Why Bush lifted the coastal-drilling ban (and why it doesn't matter)
By Steve Benen Monday Jul 14, 2008 12:40pmAbout a month ago, Bush, McCain, and congressional Republicans were without any real ideas about energy policy. Pressed on what to do about gas prices, the president told reporters, “[T]here is no magic wand to wave right now.” In fact, the president repeated the line three times, as if to say, “Don’t ask me; I just work here.”
But that was before the GOP settled on coastal drilling as the answer to all of our problems. Never mind that we wouldn’t actually see that oil for at least a decade, and never mind that it would only fuel (pun intended) the addiction we’re supposed to break, Republicans were ready to do something, whether it made any sense or not.
Oddly enough, on June 18, Bush demanded that Congress lift the ban on coastal drilling. The president could have just overturned the executive order on the policy, but “he said he wouldn’t do that because he wanted Congress to act first.”
Today, Bush changed his mind.
Putting pressure on congressional Democrats to back more exploration for oil, President Bush Monday called on Congress to join him in lifting a ban on offshore drilling that has stood since his father was president.
There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by the first President Bush in 1990. The current president, trying to ease market tensions and boost supply, called last month for Congress to lift its prohibition before he did so himself.
“The only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the U.S. Congress,” Bush said in a statement in the Rose Garden. “Now the ball is squarely in Congress’ court.”
Bush added that “Americans are paying at the pump” because Congress hasn’t approved the White House’s drilling plan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.) added, “Now the only thing standing between consumers at the pump and the increased American energy they are demanding is the Democrat leadership in Congress.”
I’ve long since given up trying to figure out whether these guys actually believe their own nonsense, but either way, this is just mind-numbing.
I think the Obama campaign’s statement hit most of the major points.
“If offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks. But most experts, even within the Bush Administration, concede it would do neither. It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years.
“Senator Obama believes Americans need real short-term relief, which is why he has proposed a second round of stimulus with energy rebates for working families. And over the long-term, Senator Obama understands that our national security and the survival of the planet demand a real strategy to break our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, new sources of energy and by vastly improving the energy efficiency of our cars, trucks and our economy. He is ready to lead such a transformation,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.
This is hardly worth debating anymore; it’s just so blisteringly obvious. Would coastal drilling lower the price of gas? No. Would any of this oil reach the pump before 2017? No. Is this even in the same neighborhood as a responsible energy policy? No.
Now, I understand why Republicans love this idea. First, it gives the appearance of taking an issue seriously, without having to worry about facts and stuff. Second, oil companies would love to do more coastal drilling, and Republicans love to make oil companies happy. Third, they know Dems have a reality-based outlook, which makes it easier for the GOP to scream, “Hey! Dems won’t let us drill and it’s hurting your family’s finances!”
But that doesn’t make this nonsense any more palatable. It’s a ridiculous policy, which the Republicans know is a ridiculous policy. It’s as simple as that.
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These inept idiots have no solutions to the problems they cause.
They have shown us just how incompetent they are.
Heckuva job, Bushie!
WHY IT DOES MATTER: because in the midst of 125 banks collapsing and an already bankrupt government taking on trillions more of debt from loans banks don't want to pay and oil and food reserves wrecking havoc on the global economy all the Bush administration and the Republicans are doing is twisting our balls to open up protected environments for oil drilling. And they are proselytizing for it 24/7. That is all they are doing and they're doing it relentlessly and they claim they have the increasing support of the American people. Whether that's true or not that's what is being broadcast 24/7. This is an example of disaster capitalism at its finest and the oil lobby will get what it wants if no one steps up to the plate to challenge this assault.
Bush in 2000: I'll bring down gas prices through 'sheer force of personality'
THEN:
Douchebag-in-Chief 2000:
The 2000 Campaign: The Texas Governor; Bush Would Use Power of Persuasion to Raise Oil Supply
The New York Times
By Katharine Q. Seeyle
June 28, 2000
Gov. George W. Bush of Texas said today that if he was president, he would bring down gasoline prices through sheer force of personality, by creating enough political good will with oil-producing nations that they would increase their supply of crude.
It is mind-numbing but it will work. The average uninformed voter will believe anything these guys say. Congress should take up the measure since many Republicans also voted for a ban. The next Pres can change it back before anything happens (since it will take years to execute) if they actually remove the ban. Call the bluff Dems if you have the courage to do something besides hide.
