No drill zone: House bill spares Georges Bank

Of all the possible choices, McCain chose a running mate whose views and values are the same as Bush.
PALIN IS BUSH!
I want change!
McCain/Palin: The Bridge to Nowhere.

The bill is a fraud. They are lying to the American people. 88% of the reachable oil is inside the 50 mile zone. If this ever passes, they are giving in to Russia and OPEC because they will raise prices until we are broke and can't heat our homes. What a bunch of fakes.

Slimy politicians. How low can they sink?

Georges Bank is a sensitive environmental area, and should have been excluded. However, many other areas are also just as sensitive to the local economies and ecologies and are not excluded.

We cannot drill our way out of this problem.

We need to put the same focus that we put on going to the moon into clean renewable energy, and solve the problem for us and our children and our children's children.

I think this is a great step forward to not relying on foreign oil. I still think our main efforts need to be geared for alternative energy. It's good to see the Democrats have eased their views on offshore drilling, lets see what the Republicans give to supporting alternative energy.

Drill baby Drill !!!!!!!!

I think they should cut off gas and oil supplies to the state of Massachussetts if they are too good to have any drilling off their shores. This is another example of the Democrats playing their elitist games. It is further proof of how broken Congress really is.

It is not far enough. The longer we sit and do nothing about the energy crisis the deeper into our pocketbook this is going to go with EVERYTHING. Stupid alternative fuel sources are a fraud. It does nothing to help us. For example: the ethanol production from corn is wasted land, acres and acres of land that could be used to grow food items. What do we see? Higher food prices. We need to drill here and drill NOW! That is change we can look forward to with McCain. Obama is lying to everyone. He will not drill anywhere. In fact he would rather raise taxes and make us pay MORE!

Don't these people get that when our energy infrastructure goes to hell, they are going down along with everyone else? Money and influence isn't going to mean jack when you can't fill up a tank of gas AT ALL and your home doesn't have power because there's no alternative to the millions of barrels of oil that go towards regular power generation. In the same way that we need to break international dependence on oil, we need to break our politicians of their addiction - power. Because they are not acting responsibly or thinking of the future at all; only in four-year terms.

So we all pay more for energy so politicians in Massachusetts can cater to their constituents. They lack any moral courage. If you want to see what will happen to the entire country if Obama and the Democrats take control, look to Massachusetts. It is a cesspool of politics.

To pass a bill that allows drilling in areas where little or no oil is easily reached is the same old smoke and mirrors! The drilling must closer to shore. NEVER in the total history of offshore driling has there been a major spill or accicent. ONLY in transportation mishaps do you see spills because the oil and gas will come ashore in pipelines! What good is a bill to allow drilling 100+ miles offshrore?

How about if we only dril in MA? That will tach those grape vine martha lovers to chut their traps.

Obama/Biden voted for the Bridge to Nowhere making them full of Hot Air! At least Govenor Palin wised up. This bill is a feeble attempt to pander to the American People to get Obama the Teleprompter elecected.

The American people are not fooled Nancy! You and your Liberal cohorts better run for cover when McCain/Palin drain the Congressional Swamp and make the Alligators move out!

Drill Here Drill Now. That message is ringing Loud and Clear and Libs just don't get it!

Political cover, the Democrats are just paying lip service to the wants of the US public. They do not want to offend the environmental lobbyists, so they only go part way on this important economic and security issue.

Utilizing our natural resources is imperative to all Americans in these troubled times. All of America is being scrutinized and manipulated both home and abroad by a failed domestic energy policy that has been being developed and legislated long before Bush ever came to office. America as a whole has to wake up and decide if we are to going to keep putting our culture, families, and country at risk by being politically correct, or are we going roll up our sleeves and take control of our countries destiny by building a bridge to the future. The bridge we need is paved with security and its piers are a developed platform of usable energy that can sustain OUR economy... end of story. To allow our leaders to continue to make this a "political issue" is leaving all of we Americans in the lurch and putting our countries long term survivability at grave risk.

Typical of the Democrats that are in control of the country- as they have been for the past cpl of years. It's funny to me- Dems are in control of what gets passed, but anything that isn't to the liberals liking gets blamed on the Repulicans. As usual with the Liberals- " you can say or do anything you want, as long as it aligns with what I think and do".

Big Jim is right! The demacrats are once again trying to ruin the energy independence that republicans are trying to acomplish. If this bill passes, which I pray to God that it does not, than the Democratic party will prohibit drilling with in that 50 mile zone FOREVER! that leads me to belive that the Dems, dispite all their claims, really do not want to be energy independent! It seems like they like being dependent, kinda like how they love welfare and other social programs!

Pipelines to offshore drilling facilities have destroyed a lot of marshland. Just look at the Mississippi delta. Thousands of channels are causing erosion by the sea and loss of a lot of land that protects the cities behind it.

It doesn't take "moral courage" to drill and destroy an environmentally irreplaceable area like George's Bank, the rich fishery from which thousands of fishermen make their living, and millions of Americans have their dinner. All so these red-blooded Americans can fill up their SUVs and snowmobiles for $2.99 a gallon and drive with impunity? I think moral courage is the courage to do the right thing in the face of the brainless angry mobs.

The price of oil has had little to do with supply. Speculators have forced the price of oil to skyrocket not a lack of supply. The oil producing countries never sat down and said we'll raise the price. No, its the traders that said...'I think the price is going to go up' and they usually blame conflicts here or there that barely ever truely affect supply.

While I have no problem supporting more drilling its absurd to think that just adding more supply will change the price when the speculators are the real key to price.

As for this Georges Bank...Sorry but its utter bull that this one spot got excluded but thousands of other areas were not just because their respective representatives didn't bother to fight for them. Those politicians who were against off shore drilling there are probably the same ones who have been against putting up wind farms off shore since it might impact the ocean view of the rich who own seaside mansions there.

They still don't get it. We need oil drilling yesterday and they want to play games.
Each member of congress cost the tax payer over two million a year in salary and expenses, I don't think we are getting our money worth.

Why hasn't anyone discussed the millions of acres of land already set aside for drilling, but not being utilized? This appears to be yet another power play to pander to the oil companies before the administration changes.

WOW.....these comments are amazing! To think that McCain/Palin will put this country back to where it needs to be is crazy. This country needs change and not just a changing of the guard but changing how we live, think and survive.

ITA with post #1.....she jsut wears a skirt and the Republicans are dangling her out front for all those that feel or think or wish she was Hilary; she will never be a Hilary!

Why nobody talk about 69MM acres of land that oil companies have already? Why don’t they drill on that land but ask for more?
And why our VP is so silent? He is the one who had all these secret meetings with the oil executives.

I think most environmental studies will show that oil platforms pose minimal risk to the seabed and in fact actually act as artificial reefs which encouage fish populatins.

That being said, it will take years for new offshore platforms or new holes on federal lands to produce meaningful amounts of oil.

Wonder what the cost of coal-gasification-to-gasoline would cost at the pump and how long it would take for this ABUNDANT source of fuel to reach the pipeline. Anyone know?

This bill and article is a farce. It is new legislation to extend the ban that is set to expire with very few if any answers to the problem of liberal whacks blocking the collection of US resources. It is not the big compromise this hack article makes it sound like. To the Democrats who pushed this mess thru only to extend the ban and make it sould like they gave in I say " We the American people will see this for what it is, BS" To the republicans who went along with this bs I say, " Shame on you-Shame on you. You are not losing seats because you are too conservative, It is because you are not true to your elected stance. again Shame on you." I say help set up a company in Mexico out side the liberal whacks reach to drill and buy the oil from them. They have not bombed us and it would supply us oil and hemp their economy, also keep some at home. God bless the US and Palin. Yes, we Americans believe we should keep the Constitution and our rights in tact. I want to hold on to my religion, guns and all the rights given me by the Constitution. I say again" God bless America and anyone willing to stand up for her, this includes Bush".

I say as Citizens of this country, we should learn to be as flexible as our supreme law of the land, which is our constitution. The constitution is a piece of art that has survived many challenges over a period of 200 years, if a piece of paper can do it so can we. Lets be flexible in a way where we can use what resources we have left and continue to research on alternative energy at the same time.

People seem to be under a misunderstanding of the situation. People seem to think that drilling more will decrease the cost of fuel at the pump. Which is not true. People seem to believe that alternative fuels are useless. Alternative fuels depends on your definition. Above it was referring to ethanol which is not an alternative. Some people also believe that it is the lack of refineries to process the crude into gasoline. This is also false, to an extent. Yes an increase in refineries would increase production, but as the Oil companies view the situation, why should they increase supply when the demand lines their pockets. A bill like this is a road block on Oil company purchases of land. Since they sit on most of the land they own.

America is ranked 17th in countries that EXPORT OIL! Is there any mention that all this new offshore drilling will be going to the American public? No! They will drill the oil, sell it to China or India, make a huge profit, and WE will be left scratching our heads wondering 'what happened?' I feel so betrayed by the Democrats today.

Typical the "Rich" snooty types want to talk about fixes but don't want them in their backyard... after all, what would the neighbors think and how would it look! Just over a year ago Ted Kennedy prevented the wind farm from going forward. But, of course it has nothing to do with the way it "LOOKS"... oh no... he's concerned about the migratory birds and sea life. Their part of the problem... $hit can the lot of them.

All I have to say...Nuclear Power for all!?!? Maybe we can use the LHC to figure out this whole Nuclear Fusion thing?

You Republicans know perfectly well drilling won't help the energy crisis. You only want expansion of drilling contracts to open up more jobs with sex and drug parties. Shame on you.

Drill it all! If we have it, utilize it! Dont give more money to other countries for oil; oil that we can produce with our workforce, our jobs, our citizens. I only hope the drill bill will include sharing royalties with neighboring states.

I vote we come into the 21st century and start using wind power up and down the coast of CA.

I will vote against all CA members that voted for the "drill baby drill" BS. Either car pool, ride a bike, or what a concept get off some of the TV butts and walk for a change!

All other states should follow suit! The proof is in your bodies and minds (hint hint , use both, or lose both)!

This is just a sham. Nancy Pelosi you have not fooled me. I will make sure I spread the word far & wide.

It's perfect because it will force bush to veto something he's for. Anyone noticing how Palin is talking about the whole "cling to guns and religion" thing again? Am I the only one who's noticed that all the excitement about Palin is clinging to religion and guns? Ironic, no?

waaaa...Stop bawling greenies...we might not be able to drill ourselfs out completely but it is a start...kind of funny that a Dem from California cares sooo much about drilling off shore from Massachutes...I'm sure that Ted Kennedy had no influence on that decision, eh?

This is why people are fed up with the government.They take the american people for idiots and they're approval ratings keep getting lower.It's time to get off the mid east nipple drill here ,drill now

This bill is not news but a press release. You like being used? Why aren't you outraged that they created a bill that only gives lip service to the problem? You should be demanding they stand up and tell us where they stand - drill our reserves or not!

when you turn congress over to the liberals this is the type of self serving mess the american people get. I hope the President will veto this bill and then focus on the way this bill was put together, to give democrats cover in the election but still keep gas prices rising so they can call for more money to be poured into what democrats hope will be feasible in 25 years, alternative forms of energy. We need to allow drilling now before it is to late. I have voted for democrats my entire life(63 yrs.). This bill ends my loyalty to this party.

I'm sad for this country, and all the people in it.
It is in the name of God and Nationalism, you dig our graves.

Thoren 58,

Palin is Bush? What are you crazy? Palin is a Conservative; Bush is a liberal. So far, he's taken over Freddie and Fanny, probably AIG today, and tomorrow it will be the U.S. auto industry. You liberal pinkos ought to love this. It's called Communism.

