Arnold puts down Crist and McCain over offshore drilling

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a guest appearance today at the Florida Climate Change Summit in Miami hosted by Governor Charlie Crist.

Arnold had lots of praise for Crist's leadership in Florida on tackling climate change.

But he appeared to issue a firm rebuke to politicians (including Senator John McCain and Crist) who have suggested ending a ban on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. "Anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke," he said.

Schwarzenegger's press spokesman Aaron McLear called me a short while ago to stress that this comment was NOT directed at Crist or McCain, and instead was targeted specifically at the impact of offshore drilling on gas prices. "He was not referring to either one of them. Neither Crist nor McCain has said offshore drilling is going to immediately reduce gas prices," McLear said.

However, the California Governor remained firmly opposed to offshore drilling, McLear added. "He doesn't believe in offshore drilling. Her certainly doesn't agree with McCain and Crist on that."

My own view: it seems pretty clear to me that when McCain and Crist raised the offshore drilling issue last week, they both had gas prices in mind. Our paper's reporting certainly reflected that.

For the record, here's are Schwarzenegger's exact words today:

"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling, it goes on and on the list. But, anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."

(more speech highlights below)

- David Adams

To be fair to Schwarzenegger and Crist, they have much more in common than their difference over offshore oil drilling might suggest.

As an indication of that here are some more highlights from Schwarzenegger's Miami speech (all direct quotes):

* "California and Florida are natural partners on the environment because we have so much in common.
We are bi-coastal leaders in fighting global warming  which is why I am back at this important summit.
We each have millions of residents who want to preserve our natural  splendor and resources."

* "Governor Crist has also shown terrific leadership on climate change. He made both news and history
at last year’s summit by issuing a call to action for Florida. He signed Executive Orders to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy. He has created partnerships with other states and nations. And just this week he announced Florida’s deal to buy out U.S. Sugar which will restore wetlands and protect the Everglades. And perhaps most importantly, he brought our nation’s fourth-biggest state into the fight against global warming full force.
His timing could not be better. Our states, nation, and world face unprecedented challenges from global warming, high energy prices, and threats to our energy security. To overcome these challenges and end our addiction to oil we need a consistent, long term, energy policy that gives consumers  more choices.
And we have to stick with it, not just for a few years until something else comes along. But for decades."

* "I know how frustrated people are over paying nearly $5 for a gallon of gas, and I have heard a lot of good ideas about what we should do. I love Senator McCain’s proposal for a $5,000 tax credit if you buy a zero emissions vehicle, for instance. And his $300 million prize for the next generation of electric car batteries will help us increase the efficiency of alternative fuel vehicles that much faster.
But Governor Crist, Senator McCain and I also know that America did not become addicted to oil overnight. We won’t break free overnight either."

* "If everyone in the country took the simple step of making sure they had correct air pressure in their tires, their gasoline costs would go down 4 percent. America’s oil consumption would drop by 800,000 barrels a day. That is twice the amount some experts have said we would get if we pumped all of our known offshore reserves."

 

* "In the United States, our domestic energy policies are all over the place. We had a big solar push under President Carter, but it was not sustained. Congress passed tax credits for solar, wind, and geothermal energy in the 1990s, but they expire at the end of the year. They should be extended for at least another decade."

* "Washington has also been unwilling to hold automakers’ feet to the fire when it comes to fuel efficiency. So today the average passenger vehicle gets less than 25 miles a gallon. The Model T did better than that."

* "Today we have visions of Congress patting itself on the back after mandating  35 miles a gallon by 2020 and thinking it has finished the job. That’s the same fuel efficiency Italy gets now. America can, and must, do better. For both our long-term economic security, and our national security."

* "As you research, create, support, and invest in renewable energy technologies think about the payoff. Not just the next year, but also the next decade. Your idea might not look reasonable or affordable now, but energy prices are not going back to the good old days. So consider long-term profitability, long-term return, and long-term benefit."

Comments

Nuclear Power is an amazing idea. It will lessen our need for oil for creating electricity at least. Other superpowers get it and are fast trackng nuclear plants. China plans to build 50 in the next decade.

