A Democratic cave-in on offshore drilling

Finally this heretofore do nothing Congress is going to do something positive for the common citizen!

America consumes 20 million barrels of oil a day. Therefore, the potential 18 billion barrels amounts to less than 3 years worth of oil. Seems like the American people should change their ways instead of investing in infrastructure that is ecologically devastating. We have no shame when it comes to our consumptive lifestyles. Will we ever see an administration that values non-human life for its own sake?

A welcome move.

Seeing as the Democrats have a majority in both houses of legislature, are they bowing to Republican pressure to allow the moratorium to expire or are they bowing to pressure from their constituencies who would like them to drill in an effort to relieve the US dependence on foreign oil? Surely, we would all like to end our energy dependence with a cleaner energy source, but until the infrastructure to support "green power" is in place, I believe we should try to use the resources we have available domestically and use the money we save from not having to pay exorbitant import fees to fund research into more environmentally friendly energy.

Offshore drilling has unfortunately become a necessity. Not only do we need to diversify our energy sources, we need to come to a balance and use less.

I cannot believe how many people get suckered into the marketing of the oil companies idea of "Foreign Oil is bad, domestic is good." Why did we elect the democrats to take over the house and senate if they are just going to act like republicans and give away oil to the already wealthy oil companies, give away money to Wall Street Execs to bail them out, and give away more money to the incompetent detroit automakers who cant make cars people want. If they are worried about jobs, just give the money directly to the workers as welfare, and save the rest of the money the execs will piss away in cars no one wants.

Finally...Global warming is such a crock. When all Gore sell's his boat house and private jet I will by a hybrid.

The Bush admin had turned the BLM into a service provider for big oil. What don't these people get about "strategic oil reserves" or "protected areas". This new round of givaways is not going to lower the price of oil by any means and will do nothing but prolong our dependence on this stuff. We need massive investments in renewables now which could lead to a new energy economy based around sustainable technologies and jumpstart this country out of the rut we are in. Obama has voted for renewables everytime, McCain has either been absent or voted against these investments everytime, including a vote on a massive solar power plant in his home state of Arizona.

This is a short term solution to a long term problem which will NOT solve anything. We need to start NOW to find alternative energies and modes of being. Further destroying ocean ecosystems is not worth the oil that MIGHT be there. And since there are already off shore areas permitted for drilling which have NOT been drilled, those should be exhausted before adding new areas. Americans are so beholden to unsustainable ways of exhausting resources that we are headed for a crash sooner than anyone thinks. Real energy leadership would be educating Americans as to why milking the planet of every last drop of oil will not solve the problem. We don't need to ween ourselves off foreign oil - we need to be prepared to ween ourselves off of fossil fuel oil altogether.

Reducing dependency on foreign oil requires combination of
three common sense actions:
1. Conservation (fuel economy improvements, hybrids etc.)
2. Replacement (ethanol etc.)
3. Domestic production growth.
I don't see a reason why any of these actions should be
opposed.

Necessity is the mother of all invention. Carbon-based energy is economically and environmentally unsustainable. This has been apparent since the 70's yet precious little research and development has occured over the last 35 years b/c stopgap policy was implemented and the problem has expanded exponentially. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. The fact that the cost of gasoline collectively clouds the rational judgment of our nation personally embarasses me. We reap what we sow and in a perfect world each individual will take personal responsibility for their choices and explain to their grandchildren why our generation put personal self-interest ahead of reading the writing on the wall. For me the choice is clear, I choose my family's future health and happiness over cheap trash from Walmart. Unfortunately I am in the minority.

I don't understand why one person here thinks this is a decision for the common man. It is stupidity. We are only postponing the inevitable. Look at what happened with the last 2 hurricanes: the oil prices jumped with the THREAT of bad weather. It is not just foreign oil that preys on our wallets, but ALL oil. The money that will have to be poured into new drilling will not be worth the oil taken out, and at a cost of clean water and an uncontaminated food source.
The oil companies know all this, but if they can wring out a few billion more in profits, the world be damned. (and it will)
There are so many different renewable sources of power: wind, solar, water (including tides) and biomethane. All these things make electricity. Can't we start investing in these?

Why do the people of New England and California believe it is OK to have off shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico near the shores of Texas Miss Louisiana but heaven forbid they allow drilling near their shores.?

Anyone who agrees this is smart move is a complete and utter moron. Drilling will NOT lower oil or gasoline prices. Drilling WILL ruin habitats. Drilling WILL give in to big oil while forgetting about everyone else. Drilling will have ZERO effect on the price of gasoline.

The Democrats continue to amaze me with their spinelessness and selling out of our ideals. I am ashamed of this Congress and the Democrats in particular.

That having been said, I still will not vote Republican.

I think T. Boone Pickens has got it right... look him up. This is not an easy problem to solve (Despite what "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" says!).

America needs to research and implement a MASSIVE green energy initiative for wind, sea, solar, and bio power. End of story....

That being said- while this is being prepared and managed- the nation needs to extend efforts to rely on offshore drilling and nuclear power with a MANDATORY moratorium/ sunset provision on BOTH.

While the search for oil is all well and good- the search for natural gas should be given priority. It burns clean and there is plenty of it within our reach. Retrofit automobiles to use it instead of gasoline- a la Pickens Plan.

FINALLY- CLEAN COAL!!! America is the Saudi Arabia of coal- fund as much research and development necessary to open our mines in PA, WV, KY and elsewhere. Mine it and use it and use technology to let it burn clean!!! This problem requires steps and factors from every energy source and EVERY political/business interest. Sticking with just green will screw us, as will staying the same course...

