Bush Lifts Ban On Offshore Oil Drilling
By Wyatt Earp | July 14, 2008
It’s about God-damned time. I’m sure Congress will follow his lead. /Snark.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush lifted an executive order banning offshore oil drilling on Monday and urged Congress to follow suit.
Citing the high prices Americans are paying at the pump, Bush said from the White House Rose Garden that allowing offshore oil drilling is “one of the most important steps we can take” to reduce that burden.
However, the move is largely symbolic as there is also a federal law banning offshore drilling.
“This means that the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil reserves is action from the U.S. Congress,” Bush said. (H/T – CNN)
Of course, the impact at the pump won’t be felt for a few years – if Congress has the stones to back the measure, which they won’t – but the action is important because it puts OPEC on notice. It tells them that America is ready to do whatever it takes to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. With offshore drilling, possible drilling in ANWR, and the development of less oil-dependent cars, we can eventually tell the Saudis to go pound sand.
The last time we make a move like this was during the energy crisis of the Carter Administration. When the country got behind alternative energy plans – coal, nuclear, and solar – OPEC panicked, and oil prices dropped.
Let’s hope this announcement produces the same effect.
UPDATE (7/17): So much for this announcement wouldn’t have any impact. Oil prices have dropped steadily for the last three days.
Topics: Politics | 20 Comments »
July 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
WAY past time — but at least he DID IT.
BZ
July 14th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
It’s a step in the right direction- The next one needs to be stomping on the spot market…
July 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Well lets see. How much was gas in 2006 before the Dems took over?
About a buck and a half cheaper than it is now.
Let’s all vote for the Gaffican American by all means.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I also think it’s a step in the right direction, but watch the democratic leadership in congress try to do everything they can to ignore the people’s cry to start drilling as long as they are more concerned about staying in power in DC than about helping change this country’s oil policy as they’d been promising for years.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Studies have shown that drilling off of our coast will put little to no dent in our oil problem. The problem is demand. Yeah, let’s drill for oil off our coastlines and save $0.02 per gallon…..oh and then spend $4 billion cleaning up a few ‘minor’ spills. Just wait until China and India REALLY start using oil; then we’re screwed.
I wonder how some of you would feel if we drilled for oil in your backyard…or maybe put a nuke plant. Everybody’s okay with that right? “Anything” to get away from our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I just bougt a car that will run on Ethenol. Of course, now the problem is finding a place that sells it. I was told in a year, or so, I’ll see stations pop up in our area where it is available.
My car is listed as 24mpg/city, and 20mpg Ethenol/city. I really can’t wait to try the stuff.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Randal, if I had oil in my backyard I’d be drilling for it tomorrow!
No, wait…..tonight!
Ahh, hell….where’s my drill? I’m going out there right now!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Randal’s comment gave me a good idea.
Let’s bomb China and India back to the Stone Age. That will serve two purposes.
1- it will help to reduce gas prices AND
2- it will bring back to the USA a bunch of customer service jobs currently in India.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thank you, come again.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Oh, I’m sorry…. I passed out from holding my breath.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Horses and buggies!
July 15th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Gee, Randal what you recommend we do to solve the problem? I mean if you aren’t part of the solution, you’re just part of the problem. You have a solution, please share.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Not to be contentious, but I think Randall made a good point. The post and several of the comments seemed to be doing too much rah-rah supporting of rather impotent solution, with of course, the built in probability of blaming it’s non-implementation on the Democratic congress. Doesn’t our dependence on Saudi oil pre-date the 2006 Democratic congress, Typical Whitey?
July 15th, 2008 at 10:22 am
BZ – Agreed. Now it’s up to Congress to move their asses.
Old NFO – Agreed. But I won’t hold my breath on that one.
TW – HopeChange!!!
Leoni2 – But I thought Nancy Pelosi said her reign would reintroduce cooperation? I must have misheard her.
Randal – I have no problem with either. They can drill or build a plant. Nuclear power is very safe, despite what the environmentalist wackos claim.
And as far as the dent, this move is a step in the right direction, and I applaud Bush for it. What’s Barack Obama’s plan? So far, it’s no drilling and no nuclear. He has no plan!
Wagonsux – I’m waiting for an alcohol-fueled car. One beer for me, one for the car.
DesertSage – Me too. Imagine the money I’d get for it!
AJ – Let’s just take all of Iraq’s oil. I mean, the liberals are claiming the war is for oil, anyway, so why not take it?
Deanna – But you turned such a lovely shade of blue!