[KC]

China probably isn't the best example to follow...

[Annette]

I was disappointed with Senator McCain's decision in offshore drilling; it simply does NOT solve the bigger problem. Hey, Senator, don't follow Charlie's lead...he's proven to be a very poor leader!

[Arnie]

Where was Charlie? I'm sure he hated to miss a photo opp w/Cali's Gov. What a "girlie man"! Go drill yourself for oil Charlie!

[Ric]

Nuclear energy is really great, but the one problem that no one seems to pay attention to or speak much of is, when the fuel is spent, what are we going to do with all the radioactive waste.

[Tim]

If we started drilling more today, it would most certainly cause speculators to curtail their dire predictions and force oil prices down.

Our country's short-sightedness is a major cuase for today's oil situaion. Just because solution X doesn't offer immediate benefits, that doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing. If we had acted prudently 10, 15, 20 years ago, we'd be better off now.

[Sam]

Just send the spent nuclear waste on rockets toward the sun. Problem solved. OR solar panels on every roof?

[Deborah Doucas]

Tell Arnold to think of the people who voted him in under a republican format. Drill we need to! Arnold should run as a good democrat liberal.

[MM]

We can send a man to the moon,we can come up with all the latest technology for war but we can't come up with another source of fuel?? Come on it's all greed too many people on the top are getting rich off the oil prices.

It's a game that is being played.See how much the people will take then they may lower the gas prices a bit to make it seem as if were getting this great deal at 3.50 a gallon.

[Marc]

Who cares, I average 28.2 MPG in my Cross-over Pontiac Vibe, and I could care less if gas cost $10.00 per gallon. BRING IT ON! Instead of ruining our beaches, why don't you drilling proponents sell your Hummers and stop you whining!

[RR]

DRILL, DRILL, DRILL!!! Grab the crystalized methane that is sitting on the bottom if the middle grounds.

[Barbara]

Does anyone know that you cannot fly over the white house or even Disney Land/World. But you can fly over neclear plants anywhere. What if we have another group of crazies out there? They could do a lot more damage than than they did on 9-11. No we should NOT drill for oil in the gulf. Is the whole worlk going nuts?

NEVER TRUST A REPUBLICIAN!

[k]

Nice choice of picture, Mr. Adams.

The technology for massive oil consumption reduction exisits and has all along (wind, solar, diesel-electric, etc.). The problem is nobody makes enough money on it, and demand hasn't necessitated change - until now. Don't drill, don't gripe, just change and become independent. Ahhhnold is spot-on with this one and has the moxie to stand up to a misguided policy decision on McCain's part. (this is from a McCain supporter!) Partisan fallacies have no play in logical policy-making here. It's simply the best path.

[voxy]

dear god please don't tell me that obama plans to pick mr. green for his running mate.

if so I am moving to mongolia

[Gorgon]

Personally, I hope gas goes up to $25 a gallon, and effectively forces us to use that signature American Ingenuity into reasonable alternative fuels. By "reasonable" I DO NOT mean ethanol, which is another disaster waiting to happen.

Let's finally stop "burning things" for energy...

[Your Neighbor]

Uh, dontcha think the title for this blog is downright partisan? I don't interperet Arnolds' statement as a slam on McCain and/or Crist. Nobody said drilling is an instant cure. Nobody. Besides... States won't let it happen anyway. No Harm in promoting drilling, but Nuclear is the answer.

[steve oneal]

It is refreshing to see a politician speak the truth, even if it goes against his own party. More people should think as individuals and not just tow the party line like sheep.

good for arnie! ditch the suv, don't buy a house 50 miles from work, and walk some of the fat off your butt. gas prices will not be lower in the way that they have been. that period is over. the sooner some of you face that reality and act accordingly, the better for all of us.

[Tony]

How will Nuclear plants reduce gas prices? Most electricity in the US comes form coal which we has a 500 year supply of.

There's no need for drilling in our Gulf. The oil companies have thousands of acres in Alaska and the Gulf already that have oil under them. Big Oil is just too cheap to do the deep water drilling needed. They want to use all the cheap stuff up first and destroy our coastlines.