This is such a scam pushed by Big Oil & the Republican Party in order to actually block the advancement of Alternative Energy sources. Now Big Oil will move to gain the leases for the offshore real estate & prevent any opportunity for wind farms being developed where they hold these leases. It's more of the same compared to the actual advances that that scientists & other inventors have already produced to lessen our oil consumption, which have been blocked by Big Oil at every evolution. Shame on the Democratic Party for not standing up to this, when they were our last best hope to prevent it from happening. Bush & Cheney got exactly what they wanted & will give away everything they possibly can to support their friends in Big Oil & Saudi Arabia, prior to the Swearing-In of the next President in January, thereby tying his hands. And to think that I just received an email looking for financial support for several Democratic contenders in this year's elections. Not one penny for you cowards... Not one Vote for supporting your shameful stand, I mean bending over.

On the one hand, I don't care either way.

On the other hand, this really doesn't matter. The amount of oil we're
going to get compared to what we use is so little, that its not
going to effect oil prices.

This is just politics. Republicans are pushing it cause they get oil
money, and its a winning issue this fall.

Republicans and Democrats alike know its not going to make any difference in oil prices.

What does annoy me about this is that high gas prices are being used for political advantage and no useful energy policy that's actually going to help us is being discussed.

Alternative energies are all nice and good, but they're not really going to have any significant impact anytime soon. What we need to do is have cars with better mileage and more nuclear power. This is not fantasy land. This is existing technology that we have right now that can decrease our vulnerability to events in the Middle East and make us more self-sufficient and a stronger nation.

Posting by Embarassed September 24, 08 11:07 AM....

Couldn't have said it better.

We are a minority of 2

About time, now if we can just keep Obama out of the White House so we can actually you know DRILL FOR THE OIL. . . .

I love the "logic" of those opposed to drilling for more oil. They tell us opening off shore areas for drilling won't have an immediate impact on the price of gasoline, yet we are supposed to be able to replace carbon-based energy with alternatives overnight?? At least the people backing Pickens' are making sense so I am all for him having success with his plan. I'm sure it will make him even wealthier.

While we fart around with this, the Russians are not. They have Europe by the short hairs because they have energy supplies that Europe doesn't. They are making claims on the Artic Ocean and I don't think it is because they need more ice. This is a national security issue and not just because of the Middle East and Islamic terrorism.

Meanwhile irrational environmentalism and dimwitted regulations prevent Ford from selling a car that gets 65 mpg in the US. They can sell it in Europe. Enviromental extremists are costing us valuable jobs that people will need to boost their incomes and pay off debt.

The scam in this is from the Watermelons trying to exert their elitist attitudes on the rest of the country. If I want to consume and drive an SUV it is none of your business.

LOL lets see
Wind power- Great for houses, buildings etc. Got a wind powered car yet? -Nope!

Solar!- Still not good enough to even run a home year round. Got a solar car yet? hmm nope.

Water! yes good old H20 , you all complain we wil contaminate whats left, but your ok with using it to run a car? although we dont have a water powered car yet anyway, and cold fusion was a bust.

(man i love this one) BioMethane- Lets face it people, do you really think you will ever drive a car powered by farts, or pig poop.

There are too many people on here saying we need to just invest in new power sources. Like thees a magic switch somewhere we turnit on and Bingo! new power source! Hybrids have tuned out to be much ess fuel efficient than you were led to belive by 20%. Wishing for a thing doesnt make it happen.

who cares?

To William B. Thorton #13 Drilling in Georges Bank off the coast of New England doesn't make sense because there is not enough there to make a profit and it more profitable as a fishing ground. Drilling off the coast of California doesn't make sense because of the risk of earthquakes, and previous disasters that led to economic and environmental devestation, like the Santa Monica spill. This is essentially the equivalent of fixing a cocaine addication by finding a dealer that is closer to your house, at the end of the day you still have a cocaine addication. It is a habit that is destructive and costly. I recently read an article about Bill gates investing $100m in Sapphire energy which produces Algae based bio-fules. You know why he invested in this company? Because he is going to make a major return on this investment! Several times over!.

BTW #22 stevenh they do have compressed air powered cars in India of all places. They are being produced by Tata motors and are available as hybrid gasoline/diesel versions as well. They should be available in the next year. The Chevy volt will have solar option. In Scandanavia they have trolleys and streetcars powered by guess what? Bio-gas!

Hey all those folks with a good head on their shoulders, be heartened! Pelosi and the Dems are smarter and more principled than you think. The Dems certainly were losing ground because of public opinion in their attempts to block a vote on off-shore drilling ("drill, Baby drill" at the RNC anyone? ...disgusting).

However, Pelosi fit in a host of alternative and renewable energy initiatives into the bill that eventually passed. More importantly, Pelosi made sure that states will NOT receive any percentage of oil revenues from any offshore drilling which occurs off of their coastlines. This makes it exceedingly difficult for state legislators to find the incentive to battle environmental groups and convince their constituencies to authorize and endorse offshore drilling. So take heart! Don't write the Dems off just yet, and remember legislation and politics is an exceedingly complex process which the media oversimplifies and, typically, does not meaningfully contextualize.

Also, sure renewables and alt fuel sources will take time, but so will drilling. Where is the money better spent? Further, I'd much prefer nuclear, natural gas and coal to more offshore drilling which has become a political rallying cry that many conservatives are using to capitalize on fuel prices and drive this election season. Even so, those sources are not solutions for the long-term.