Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (Full Version)

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Sophie11 -> Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 9:09:37 AM)

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/18/Bush_seeks_to_end_offshore_drilling_ban/UPI-61471213789242/



freakofnature -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 9:46:20 AM)

The rebirth of common sense.



WesP -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 10:45:18 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: freakofnature

The rebirth of common sense.


[sm=thumbsup.gif]



Leslie_JnJs_mom -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 11:04:44 AM)

I wonder if this will make people say vote to drill our own oil or we will replace you with someone who will.[:D]



CatholicCritter -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 11:26:59 AM)

With the huge deposit in the Dakotas and Montana, we should be all over that. Combine that with incentives for nuclear energy and alternative fuel sources and we could make some progress. Given that about 5 billion barrels are accessible with current technologies. we could stem the tide until nuclear and alternative fuels are up and running.



todd_t -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 11:53:11 AM)

According to an AP article I read this morning, 68 million acres of US offshore regions are currently under lease to oil companies, and have not yet been explored. Perhaps those areas should be explored first before big oil goes after everything left offshore.

Secondly, there's a big flaw in the GOPs plan to expand offshore drilling: if gulf states like Alabama permit it and Florida does not, what happens in the event of a major spill when that oil drifts onto the latter's beaches?

Who pays for the cleanup? Florida? Alabama? Or the oil company?

Further, this whole issue is not a "liberal" concern per se, considering that both former President Bush approved an offshore drilling ban, and Jeb Bush enacted the same for Florida during his time as governor.

As for oil shale exploration, I think that's fine as long as it can be done in an environmentally safe manner.

Finally, I wonder why no one seems to raise the fact that the bulk of US crude imports do not come from the Middle East, but from Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela?



blessedinnyc -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 11:54:40 AM)

This is one of the few places where my knee-jerk response to play devil's advocate on a forum filled with Republicans is overcome by the fact that Democrats should probably just go along- it will make them look responsible.

Of course, I don't know how much 18 billion barrels will help when the world has roughly 1.1 Trillion in reserves, but hopefully, Dems will at least be able to use this to compromise with Republicans to perhaps reduce the national speed limit and increase funding for hybrids and hydrogen-powered cars.



StephK -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 12:04:15 PM)

For those who keep saying no to drilling off your shores then by all means, DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICES of everything that is a by-product of oil. It's more than gasoline we are talking about here.



todd_t -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 12:05:16 PM)

quote:

but hopefully, Dems will at least be able to use this to compromise with Republicans to perhaps reduce the national speed limit and increase funding for hybrids and hydrogen-powered cars.


Like these hydro-cars?

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5is-WLvgmNMniTcwwWeDWidZkWRKwD91B8G8O0



todd_t -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 12:09:11 PM)

quote:

If you all keep saying no to drilling off your shores then by all means, DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICES.


One problem with the notion of expanded drilling is that it assumes that any oil extracted will go right into American markets.

Up to 30% of Alaskan crude is shipped to Asian markets; what is to stop oil companies from sending any new offshore crude overseas as well where it will have zero benefit to US consumer prices?

Oil companies could not care less about the financial well-being of their US customers. They are a business, not a charity.



StephK -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 12:12:16 PM)

The more on the market the greater the supply. The greater the supply the lower the price. It's simple economics.



todd_t -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 12:33:16 PM)

quote:

The more on the market the greater the supply. The greater the supply the lower the price. It's simple economics.


I don't think it's that simple at all. The majority of the spike in oil prices has not been due to supply and demand as much as oil speculators running wild.



Stephanos -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 12:41:33 PM)

I would like to point something out. Just because the suspected reserves that we can get in our own waters/land, is miniscule compaired to what the world has, does not mean we should not go after that oil. Why? Because if, while drilling for that oil under our own soil, we also work to find ways to reduce oil spending, that oil may be all we need! If we increase cleaner energy uses (can you say NUCLEAR POWER) or in terms of cars (electric, fuelcell, hybrid, ect), reduce our oil consumption, then the oil we DO find will meet our needs! I fully agree that drilling is not the ONLY answer. But it is a major part in the line of getting this country off of our dependance on others for our way of life.



Leslie_JnJs_mom -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 1:23:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephanos

I would like to point something out. Just because the suspected reserves that we can get in our own waters/land, is minuscule compared to what the world has, does not mean we should not go after that oil. Why? Because if, while drilling for that oil under our own soil, we also work to find ways to reduce oil spending, that oil may be all we need! If we increase cleaner energy uses (can you say NUCLEAR POWER) or in terms of cars (electric, fuel cell, hybrid, ect), reduce our oil consumption, then the oil we DO find will meet our needs! I fully agree that drilling is not the ONLY answer. But it is a major part in the line of getting this country off of our dependence on others for our way of life.

Hey when did you get the ability to read my thoughts? That was the exact same thing I was thinking.



bob97 -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 2:44:42 PM)

Todd…who is going to pay for the clean up when China has an oil spill from their drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?