There is an oil reserve in Alaska with 8 billion barrels yet Big Oil wants to use the ANWR reserve. The oil companies haven't even touched it! Give me a break! We haven't even taken 8 billion barrels of oil out of Alaska since we started drilling there. Use what's permitted first then maybe we can discuss ANWR and the Gulf.

mm
we never went to the moon

[Doc]

Where in the article does Arnold "Slam McCain and Christ?" I read the article twice and the Times led us to believe that Arnold "slammed" the gov and presidential hopeful. Nice heading Times reporter; way to false advertise.

And people wonder why the SP Times readership is low. They don't report anything equally. They missed the entire 2nd Amendment decision by the Supreme Court. SPT didn't agree with it.

They also missed the next most important story today, the one where their candidate Obama CHANGED his mind on supporting the 2nd Amendment now.

Instead they put up a page 10 (at best) story on California's governor!

REPORT THE NEWS ST PETE TIMES, DON'T TRY TO MAKE IT!!!

OBAMA has CHANGED his mind AGAIN! REPORT IT!!!

Nuclear power will not lower the price of energy and they know it!

Drilling for more oil isn't going to make one bit of a difference in gas prices...we only have so many plants that can process the oil. therefore the direct effect will not be seen anytime soon!!

[Barbara]

Can anyone tell me why there are oil barges sitting off the coast of Maryland, Delaware and NJ. They have been there for over four months and the US will not let them come in to unload the oil. Maybe then they would have no excuse to keep raising the price of gas. Who is making the profit from all these high prices. Is Bush an oil man? Did God make little green apples?

[Becca]

There is no defense for the past seven years of toatl chaos and totally inept governing by the installed bush frat club.

Crist, much to my chagrin, but not surprising jumped right on board with commander codpiece and mccain't.

The horror, the absolute horror that is the state of our beloved country.

YOU drill.......we move, PERIOD.

Haven't the oil barrons and all bush's cronies got enough.....apparently not.

Anyone bother to get a truly unbiased, scientific opinion? Are there any geologists that CAN speak freely without living in fear of losing their career if they do so?

Is there anyone left in this current admin. who has even a small flicker of integrity? Sadly,NO.

[john]

Tell the Drillinataor that Italy uses diesel cars...the ones that can't be sold in the US because of California restrictions.

[Tuck]

We could easily power every home Florida with a farm of underwater turbines in the Gulf Stream.

They are like wind farms, but use water currents instead. Functional underwater turbines have already been created, so the technology is not far off.

[ShiGty]

Why do democRATS try to rewrite history?????????????? Someone please tell me!!!!!

[Jay]

Tim said:

"If we started drilling more today, it would most certainly cause speculators to curtail their dire predictions and force oil prices down."

You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, do you?

[Tuck]

Hey ShiGty - what else are a bunch of Art History majors going to do? Certainly nothing that involves coming up with solid, technologically savvy ideas of their own.

The easiest way to critique an idea is to criticize it. Dem’s learned that trick in college and made it the cornerstone idea for their party.

[Jason]

Just out of curiosity? What are the dem's answers to all of this to lower prices? Oh, I know, they blow hot smoke through their utter foolishness about $$$ for technology? Yes, there is a great answer! Has anyone seen these stupid looking prius's that are out of this universe prices that makes up for the price of gas?? If you buy one of those, you nigh as well be paying $8 a gallon for the next five years. This new technology myth or idea is going to cost a ton of $$. So, as long as were drilling or attempting to, we finally would show the world that we are independent!! This U.S. Would have never made it through WW II!!
Also, these stupid hybrids go 0-60 in 10 minutes!! And you would die in a head on crash with a smart car or prius!

[John]

I was there. Adams got it right. The crowd of mostly business persons responded with thunderous applause after Arnold said it.

Whether you like Arnold or not, he's pretty straight forward about what he believes.

I hope Crist flips back and decides that following the oil industry in hopes of a Veep job was too high a price to pay for harming his credibility. Crist has done a superb job so far on stomping out coal plants and laying the foundation for a clean energy economy. He should focus on Florida and not on Veep ambitions.