Naomi Klein was on democracynow.org for a full hour today.
Shock Doctrine is the only concept that rationally explains all of this.
This planet is in the clutches of criminals beyond comprehension. They are ushering in a world wide fascist state. They are destroying our country at the same time they're destroying our planet. This is beyond insane. I have the feeling that if we really knew what these maniacal fools have in store for us, we would rise up like a tsunami and sweep them away.
"President Bush Monday called on Congress to join him in lifting a ban on offshore drilling that has stood since his father was president."
But Bush listens to a "higher father". The one that directs him to destroy the planet and all its inhabitants. When a conservative Christians finds "God" people suffer. There would have been a lot less suffering and destruction in the world today had Bush stayed coked up and drunk under the table and away from the bible.
Teleken @5, I'm afraid you are right. We Americans are very self absorbed, The average Amercan can't even find Iraq on a map. They don't know who Supreme Court Justices are, Some don't even read newspapers. Now you have idiots screaming Drill. I think we are a nation of Hank Hills.
Ruthless "The Whiner" People @ 8:
I can think of a few other 'what ifs' ...
And, yes, the Cons are echoing the myth that hurricanes Katrina and Rita didn't cause any "major" oil spills....which Think Progress has looked at too:
http://thinkprogress.org/wonkroom/2008/06/19/mccain-katrina-spills/
The "drill, drill" mantra is all the GOP has to run on. It's up to the media and the Dems to keep this in perspective. How long it will take, the shortage of refinery capacity (which Big Oil is happy with, thank you), shortage of ships and drilling equipment, etc, and then just how long it will take to get any return and how little impact it will probably have on prices. Finally, this is a Big Oil distraction, meant to take our focus off of alternative fuels.
When are they going to start drilling for stupid in Bush's skull?
-GSD
http://www.theoildrum.com/ is very useful on this score.
This is typical bald lying smoke screen drivel we've come to expect but may help manipulate the NASCAR vote.
The Oil Companies don't have enough offshore drilling rigs and can't even drill in the lands they already lease. There won't be enough drilling rigs for at least two years. Deep water and offshore oil recovery is fiendishly hard especially in a hurricane zone. All the easy oil in the US is gone. And the easy oil elsewhere is going fast.
There has also been a major decline in refinery capacity as we have gone from around 300 refineries a few decades ago to around 110 to 150 or so now.
There is simply a protracted bottleneck of capacity coupled to a crazy demand spike.
And No useful thing can be done about it beyond reducing your exposure to the income bleed by using less.
...and it takes 10 YEARS to build a refinery..
GSD @ 12:
Vast untapped reserves there.
I posted this in the Open Thread, but it's appropriate here [sorry for the cross post Site Monitor...please have mercy on me ;)] [also slightly edited]
I keep hearing this BS about “gas shortages” and “China buying up all the available gas” causing the prices to soar. Funny, but every gas station I see has plenty of petrol to sell us at over-the-top high prices. I remember in the ’70s when there were real gas shortages. I used to have to watch for stations with the ‘green flag’ so we could GET gas (2 hour waits, lines of cars around the block, limits on how much you could buy at one time)…whatever the price. That’s what a shortage means…not enough to go around. We have plenty, it’s just expensive.
Maybe investors should be checked from speculating on the price of crude based on how hard it'll be to get in the future. Of course, these over-inflated prices are probably doing more to ween us from oil than anything else could, Americans being who we are and all...
When you look at the high price of oil- you also have to look at the low price of the US dollar. Since oil is traded in dollars- the amount of inflation the federal reserve creates to "stimulate the economy" and keep up with congressional spending takes a serious toll.
If you measured the price of oil in terms of Gold- the price has remained pretty stable and the same Gold from ten years ago would buy roughly the same amount of oil today.
earl @ 14:
Then we better get started! Is what the wingers say.
earl @ 6:
ya know, i went out to buy that book yesterday. i went to a large center city philly bookstore and the book was... sold-out.
my dissappointment in not being to buy the book was trumped by thrill that people are starting to become interested in the damage unrestrained capitalism and market fundamentalism has caused on the country, the world, familes and individuals.
of course, there is always the possibilty that they only stocked one book...
OT
More DisasterCap in action:
"As part of its cost-cutting, GM plans to eliminate health care coverage for U.S. salaried retirees older than 65, effective Jan. 1."
Love your blog. Thanks for all the great content.