Every day we ship money across the oceans in exchange for oil. We know where some of that money is going. Are their practices any cleaner than our would be? I doubt it.

The Georges Bank is a foundation for the fishing economy for all of northern New England. I don't know about other areas, but I agree that this one should be protected.

Sure! Lets keep detroying our natural resources. Let's keep depending on a non-renewable, highly-polluting source of energy. I mean, who the heck cares about the future? We'll just let our children deal with it since we won't be here anyway. As long as we can still fill our SUVs for now then we'll be fine. It's a no-brainer!

I am a liberal person. We do have to find new renewable clean energy. But until that time we need to do everything we can to bring the Gas/ Heating/ Energy prices down. Yes I am Liberal...However I am not hugging a tree & quite honestly could care a less about a spotted Owl...Last time I check, there has never been a bird that has paid my rent, gas bill, or heating Oil bill. Please go to Google & look this up. "The Bakken Formation". This would solve America's Oil problem for the next 50 years until a "Clean" Renewable energy source is found.

efdenton - UR absolutely correct when U say "I don't think we are getting our money worth."

Neocons STIKE again! How stupid are the American people? Brain dead since 11/2000

Speculators cannot affect the price of anything unless they hoard inventory. Oil inventories never increased - it was simple supply and demand. Demand for oil is extremely inelastic, especially in the short run, so small changes in demand cause large changes in price. If their stupidity wasn't priming me for a massive coronary in about 30 years, I'd be amused at how Republicans insisted there was no stock bubble during the tech years and no housing bubble over the last few years, when there was obvious speculation in both markets, but now insist commodities were in a bubble, when there was no inventory run up.

As for Georges Bank... in the long run, fish will prove to be a far more valuable resource than oil.

Rather than slander Massachusetts for protecting Georges Bank, why not take a minute to research WHY it was excluded? You fanatics yelling "drill!" represent the biggest problem in our country - uneducated reactionaries unable to think beyond today. Why don't you read some facts, instead of just headlines and slogans.

Where is this oil going to go ? I would be in favor of limited drilling if it would be used by the USA and the USA only.It Won't.

Just more manipulation by the greedy :[

Many express a great concern about our environment, but even the citizens of Massachusetts will require gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel for quite a long time into the future, even if tomorrow (impossible) there are no private gasoline engine cars on the road.

If the Massachusetts environmentalists (and environmentalists elsewhere in the US) are correct, and oil drilling and refining damages the environment, these same environmentalists have little objection if the environments of other countries are damaged.

So, once again, let the other guy shoulder the burden.

Allowing BIG Oil to drill along any coast of the USA only benefits BIG Oil. Experts say it will only reduce the price of gas by 3 cents/gallon in 10 years. This is nothing. Additional drilling will greatly increase the chances of oil spills. Imagine an Exon Valdez disaster in Miami beach, or along any of the California or New England coasts. Besides, the problem is we are using too much oil which produces greenhouse gasses-more drilling will only increase this problem.

I believe that Americans are tired of the rants of angry partisan attacks and misogynistic views of McCain/Palin. Let’s stay on topic – America’s majority says “Drill Here, Drill Now.” The issue is that Massachusetts lawmakers introduced a bill that excludes offshore oil-drilling near Georges Bank off New England. This NIMBY bill exemplifies these Massachusetts lawmakers feel their voices are more important than the majority view. Should the American majority kowtow or should lawmakers represent the American people? I can only hope that at election time the American people can remember to vote these lawmakers and representatives out!

The House approved the bill under the pressure from the public. Is that the best advice? Ask anyone basic questions about the anticipated impact of drilling on the economy and on the environment, and when it will happen, and you will see that we are just a bunch of ignorants. To think that irreversible decisions are made based on some propaganda that easily sinks into these empty brains, is scary. In the meantime, we are missing an opportunity to really wean us off oil and start using renewable sources of energy, which are abundant in our country. The sad thing is that even people who don’t have any share in the profits raked by the oil industry allowed for the massive brain-washing and are now idiotically echoing the “drilling” slogan.

Mr. Dan wrote:
"I think they should cut off gas and oil supplies to the state of Massachussetts if they are too good to have any drilling off their shores. This is another example of the Democrats playing their elitist games. It is further proof of how broken Congress really is."

Frankly I think we in the U.S. are ALL too good to have drilling off our shores.

But if you want to play that game, we look forward to cutting off any medical advances discovered here from your state. As a MA resident, I live with my family of 4 in a 5 room apartment on one floor of a house. My family and I walk, bike, or take public transportation to work and do our errands. We dry our clothes on a line. Elitist my a**. We use fewer fossil fuels and fewer government resources than the residents who live in states that are mainly rural or suburban, whose communities are connected by subsidized highways, miles of phone and electrical cabling, and cost more to educate per student and in government services per resident.

This bill is a joke. A stable national energy policy and more secure energy sources are crucial to the safety and well being of our children and future generations. While oil and natural gas are not the only answer, the are DEFINITELY part of the answer. First, we need to drill, drill now, drill where the oil is, drill where the oil is cheap. Then, drill in ANWR and further out on the contential shelf. At the same time, develope and implement renewable energy resources, and improve the efficiency of everything from automobiles to washing machines. The Dems can't do this...all they want to do is increase taxes, implement more social programs, promote a lack of individual responsibility, and discourage free enterprise. If it were easy, Bush and his fellow democrat in congress would of already done it.

If you've looked at the price of crude recently - trading under $100 a barrel - by the time the winter rolls around, heating oil should be about on par with prices last year. To ruin our environment like this is a shame since we could be putting so much of this funding into reusable resources and further research. Our children will be paying for our mistakes today, and I hope they have the bravado to face the challenges we only shimmied around.

11 days before the legislative moratorium EXPIRES, they pass a bill. Political expediency at its finest. Hey Voters! Look what we DEMOCRATS did!!!

No way I can vote for the party of political expedience.

As long as the bushites can convence us that more drilling is the solution to our problem, and as long as the car builders build so called hybrids that have to have gasoline engines in some form, the oil co.s are happy. You dummys can sleep well at night knowing you did the right thing, becaues what really counts is their moral standing. Right? Idiots !
bj

Nice work Nancy you lied to us again.

If MA doesn't want drilling, then Texas should keep our own oil. They are ok with drilling everywhere but not in their area. This is without a doubt the common elitist views of the liberal politicians.

I agree this bill is lip service.

Drill here, Drill now.

This will not solve our energy problems but it will help and should be part of a multi-prong approach.

TW Stone says "NEVER in the total history of offshore driling has there been a major spill or accicent" Where have you been?!! 2006 - 798,000 gallons in Alaska; 1969 - 743700 gallons off Santa Barbara, 2005 - Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Caused Six Offshore Spills Of 42,000 Gallons Or Greater.

There should not be any expansion of off shore drilling until we have a comprehensive energy plan that addresses, in realistic terms with goals, how we will drastically reduce our dependance not only on foreign energy supply, but also drastically reduce the demand for fossil fuel from anywhere. That plan must have a provison that no off shore drilling or drilling in ANWR will occur untill all current leases are fully developed and we develop the capacity to retrieve the remaining oil reserves in places such as Pennsylvania and Illinois.

If we "ease the pain", like spoiled children, whose stomach ache from eating to much chocolate is now gone, we will go right back and gorge again. Doubt that? We faced this crisis in the 1970's, and again in the 1990's and now again.

I just read all of these comments and am in complete disbelief at how many sheep are reading this article and responding with these "drill here, drill now" comments. What part of this inappropriate conflict of interest for Republicans, especially the Bush Administration, do you people not understand? The Bush family money is directly tied to oil. This is just another attempt to exploit the American people in a time of need to line their pockets with more dirty oil dollars. Yeah, sure, let's drill, drill, drill. Sure we know this will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to affect gas prices for years to come and will jeopardize wildlife, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of many fishermen dependent on the same land used for drilling, but hey, at least Bush and all his cronies will make more money they don't need. It is straight up corruption and needs to be stopped. Why can't so many of you see this? Why can't we band together to take a stand, impeach the corrupt SOBs, and get our country back on track before it is too late. We said something when Cheney and Haliburton made millions off the American people by getting government contracts to provide private security forces in a war we never needed to get involved in...why can't we see this as Republicans taking advantage of the situation at hand again? What will it take for us to say that is enough? The worst part is that neither candidate will change any of this and we were not smart enough as a collective group to vote for candidates in the primaries who might have actually changed something. Go Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul in 2012!

American citizen's financial well-being should be the primary consideration here. Put the goddamn political correctness aside and.... DRILL BABY, DRILL!!!

We need to increase domestic drilling for sure. But, let us not lose sight of the ultimate goal which is to transition to more natural gas for transportation and heating. And to wind and solar for more energy production!

I think that person who said we shouldnt drill that we need to just focus on "renewables like we focused on putting an man on the moon", needs to look back at how long it actually took for us to do that. We cant wait for new technologies, we need to use what we have now to transition us to them.

A new era led by McCain and Palin has begun! Drilling is the first step to energy independence and that will hopefully be followed by an end to Roe v Wade where 40 to 50 million babies have been killed. There is so much that needs to be done to stop the liberals from ruining America. Thank God for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

How are they justifying additional land for drilling when "they" claim to already have land set aside for drilling that is just sitting there? As previously commented this will do nothing for the immediate problem "they" see as it takes time to do all that is necessary to prepare the land, drill, extract, etc. before it even makes it to the consumers.

They should stop screwing around and start setting some real goals with our "need" for oil. Look towards the car manufactures for one thing and set some guidelines in which they must have cars that have certain MPG no less, utilize hybrid technology/electric technology. It's the 21st century we don't need every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a pickup truck that gets 14-20MPG (on a good day) on the highway, city streets, etc. We don't need 8, 10, or 12 cylinder cars to haul around whatever the farmer takes to market these days. We need to look more towards the European way of thinking.

They need to simply go back to the drawing board because obviously they haven't got a clue as to what they want to do, or how to do it.

it s not clear to me that increased drilling will greatly impact the domestic oil supply. It seems that if the oil is sold on the world market that there is reduced benefit to citizens and more benefit to the oil producers. If we can ensure the supply to domestic needs and if it is a part of a move away from fossil fuels then I could understand it. Otherwise, not.

There's not enough oil under the ocean to make a nickel's worth of difference. Do your research folks - drilling is not the answer. Take a look at other countries and see what they're doing. Alternative energy, even if it's nuc-u-lar is the answer. We need an administration that doesn't take 480 days of vacation and will guide the lawmakers towards developing a workable plan to solve this problem. Drilling is just a diversion to satisfy the simple minded. Vote Obama/Biden!

Its all a democratic plan to win the election.They think that if they make the economy bad enough then blame it on the republicans, they will win the election.

This is not a real bill. It is political gamesmanship prior to an election. This allows the Dems to go home and campaign that they support drilling while their opponents do not.

It's a joke.

This is a bad decision.
Oil experts know that the additional oil we will find will not make any difference to our US oil consumption. T
Our focus should be on alternative energies and review the way we use energy on a daily basis. i.e: Common transportation, upgrade train tracks and bring speed train in this country, green car, reduce AC to a minimum, develop fusion technology and sign off on our Middle East's dependency.

This vote has for design two constituencies: US oil companies and the People.

Politicians just made a populist move which will be short live and will come back and hunt them.

Hey! I have a place on Martha's Vineyard, but also think we should not be caving in to local sensitivities and drilling wherever there is oil. Don't lump us all in with the elitist tree-hugging dems of the east coast. I think that if Mass doesn't let drilling off of their coastline, then their gas should have a surcharge.

This is a Bill in name only, so the Dems can say they did something, unfortunately it lacks substance... created behind closed doors so nobody can question the language, and they want to remove any incentive to do anything, and was created to actually stop drilling in oil rich regions.