[Tony]

Arnold needs to worry about his own state. Illegal immigration is worse there than here. Their education system is in the dumper. Lest we all forget Nancy Pelosi? Enough said there. California has it's own problems without Schawrzi involving himself in us. Fix your own state first.

[Larry Clifton]

Steroids have turned Arnold's brain to mush. Crist drilled this one!

[Tony]

FYI: Today Republicans blocked Democrats from requiring oil and gas companies to drill on the millions of acres of government land and water on which they already own federal leases.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/26/congress.energy.ap/index.html

Why can't oil companies drill on the land they already have?

[Tony]

Thanks for the link Raymod!

So basically its energy companies (oil) speculating on the oil they produce and driving the price higher so they can collect bigger checks. I think it's time to nationalize our oil reserves.

[Michael]

I believe Arnold is blowing smoke. First of all, there was a major deep sea discovery back in 2005. The largest oil find in US history. It was estimated that the find will produce 800,000 barrels a day...Since it was so deep, it was estimated that the new find wouldn't produce until 2012. According to Arnold this shouldn't have an impact on oil prices right away...

However, he was wrong, when the discovery was made known, it dropped oil prices...Back in 95, Clinton rejected more oil production in the US, if he had endorsed it, it would have made an impact on the market today...Instead of destroying the dollar, instead of demand other countries to produce more oil, instead of relying on other countries to cut their demand while the demand in the US is dropping, instead of relying lame arguments against more drilling whether oil is too cheap so drilling that said was worth it, like back in the 90's or it can't help bring the price down now...

We should increase production in the United States, part of that is building another oil refinery which we haven't done since the 1970's...This will help if one breaks down or one is hit by a hurricane, and of course increase of oil production in the US especially in Alaska.

[Elizabeth Mignone]

No offshore drilling. We need to preserve Florida's coastlines. What is the matter with our leaders? We need to protect the environment, not destroy it! Find alternative forms of energy, Mr. Crist.

[raymond]

wow only one intelligent person here. thats sad. I send a link to all of you to find out the truth about oil, from there own mouths and only one person watches it. Sir I thank you for taking the time to find out the truth for yourself.

[Logan H]

It's not going to bring gas below $4 a gallon, but it can keep gas from hitting $8 a gallon. Since Arnold doesn't seem to understand supply-side economics, he better not have a problem with gas at $6+ a gallon. It's so stupid to throw out a good idea because of a lack of instant gratification, that is what made gas get this high in the first place.

[Logan H]

We have two choices under our control, it is that simple....

1. Do nothing and except significantly higher gas prices for the near future.

2. Drilling

[Logan H]

accept

[Tino]

"I think it's time to nationalize our oil reserves."

Yeah, that's worked so well for Mexico...

[solar]

Forget nuclear power. We'd have to build a new plant EVERY DAY for the next several years to meet our energy needs. Solar panels and industrial fuel cells are the way to go.

[John Thoams]

Wow, now that was interesting.

www.FireMe.To/udi

[Tino]

Today's front page article in the St Pete Times concerns drilling in the Gulf. It refutes the left's refusal to believe that Cuba has leased out areas in the Gulf to foreign countries.

Drilling WILL occur in the Gulf off of Florida. We can choose to capture it or have someone else drink our milkshake...

[jack]

The only reason Crist cares is because his political term is up soon...and he'd like to become popular.

[Mike]

All that smoke from a guy that drives a Hummer.. Charming..

[Mike]

Two ways to drop gas prices.
Release 1\3 of the US reserves. Second announce the intention to drill. Although the drilling will take 10 years to reap the benefit the futures traders are the biggest reason oil is $141 a barrell. This will teach them to mess with the market and will cut prices at the pump by $1-$2 in less than a month.

[Ipsos]

The USA produces 3% of the world's oil supply. Assuming we were able to double our output (unlikely), this means at most we'd see a 3% increase in supply and thus a ~3% reduction in our costs. At $4/gal, that's a savings of 12 cents.