But I think you miss the point. His actions are always well-conceived, well-articulated. The rub comes from the confusion on his goals. You assume his primary goals is leading the country towards solutions that bring prosperity and strength.
It's not. It's never been. Bush is very consistent in working towards his goal of power. Power is his goal.
And his primary tactics are diversion, distraction and division.
This 'meaningless' step of removing the equally meaningless presidential moratorium on offshore drilling isn't meant to help ease our oil supply, our dependency on foreign oil (hello? Saudis are his friends...) or lower prices at the pump, now or in the future.
It's meant solely as the means to create more division within our country. He knows it will kick up a storm of dialogue, repubs and against dems, old against young, environmentalists against the business community....all while he sits back, waits for it to settle, winners to pop up. And he'll do it again, all the time orchestrating the conversation towards division.
Divide and conquer. He's very consistent, very insistent. And he's successful as long as he's allowed to be underestimated. So far, it's worked for him.
Actually, this bullshit move by Chimpy DOES matter. Now Republicans can run around and blame the Dems for high gas prices. And the Dems....being the spineless pussies that they are....will immediately cave.
Bottom line: get ready more drilling....everywhere. And a lot sooner than you might think.
Because God forbid, 'murikans pay what the rest of the world does for gas. And since the citizens of this wonderful country are beyond stupid, they'll fully expect gas prices to magically drop the moment that first drill hits the water. It won't happen of course, but it's a nice dream.
Samson- @ 19:
I think it just came out in Paperback today ...so she was shamelessly flogging it :)
Seriously tho, you still have bookstores?
who gives a crap why bushbrain says anything
he will lie for political reasons and we all
know that he is delusional and a LIAR.
OT Did I just hear that Bush vetoed the Medicare bill? Didn't like the way it was financed. He just can't let the Democrats show him up. Especially when Ted Kennedy came in especially to cast his vote. Bush will show 'em!!! Hope all the rich doctors vote for McCain come November. The repugs will take care of their own.
earl @ 15:
Untapped???? I'd say that douchebag is using 100% of his stupidity.
The Truth Hurts @ 26:
i hope you are going to come and clean the coffee off my monitor, thank you
Ruthless "The Whiner" People @ 18:
But, but where would the poor beleaguered Oil companies find the $$$ ?
The Truth Hurts @ 26:
I dunno, seems like an endless supply of stupid in the Crawford Cowboy ...did you try to listen to that presser this a.m.?
It apparently worked because oil "plunged" $8/barrel today!!! Mission Accomplished!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlmmui8iq50
The oil companies do not want to drill. They want to lock up the remaining territory so no one else can drill. They are sitting on millions of acres of leased land that they are not developing, why would they want to drill in five miles of water? This is a ploy to control supply and therefore price.
Oil is rising in the US because of our falling dollar, and because traders, via the unregulated futures exchanges, (thanks to Phil and Wendy Graham) have stockpiled something approaching six times the amount of oil in the Strategic Oil Reserve. There is no oil shortage. There have been no disruptions to supply. If there were, you would see lines at the gas stations.
On another note, I have been approached many times by panhandlers asking for a few dollars to get some gas for their car, which ran out of gas around the corner. Every time I offered to give them the gas instead of the money, saving them the trip back and forth to the gas station, they say they don't want to be a bother, just give them a few bucks. Clearly, they are lying, they just need a few bucks for beer.
Today, a woman came up to me with the same story, and as usual, I offered her the gas. She took it. First time ever. Just as oil is now considered a currency along with gold and Euros, gas is a new currency on the street.
earl @ 29:
No, I stopped acknowledging that shithead several years ago. I simply don't need the aggravation. The instant I see his Alfred E. Neuman face, or hear that alcohol-soaked thwang, I change the channel.
Oil plummetted today on news of reduced demand and Ben Bernanke's congressional testimony
until...
Bush demanded more drilling this morning, causing oil futures to rebound slightly. Interesting reaction from the market, eh. For a measure that he (erroneously) proclaims would lower prices.
My solution: Fewer proclamations from this crook and liar.
Been reading about an alt. fuel source , Joe Cells , not a proven system , seems to have promise , basicly its water as fuel lots of vids on youtube , google has a few sites too .
How fitting it would be if they start drilling and when that first drop comes in , we wont need it , oh history will prove how good gwb was , I forgot , what was I thinking .