Let the states individually hammer out royalty deals and see how fast we get our drilling! As long as our liberals in congress pander to the special interests, they continue to handcuff us as a nation.
DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW

After watching Congress last evening receive a Energy Bill that was presented only 24 hours before by The Leadership of the House, if you wish to call them that, I would like to know how they felt that this bill should be passed without debate? It was even ask by one of the members of the house "Who in this Chamber has read this energy Bill?" No one even read it! It contained 290 pages and yet the Speaker of the House expected nothing to be questioned!! I wish I lived in CA and could vote as I know one person that would never get my vote!!

The amount of petroleum products used to build and support offshore rigs is huge. The net production is small - total US oil: a tiny fraction of the world's reserves, and offshore oil: a small fraction of that tiny fraction.
The pollution produced: tens of thousands of TONS of greenhouse gasses annually for decades to produce that small amount (Source: US Dept. of Agriculture MMS). And the oil company profits, also huge.
Why are we in this mess? Because Republicans have blocked both increases in auto efficiency standards and development of alternative fuels for decades. They have denied the reality of global warming, which is impacted not only by these fuels, but by their production.

The bill obviously is a compromise.

Quite emphatically, I don't like bills that are done under the pressure of the November election where things are given up less thoughtfully.

After the November election, this bill would not happen in this form. To serve our country best, that would be a time to create a strong energy bill. This one is just a mismash and stinky.

Drilling for oil won't solve our energy problems nor will it change the cost of gas before I retire from work. Big oil is using this situation to get access and Republicans are providing that access with ease and huge tax breaks. I would prefer working with oil companies as part of an entire strategy. I would prefer working with oil companies with a strong negotiating position to get back something for the public that is enforcable and real. A strong democratic Congress in Jan 2009 (ability to withstand fillibuster) and the potential for a democratic presidency provides an incredible negotiating position with oil companies, world trade and commerce, and a real balanced American Energy Initiative

Why are people so dumb it will take at least 10 years for this to make a difference if we are lucky. Then it will not effect the price much at all. when the american oil companies ship most of our oil we drill here to other countries does it really matter if we drill here or not. We will still be getting our oil from over seas

Not in my back yard, the Dems say. Drill Pelosi

Anyone who believes that drilling off the coast of the U.S. or anywhere else in the U.S. is a solution to our energy problems and is going to benefit the U.S. is naïve. Any oil obtained from drilling anywhere in the U.S. belongs to the oil companies, and not to the U.S. That oil is then destine for whatever country can pay for it, i.e. China. The oil companies will get richer, and the citizens of the U.S. will still have to pay more and more for gas. Wake Up!

WHo are they kidding. Any one who know what the ocean floor is like 50 miles out, knows that little oil is there, and those familiar with the Gulf Coast still flock to the beaches, undeterred by the rigs.

THis is another trick by Dems to pretend to care. It's a game they're playing with everyone's pocketbook, and they plainly pay more attention to the rich who own the big mansions on the seas.

I think every incumbent of any stripe should be ousted every election until we get a congress that really works the the good of americans, not just the select few.
88% of offshow oil is within the 50 miles. Duh, and they really think Americans are that stupid to believe that they care about us?
WRite your congress members. No matter your party. This is a travesty. And it's leaving us all behind.

It seems as though a lot of readers of this article don't really understand how the oil market works. Just because we drill more oil out of American soild doesn't mean that we'll pay less at the pump or any where else for that matter. Oil produced here goes on the global market - just like oil produced by any other country. This means that global prices would go down but just a few dozen cents per barrel. And to boot, we won't reap any benefits of new drilling for 7-10 years. This is nothing more that a typical problem, reaction, solution catalyst model that Americans get duped in to in order to help big oil companies.
So fine- drill more - let's just trash all of our natural resources so a few oil companies can make more money for longer. I just can't wait to see what all of the pro-drillers think when oil prices NEVER really go down. What will they say then?

Why cant the oil companies drill in the areas they already have access to but have not yet drilled in? This whole thing is nothing but a scam to give the oil companies access to an even larger area that they really don't need but do want.

The fact of the matter is, even if they were allowed to drill in Anwar there would be no oil produced for 5 to 7 years.

The answer? Makes the oil companies research and develope the areas they already DO have but then legistale that oil is removed from the commodities board...make it so that oil cannot be traded as a commodity.

Offshore drilling is a joke. The US has more oil in reserve than the entire worlds collective supply. In Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming there is a minimum of 800 billion barrels of shale oil. Of these reserves 70% of it is on Federally owned and controlled land. We should be tapping this oil and selling it, not buying it. At our current oil usage the reserves will last well over 100 years, while allternative fuels can continue to be developed.

If the Republicans really believed in drilling for oil they would accept this proposal and come back in the future and argue to drill closer to the shoreline. This is politics folks. The fact is that drill, drill, drill is just an election line. The oil companies see no benefit in drilling for additional oil on shore, offshore or where this latest vote allows them to. They make more money with the status quo.

The only way to drive oil prices down is to use less. We have seen the power of this approach already as the recession and price increases have forced economy. Conserving by improving automobile mpg and alternate energy sources is the way to go.

The Republican approach is just a cynical election ploy

Even if we become energy independent and have alternative energy, Oil will always be a big part of our economy.

Oil is petroleum.
Petroleum is needed to make petroleum products.
Most common petroleum product is plastic.

Imagine the world with no plastic.

Prevailing wisdom 25 years ago agreed that we would run out of oil by the year 2000. America started putting restrictions on drilling in part to make sure that we would use up everyone else's oil be fore we started using ours, which would insure that we were going to be the last bastion of power before everyone fail back into the dark ages. Or at least our oil would be worth more if it was the last oil on earth. Now we see that there's oil reserves everywhere, Brazil just found a huge oil reserve off it's coast.

Drilling can be done in a very environmentally safe way now. The offshore oil rigs that we have today haven't had any problems with all the hurricanes that have hit recently or ever that I can remember. Oh, and if oil is a natural product of the earth,which leaks out into the ocean all by itself in many places, why is it so bad if we spill a little. It's nature spilling on nature.

Grow up, we need oil, the butterflies arent' going to cry if we drill for oil.

One of the stupid, laughing stocks, of this bills is this statement:

"-Give tax breaks for new energy efficiency programs, including the use of improved building codes, and for companies that promote their employees' use of bicycles for commuting."

Wouldn't you like to see News Media video footage of Pelosi and Reed riding their bicycles to Congress every day -- especially in the winter.

Take Note: America does not have enough oil, no matter HOW much we drill, to break our dependance on foriegn oil. Any drilling we do now will take TEN YEARS to produce results, and you won't see but a few pennies of decrease even then, because we just unfortunately aren't located in a very oil rich land. What we can do is focus our energies on putting out the most fuel efficient American cars anyone's ever seen. We can invest in public transportation that would rival Europe's, we can increase the energy efficiency of not only our homes but also public buildings and priviate corporations. We can also invest in the new technologies that will ultimately (will take years) pay off in the future, so we can have different fuels that can be cost effectively manufactured in the US. Politicians who get big donations from OIL COMPANIES are of COURSE going to promote drilling which will benefit oil companies more than the American public.

Reading some of these drill now, drill everywhere comments that seem to be coming out of the McSame/Palin camp (most of which are filled with misspelling and phony info) makes me fear for the future of this nation and my grandkids. These guys are hopelessly addicted to a 19th century technology and a backward mindset to match. All the science points toward the need to go for sustainable energy technologies on a race for space magnitude, but these guys actually think they can drill their way out of this energy crisis. Ha! Wake-up Repugnicans! Trashing the planet to fuel your lame SUV is history.

It is political cover and the Mass democrats makng sure they stay in office, like they have anything to fear in this liberal state. While I believe we should drill for more oil I also believe we need to explore all aspects of alternative energy. T. Boone Pickens is partly right with wind power and the rechargeable electric car is far better than a gas burner.

This is a national issue that is not getting national action and limited action from congress. Only a program similar to the moon mission will get us where we need to be otherwise our greatest export will be US dollars and that means our dollar will buy even less. If we were to achieve energy independence and not need the foreign oil you would see the strongest US Dollar in your life time and that Toyota would be a lot cheaper!

In short, we need to do it all and not rely on just one method.

McPlain (McCain & Palin) tell us why oil companies can't drill on the 65 thousand plus acres already allocated. What makes you feel that it is easier to drill offshore?

With advancements in technology and more concern for our environment, oil platforms can be raised and run with less environmental impact than natural oil seepage in the ocean. Also, studies run off the coast of California show that platforms converted into artificial reefs HELP the local fish populations.

This bill is the Democratic party pandering to the conservative population. It was positioned so that drilling could only be done outside the optimal zone to appease their environmental lobbyist friends.

The Democrats are scared to death that their seats in Congress are about to be replaced and are willing to blow as much steam up the collective voter's... to get re-elected as necessary.

I hope Bush veto's this bill so fast the pen breaks the sound barrier.

Do you REALLY think, if we tripled the worlds oil supplies, that the price would come down? How sad.
Wake up, there s no tooth fairy, no Santa Claus or Easter Bunnies.
The price that just spiked due to Ike is an indication of who controls the prices.
Think about it: The price the Oil Companies pay goes UP, and they STILL make RECORD profits every quarter. So, we drill, add a few more barrels to their stocks, only now they don't have to pay for the long distance shipping. Less overhead, more profit!!
Drilling is NOT the answer. Not now, not long term.
Cut the Iraq war, spend the $10,000,000,000 a month and see if we can't come up with a new energy source.
Oh, and CUT the oil company subsidies, they do not need them!

We need to open all the available drilling areas to keep OPEC awake.

However, crude prices are where they were 7 months ago (yes, this calendar year) when I paid $2.69/gallon. It seems to me that Congress had the refining executives in their playground and they did absolutely nothing to stop the outright thievery.

Every single encumbant should be scrutinized for replacement. DO NOT settle for $3/gallon gas. Get angry with the politicians who are self serving and worthless, and accept no excuses.

Why are there so many rush limbaugh goober smoochers?

This is fact....most of the pacific and atlantic coastlines have a zone called the continental shelf....its tends to drop of within the 50 mile limit to very very deep water....anything outside that zone more than likely becomes impossible to drill due to the depths encountered....the reason the gulf has so many rigs is because of the depths involved....you can get at it.....the 50 mile zone is a sham....it is just political cover to say HEY we did something....but it is smoke and mirrors....I just cant understand the democrat mindset.....this has nothing to do with the enviroment......the tecknology exist for clean drilling.....SO WHAT IS IT.....can someone enlighten us please......

I work in the offshore drilling industry and I find the whole thing amusing, especially the ignorance of the average American who actually believe that opening up drilling now will bring down gas prices as a short term solution. FACT: wells have been drilled on the east coast back in the 70's and 80's and came up dry. FACT: It will take a couple years to conduct extensive seismic surveys and analyze the data, then with current waiting lists a couple more years to get a rig to actually be able to drill a well if they find something so you'd be looking at 5-6 years minimum to actually be able to get product. Now here's the fun part...where are you going to produce that product? Its a FACT that currently America's refinery capacity is running at 98% of maximum so that means even IF you find oil you have no where to produce it except ship it to foreign countries for refinement and then ship it back, all of which adds cost. Why not build a new refinery? Simple...the same reason why its been 30 years since a new refinery has been built in this country, environment regulation. The laws are more lax and its easier to expand a current refinery b/c they can run higher pollution levels than building a new refinery which they expect to conform to new laws, however those laws make it super expensive which is why its not done. People....this is not a short term solution, so do your homework, don't believe the media and get used to 5-6$ / gallon gas (which isn't so bad....we're just finally catching up to what the rest of the world has been paying for years.`

I don't feel I have enough information regarding the pros and cons of drilling to give an intelligent reply. Perhaps there should be a more extensive article that discussed the good and bad points of drilling before you ask for our input.

