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

[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..