Do they believe their own drivel who cares. The american people with inability to read or hear the truth will buy into this in huge numbers. I can't remember the name of the ludicrous movie where the population bred down to an average IQ of 50 and some GI woke in that time and was elected president. Stupid movie but it is coming true.
Seldom mentioned that big oil already has millions of acres on lease to drill in but they haven't had the cash or time to do as of yet. Bush is just leading his pig masters to the trough to try and lock them in forever once he is just a shitstain memory on the toilet paper of history. President Shit For Brains little tirade yesterday blaming the Dems for oil shortages wasn't even funny anymore. Just expected.No low is too low for these lying sacks of facist shit but im really surprised they haven't hit bottom yet. Best memory chuckle yet is still Bush promising to restore honor,honesty and integrity to the office back in 99. Still makes me giggle like a schoolgirl.
Can anyone say "STRAW MAN"? All he is attempting to do is provide ridiculous talking points for his propaganda minions and their brain addled listeners.
"It's them goddamn Democrats and tree huggers who won't let us drill and lower the price at the pump. They hate America!"
Zane: I think you give the man too much credit. He seems to constantly be doing things for the short term, and he doesn't seem to be terribly concerned with consequences. As near as I've been able to tell, he never wanted to do the President's job, he just wanted to be President and leave the thinking and policy stuff to guys like Cheney and Rove. I still can't decide whether he's really a psychopath or just extraordinarily self-centered. I don't suppose it matters much in the way of effects, though. What a truly horrible President he's been.
And I agree about the supply - there's plenty there, judging by the ready availability at the pump. It's a combination of 'market forces' (= naked, unchecked greed in all its various forms and techniques) and the falling dollar that seem to have done most of the damage.
I think the oil prices are all manipulated by Dubya and his gang of greedy neocons. They drive it up with speculators and the saudi oil cartel so that they can "fix" the problem by gaining more off shore deals. Causing the problem, blame others, and then solving it for your own personal gain.
It's just how Naomi Klein describes the process in her book, "The Shock Doctrine".
Strategically cause a crisis and repair it by passing legislation (that was on his agenda).
These neocons are American citizen haters. Anything for a buck. We've been bought and sold for the last eight years, what's another few months. Brutal,... just brutal.
dems have controlled congress for a little less than 2 years
there was one party rule in this country for the previous 6
what was accomplished during those 6 years?
not one piece of legislation dealing with alternative energy....but a whole bunch allowing the crooks to rape and pillage
bush is a sociopath who must be hauled in chains before the man
PNACCIO,
You are correct!
As the price continues to rise, I expect more gas station robberies, which also will get more lethal.
any downturn in oil futures will be met with a rebound tomorrow.
The Truth Hurts @ 33:
I mostly stopped a listening to him long time ago as well, I just tuned in this morning while watching the Dow tank to see what the 62 year old petulant boy genius would say ... was kind of hoping for a total meltdown ... but it was just the usual sociopathic ravings and insulting bs so i turned it off.
boosh's solution for the sticker-shock at the gas pumps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6dm9rN6oTs
Would boosh become tongue-tied trying to say, "Stupid is as stupid does?"
It is like trying to break a bad habit - like smoking.
You can't quit if you keep telling yourself 'I still have a few left in this pack' and after that pack is finished you have another few packs stashed away, and you'll quit after you finish those.
If we are going to get away from dependence on fossil fuel we can't just drill a little more here and then there, we will just prolong the dependency.
You can only quit smoking and burning fossil fuel if you make the cut NOW. Not tomorrow - not next week or next year.
Don @ 11:
McSame said this today in his "town hall meeting".
ysbaddaden @ 45:
Still a great scene , Slim Pickens , didnt he ride that bomb down in Dr. Strangeglove ? , damn russkies
And who sets the price of oil , read somewhere it was the IMF ?.
The reason Bush and the GOP say stuff like this is because IT WORKS!!! (see spineless, tail between the legs, yellow stripe down back, craven Democratic leadership). It's the same old strategy of saying something over and over enough times and people will believe it (see Obama is a muslim, Saddam has stockpiles of WMD's, democrats in Congress are cowards - oops, that one is correct).
Were stuck with option dumb or dumber in this election. Either way were gonna lose.