Bob



tafkam -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 4:17:36 PM)

Why is it that the left is consistently against anything that could possibly be good for the United States?

Energy independance, national security, victory in Iraq, lower taxes, smaller government, capitalism, free market, etc......you name it, they're opposed to it.

Yet people keep voting them into office......go figure....



Beanteaser -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 4:53:56 PM)

There is no question the left supports energy dependence on other nations. They usually preach that we are "losing jobs over seas" too. Go figure.......



blessedinnyc -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 5:52:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bob97

Todd…who is going to pay for the clean up when China has an oil spill from their drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?

Bob

Cuba.

If they don't, I'd imagine that would constitute a cassus belli, so I think Castro's going to play reasonable with his most powerful neighbor.

Also, note that these "oil rigs" off the coast of Florida don't exist. The waters have been leased, but there are currently no plans to develop them.

IIRC, parts of ANWR have been leased, too, so a lease doesn't necessarily mean development.



blessedinnyc -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 6:03:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephanos

I would like to point something out. Just because the suspected reserves that we can get in our own waters/land, is miniscule compaired to what the world has, does not mean we should not go after that oil. Why? Because if, while drilling for that oil under our own soil, we also work to find ways to reduce oil spending, that oil may be all we need!

Option 1: US develops these 18 billion barrels of oil reserves and starts producing. Worldwide oil production jumps 1 million barrels, or 1.2%. Economic costs work out to roughly $500 Billion.
Option 2: US puts hybrid motors in all of its new cars. This reduces US oil consumption by 15% and has an economic cost of perhaps $200 Billion.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't develop, but I do think that as an oil-importing nation nation, it's much easier for us to reduce consumption than increase production.

quote:

If we increase cleaner energy uses (can you say NUCLEAR POWER) or in terms of cars (electric, fuelcell, hybrid, ect), reduce our oil consumption, then the oil we DO find will meet our needs! I fully agree that drilling is not the ONLY answer. But it is a major part in the line of getting this country off of our dependance on others for our way of life.

Let's let the market- and the states- figure this out. I'm sure California doesn't want oil drilling off its coast- why should the federal government be allowed to override the states? Now, I'm sure Texas would love this law, and if they pass a 10% offshore drilling tax, they can probably make a boatload off of this.



HighPlainsDrifter -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 6:09:29 PM)

In addition to banning drilling, the donks have started calling for nationalizing a chunk of the OIL industry today. Right out of the Chavez playbook. Their goal of seriously bringing this country to it's knees is well under way. This policy direction will, of course, be business as usual under the Obama administration. Welcome to the 21st century folks, and say g'bye to everything you've ever known.



todd_t -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 6:26:09 PM)

quote:

Todd…who is going to pay for the clean up when China has an oil spill from their drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?


That story is a myth. China is not drilling for oil off the Cuban coast.

Why, ask some Republicans, should the United States be thwarted from drilling in its own territory when just 50 miles off the Florida coastline the Chinese government is drilling for oil under Cuban leases?

Yet no one can prove that the Chinese are drilling anywhere off Cuba's shoreline. The China-Cuba connection is "akin to urban legend," said Sen. Mel Martinez, a Republican from Florida who opposes drilling off the coast of his state but who backs exploration in ANWR.

"China is not drilling in Cuba's Gulf of Mexico waters, period," said Jorge Pinon, an energy fellow with the Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami and an expert in oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. Martinez cited Pinon's research when he took to the Senate floor Wednesday to set the record straight. - Anchorage Daily News, June 11, 2008

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/40776.html

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/433732.html



HighPlainsDrifter -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 6:31:20 PM)

Well, as long as they vetted the story with Cuban diplomats, I guess that's good enough for me. [8|]



todd_t -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 6:39:11 PM)

Did you even bother to read half the article, particularly the reference to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) debunking the story of Chinese oil drilling off Cuba?



EStan -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 6:44:55 PM)

Though alarmist in many of its conclusions (some of which I'm sure can be debunked), this is an interesting article. Are Americans really still paying far less for gas than we should?



SonInMe1 -> RE: Bush seeks to end offshore drilling ban (6/18/2008 7:12:04 PM)

When we whine and complain the government takes notice and then you get all these socialist ideas coming from it. We have no one to blame but...our FEAR!!!. Stop blaming Washington...they only react to our fear.

These electirc cars...they use up more energy than gas. How do you suppose the electricity is formed? Maybe if we go back to nuclear energy electric cars may put a dent in our oil consumption but not until then.

These hydro cars...how do they run? Have they solved the hydrogen seperation from water problem? How energy efficient is the production of hydrogen? How much energy is used to seperate hydrogen from oxygen?

When people can make money from alternative feul supplies, we will have them. Until then oil is our answer and getting more should be a concern. There should be enviromental concerns...and I bet if anyone in the oil industry were here they would tell you how much the government already regulates that.

Oil spills may happen. Clean them up and move on.



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