I think this is a good compromise. Conservative business sources such as the Wall Street Journal and others have indicated that deep drilling is economically feasible. Off shore drilling is a short term fix and all sources of alternative energy need to to
be explored

Bob

As i understand this your state goverment has the say over where drilling can occur within 200miles of the shore. This is what the idiots wanted, with their drill baby drill. On one hand we (dems) have conceded our position that we didn't want drilling because it will do little goood. on the other hand we compromised and put the power into the states hands. If you ask me this is a good compromise. One must remember that on Sept. 29 the drilling moritorium would have ended and anyone could have drilled where ever they pleased. This is not the dems fault this is entirely on the hands of the obstructionist republicans and gwb's problem of being the only president to not extend the drilling moritorium.

Refineries proceess the crude to make gas, there hasn't been a new refinery built since 1976, The current ones are running at 98% of capacity. The only winners in this is the OIL companies who will get very little oil cheaper to store waiting to be processed while maintaining the high cost of gas. Where have the trillions made by oil gone? Supply and demand: Can't Supply = Higher Demand = Higher Cost.

We own 3% of the world's reserves but consume 25% of its oil. Only a moron would believe we can drill our way out of this.

Obama is a fraud....talk about flip-flop!!!! We need to drill now, use a 12 or 20 mile limit!!! Democratic congress has been in control, do you see Obamas change???

drill everywhere
drill now
prosecute the speculators & exploiters

We need to drill for oil wiht out exclusions and no one is saying that we can drill our way out of high oil prices but we can bring stability while alternatives are sought. Improve our Nuclear energy supply, wind, solar, geo-thermal, how about coal to oil, and clean coal, natural gas - there a plenty of alternatives we just lack the political will to make any real change.

When people a freezing in New England this winter - you just keep lying to your selves that drilling wont help. It's only the poor that you going to be cr\screwing over - Democratic hypocrisy.

PS - Its the enviros that have pushed the energy supply back in this country for 20 years.

Drilling here does nothing for us. The fact is that the oil companies are multinational and whatever they get out of our ground here goes into the big pot and sold to the highest bidder. The only way that oil found here stays here is by nationalizing the oil companies. It ain't gonna happen. Even if we become energy independent it still does us no good if the rest of the world is dependent on this old fuel source. We need to finally resolve this issue and anyone that follows recent developements in alternative energy knows the solution(s) are just around the corner and all we need is some leadership and it's not coming from Mcsame or Sarah Plain and stupid.

I wish you "drillin" hicks would just get a clue. Oil is almost gone. Everywhere. Remember the dinosaurs? Of course you don't. The next inhabitants of earth won't remember your idiotic self either, nor will they care to know such mindless, self serving and exploitive people, that have absolutely no regard to future generations......People who don't want alternative fuels care ONLY about themselves. Period. This kind of mentality I can only pray will be extinct soon.

Throw the bums out!. They want to pretend to be in favor of drilling for more oil, while preventing it from happening anywhere that the oil actually exists, so they can say "see we told you so, we knew all along that drilling wasn't the answer," yadayada...Their real agenda is to force the price of oil up so excruciatingly high that we beg for mercy at the feet of the alternate fuels monopolies that they want to establish. So instead of "Big Oil" being in control it's "Big Corn", or "Big Solar" - which are government-subsidized, controlled industries.

NANCY PELOSI: AMERICA SEES THROUGH YOU AND YOUR SOCIALIST FACADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a college student about to graduate with a Degree in Environmental Science, and also a independent, I get angered when this issue becomes political. First off, there is nothing to gain by the people pushing to ban offshore drilling, there is no money to be made in not drilling. So to think that those who want to drill want to do it because they think we'll see the oil anytime soon need to pick up a book or two before the blabber about what they heard from there respective freinds and there parties. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU GIVE AN OPINION!!! How much money will the govenment be subsidizing to the oil companies for exploration and operations financing? Millions? Billions? and we wont see any of the oil for ten years, not to mention that our refining system is lacking in numbers and quallity. And after all that money and time finding, drilling, and refining the oil ten years down the line, you really think for one it will effect prices, or two that it will make as any more independent because it is NOT A RENEWABLE RESOURCE!!! No matter what way you cut it, at some point, whether it be 50 years or 100 years, it will not be economically feasable to have an infastructure that runs on oil. As we can see, it has put us in the position were in today. Now what if we subsidized our auto makers and gave them all that money to develop hybrid/ alternative vehicles that dont suffer performance and are super efficant and clean. What if we took the money that we would give the oil companies and fund buisnesses and development of alternitive fuel sources across the board. We can build a new economy around SUSTAINABLE ENERGY. We have many of these technologies today ie. solar, wind, hydrogen, biomass, hydro...i could go on. We need to attack this issue as we did space exploration in the 60's and if we put all our energy into and stop financing industries such as the oil, that will burn us in the long run, let's get energy independent, utilizing and funding the research and development of alternatives, where we would see a pay back, sooner then from oil, and again, not to mention, DEVELOPING A WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY...JOBS JOBS JOBS!!!! Not to mention once we develop more rigs and refineries, no matter what we'll still need to develop alternatives and fund that...so for those who think the price of the pump will go down, dont forget they have to get the money from somwhere, and it will be your taxes. So in closing, all I ask is that people actually do some of there own research on the subject before they take the party lines and retoric, it doesn thelp this country or yourselves...THINK FOR YOUR SELVES and for your GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN...it will be mine and there problems! I would delve into the environmental aspect but usaully most would simply discredit me as a tree hugger and not listen to the past 5 min of rambling. However as I said before, PICK UP A BOOK PLEASE!!! Learn a little bit, science is alot different from even 10 years ago on the subject, reducate yourselves!

It's opening area's to drilling true, but as stated in many comments above, it should also include the inner 50miles of shelf. This is nothing more than a congressional ploy to 'appease' the 'drill here, drill now' advocates so they can later say "see; we told you this wouldn't help". They should be drilling where the product is easier to get at thus leading to less expensive to get at thus again leading to a quicker time to market. If the stock market knows that we're drilling with high percentage of achieving the goal, the speculation that drives the price will ultimately fall. It's congress playing politics instead of working for resolution. The entire bunch of them should be forced to work part time jobs to supplement the pay cut they're going to get for not doing the job they were hired (some call it elected) to do. Make them understand that they work for the 'people' and "We the People" are the government and not lobbyist or large companies buying there way.

Oil is expensive because the Chinese and Indian economies are expanding rapidly. We will not see this new oil for at least 7-10 years and even the most optomistic volumetric estimates would not put the slightest dent in oil prices. And when it runs out after being sold on the open market (to the US, Chinese, Indians, Europeans, etc), we will be right back where we started but further in debt to the Chinese, who are buying all of this US govt paper.

We need to stop chasing oil and create domestic, sustainable supplies that create jobs here. Yes, we should increase reliance on nuclear. The French have done it for years. But we also should develop wind (great article in Times Sunday magazine this Friday), solar, geothermal, biomass sources.

We can do this. We need to do this.

It amazes me how many people really think that expanding drilling in the US is going to have any impact on energy prices. The Bush administration's own estimates are that the most aggressive domestic drilling program possible would result in a $.03 drop in gas prices 10 years from now. That's 3 CENTS!!!

Sure this bill that the Democrats just passed is a sham. But this whole Republican-created issue is a sham. Increasing domestic drilling is a purely symbolic gesture. For my part, I see no reason to further degrade our environment just for symbolism, Republican political advantage or to increase Big Oil's windfall profits.

Now, if the American people were going to reap those windfall profits (it is our oil after all) instead of the oil companies, then I might be more interested. Again, it depends on how much money it would be. But nobody in this "debate" seems to want to talk about any actual facts.

No offshore drilling

We live in a hurricane bowling alley. I can't find any gas right now because of huricane Ike. Makes alot of sense to keep drilling offshore in the atlantic and gulf.

Don't forget we wanted to drill 10 years ago, and the Dems said "But that won't help gas prices now."

Well, guess what. Today is that now, and we'd better get it straight, democratic congress - he who hath done nothing for this country as of yet.

I cannot wait until McCain/Palin get in. Blood in congress, and that harpy Pelosi will be the first to go.

Drilling now will not help the situation for many years and I don't see how finding more oil is going to help ween us off oil. The problem isn't that we need more oil. It is that we need to stop using so much oil. Also, there is only a finite amount of oil on the planet. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it WILL be all gone at some point in the future. So what if it's not for 50 or 100 years. Why keep "passing the buck" to our children. Also consider that the country (that the invention associated with) that invents or discovers the workable substitution for nonrenewable energy (mainly oil) will be (not might be) will be the preeminent super power on the planet. If it isn't going to be the US than it will be some other country.

Most of you do not realize that even if we allow companies to drill and tap oil from American soil, it would be sold on the world market. The amount of oil that could be produced from new drilling would be insignificant and would not solve our energy crisis or drive down prices enough to make a dramatic difference. Most of you act like this is a "fix all". Wake up and realize that the world is running out of oil. We need to find alternative energy sources. We are wasting too much time!!! This is as much of a crisis as the race to develop the atomic bomb. We need to develop these alternatives as fast as other countries or faster in order for America to be competitive in the world market. If we do not cut our ties to oil, we will be the 3rd world country in a few decades.

typical new england Kennedy style politics . Jus like when they wanted off shore wind mills for power... not in my coastal back yard off new england... when are you leftist morons gonna wake up ... these socialist only want change to support their own pet projects as long as it dont interfere with their lifestyle.. they are rich, left, elite, controling politicians and you people drink the koolaide they pour for you. You want real change,,,, well McCain and Palin are offering it to you only your too blind from hate of the other side to see it...

Its time to get the oil whereever it is. People do not get it-- they will when this country is taken over ?

You live in fantasy land if you truly think OPEC doesn't control prices. Sure its higher in America because we have higher demand, but there's a solid base set by the producers by regulating their supply. There's always more than one side to things and to sit there and say drilling won't help any is ludicrous and typical of a simple one sided thinker. Look at the prices in other countries. They aren't that much lower.

However, I do not think there is enough US oil to trump what we import right now. We'll never see it below $2.00 at the pump. It seems like they're using a band-aid on a gaping laceration. All that money that will be invested in new oil would be better spent on renewable sources anyways.

Bottom line, I'm tired of watching and reading about US foreign policy being weighed down by oil interests. Yeah, we need the oil but it is not worth dying over and it is not worth sending our environment into a downward spiral. Especially when it lines the pockets of the rich. And even as we do, does the price go down? Only long enough to stop the complaining, then up it goes again. Rinse, repeat..

Its great that Georges Bank was saved, but that's one of many places that should have been protected. This bill is so full of crap, it doesn't even pick a side. Its like some shiny badge that says "Look everyone! We care." pinned on the chest of a man bloated by the money he's making off this.

What's funny to me is we got countries making the right moves before us. Countries that were "3rd world" only a few decades ago. They're making alternative fuels and energy work and all we have is excuses as to why it wouldn't work "in America". We can't use ethanol because it will impact food. etc etc. Political B-S. Money drives infrastructure and there's money to be made in replacing oil. I thought that's what capitalism was about.

Instead we all get lead around by our noses by the few with heavy interests in an established market of oil. If there was half as much effort put into alternatives as we do in obtaining oil to begin with, we wouldn't have to give a crap about things like: what some unstable middle-eastern country was doing. We wouldn't have to rape and pillage their country's oil in the name of "capitalism". We wouldn't have armies of fed up "terrorists" materializing from no reason but "because they hate us and they're evil". You got to be some low brow fella to believe that story at face value. Not that what they do is right, but we give them a reason to hate us and its not because we're Christians. The US is not the innocent we make ourselves out to be.

