. This will lead to a decrease in market price as speculators begin to enter a bear phase.
Additionally, in an effort to discourge full out production of oil from our new domestic markets once it becomes certain that is our intention, OPEC, Venezuala and other international producers will increase supply themselves. This will also contribute downward pressure on the price.

Yes, my SUV may not get a drink of Florida oil for 10 years, but with the launch of the first exploratory rig we will see an immediate and continuous impact on attitudes, and thus prices, in the oil markets.

Gee, 10:32, can we get that guarantee in writing? Since these are forces either out of our control (or that we are at war with), dontcha think maybe we ought to think about energy independence, conservation, and clean fuels for a change?

Who will pay to help clean up a spill- taxpayers. Who will pay to clean up Florida small businesses when the oil spills and pollution dirty our clean beaches- taxpayers.

Only oil companies profit form this. The average American family is hurt by the Bush Cheney irresponsible energy policies.

This is political pandering from our RINO Governor to get in the good graces of the RINO running for President, in hopes of moving on up to the big house in D.C. Nauseating to say the least. I am all for oil drilling but the lack of core beliefs on the part of our politicians is astounding. I completely disagreed with Crist's opinion on this issue but I thought he had a passion for it, a true belief, and one that he has had for many years. Just last week he was not for oil drilling off the FL coast, this week McCain says he's for it, and voila like magic Crist has a drilling epiphany... Who could possibly say that Crist didn't study the issue and come to an educated conclusion, that would be too far-fetched wouldn't it? ;-)

[Obama beating McSame]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has a 5-point lead on Republican John McCain in the U.S. presidential race, but holds a big early edge with the crucial swing voting blocs of independents and women, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Two weeks after clinching the Democratic nomination and kicking off the general election campaign, Obama leads McCain by 47 percent to 42 percent.

Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1736113820080618

Glad to see that Marco is joining the posse of the hopelessly out of touch. As if we need yet another excuse to dump the punk.

I guess McSame thinks if he dumps this on Florida now, we'll forget by November. I think it's much more likely that Charlie's sunk his chances for 2010 as well.

Do you ever wonder WHY state agencies LOSE so many of their cases? Wonder no more:

OCCUPATION PROFILEWorking Title: ATTORNEY Broadband/Class Level: LAWYERS - Level 3 Broadband/Class Code: 23-1011-03 Pay Grade/Pay Band: BB010Position Number: 60025206 Closing Date: 6/24/2008Location: OCALA County: Marion County Annual Salary: $36,381.54

And in local weather today, a strange inversion has occurred:

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/07/State/Offshore_drilling_sep.shtml

I think we need to recognize President Bush's recent plea for renewed oil drilling as the landmark event in national statecraft that it is.

Undoubtedly, history will record this as the decsisive moment in which millions of uncertain Americans finally realized that all the bloodshed in the middle east, the soaring gas prices, the denial of global warming, the resistance to smaller vehicles and green technology, were part of one big strategy by the Bush administration to subvert the entire machinery of our nation to the aims of the petroleum industry.

Never have I heard such a poorly reasoned, ill-considered, last ditch blatant desperate attempt by a lame duck tool to eek out a final little parting gift to his handlers before he exits the stage as undoubtedly the most corrupt high official in the history of our Nation.

Don't we have any of that oil left over that we use to pay for the Iraq war?

Maybe if we put in the legislation that the entire board of directors of any oil company who spills a drop of oil on any Florida beach will be sentenced to visit Old Sparky.

After all, if it would never happen, what do they have to worry about.

Notice how fast the Obamabots want to change the subject when the McCain proposal on expanding drilling is met with widespread public support. Obama remains stuck in the past cuddling up to the special interests. So much for his change mandate. Also, his idea of change: bring in all those Clinton staffers from the '90s. What a farce!!!

Nice to see Rubio making a few parting shots before he joins his beloved Jeb in the wilderness.

[McCain is a Flip Flopper]

McCain is the Ultimate Flip Flopper...CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Jack Cafferty wonder where McBush actually stands on the issues.

Watch the video and judge for yourself.
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=e0afb7f0-771e-4fae-9b4d-8c2f60de920b

"...McCain proposal on expanding drilling is met with widespread public support."

Gulp, Gulp, Gulp... mmmmmm, this is good kool aid, Mr. Rove... may I have some more?

And Now; I shall never do business with Plute!

GET RID ON THE POP UPS!

Florida doesn't deserve any imported oil or natural gas as long as we don't allow drilling 125mi off our shore

liberals are so fond of telling others how to live, as a libertarian i'm gonna take a shot at it - while you democrats keep telling Florida not to drill 125mi off the coast, don't drive your car or run your a/c in your home so you can rid yourself of the stench of hypocrisy i'm smelling on this blog.

oh, and one more thing - i don't care who in so-called Big Oil gets rich - just get the prices down by increasing supply - i'm tired of paying more for gas just to drive to the drive-thru than i'm paying for the food!

[raymond]

Crack head your an idiot. try a new line would ya. punk

Look at yourself in the mirror. Maybe you should consider cooking at home.

[Donald Lance]

How about this for fooling the public:

http://tennesseepolicy.org/main/article.php?article_id=764

9:02 and 9:03 - thanks for that brilliant analysis - musta been easy for you to get that GED

I'm so glad that we in Florida have figured out how to repeal the law of supply and demand. I think we should go after the law of gravity next.

DWE is going to start drilling in his pants

but don't tell his mom

Donald,

You know these liberals--do as we say, not as we do.

They are now running scared that McCain may have identified a weak spot in their Messiah and the public is now going to find out about it.

McCain=Bush=McSame

Obama = Carter= Defeat

why are republicans so retarded when it comes to energy policies and national security?

2:40 - AAAHH! just made my day - you are the retarded one if you think the failed energy and foreign policies of Carter and Clinton are the answer

What would one major oil spill do to our beaches and our economy.

2:49 - i'm assuming you mean an oil spill from drilling, well get ready to learn something: that major oil spill would come from an oil transport ship not from a derrick - and even that is not risky

if you can dig up a news story about a major oil spill happening recently in the gulf, then i might reevaluate my position, but you won't find one

so let's live in the real world not in the land of "what if"