This entire argument is based on false premises anyway, the oil companies have only utilized 20% of the waters leased to them in the US. This is simply an opportunistic grab by the oil companies to take advantage of public sentiment at the moment to consolidate their business further. Lets see the oil companies start drilling the land that isn't used, then we'll talk about opening more to drilling.

[Jeff]

I'm against offshore drilling, not because I think its dangerous to the environment, but because I think its time to find alternative means of energy. Electromagnets, solar, wind, etc.

I didn't know Florida had so many environmentalists. Especially considering how all 20 million of you have contributed to the destruction of Florida's ecosystem. The most fragile ecosystem in the country, yet everyone wants to move there.

[Chad]

ummmm...what makes what Arnold is saying any more correct than anyone else? I'd like to hear from real economists, experts on the subject without the politics. From a pure logic standpoint, Arnold is wrong about offshore drilling; and nuclear energy is a viable alternative that's not being taken advantage of, mostly because of unwarranted fear from people who refuse to look at or understand reality.

[Roland]

Mike- you are a bonafide idiot to post THAT comment!
The cost of oil is tied directly to the demand. Your BS is the dribble that makes the lemmings believe that drilling will compensate for the demand.

YOU ARE WRONG!

[Jim]

Forget Drilling.
In 4 - 5 years Industrial Hemp could supply all our ethanol needs using 5% of
unusable farmland. Farmers would be rich.
See it here by a ethanol expert from the 80's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jew3ah24Zj4
Put more money into biofuel algae research.

[MIKE]

ARNOLD - BASIC LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND. THE MORE SUPPLY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY FROM OFFSHORE DRILLING & ONSHORE DRILLING IN SHALE FIELDS AS AN EXAMPLE WILL MAKE IT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY AS MUCH FROM HOSTILE FORIGN COUNTRIES THAT WANT TO KILL US. THE REST OF THE WORLD IS DRILLING OF THERE COAST AND SHORTLY OFF OUR COAST OF FLORIDA IN CUBA USING OUR TECHNOLOGY AND HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. AS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY THIS NATION MUST BECOME MORE ENERGY INDEPENDENT. ARNOLD START THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY INSTEAD OF JUST YOU HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS

[Tim]

Yay for Arnold. If we're going to use our coastline for energy production, it should not be from drilling. A much more eco-friendly and sustainable strategy would be to invest instead is offshore wind power, wave energy, ocean current turbines, or even tidal power. The potential energy generation from our coasts is amazing (See article at http://www.brightfuture.us/new). But it should not come from more offshore drilling!

[k]

Didn't Ahhhnold sell most of his Hummers and get the last one converted to biodiesel? ...something now getting more mileage than a Camry?

[Frank]

Mike, get a clue. We get only a small percentage of oil from hostile countries. Canada and Mexico are our largest suppliers.

No guarantee any oil sucked from the Gulf will go to US consumption. It all goes on the open market, sold to the highest bidder.

We only have 3% of the world's oil resources but consume 25% of the pumped oil. Do the math.

Oil shale, as well as tar sands, would do nothing to lower the price of gas because the process of extracting the oil is so energy intensive.

Do some research and get informed before you make a complete fool of yourself.

[Miller]

Nuclear energy looks like a great idea on paper, but the one thing that people do not realize is that it is not an infinite resource. There is only so much uranium 23 out there for these plants. So, in a few years, we'd be in the same boat that we are in now.....SOLAR is the way to be thinking. This technology has been around for more than 30 years, yet we still haven't perfected it? As a country, we are better than that. The sooner that we can utilize this infinite resource, the sooner our fuel costs and environmental problems will be addressed.

[Charles]

Saying that that some oil from ANWR or offshore may be exported or it wont lower gas prices is a very stupid reason for not drilling there! Take an class in economics. If we export a million barrels from ANWR and import a million barrels from somewhere else, it costs us nothing. If we import a million barrels and export none it costs us 140 million dollars! Research and development of alternative energy sources is great and we should do that, but as long as we are useing more oil than we are producing we need to drill as much as possible. If we end up with more oil than we need we can sell it to China to pay for all our imported lead painted toys!
Democrats say drilling would not help because we wont get the oil for 10 years, a great argument they have been making for a decade - jay Leno