Bush is not eloquent but he is not an idiot. Idiots do the right thing by accident half the time. Bush simply sees high gas prices as he sees most other issues, as opportunities to further is personal agenda (and that of his cronies). Releasing ANWR and the coasts to drilling gets his buddy's oily hands on all those resources (leased for cheap and sold for a profit). Aside from weak lip service, there is absolutely NO plan for getting us out of this mess. By the way, what's with all the random uses for Cap and Trade penalties. They should be 100% for clean energy R and D.
Naomi Klein kicking up the dirt about Bush's lift
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/15/headlines#2
this is also much about further dividing the Left....people are being told we just need more oil so "let's drill".. the Right says....if the Left doesn't give in they don't care about the common person struggling and if they do vote for drilling they piss off the Left.....bush is involved in getting mccain in office.
Schwartzenegger(sp) is against the off shore drilling it's crap.....if anything we don't have proper refinery capabilities
Instead of railing against the Democrats AND the rest of Congress (remember there are Republicans and Independents there also Mr. BOOSH), why don't you do something productive like invading Saudi Arabia and take all their oil? Why don't you do that? HUH? What's the matter - ain't got the stones? I know, you thought Iraq was going to be a walk in the park didn't you? And you were going to get so much OIL out of that country without it actually being called "stealing ", right? And now Iran, no one wants to see the same people who brought you the Iraq occupation screwing around playing "general" there but they have a lot of oil that you and your oil buddies would love to have. So now you have to resort to this cheap political trick-blame someone else for your ineptness. Anything, but your buddies need that oil don't they? Forget that you could've put all that money you gave away into solar power. A small start but then add the wind turbines, okay now we're rolling. Conservation? What are you doing to conserve Mr. Bush? A few less vacations perhaps. Turning off lights. One thing is for sure, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD AN ENERGY POLICY DESIGNED TO WEEN US OFF OIL LONG BEFORE THIS. So, previous administrations are just as guilty but BUSH, you are the one in power today, you is the decider in chief. If we stop using oil as if it was the ONLY means of energy and turn to alternatives, direct funds regularly toward improvements in these alternatives and develop co-generation, we WOULD, albeit slowly, ween ourselves from the foreign oil teat. And you know, reduce consumption, lower demand and increase supply and guess what - price go down! See how it works?
I doubt you do so you'll just rail against Congress and everyone else who sees this for what it is - cheap political hackery!
I live in Louisiana, drilling capitol of the U.S. I recently came across apiece of information I'd like to verify. There are areas in the Gulf of Mexico that are currently leased to oil companies. These areas are not being explored or drilled. Is this true? Oil companies are not drilling on all the leases they hold. So why open up more areas for lease?
It's all a game with Bush at this point. If, when he leaves office, his approval ratings are higher than Congress' ratings, he wins.
In his own mind, at least.
♫..Bangkok Bob..♫ @ 1:
After reading Naomi Klein`s book Shock Doctrineit very obvious that they do not want to solve these problems.They just want the money they will make from them to acting as if they want to solve them while they enrich themselves and their greedy friends.They get paid to be inept.
Louis @ 55:
guess...
Louis @ 55:
Louis
I believe there is confirmed oil is some of the Gulf of Mexixo leases but its too expensive to extract. Maybe when oil hits $ 200 .
and yet, once again, the ridiculous policy will work in fooling the sheeple.......you've seen it already - its in the RWMN and its been picked up by Rush and Drudge - so the Dems will bend over on this rather than fighting it. And because oil prices fell, Bush and company will talk up how it worked.
I wish I had an answer - standing up to this BS is the right thing to do, but I am so sick of gettting screwed over because we have such retarded people in this country.
I would like to know if the Democrats are opposed to all legislation that won't have any effect in the short term, because one of the arguments that I have been hearing so far is that "this won't give us any oil in the short term!"
Think of gas prices 7 years from now. This drilling has to be done. I 100% support alternate energy sources and especially green energy sources, but we have got to drill as part of becoming energy independant, and one reason for this is that 7 years from now, cars will still be running on gasoline (although there may be more electirc hybrids and alternate fuels available, the majority will still run on oil). Most importantly, we pay middle East nations HUNDREDS of BILLIONS or dollars each year. Just imagine what we can do with that money in our own nation! Imagine if that money were invested in alternate energy sources and cleaner energy sources as well!
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69257
banks took some profit from oil today so it came down
$6.44........i still many opinions that say speculators
are having a big part of this accelerated oil prices
saudi king said it was specs. now the airline industry
i think the banks ar etrying to recoupe some of their losses
I'm sick of the stupid people myself. Is there a way to fight all of it? One person can't but together we can. I'm sure God doesn't want one person to destroy the world. Not a dare I say it, rational, loving God.
