McCain VP pick loves offshore drilling, wants to open up ANWR too

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican presidential candidate John McCain's pick for vice president, is unlikely to blunt the Democratic Party's attempts to portray McCain as a puppet of Big Oil.

For one thing, her husband, "First Dude" Todd Palin, has worked since 1989 for British Petroleum, says the Los Angeles Times.

He "was making between $100,000 and $120,000 a year before he went on leave in December to make more time for his family and avoid potential conflicts of interest. London-based BP is heavily involved in the gas pipeline negotiations with his wife’s administration," the Times reported.

More importantly, the Financial Post reports that she is an even bigger advocate of offshore drilling than McCain himself, who has been pushing it so hard that he recently campaigned aboard an offshore rig in the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, she wants to open up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, the FP reports, and blasts "extreme environmentalists" who want to block any drilling in the wilderness.

On the other hand, not too long ago she praised Democratic candidate Barack Obama's energy plan.

[Associated Press photo]

--Craig Pittman

Comments

[Confused]

Actually, according to YOUR link, she praised PARTS of Obama's energy plan. The part about natural gas since she was instramental in getting a NG pipeline built in Alsaka.

Since she is a STRONG proponant of drilling and especially in ANWAR(you even mention this), she obviously doesn't agree with Obama about his ENTIRE energy plan since he is AGAINST drilling.

You also leave out "Palin received an appointment to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, where she ended up serving a role in an ethics probe into Republican Party Chairman Randy Reudrich, who was questioned about conflicts of interest with the oil industry."

"The investigation ultimately forced Ruedrich to resign from the commission."

She also took on big oil about tax breaks in Alaska and WON.

Please do some research before writing slanted blogs. If you want to vote for Obama that's great, just don't make it so obvious.

[Also confused]

In that link you provided, Palin was opposed to Obama's windfall profit tax proposal saying

"Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue," Governor Palin said.

I agree

Actually it was Obama who agreed with Palin saying about the natural gas pipeline she pushed through

"Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process."

[Robert]

Ummm, maybe you should go back and read your own linked article again before you declare that Palin supports Obama's energy plan. A busch league attempt to mislead readers as a result of your crush on Obama. Although, Obama would surely frown on you and say that "change starts with editors such as yourself reporting the facts and not according to your misguided partisan tactics. This is just more of the same". Or something along those lines.

[Elizabeth]

This is a truly horrible choice! She wants to kill all the animals and destroy what remains of the environment. I am a Hillary supporter, but to rush the extinction of numerous species, not to mention escalating the misery of working and low income people just for spite is to be a traitor.

[Bob]

Elizabeth, can you provide a link or some documentation to where Palin states "she wants to kill all the animals" Your statement of "to rush the extinction of numerous species, not to mention escalating the misery of working and low income people just for spite is to be a traitor." is also without merit. Where are you getting your info from? It is one thing to be against McCain and the Reps, but your statement is just as reckless as calling Obama a traitor who will sell out our country to Muslims. Actually, there is more truth in that statement than anything you have written.

[Ryan]

There is only one group out there that wants to destroy the environment. That group is the Democratic perception of Republicans. Nobody wants to destroy the environment. Did you know that a lot of oil every year goes into the ocean simply by seeping out of the ground? If an oil tanker dumps its oil -- why is that harmful to the environment? Isn't that where it came from? This earth has been around a long time. Nobody on the Presidential ticket is going to ruin it. "Rush the extinction of species" you should record yourself so you can listen to what you say. Either you believe in God, and know that God is control of the earth, or you don't and believe that any extinction is natural selection. Even given that, nobody is rushing extinction.

After oil companies jump through the ridiculous hoops that the government and environmentalists put them through, they still work hard to keep their environment clean. You guys keep making oil execs out to be Mr. Burns from the Simpsons. Do you know any? How many have you actually seen an oil CEO plotting the environment's destruction so they can make 9 cents a gallon selling you gas? It's just so ridiculous how mad people get about the oil industry. Nobody is making you put gas in your car. You want to feel important? Ride your bike. Oil, gas, natural gas, isn't hurting anybody, and has made our lives abundantly better.