One of two things is going to happen: Either we evolve and adapt, like what used to drive America, what made us great in our first 2 centuries; Or we'll die off like Rome, clinging to our established institutions. That's what makes you American, not some gas-guzzling SUV. Not the "bling-bling" or the obsession with media. Sweat, innovation, an eye on the future and most of all, a willingness to not just lie around and let over-paid con-artists in government make things worse for everyone. What we except now-a-days would shame our fore-fathers.

You people don't get it. The amount of oil we have off our shore wouldn't be enough to do more then lower gas prices by a few cents...ten freaking years from now. We need to get off the crack and use alternative energies.

wake up people, they have plenty of oil, the market is being controlled by millionaires that are making billions off the middle class. Gas can go $10.00 a gallon and it wont affect the rich, it affects the dwindling middle class that is paying $4.00 a gallon for gas.
The oil companies are making record profits in the billions, when you make 80- billion in one quarter you are making a killing and also killing the middle class.
The way we are going you will have 2 classes, the rich and the poor.
Unless we bring change kiss the middle class good-bye!
You want more of bush, vote mccain.
You want change vote Obama

We CAN drill our way out of this problem.

Anyone here not understand why oil prices are coming down?

Not just supply and demand, but even the hint of over supply, or less demand, hugely affect price.

American's agreeing to tap our resources sends a chill down the spine of OPEC energy price manipulators.

Drilling for oil and transitioning to natural gas vehicles is (as Boone Pickin's rightly says) a bridge, to hydrogen for cars, nuclear for urban, and wind for rural energy.

You know, the democrats have not spared any American institution --have spent millions of hours and dollars in an 8 year long destructive tantrum, perpetrating unnecessary collateral damage to our country -- in their efforts to throw GW out of the White House. They (and the northeast media cabal) seem to forget, that we, the voting public, will change leaders when "we're" ready. Labeling rural sensibilities, folkways, mores, and traditional family values moral direction, as parochial, or not "hip" in the urban sense, is insulting, and not constructive. So much for the "we" in the DNC's advertising copy.

Let's take a step back. More supply from offshore drilling isn't the answer no matter where it takes place. It wouldn't have any change on the price for 5 years! What we need to do is pull our heads out of our butts, stop living in fear and ignorance, and find an answer that will fix the problem. This bill does not do that! Both sides are all full of it and are only looking to put more money in THEIR pockets. All this time, effort, and money we dump into this could be used to create jobs building and maintaining wind farms, using the giant landfills we have to get methane gas, building new cars here in the states that get more miles the gallon, create and maintain bigger and better mass transit systems, and finding cleaner more efficient forms of fuel. OIL IS NOT THE ANSWER! Lets find the answer together.....

Drilling off shore will not help us now. It will take 5 - 10 years before we see any benefit from that. I agree with making sure where we drill does not effect sensitive environmental areas or effect fishing. We have done enough damage to the oceans, we don't need to do more. They are an essential part to our existence. What we really need to do is focus on alternative fuels. It will not only make us independent from fossil fuel and foreign countries but it will create jobs here in the US. Something we need to replace jobs lost. We need to start thinking long term, not "quick fixes".

This seems to be one state putting themselves above the rest of America. Whether you agree or disagree with drilling, let's be consistent. Like most, I favor drilling while agressively pursuing alternatives, but this nonsense of scratching political backs in the dead of night has to go. SINK OR SWIM TOGETHER.

Detroit is the problem! Make them become the solution. We had cars 30-40 years ago with MPG's of 20 and 30 and they were much heavier than the ones built today. They should be producing cars and trucks in the 50 to 60 mpg range by now.

Drilling is not the answer. It's just delaying the inevitable.

US Energy Department says that this drilling will not be productive for 25 years and the results will be much less than Oil Companies would have us believe.
Fact of the matter is that there are 1000s of shallow water platforms in the Gulf
that still have not been reopened from the time that Oil prices dropped to $18 per
barrel putting 1000s of people and companies out of work. At Austin meeting,
execs decided that they would hold off until Oil reached $50. They could open
every well now available, drill in every spot onshore or off and, unless, they build
more major refineries, we still wouldn't be able to supply the needs. Ask them
why they have closed down more than 150 'major' refineries. I boost my fuel
using Hydrogen and get 41 to 66mpg in my V8 powered MK VII. Good Luck people,

Massachusetts law makers are hypocrites. They blocked wind power in Cape Cod, now they are blocking oil drilling. Don’t they get it that this is a national problem and we need to be exploring every energy possibility. Democrats must think the American public is really stupid if they think their charade bill is a solution.

This bill is enacted in contempt for the people and the welfare of the nation. We are in our present energy situation because of the prohibition of oil exploration and drilling on our coasts (including ANWR), and for that congress is responsible, acting as usual without regard for the consequences of their actions. We need to abolish all the governmental bans on drilling in certain areas. The regulations and technology which now exist are protection enough for all the "environmental" concerns.

I'm not an energy expert by far, but has anyone thought of converting to burning alcohol. Not Ethanol, but alcohol. We're the world's bread basket. We could move the production facilities inland, to protect from hurricanes. Dragsters run on the stuff, why can't regular cars. I'm sure some of the breweries wouldn't mind expanding into the energy sector. It probably burns cleaner than gas. We need to get out of bed with oil and solve our problems. Drilling is just a start to what we need.

Nancy Pelosi once again has sold out the American people.

Way too little, too late. They went on vacation when they should have helped our country! USA FIRST! Congress? What Congress? We have weak minds in this Democratic Controlled Congress. Vote in New Leaders this November! Then . . .Drill Baby Drill.

MToppila

In my thought we the people own the united states!!! and if we the people are going to make it better then we the people should stand up and go fu*king drill for oil our selfs and say fu*k the gov cuz they aren't going to let us do what we want! we want to drill and drill we shall!

People on the coast depend on tourism and fishing. What happens to that when you drill for oil off our coast. I knew the wealthier New England coast would have better protection. They have more rich people living there. North Carolina has some of the cleanest beaches in the US and now you are letting them put oil rigs out there for all of us to enjoy. At best this oil will be found many years from now and will give us maybe 40 years supply. That is not even one generation getting the benifit from this oil. To rid us of foreign oil dependency we must find alternatives. That is were our research money must go. And, we will have to make some changes and sacrifices during this. Leave our coast line ALONE. Go away. Beverly Perdue is forcing me to vote libertarian. Become active and save the coast.

the scary part is that people like Pelosi are not lying or faking; they actually believe their own bullshit ...

Drilling just out of eyesight should have been the measure. Not 50 miles. If you watch the state of Delaware, They are happy to put huge windmills right close to the shore line within eye sight. The Democrats are playing games again at the expense of the people. Drilling now, next to existing wells could reap benefits within 6 to 8 months not years. They will regulate us into a 3rd world country if we let them. Notice how they took Alaska right off the table. Huge oil there. Not for us though. Who do they think they are helping? Pathetic.

if we could do away with all democracts this country could get somwhere the party of freeloaders and weird dos drill everywhere we can this is not all we need to do but it is a start

Go ahead and start drilling NOW but still look into renewable energies NOW, which MCbush doesn't 2 thoughts to. We need to be able to shut OPEC off and start being stingy and self centered about it too.

Let us first be shown the notes, records ,and final report of the meeting that VP Dick Cheney had with the energy czars that set our present energy policies. When we know what our energy policy is we can then decide what path we need to take to solve this problem.

wow is this blog full of ignorant neocons that don't understand the process of oil reaching a consumers gas tank?

.
Drilling permits should be proportional the the gas guzzling in a state. States with lots of Hummers + SUVs should drill and States with lots of hybrids/electric cars and with lots of commuters taking public transportation should not. Just take the average consumption per driver as a measure. Why punish those who care about nature by forcing them to have oil rigs (on-shore and off-shore) and oil spills to provide oil to those who don't care and whose intellectual and social horizon ends at the front of their - admittedly very large - car's hood? ...
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Vivifiant, Ohio

I think it's missing a crucial thing. The use it or lose it clause, just give the mindless sheep what they want "Drill Baby Drill !!!" but if you don't drill in 5 year then "Lose Baby Lose !!!".

We need to do it all! Drill without restriction, as well as use natural gas, nuclear power and develop all kinds of alternative energy inlcuding wind, solar, etc.

It's time to get past the "green" falacy. So called green alternatives are not so green once you get a closer look. Would you rather have a nuclear plant or wind mills? If you say wind mills, well you'll need about 450 miles worth to equal the electrical output of one nuclear plant. That means lots of land being cleared to support this "green" alternative. Oh, and if it's too windy, the turbines will shut down so they don't get damaged. If there's no wind, there's no output. Solar has similar problems with the amount of land required, not to mention the shorter days in the winter months as well as clouds and snow cover. Biofuels? Again you need lots of land to support it and lots of fertilizer. In the heart land, that fert ends up in the Mississippi River which dumps into the gulf. The fert in turn creates large algea blooms that end up dying and decomposing, taking all of the oxygen out of the water during this process. A larger and larger "dead zone" now exists in the gulf.

As for oil, we should go after our own resources. Before we do that, however, it is time for Congress to fund a new geological survey. The debates are being shaped by data from a 1970's survey. This is the same survey that told us the oil in Alaska would have run out by now! Let's find out what we have, where we have it, and how much of it we have by using the new 3D survey technology available to us. Once we have valid data, then lets make a plan to go get it. We'll create jobs here, decrease our dependence on foreign oil, decrease the power of people like Chavez and Putin, lower our trade deficit, and increase tax revenue and royalty revenues.

There's far too much finger pointing and name calling going on. It's time to loose the sound bites and slogans and get serious about this issue. Enough is enough!

We should get our energy from the area already set aside for drilling and not any more. Please put the money behind all the alternatives (except nuclear until there is a safe disposal of the waste)Solar, wind, biofuel made from cooking oil and switch grass, Continue tax credits for solar power and hybrid cars etc. We can do it if we subsidize alternatives not big oil. Read Thomas Friedman's "Hot Flat and Crowded.

This so called bill is the reason we need change. The people will wise up and remove Nancy and her partners in crime.

Well, it seems your paper is stuck with a lot of right wingers. Seems, for some reason, this mob is buying the party line of drill now, screw tomorrow. I find it hard to believe that this mob is willing to throw away our future for a few drops of oil in 20 years from now. Logic would dictate that if you're in the process of depleting the energy resouce you're using, you'd start looking for a new source of energy. A new source of energy doesn't mean a new place to drill, it means a new way to produce the energy you need to continue the level of civilization you're accustomed to. I think in would be wiser on our part to take the money and emotions that are being expended and apply them to research. That way, in 20 years, we will be ready for the end of the oil age.

The East and West coast 'intellectual elitests' have struck once again. It should be well known that these are the same liberal politicians who have hindered our energy policy for years, long before either of the Bush's, or for that matter Clinton, came into office. They do not wish to have a sensible solution to any problem. They simply 'require' that all of America is dependent on the federal government for their very existence.

These are the same people, and in this instance all located on the 'intellectual east coast' that have this nation now in financial turmoil. For years now Wall Street has benefited from the half-brained legislation that has come from Congress to manipulate every aspect of the financial well being of America.

The heads of all these institutions have raked in millions of dollars in personal income while leading their respective institutions into bankruptcy and liquidation. For their total ineptness the government (read taxpayer) has now elected to attempt to salvage the destruction and who is going to do it? These same mental midgets who created the fiasco in the first place.

Now, once again, we are having to be bombarded by presidential candidates who vow that they will change the culture of narrow minded, self serving individuals who, as voters, we have returned to Washington year after year to continue to inflict mayhem.