Bush urged congress today to lift the ban on offshore drilling to help increase domestic oil production (make sure his bodies steal more of our money and make sure that we will be never paying below $4.00 per gallon for gas ever again).
President Bush said Tuesday the nation's troubled financial system is "basically sound" (about as sound as the Titanic right after hitting the iceberg) and urged lawmakers to quickly enact legislation to prop up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (told us we were going to go poor paying for incompetent actions and the destruction of the US dollar and our economy by the Federal Reserve Bank).
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080715/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush
"Bush: Troubled financial system is basically sound"
The GOP doesn't believe what they are saying, but believe that the Democrats will cave...and... they will.
I do hope I am wrong of their caving...
Charles @ 64:
yup.....bush economics keep printing money keep dropping the relative value of the dollar and keep selling treasury bills to japan,china and india.....
using the u.s. government/people to further corporations same shit different ass hxle
Louis @ 55:
I think if the oil companies could use their technology to show drilling on the land they now hold will bear no results, or be cost prohibitive a swap could be arranged so they give back the land they don't want to drill, receive some of the lands they do want to drill, and do so on a set time schedule.
Bush lost me with ethanol. Great idea, let's burn all our food as fuel... what's next beef based biofuel?
David N @ 49:
I keep hearing the generic term "speculators" but the IMF would likely be involved with peripheral countries that have oil but heavy loans from the WTO.
I'd be interested to hear what the WTO thinks of any attempts to Nationalize oil reserves.
ysbaddaden @ 70:
what the WTO would think? hee hee, and the IMF and WB...
yeah, they wouldn't "think" as much as they would foment a coup.
one thing the world has learned when it comes to neoliberalism (as exported by the washington consensus): resources within a given country do NOT 'belong' to said country, but, instead, they 'belong' to foreign corporations
Bush's shameful bullying of the spineless Dems has worked on Iraq so why not try it with offshore oil drilling, despite the fact the even he admitted today that the benefits would be mostly psychological.
Bush thrives on the ignorant...."SIMPLE" as that! Jinny Lee
Effects would not only be "psychological." They would be real, and even if we don't see a drop of oil 7 years from now, that will be a great time for America because we will be one step closer to becoming energy independant.
71 Samson-
what the WTO would think? hee hee, and the IMF and WB…
The TV network with the classic singing and dancing frog, but the crappy shows no one watches?
Or did you mean G8?
Paul Krugman is right again. The oil giants only want the leases and rights to the off shore sites. Drilling will not commence in our lifetimes. The trick is to hold the oil in the ground and watch the price continue to soar. The oil giants can have their cake and eat it too. We sorry souls at the bottom of the food chain lose either way. This is the new golden rule. Take that, suckers. After all, 911 changed everything.
ysbaddaden @ 75:
world bank
Phil @ 74:
Load of crap. First, the oil companies do not want to build more refineries, which is why they have not drilled on more than 68 million acres already under lease that would produce about 4.8 million barrels of oil, according to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
And saying that offshore drilling would have an affect on the market in seven years is highly unlikely.
71 Samson-
I guess I don't need to mention the obvious: Project Ajax where the CIA helped British Petroleum and probably MI6 as well in overthrowing the democratically elected Mohammed Mosaddeq and his Pariliament in Iran in 1952 and reinstalled the shah, because Mosadeq wanted to Nationalize Iranian oil.
Drilling is the new Iraq WMDs . The propaganda's kicking in and the MSM is running with the ball. We're on the road to failure, boosh-style, baby.
ysbaddaden @ 79:
hee hee, i am VERY familiar with operation TPAJAX--kermit, general zahedi, the shah, mossadeq, the tudeh, the AIOC, the dulles bros, SAVAK, etc.
in short: in less than a decade after its inception, eisenhower obliterated the truman doctrine
ysbaddaden @ 79:
which that, followed on '54 with the guatamala coup are great examples of how we used to do things
look at pre-morales bolivia, and the 'structural adjustment' loans to see how we prefer to do things now
different tactics, same results.
eeee, Guatemala... sorry Guatemalans... typo
I made a pretty comprehensive ( though by no means complete ) analysis in my post on All Spin Zone: 10 points on why Drilling in ANWR won't save you
Any argument by the Republicans that additional drilling off our coasts will have the slightest effect is complete bullshit. Even if we were to start drilling immediately off our coasts, we are 3.1 million barrels worth of refinery capacity in the hole right now. We consume 20.5 million barrels a day right now. We are able to refine only 17.4 million and the refineries we currently have are operating at and above 90% capacity. Which means even if we were to start drilling new oil we would have to PAY someone else to refine it and PAY to have it shipped to them. Which means an INCREASE in cost to the oil companies which they will be passing on to you.