[lions-]

Elizabeth-Your 1/2 right, Sarah is a hunter "only because her
husband is. That's always the case when a woman says I like hunting. I don't think she would kill animals if her husband would say let's stop this hunting crap!

Great. A holy roller in heels.

[OBAMA]

OBAMA!!!!!!!
Karl Rove didn't handpick him!!!

OBAMA '08!!!!!

[Joe]

I don't know much about Palin, but I must say, I'm very impressed with the intellengence that has been displayed by most of these comments. I'm learning more about Palin just from reading them.

Ya baby drill in my back yard. My property values are going down because of George's economic plan, so if the repubs get it I'll have a chance to make some money, GO MCbush!

Interesting how SP-Obama Times decides to cover sports now instead of their messiah speaking. Where is the front page coverage?

I wonder how many people they will send to the GOP convention to cover real history in the making? It will be interesting to see which reporters attend and listen to their "unbiased" coverage. Will the SPT only drink the Kool-Aid or will they see the truth AND the next history making presidential ticket?

While Obama's speech didn't make me sick, the left wing wacko coverage with hysterical, mindless obedience did make a bit of puke come forth from the depths of my gut.

[Darren]

McCain struck gold when he choose Palin! He said he will empower states to decide for themselves if the want to drill. The federal government will not get in the way. Palin says yes for Alaska, but if Florida doesn't want to drill - it doesn't have to.

States' rights baby! McCain is going to win!!!!

[Darren]

Another thing. Did you notice how bitter Obama was during his speech? His anger came out the same night McCain's ads praised him on the 45th anniversary of MLK's I have a dream speech.

Obama is upset that as more of our citizens learn about him and his change for the worse they run into the arms of McCain.

Stick a fork in him. Obama is done.

[Carol]

Bob,
In defense of Elizabeth's comment about killing all the animals: Palin is well known for opposing protection for polar bears and being in favor of killing wolves from airplanes. Perhaps that isn't a concern of yours but to me it would be a tragedy if she ever stepped foot in the White House. McCain's choice makes me ill because sadly he has a chance to win the election.

[Ronnie]

What a biased article! First, BP was not awarded the natural gas pipeline, Governor Palin awarded that contract to Transcanada which was done in June and reported else in the Times. You deliberately leave that out of your article when you have the information. Second, Governor Palin’s husband is part of seasonal line crew. Just how much influence do you think he has in BP? Other posters before me have already covered your alleged support of Senator Obama’s energy plan.

Couldn’t you have at least tried to seem impartial? This was such a hack job on your part. Try reporting the truth or at least part of it.

[peggy]

I call Alaska Governor Palin the "shroud of McCain." Everything McCain has a problem projecting, he shoe shines a VEEP to gloss over the many inadequacies he himself posesses.
Since her husband is in the oil business, and she is fighting for a pipeline for Alaska Gas, isnt she really an "Oil and Gas Texas on ice?" This is how they gingerly shove offshore drilling down our throats.

If you know anything from reading the Oil And Gas Journal, platforms dont have leaks and spills, like pipelines do. Jeb Bush in April 2001 article by AP Wash DC Josef Hebert said to Interior Dept Gale Norton , concerning offshore drilling from Florida coasts, "after the (gas) pipelines go it, it will be hard to say no (to offshore drilling)."

Seems that 80% of the gas reserves are 65-120 miles off Florida's coast. And in case people forget, Tampa Port and Miami Port have the infrastructure in place with the numerous gas, oil, and jet fluel pipelines. Even DEP Director Castille's speech before Congress in 2006 (my old records request) said Jeb had no problem with each state's legislature voting for the right to drill.

Charlie Crist as Atty General, from PSC record requests since 2004 approved LNG gas tankers and gas pipelines for El Paso gas and Suez subsidiaries, like Mitt Romney did in Mass as Governor. We are now Texas folks. Keep voting GOP and see what kind of state we end up with.

[Charles Hill]

John McCain to support drilling in ANWR, biggest news from Palin/Gipson interview.

http://strategicthought-charles77.blogspot.com/2008/09/john-mccain-to-support-drilling-in-anwr.html