VoxOp

OFF-SHORE DRILLING
"The argument for offshore oil drilling has focused, wrongly, on current gasoline prices. It's been well established that increased offshore oil drilling would make, at best, a few cents of difference on pump prices in about 10 years, assuming that the world's insatiable thirst for oil doesn't continue to increase, which is about as likely as Dick Cheney giving up hunting.

"The argument against oil drilling has, also wrongly, focused on the potential environmental disasters in store from offshore drilling. Congress and past presidents restricted offshore oil drilling because of catastrophic spills that turned public opinion, particularly the opinion of beachgoers and wealthy coastal landowners, soundly against the idea of energy exploration near their ocean views.

"At least, I thought the environmental disaster argument was wrong - because it misses a larger point: Investing in oil now is like deciding it's a good time to get into the subprime mortgage business. The game ending, and you've already lost."
DON SHAPLEY www.thedaily green.com

"Offshore exploration opponents point out that if the federal drilling ban were lifted today, there'd be no immediate effect on gasoline prices. It could take 10 years to get any crude to the gas pump. Fine. Most people driving today still will be 10 years from now.

"Another argument for not lifting the drilling ban: Pumping more oil will just feed our addiction to the fossil fuel that is burning up the planet. We ought to be focusing on renewable energy - wind, solar, geothermal . . . People didn't give up their horse and buggy until Henry Ford began making affordable cars. We're anxiously awaiting our next transportation mode."
GEORGE SKELTON www.latimes.com

"We are making progress. SUVs are going the way of the Dodo bird; alternative fuel vehicles are becoming more and more prevalent. Heck, even my mom uses reusable bags now. But here's the half-empty: offshore drilling is not a solution, it's not even a quick fix - it's a mistake, plain and simple. The only thing it has to offer is false hope and more environmental damage."
JERRY JAMES STONE Redgreenandblue.org

CLARK ROCKEFELLER INTERVIEW
"Let's see. Kidnap your daughter and hope to live a "quiet life" in Baltimore . . . And now playing amnesia card? It's not even up to 'B' movie standards."
MIXED NUTS Borinemadedull.blogspot.com

"The Clark Rockefeller story is just too weird to ignore. First a magnate, then an alleged murderer, now a messed-up German exchange student? That's quite a progression.

"As more information came in . . . Rockefeller seemed worth some attention. The press connected him to murders, films, and - our favorite - gold bouillon. His child was (fortunately) rescued, freeing us to concentrate on the possible crimes of the father. The authorities finally figured out that Rockefeller was from Bergen, Germany; he'd escaped as an exchange student and never looked back - as himself or in any other guise.

"All in all, a creep. But Rockefeller must also have been cunning to get away with the identity shifts he did, and to go so far as to start a family - and accumulate enough cash to lay down a half-mil in cashier's checks for a house. There's just no way a normal person could do this - morality or mere mix-ups about one's own lies would get in the way at some point."
KERRY SKEMP Bostonist.com