NO PRESIDENT CAN CHANGE THE CONGRESS OF THIS NATION. THEY HAVE BECOME SO CORRUPT THAT THEY DARE NOT PERSUE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY ON ONE OF THEIR OWN WITHOUT RETALIATION. THEY HAVE BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN 'AN ELECTED MAFIA' WHO WILL ELIMINATE A RIVAL BY ANY MEANS.

We should be ashamed that we have allowed this to occur. Perhaps it is time for another 'Boston Tea Party.'

This post from a 76 white male who will be pleased to be leaving this earth before too long but am terribly sad that my grandchildren must have to attempt to survive the mess that the past 2 generations have created.

It’s so ironic to hear the Republicans chant “Drill Baby Drill” as if repeating words is going to solve the problem of how much fuel costs.

Well let’s take a look at what they are so irate about. They are saying %88 percent of the “reachable oil” is within the 50 mile zone to the shore so the bill is a sham. Well I think drilling for 3% of the world oil is a sham, which is how much is roughly available off the coast of our country, which we won’t see ANY benefit from for at least a decade.

How is this supposed to help us again? We could have invented 3 alternative sources of fuel with all the money this administration has wasted trying to force “Democracy” down people’s throats with guns in Iraq.

Really folks, this is a nowhere argument. The US uses about 25% of the oil consumed in the world, and has what is estimated to be 2% of the worlds supply. The numbers tell us that even if we drill everywhere we will NEVER be energy independent with oil. The experts say that if all the drilling were done and we find the oil we think, it will reduce the price of a gallon of gas by 2 cents. Eventually the world will run out of oil anyway, so it is in our best interests to find another way. So the question is: Do we want to take a chance on ruining some of the most pristine places left, for something we will eventually run out of, and in any event will save us 2 cents a gallon?

If democrats had not protected off shore oil it would been gone some time ago. Most likely burned up by GM's super dual 6wheel drive Hummer. Get real no more drilling.

This bill is nothing but pure sewage put out by the Dem's, it offer's no help whatso ever to the taxpayer. The american taxpayer WANTS their OWN oil from their OWN soil. Who are these politicians to deny the taxpayer their right to their own natural resources, politicians should be afraid of the taxpayer not the other way around.
Look for the alternatives,but DRILL...DRILL...DRILL also, that is true energy independence.Politicians can't see this, or don't want to because they are owned by the obstructionist waco's.

Pelosi and her ilk continue to fiddle while America burns. Playing games with energy bills that are hollow on promise and results is akin to playing Russian roulete with an economy that is already on the verge of collapse. We've run out of money and yet politicians just keep digging the hole deeper. We need need to quit sending 700billion a year overseas to questionable countries for their oil. We need to scramble hard to generate both old energy, i.e. oil, coal and natural gas, as well as concentrate our efforts on creation of alternative and new energy sources that will create new jobs and technologies that will bring our country to the position of world leadership and economic prosperity. We can't just drill our way to this and we can't retool or create alternative sources fast enough to plug the hole either.

As our financial markets crumble and our national debt doubles and triples as we take on the burden of shoring up a system that has failed us we are on the tipping edge of a total meltdown. Our country seems to have lost its way because we have two major parties playing power politics and grasping for the front seat in our airplane which they have failed to realize is without power and plummeting quickly towards earth.

DRILL! DRILL! DRILL!

Would you light a match and throw it into your own basement without looking?
That's what we've done. For the past century we have drilled more and more for oil, and come to rely on it more and more. Now we have global warming and unfathomable economic dependancy. Great.
Realize that we WILL run out of oil one day. Even if it's in 200 years, we will still need to have something else to provide enough energy.
Furthermore, realize that we cannot reverse global warming. All over the world, permafrost is melting and long-frozen bogs are thawing and releasing methane, a greenhouse gas ten times worse than CO2. We have created a positive feedback loop. We need to figure out how to live with that.
Politicians will not be the one to solve these problems. Their purpose is to sustain their careers, not the planet or the human species.
Renewable, clean energy is something we can have and need to have, whether you only care about the economy or only care about the environment. Hopefully, you care about both. Let's figure it out before the whole house burns down.

People just don't get it!
Drilling for oil now will only lower prices roughly 8 years from now. The total savings to consumers would only amount to around 25 cents per gallon, and those savings would last around 16 weeks!
Yes, that's how "little oil" exists in our off-shore areas!
Does anyone really believe this is good for America, or the Environment?
I'll tell you who it's good for: BIG OIL

The only way we will ever truly eliminate energy dependence is by not being dependent on its source. Oil is a finite and controllable resource. The sun is not. Drilling for oil is really not going to make a difference in oil or gas prices, maybe 20 cents a gallon in about 5 years. But be sure will never have $2/gal gas again, especially when the Saudis know their supplies are dwindling. This is because the price of oil is based on the laws of supply and demand. So, the only way we can lower oil and gas prices is by significantly decreasing demand or significantly increasing the supply, which we do not have the capacity to do with all the oil we could drill, since this is relative to the world oil supply (not to mention we do not have the current infrastructure to process it all). The whole drilling issue is just a way for politicians to play to their bases on both sides. The Republicans want to save you money and play to your wallet and the Democrats want to save your conscience and play to your green appeal.

This is Nancy Pelosi and company trying to make the dems look good during an election cycle. They are not giving full access to the oil we need. This is a shameful ploy that will not get the full job done and I am depressed to be a registered democrat (who once lived in MA). For those of you who say 'we can not drill our way out of the problem' --- you are correct. However, drilling does give us the opportunity to be more independent while we seek alternative energy. Oil is priced on future supply and demand. By simply beginning the process - prices should ease a little (or at least not increase as dramatically).

Additionally, we are in a new era in world times. Keep in mind - Germany lost the war, in part, because they ran out of fuel. Now our enemies control the fuel we need to fight a real war (against real military powers). Our strategic oil supply could not hold this country up very long. Drill and build. It is the only way we can re-bound.

Whatever happened to drilling in Montana? I thought that shale deposit was cheaper to drill than the offshore stuff - with less hurricane damage threat. As a Republican, I don't see why my colleagues won't agree to stop the tax breaks for big oil. The least they could do is stop tax breaks for big oil, and give those tax breaks to companies trying to develop alternate sources of Energy! Hey! Move on to the new economy and do it with tax breaks to new developing companies that need to get started!

The response of the Democratic controlled house to our energy crisis is both a sham and a shame! It is outright duplicity at the least and an insult to the down-trodden american public. Since this is how Washington usually works, it is no wonder that the nation is in such a pitiable state, and congress' approval rating lower than the losses on wall street. The people who are supposed to represent us, and pull this type of nonsence, should all be sent home and retired permanently!

Lots of sound bites, but very little substance in these posts, mainly from those with little to no world experience. In 10-15 years we won't be relying oil as much, so we might as use what we have on our own soil now instead of sending nearly a trillion dollar overseas every year to hostile nations who use that money to spread propaganda and fund terrorism. Americans who don't want to drill for oil here are fundamentally at peace with the idea of their money fueling terrorism elsewhere.

I think drilling is short sighted and does not address the root causes of our energy crisis. Our energy crisis cannot be solved by increasing the supply of oil. Our energy crisis is not just the high cost of gasoline. Fundamentally, our energy crisis is that we are too reliant on oil to meet our energy needs. Fundamentally, our addiction to oil and other fossil fuels is warming the earth's atmosphere, melting the polar ice, decreasing the air quality in cities, increasing our reliance on hostile foreign governments etc. We have about 3% of the world's oil, about 5% of its population, but use over 25% of its oil. Clearly, we cannot drill our way out.

Instead, we need to adopt policies that encourage the development and distribution of clean energy technologies. We need to address the root causes of our crisis and not just look for quick fixes. We need to decrease our energy consumption and increase our clean energy development. To those who consider themselves conservative, I would say: Conserve baby conserve!

This bill is a Joke!

Drill Drill Drill !!!!!!!!

Among other objections, House Republicans joined industry in criticizing the measure because it would eliminate about $18 billion in tax breaks for oil companies, including a manufacturing deduction of particular benefit to large firms. The savings from the oil companies would be diverted to pay for tax breaks and incentives for renewable fuels, vehicles that use alternative energy and other fuel efficiency programs and research.

President Bush was right when he said that we are addicted to oil. It is an addiction that is doing severe harm to us every day through the cancer and respiratory diseases caused by burning fossil fuels; the environmental damage to ecosystems that provide food, water, and recreation; and the looming threat of global warming. Why, then (following W's analogy), are we letting the pushers (the oil companies) pressure us into buying more of this harmful stuff, putting another track mark into our veins?

The argument that we need this to reduce gas prices at the pump is ridiculous. Even if it were true, it would be irrelevant. The amount of oil in question will not significantly change worldwide supply, and it won't be available any time soon. But if we suddenly had $1 gallons because of drilling, that would only lead to more dependence on this stuff -- when we need to be getting off of it, using less energy, and using cleaner energy. Instead of oil rigs, let's put in wind turbines for a clean source of energy that will never run out..

Oh my goodness, good thing they left one little section open. Do they not realize that we get 40% percent of our seafood from the Pacifica as well? What about the Salmon, Tuna and Crab that are huge markets on the west coast? I am glad that our leadership has the foresight and wisdom of the potential damage it could create in those areas as well. How about we ditch our dependence on oil for a change...sorry big oil companies. Nothing last forever or didn't you learn anything about ancient history in school.

Drilling off our coastline is about keeping the wealth and power concentrated where it presently is. There are many possible solutions to our energy problems whose primary flaw is that they won't enrich the major oil corporations. We need to fund alternative energy sources rather than promoting 'Big Oil' which has taken over our government, undermined our constitution, and just generally, is not on our side.

What is wrong. We are being held hostage to foreign oil. This is a serious problem and with todays technology the ability to drill is much safer. How is that we can expect other countries to drill and not here. To those that are so green, is not the whole earth part of the environment. If they can drill so should we. Then there is the issue of other sources. This bill should open our markets to all forms of energy. Let the free market work. Then we could and would see what the USA is able to accomplish. IF we had allowed the development of the oil and other forms of energy to be developed over the past 20 years, we would not find ourselves hostage to the foreign oil.

I am from New Jersey, now living in Arizona. A time back I drove along the Galveston seaside, which is a stark difference to the Jersey shore. (Before the Storm) While visiting California, and wanting to see the beaches I saw a power plant or rigs, I don't know, but it just wasn't the same. I guess it's like living in a house where the studs are all exposed, unfinished. I guess if you have to walk around with your lungs out of your body to survive, you have to. Just something others don't want to look at. GM yesterday unveiled the VOLT. That my good friend is CHANGE. In Arizona, we have the sun, boy, do we have the sun.....harnessing that, wound be change. How much electric could we tap into with our electrical storms, that would be change. Bill Gates is now going to invest his money in Algae, that is change. All of these are ways to propel ourselves into the future. Wind, Algae, Sun, Lightning, all will be here, FOREVER! Drill Baby Drill, reminds me of some old movie, Burn Baby Burn. The same cast of character I guess.

I watch, read and listen to what's taking place in Congress day after day............ and the last thing that I ever want to hear is: "We are from the Government ....and we're here to help you."

If the democrats or the republicans are honest in wanting to increase off shore oil production they would remove the drilling restrictions but allow states to restrict it along their own coast. Also if a state restricts drilling along their coast that should pay a pollution tax on energy products that comes into their state. The tax would go to clean any pollution that occurs in the producing areas. There should be no general restriction along the coast due to mileage, only on specific areas.

Republicans don't care about your oil prices. If they cared about your oil prices they'd realize that this is the best bill they're going to get because "Republicans always get their way" is not how congress works. Democrats have proven themselves willing to compromise while the republicans are off pouting in a corner instead of working to find common ground.