Even if we started building refineries right now, the best refinery in America (Exxommobile Refining & Supply Co in Baytown, Texas) can only do 562,500 barrels a day. In order to meet our current demands, we'd need to build 6 Exxonmobile Baytown plants. Given that an average refinery ( which happens to be a little over 100,000 barrels a day ) costs about $2 billion and five years to build. That would be a total cost of $12 billion over the next five years just to catch up with our current demand. By the time the refineries actually come online to produce gasoline, our demand will have increased by about another 750,000 barrels a day at current usage patterns.
Do you honestly believe that Exxonmobile or any other corporation is going to spend that much money on something that would actually reduce their overall profit margins? If so, you're an idiot.
Another issue is the 68 million acres of land that oil companies already have leased and have permission to drill in that they are NOT using. If they contend that there is no oil in these locations, then they should surrender the land. If there is oil, they should be drilling there.
Lastly is the issue that none of the oil drilled in either the 68 million acres of already leased land nor any additional oil drilled from ANWR or our coastal areas will be sold on America. As a number of Republicans on CSPAN have reluctantly admitted, it will be sold on the open market, which, since the dollar isn't worth the paper its' printed on any more means that China and India will be the ones buying it up and over all the oil price for YOU won't go down in the slightest.
Do the math, Republican voters. You can't squeeze oil from a stone and you can't refine the oil you squeezed out of the stone in refineries that don't exist. Wake up. Your politicians are screwing you.
If you want an gasoline fix, close the Enron loophole (That McCain's buddy Phil Gramm, who called you a whiner, created back in 1999-2000) and kick the speculators that are making untold billions at your expense out of the mix. That will drop the price of oil from between 25% to 50% within six weeks. Then if you still want to drill, force the Oil companies to drill on the lands they have already leased and in which have permission to drill.
StirFry @ 80:
1) When the U.S. went to war in Iraq, as voted for by many Democrats, did you believe that there were no WMDs in Iraq? Did you come out and say, "what are you people doing?!? The next thing you know we'll be drilling for oil offshore!" Or were you as ignorant as the rest of the nation, including the Democrats who voted to go to war?
2) Do you really think that President Bush lifting the executive ban on offshore drilling is Propaganda? Do you know what Propoganda is?
81 Samson-
Wasn't Savak father of the baby expert Mr. Spock?
Frybread @ 78:
That's because 4.8 million barrels is about 4 days worth.
The profits for oil companies will be too enormous to resist not to build more refineries.
Frybread @ 78:
That is correct---the reality is that the oil wouldn't show up at the consumer level for about 20-25 years, not seven. And guess who makes oil drilling and exploratory equipment? Halliburton. And you also correctly note that the refining capacity is also a major problem---shockingly enough the oil companies control that too although they claim not to.
Of greater concern is that we are promoting a consumptionist paradigm based on oil that is a fraud and will compromise future generations. Republicans are promoting a backward, Luddite philosophy that needs to be replaced with conservation and living within our means. But they're a backward, Luddite party so I guess that's just about right. I'ts time to rid ourselves of this cancerous, malignant gang of Republicans and secure our future now. It's the least we can do for our children.
Someone tell me how it was so easy for the cost of gas to go up more than double since Bush took office, but nothing can be done to bring it back down to at least half. There's no oil shortage. We have the scientists, physicisits, and engineers who know of and have immediate solutions for us to be off the oil nipple. We have the existing technologies to diversify means of energy. Why isn't Bush being held accountable. We went to war for oil, but prices went up. Now we can't do anything to reverse those affects. Drilling offshore will only save us pennies - down the road. What is it going to take for us to rise up and make these folks and companies accountable. They work for us, not the other way around. Zero point energy is not a myth. Solar is plentiful. Wind is an alternative. There have been so many companies and individuals to develop energy technologies that could be used right now, but have been quieted, shunned, discredited, and in some cases murdered. I am just so disgusted with all of the lies.