RT – “3am, time for milking!”
Leoni2 – His solution is Obama’s solution . . . HopeChange!!!
MikeB – Of course it does. I don’t remember saying it didn’t. I did say that Congress won’t act now to try and solve the problem. And I think I also said that it was a first step that should also include coal, nuclear, more drilling, and other energy solutions.
But we can’t do anything while the DEMOCRAT-held Congress stops sitting on its hands.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
hey leoni,
Strengthen the god-damn dollar. The weakening of the US dollar is one of the biggest reasons that gas is so expensive. And it’s not just our jackass President’s fault; it’s the entire government that’s failing its people.
How many hybrids have Ford, GM and Chrysler produced that have been successful (the Escape is the only one that has performed decent at best in the market). It’s obvious that the oil companies have been stifling the development of alternative fuel engines for the past 20+ years.
Buy a fucking car that is suitable for you actual needs. People buy 8-passenger cars when 95% of the time they would be just fine with a small SUV or sedan. but that 1 week down the shore justifies 10 miles per gallon. I love driving on the highways with morons who don’t even know how to drive their Sequoias and Expeditions and Suburbans.
Alternative energy: Solar, wind, etc. Work to reduce the cost of solar cells. Continue solar energy rebates and incentives. Wind power is free and unending….too bad the rich assholes off of Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod can’t look at the horrible sight of a wind farm 5.6 MILES from the nearest point of land.
Build more nuclear power plants. Ooooohhh, the “N” word. I can already hear everyone saying it “Not in my backyard”. You probably have a better chance of being struck by lightning than by being harmed by a nuclear power plant. And, for the record, I live only 20 miles from a nuclear plant, Zone 2.
Oh and your comment: “I mean if you aren’t part of the solution, you’re just part of the problem.” Nice antagonizing, defensive copout.
*wins*
July 15th, 2008 at 10:31 am
“don’t be the problem, be the solution TO the problem”. Ah the memories…
But c’mon, let’s take a look at all that washes up on our fine Jersey beaches these days. Hypodermic needles, infected hospital waste, raw sewage, oh, and LIVE munitions from World War II, what’s a little oil spill? Hey at least the oil would keep the dolphins from trying to beach themselves here.
Don’t think that given the chance, Corzine wouldn’t lease out the entire Jersey coastline to Exxon for a few billion to help the shortfall in the state employee pension fund.
Solution to the US oil problem: send Iraq a bill for all that’s been spent so far to “liberate” them. When they can’t pay, we repossess their country. They become a US territory just like Guam. Then we run a pipe straight from there to the US.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
They take 6 percent of each of my paychecks and put money into that fund. To do what? To “borrow” (read: steal) from it for their own pet projects.
I hate NJ.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Randal – Solar, wind, nuclear. Gee, I wish I had thought of that. And those a-holes at Martha’s Vineyard? They’re called Kennedys.
Vinnie – Now that’s forward thinking! I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
RT – It is quickly becoming California-East. Democrat leadership at its finest.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I have no problem with that. The question is how many people even think that is part of the solution to the problem? Or even is part of the problem to begin with? Probably very few and far between. Any idea on how our presently weak dollar can be strenghen?
Care to post any links? Not that I’m not saying it isn’t true, I would just like some information to see for myself. Thank you.
Wrong person to be telling that to. Why? I don’t own a car. Heck I don’t have a license either. Yet. I mostly get around either on foot or by public transist, also known as SEPTA. But I will tell you this, if I had a license I wouldn’t be going for something that big. Only people trying to show how much money they have would buy something like that. I’d be going for something afforable, good gas milage, etc., and I’d be asking people with a bit more knowledge as far as cars are concerned (mainly relatives) for their opinion before finally buying a car.
Therein lies part of the problem. Ideas for solutions that could be used together to solve the problem in both the long and short run are there, but they are either being ignored, looked down upon or, as you’d noticed with Nuclear Power Plants, which I agreed that we should be building, runs into NIMBY and people’s fear of radiation, meltdown, etc.., thanks to people not realizing that things have changed since they have been worrying about those old fears. And, I’m old enough to know what happened when Nuclear Power Plants were being built back in the ’70s: Fears of meltdown, NIMBY, Three Miles Island, etc., until finally most plants eneded up not being built. Hopefully those fears can now be overcome so that new plants can be built, now. As for Zone 2, where is that from West Philladelphia, which is where I live?
July 15th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Wyatt – you and Randal are brothers, right? You guys must have some interesting discussions at holiday meals!