And they're going to keep pouting and so none of the american people are going to get any new oil, because the real reason republicans don't like this bill is the fact that it eliminates $18 BILLION worth of tax breaks for oil companies.

dems still stalliing and playing games with the electorate to satisfy there constituents. The same issue came up with windpower, the dems voted for it but the local dems vetoed putting up any transmission towers to get the power from the windmills to the grid. Why? same old bs and lip service as long as it is not in their state they are all for it.

Drill Here Drill Now... We can't drill our way out of this problem? How about drillng half way out of this problem. Lets do everything

Oil is not the answer. We need alternative energy!!!!

Oil is a finate resourse (at current rate of usage over regeneration), eventually it will run out or diminish or increase in price. Offshore drilling would produce a fraction of supply and will not have a significant monitary effect as people imagine. Even if offshore drilling does happen, the amount of time it would take to get everything online and get the oil refined and into the market it would not make much of an impact on prices (especially assuming the added population growth and heavier demands for oil). By ignoring the research for alternative fuels you are pushing the probelm onto your childer and grandchildren. Thats not even looking at what kind of ecological effects / costs it can cause.

On the note of higher taxes, how can people be so blind and automatically criticize tax increases. If they are put to the correct use (allocated to functions which they are meant to be allocated to) they are critical part of the economy. At the rate our debt keeps growing, at some point we will have to pay up, if you think its impossible, look at what is happening to the largest financial compaines. The bigger problem is how the tax revenue gets spent.

We can drill in every back yard in America and it won't change the fact that America has 3 percent of the worlds oil reserves and we use 25 percent...why is that so hard for people to understand? BTW, do those who are in favor of offshore drilling realize that the recovered oil does NOT automatically go to the American people, but onto the world oil market? It's time for the US to move beyond 18th century fuel sources and into the 21st century.

Idiots like this think that the TINY amount of oil we have will make a damn difference, Personally I don't give a crap. DRill here don't drill here, it's all pointless and our oil dependance won't change either way...

"Drill Here Drill Now. That message is ringing Loud and Clear and Libs just don't get it!
Posted by Dumbass Footballmom "

all you anti oil folks. where they hell is this alternative fuel!!! where they hell is my car that can run on solar or wind or some other damn source. where is it!! i want it now!!!! wake up america!!!!

We need to clean house with both parties and put in term limits. I am sick and tired of the greed in the congress and senate both. They are out for themselves and the American people pay their wages. Not one of them is for the good of the American people but strictly for themselves and what they can get. We need to clean out the greed.

We need to drill for oil and no exceptions.

Stop worrying about oil, start worrying about efficiency and alternatives. Our republic is falling apart, our currency being devalued and inflated, it sounds strange but we have bigger issues than oil on one hand and pretending that businesses are "too big" to fail (nice new speak in that phrase) on the other.

Sound current is our biggest issue, followed immediately by the size and scope of government. I am of the younger generation, and I can tell you we are not worried if things will go wrong, we are onto when, and onto what to do afterwards, and who to watch in the transition. Smoke and mirrors indeed.

Hello People the technology and distribution of vehicles without oil is here and has been since the 1960's. Pass legislation to boycot all gasoline vehicles January 1st and convert all existing vehicles to Hybids via a government sponsored program. End of story.

Temporary solution to a permanent problem. We need to continue to force renewable energy sources.
United We Stand....yeah, certainly can tell that from our jacked up nation.

Drilling will only help and cannot hurt. Just the talk of drilling has already lowered prices based on future speculatioin of investors. Foriegn depending on foregn oil is a horrable thing especially when they are tied to nations that hate us. We are simply funding their war machines each time we go to the pump. This is not difficult. We need a bridge from the current reality of oil dependance and consuption to independance and reduced consumption. Access to more oil on our property as well as more refineries is the only quick way to stop the money flowing outside our country. I would also recommend that our government tie drilling in these new areas to a requirement that forces the oil companied to give a portion of profits to the development of alternative energy.

"Drill, Baby, Drill!" Music to the ears of the Saudis, the Russians, Hugo Chavez and all our enemies who retain power over us as long as oil is still a part of our energy requirements.

Get Pelosi out of there! She is a suck up to the Republican power structure. Can't everyone see that the power moguls are trying to sell everyone a bill of goods that says oil is being treated by them the way the South Africans treat diamonds. Our sons and daughters are dying in the desserts of Iraq to keep the price of gas high at the tanks! Do we really need to destroy delicate ecosystems to produce oil? I don't think it will lower the price of oil. They control the release of it as though the last cupful is in the ground. Diamonds aren't really more than a semi-prescious gem, but by controlling the release of them they up the price they yield. Stupid people the world around act as if they are rare. Why does everyone always go for the hype.

Drilling wont even effect prices for ten years!!! By then we should be using other forms of energy

This bill does not go far enough. The politicians from the states that have areas excluded off their cost are not thinking in the national interest. This is a time when the national interest should be placed ahead of state concerns about environmentally sensitive areas in their back yard. All States need to step up. The bill should also allow for state revenue sharing of oil found off their coast, this would help motivate states to work with oil companies to find the happy median between drilling safely and not drilling at all.

And yes, we can drill our way out of this problem. We may not be able to drill for and pump enough oil to be oil independant, but we certainly can find and pump enough to increase supplies over demand, which will result in lower fuel costs.

We can be energy independant within 7 years if the Federal government would get out of the way (by supsending overburdensome permitting processes) and allow private industry to use our known technologies to build coal power plants, nuclear power plants, drill for oil off our costs and at ANWAR, allow shale oil to be mined, build refineries and hydro electric dams.

Why drilling? Plant castor plants. From castor seeds you can get oil, gasoline, plastics. We pay farmers not to grow crops. Why not get that land back in action with castor plants ending our dependence on imported oil?

You let me know in 2020 when the price of gas comes down and by just how much. You will never see a penny of price reduction from this off shore drilling. There was another posting that said this all smoke and mirrors, they are right. This is a Republican ploy to say look we're doing something, they should add it's not going to be productive, but we're doing something. We need alternative energy. When we started the program to get to the moon we didn't have any idea how we would get there. But we did. We need to find alternative energy and if we put that kind of effort into it we will. Drilling is not the answer.

I'm sick of the short-term thinking 'drill' people. I'd rather not drill and have $7 gas for a few years (as if they're even related) in order to keep up the pressure and priority for finding alternative fuels.

No way to 'The Drilla from Wasilla'!

lol stupid americans think this will lower our fuel costs. man we have got to be the most gullible, misinformed, ignorant mass of people on earth. its funny how republicans claim to love america so much yet they have no problems destroying her. then the dems claim they are tough, and innovative and can stand up to the repubs but they just sit there with their thumbs up their asses. oh well not to be cliche but people will reap what they sow. i just dont understand how the american public can continue to bend over and grab their ankles.

I think that all of the Democratic backers that keep saying "no more drilling" should be forced to ride bicycles and burn wood to heat their homes. Oh crap, they can't cut down trees either because they are so anal about nature. Oh well, move the democrates to Venezuela. I'm sure they'll like the communist government there since that is what they are pushing for here. As for the rest of us... we'll just continue to be Americans and fight the idiots (democrats) that seek to destroy us and our way of life.

Be careful what you wish for... we could all be on the street corner asking for "change" if the Obama's make it to the Whitehouse.
Obama is no friend to hard working Americans.

Let's see, democrates and republicans have gotten us into every mess we seem to be arguing about. It seems like the parties are more focused on dividing the public rather than bringing us together. Is anyone out there interested in booting both those parties into oblivion?

If we don't drill and have our owe oil. Than the country that we buy from and don't like us can cut us off. Than we won't gas for auto, or our homes and than what will we do as a country.

They should have drilled off George's bank just like any other state or location!
Not sure why these Limosine Liberals in Massachusetts get spared ALL the time from ponying up their share of the consequences

Drill now. Work on alternatives now. The incentives are already there for alternatives. Government does not need to provide more. Good battery technology, efficient engines, wind, solar, bio fuels, etc. will all be rewarded by consumers paying $4/gallon. If its cheap and it works, then it will sell and you will be rewarded for it.

Until we have an alternative, we must drill more of our own oil to reduce the price and to reduce the reliance on foreign oil.

The Democrats are at it again - give a little so they can bloat with no substance behind what they do. If we are drilling, let's get serious and do it ---- no "pussyfooting" around!!! When will Congress listen to the American people instead of doing what they feel "is best for the people"!!!

People don't realize that more oil seeps from the seabed because of pressure than has ever been spilled while drilling. The only place the seepage doesn't happen? Where they are drilling! God's trying to give us the oil, it's literally leaking out of the earth ... but we're letting a few extremists stop us. And because of the environmentalists, the "rain forests" (jungles) are being defoliated, and people are starving, as good crop and jungle land is used to grow things to make inefficient ethanol.

C'mon people. Let's see, the Emi -RATS just agreed with each other to lower their output by 500K barrels a day to keep the prices up. hmmm...Oil by the barrel was at $91.45 yesterday. How long before that gets translated to the pump? The lower 2 to 3% of the workers on the bottom will not recover from the last hit,i.e. $4.+. The second tier will struggle for a very long time before they are able to get above the water. A can of chicken soup is $2.00+, and you don't want to drill? Obama wants to get into the national reserves to help with gas prices; big security risk! The Chinese have bought oil rights off the coast of CUBA. The Russians are preparing for another leveraged bargaining of the natural gas and oil in Europe this winter; and the DEMS don't want to drill in their own backyard. Get your head out of the sand. Modern tecnology is damn good but it doesn't come to fruition for a long time. Why not let the poor workers bear the weight of the land. There's lots of tem!!
We must do oil, after all our whole society is based on it right now. America has always had the self assurance helping itself. Get over the politics (I don't want wind mills in front of my house-TED KENNEDY). If you ruin the workers abvility to survive YOU wil not survive.

this debate is not something that can be won by wither side, noone is right or wrong, there is only a difference on which is more important: money or our planet. I personally believe that the preservation of life on earth is more important than a few cents off the gallon. Realistically offshore drilling isn't going to change much at all at the pumps, but it will drastically alter the delicate ecosystems off our shores. I like the assumption that "libs" are not wanting to offend "environmental lobbyists". Realize however that by "not offending" them we're agreeing that the environment is not something to trash for money.
I see supporting offshore drilling as being the exact same kind of selfishness as littering. Earth is not a throwaway product!

Sickening BS politics as usual! This country is screwed!!

Well here we go again. To allow drilling where there is no oil or where the water is to deep does nothing to help the situation we are in now. Most of the oil is closer than they are going to allow drilling. What is happening is a ploy to make us think that the democrats support drilling in order to get a better result out of the elections. They did not support drilling in the first place and the only way out for them was to pass the bill to "drill for nothing". Another provision to this bill allows unlimited law suits that are designed to make it almost impossible to drill anyway. They do this in Alaska. The environmental groups file law suits against every drill site that has been leased and claim that there is some problem that exist to the environment or endangered animals.

While I'm all about drilling as much as we can in our own back yard, I'm frankly not too worried about leaving off what I understand to be a smaller area; we have plenty of places to sink wells for oil and natural gas.

What we need at least as much as new wells are the refineries to actually make the end product. Even if we have a huge supply, it's still hard to keep up when our refining capacity takes a dive due to weather conditions...