ysbaddaden @ 86:
:-)
i leave it to you ysb to have jokes within jokes.
so, that is one acceptable answer (i think, although i'm not trek-savvy)...
another acceptable answer: the rightwing, uber-violent, CIA-trained/sponsored secret police of the US and oil cartel's puppet mohammed reza pahlevi, the shah. responsible for the torture and deaths of many iranians, and partly responsible for the rise of the iranian theocracy
Yes, I think it's time to drill into the heads of certain politicians and 'people' to tap for dwindling resources such as intelligence, wisdom, ethics, empathy, and common sense! But, unfortunately, it's a waste of time because we know we would be running on empty! Jinny Lee
Bush is trying to muck things up as much as he can before he leaves the oval office FOREVER!
the democrats have opposed drilling in ANWR for 25 years
and in those 25 years the repuglitards have come up with exactly ZERO new ideas about solving our enegy problem
25 fucking years ??? and the repuglitards STILL haven't tried to come up with a better answer ???
what's the definition of insanity again ???
A friend and I are going Downtown Minneapolis and speaking with people about the truth of offshore drilling and the unutilized acres of public property that have already been leased to the oil industry. The primary statement will be to consider that before we give away more of our land, let's make sure that they are effectively managing and using what they already have. We are going to meet somewhere around the metrodome. If you'd like to participate, please have a lookout for us. We may even provide you some material to help distribute and discuss. So have your facts straight. I suggest others around the nation do the same!
Do they believe their own nonsense? Doubtful. The only thing sociopaths believe is that other people are as empty and crooked as they are.
Phil @ 85:
I'm still waiting for the next 18 questions. (rimshot tssssssss!)
Senator McConnell..you sir...are retarded.
wrong, wrong, wrong. They are doing this because of FISA, because they feel they can make dems capitulate and continue chipping away at those formerly motivated voters. They changed their minds because they think they can take some democrats down in the process after FISA and are probably right.
Reasic @ 2:
LOL!
Seriously, I can't agree more with Steve Benen and the Obama campaign on this issue. I hate that conservatives might actually gain a few points with this dissemblance!
Theguy @ 17:
Comparing 1998 to 2008 might be a bad choice, since oil was at a historical low that year, but let's carry it through. Looking at peak prices in each of those years:
1998: Gold peak $310 Oil peak $13.71
2008: Gold peak $ 1000 Oil peak $135
Gold increase: 1000/310= 3.2X
Oil increase: 135/13.71=9.8X
The price of crude oil has risen three times faster than gold.
(Remember also that gold prices tend to spike during wars. So, I've never bought this argument that gold represents any stable value standard. It's a commodity just like any other.)
So, you can't pin that one on the Fed throwing money around to try to rescue the U.S. economy. There's no question that the constant borrowing by the Govt. has driven interest rates up, and the Fed dumping the dollar on the market to try and counterbalance inflation has caused the dollar to go down. But that only accounts for a small part of the increase in energy and food prices.
The main reasons for the increase are: 1. increased demand from China, India, and even the U.S., thanks to gas-guzzling SUV which the A-holes in the 109th Congress practically FORCED people to buy, 2. jittery markets due to increased political instability in the middle east (due to 'you-know-what'), and 3. market speculation. You might throw in lack of local gas refineries as reason number four, but that has nothing to do with the price of crude oil.
Of the reasons listed above, the third one could be stopped tomorrow with a few laws. Unfortunately, I think the Dems in Congress want to save that one until Feb 2009, so they can make a big splash with it. But at least they'll do it. I don't think the Repubs ever would. The second reason will take a few years to work out, and the first reason is not going to go away. Ever. $135 oil is here to stay, and it'll be the bottom, not the top.
So what's the great plan of Pelosi and Reid? Gerbil power?
Americans are still going to be buying oil in 2017 -- it might as well be from our own soil, instead of paying some Middle Eastern nation that's hellbent on jihad.
does anyone know if these places they've opened for drilling actually have any oil on them? Its not like all coasts have unlimited oil reserves all over them. The gulf of mexico is already being developed. Where the hell is this magic oil going to appear from?
Sorry i should have said, these places that they want to open for drilling.
There's millions of barrels off the coast of Malibu but it doesn't matter what Bush says, no one will ever be allowed to drill there. It will spoil too many views.
StirFry @ 96:
Great answer.
All boils down to more money for "Big Oil" before Georgie leaves office.
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