Hopefully the senate will be wiser!!!!! Then again it may die. lol

I just love the 'drill now, drill everywhere' crowd's belief that that will achieve 'Energy Independence'. It won't and here's why. Energy independence can only be achieved when the oil that is drilled here stays within the borders of the US, and that ain't gonna happen. Oil is a fungible resource - it's going to be sold to the highest bidder. So as China and India ramp up energy consumption, the oil that is produced from any new wells drilled offshore or from anywhere else for that matter is going to go there. The US (you and I along with industry) will be competing for that oil. The idea that drilling offshore is going to lower our energy costs is a fantasy promoted by the Republicans. Energy independence is an idea that has been floated since Nixon. It didn't happen then and it won't happen now. Get used to higher prices.

Drill or get ready for more war. Look at history, understand the way the real world works, and know our options. Drill or lets go take it thorough war. You can't have it both ways. It sucks, but its the world we live in. Its the world we were given.

I just love the 'drill now, drill everywhere' crowd's belief that that will achieve 'Energy Independence'. It won't and here's why. Energy independence can only be achieved when the oil that is drilled here stays within the borders of the US, and that ain't gonna happen. Oil is a fungible resource - it's going to be sold to the highest bidder. So as China and India ramp up energy consumption, the oil that is produced from any new wells drilled offshore or from anywhere else for that matter is going to go there. The US (you and I along with industry) will be competing for that oil. The idea that drilling offshore is going to lower our energy costs is a fantasy promoted by the Republicans. Energy independence is an idea that has been floated since Nixon. It didn't happen then and it won't happen now. Get used to higher prices.

Politicians are so short-sighted. The oil from off-shore drilling will not be available to the American public for years. What is the normal household income supposed to do in the meantime? It will be a choice between food and heat for the northern climates. An aggressive efffort should be made to pursue alternative sources of energy. Only then will America be independent of foreign oil. There should be an attempt to make additional rebates and credits available to those homes who wish to individually pursue alternative sources of energy as they are not afffordable to the average "Joe". There are attempts to have the electric company buy back the additional power made by the alternative sources but if very few individuals are able to produce this power, how is that going to help?

There is an aggressive effort on the part of the oil and gas industry to "destroy" the
beautiful western states. The mountain ranges in Wyoming and Colorado are being decimated by their efforts to produce oil and gas for the American public with no thought to what will be left behind. Too many well heads are being
drilled in beautiful wilderness areas and next to homes leaving the home owners with reduced home values and noise, air and water pollution. It is not fair that a
small part of the population has to pay such a large price so that the rest of the
country can continue to have reasonably priced natural gas and oil. Oil and gas
companies should be required to automatically use directional drilling (where a
pipeline is drilled underneath the surface and minimizing the number of well heads on the surface) instead of installing well head after well head on the surface pockmarking our beautiful landscape.

As much as our country thinks we need off shore drilling to produce more oil to live we need to think of the future. As difficult as it would be, we need to wean ourselves from oil. OIL IS NOT A BASIC NECESSITY TO LIVE however, CLEAN WATER AND PURE AIR ARE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. We need to protect those resources for the human race to continue. Off shore drilling will and the use of fossil fuels will only compound the problem of clean air and water. It is a harsh but true fact. Instead we need to start producing power using wind and solar. Also start building our homes in a way that uses less energy even if it means building smaller homes. To protect the air a very simple a economical action that we can take is to plant more hardwood and broad leaf trees to purify the air.

We need to Drill Now and look for alternative energy with the profits as the Senate bill will support. I respect the concerns for the environment, but the only way to get ahead right now is to follow russia's example and become an energy supplier. We can't afford to keep paying for something that we can find in our own back yard. These Dem bills are a start. I personally think they should give the states more power over their own oil/ energy production. as someone said earlier, congress is drunk with power! spread the power down to the state level and this won't be as much of a political rodeo.

Drill everywhere! But use that money responsibly, and invest in our future!

Not enough and gives in to special interests both in the overseas oil market and the New England wealthy elite. Crying wolf about possible environmental impacts is bogus and clouds an otherwise simple issue: We have it; we need it; let's get it!

For all you believers in alternative energy, where are we going to find the 42 square miles needed for solar panels to replace just one of more than 500 fossil fuel power plants? Maybe we should paper over all the ecologically sensitive areas in the country with solar panels. Even then we still wouldn't have power at night unless the power is stored in batteries with all their problems and negative environmental impacts. Other power generation alternatives are equally problematic - except for nuclear. Oh wait, the libs and environmentalists oppose that solution too.

This bill is a SHAM! It was written by Pelosi alone, giving the Democrats a 'shell game' that she thinks the voting public is TOO DUMB to figure out.

This will allow the Democrats (actually, anyone that voted for it) the ability to go to their constituents and say 'I voted for expanded drilling'.

Bush is not the enemy. The President does not do ANYTHING without the approval and coordination with the House and Senate.

The current House (lack of) leadership (read: P-E-L-O-S-I) is either STUPID or feel that the taxpayers are stupid. Actually, it's probably a bit of BOTH.

Don't stand for this anymore! It is NOT true that we can't 'drill our way out of this'. Perhaps not for the long term, but for short term - WE CAN!

DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW!

1. Create a bill that includes drilling WHEREVER NECESSARY as long as their are protective measures in place for the environment. When was the last time you saw news of a major oil spill? HELLO!?!?!?!?!

2. Provide incentives for alternative energies, but NOT Ethanol. Ethanol is WORSE for the environment than fossil fuels, clean-burning coal and nuclear energy COMBINED!

3. LIMIT TERMS in the House of Representatives and the Senate. We are being represented (on the majority) by senators and congressmen that have become too comfortable and lie through their teeth. Make them work for the PEOPLE and not themselves!

Does anyone really know that Pelosi and T.Boone Pickens are in ALLIANCE on this wind energy plan that Pickens promotes? Does it make anyone wonder why Pelosi LIKES expensive gasoline?

GET OFF YOUR A$$E$ and get a CLUE!! THE CURRENT HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP DO NOT HAVE THE U.S. TAXPAYERS'S INTEREST AT HEART - ONLY THEIR OWN INTERESTS!!

Use your vote to REMOVE THESE PEOPLE from their comfortable Senate or House seats.

Please do research before you post. How about for today, we have a conversation with evidence:

The Interior Department estimates that 3.5 billion barrels of oil could be pumped from beneath the outer Atlantic continental shelf. Not all of this is accessible in the areas allowed by the new law (700 million are still inaccessible), but let's pretend it is since that's what some people here are arguing we should do.

Keep in mind that the US currently consumes about 21 million barrels per day. So some quick math reveals that there are about 167 days of oil. That's assuming we can and do get all of it and assuming our consumption stays the same while we get it.

That's not a long-term solution, if you ask me. That's a 167-day solution.

For reference, there are an estimated 800 billion barrels of oil in the Middle East.

This is stupid, there are so many untapped oil and natural gas reservoirs on land in the U.S. like the Tusculoosa Trend or the newly found haynesville (Gold rush era) shales as well as many more. Everyday people know nothing about this, these were explored years ago but now because of the price of this comodity it has become profitable to drill besides the ablity to drill deeper with the high tec drilling gear. Drill the reservoirs on land, it's there for the taking! Who are the Republicans fooling? They are counting on the American people to remain ignorant, that's how they pull the wool over our faces everytime!

This Bill simply did not go far enough.

Many of you idiots are worried about the environment, when you should be more concerned with the moral filth you continue to dump on society. That's what's going to destroy this nation.

Currently U.S. law prohibits the development of approximately 38 billion barrels of undeveloped oil resources (19 billion barrels onshore and 18.92 billion offshore. 38 Billion barrels of oil. America uses almost 21 Million barrels a day. For those of you that can't do basic math, 38 billion divided by 21 million is 1809. 1809 days is less than 5 years. Even if we drill until all 38 billion barrels are tapped, it's less than 5 years worth of oil for this country. How does removing federal restrictions help us out past 2013? WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems to me the powers that be want to see the US go broke by sending money to these countries. With all the so-called intelligent (did I say intellegent) people in Congress whom have free rides in everything they do and are rich beyond our wildest dreams they just do not care about this problem we are having, They pay NO GAS money as free gas comes with the job. They DO NOT CARE!! And they know we the people wont do anything about them because it takes 4 years for us to vote them out of office and we will have forgeotten about all this muck by then. We are stuck with lawmakers who sole interest is their wallets. PERIOD.
And proof of this is this question.....When is the last time Congress did anything in a timely situation that was of the utmost importance and benefits the people of this country?

THIS IS STUPID--IF 88% OF THE OIL IS INSIDE 50 MILES WHY THE LIMIT? THIS IS A JOKE--CONGRESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED--IF MY REPRESENATIVES VOTE FOR THIS I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN. THEY ARE TO DUMB TO BE IN OFFICE.

Most of you who want them to drill off shore are only looking at this from a selfish point of view. It's all about them "hitting your pocket books" you don't think about the repercussion to the environment. If you would rather have a full tank of gas then be able to go to the beach then let them drill. Then again most of the red states don't have beaches.... and to Mark " That is change we can look forward to with McCain." Yes off shore drilling will change things but I don't think its for the better of everything its just better when you're shopping. Besides you can't expect much change from McCain when he hired bush in drag to be his VP.

Theres better ways to solve the problem.

How much money will be spent in this "seek but do not find"? What industries could be re-tooled and provide the widgets for the inevitable -- an alternative, renewable, and simply a life enchancing energy.These actions are not forward -- nor backwards -- just more of the same. . . it is the band-aid for a stuck artery. Lets all wake up and smell the roses. We are all on this planet together -- just like the little guppies in the fish tank -- we are all one within this common environment, sharing it for the good of all concerned (which would include everything else) is required.

I am really tired of hearing complaining about how we have to drill for more oil because gas prices are so high.
I was only 1 or 2 at the time, but my understanding is people got a good warning that they should search for alternative forms of energy in the 70's.
We've had a long time to tackle this problem, but no one bothered.
So, when it comes to the decision of "Drill for more oil" or "Suck it up and quit complaining until we can get a new infrastructure in place", I say, "Suck it up!".
Especially for those people driving their full-size pickups and vans or SUV's. Sorry! Too bad! The "elitist liberals" have warned you for a long time and you didn't want to listen.

it will take a long time to see an increase of oil production from off shore drilling(not too good for our environment either), so in the meantime we should be looking into getting alternative fuel sources ready to use. other countries are already using other fuel sources besides oil. oil will not last forever and the pollution from it is adding to the environmental problems.

We need to get Pelosi and Reid and a bunch of other Dems out of office, they have
blocked everything the Pres did and only have their own interests and re-elections
on their agenda. They do not have the interests of the country and the people who pay their high salaries at heart. Sure we need other forms of energy, but we still have to drive and live now. They are totally crass, classless, selfish people whodo not deserve where they are.

It would probably serve some of the folks responding here well if they at least knew the the Georges Bank is one of our primary fishing areas (not the, but one of). Even erecting a single rig in that sensitive area could greatly effect one of our primary sources of fish - when many of our fish sources are overfished anyway.

Drilling will not deliver oil until at least 2018, maybe, any change in current oil prices is simply smoke and mirrors to convince people that it will make a difference if drilling is approved. Notice that the last time the issue came up President Bush called for drilling, price went down, question comes up again, oil goes up again (excuse being Ike), will probably drop now that this bill has been passed (but just temporarily). I'd lay money on it, and I'm not a gambler.
Even if we started drilling now to prepare for 2018, by then the demand from China and India will be that much greater.
Stop fooling yourselves, stop letting the politicians fool you. Gas prices will never go down much from here. In a year, they will have acclimated us to four dollars per gallon as they did to three and to four, and will be shooting for five.

What appears interesting is the phrase "energy independence" and pitting drilling for oil against alternative energy. This is an entirely too simplistic method to view the problem. Unfortunately, neither candidate seems willing to point out that it will take sacrificing both at the individual at the corporate/government level to become less energy dependent. It is folly to think in these globally viewed times that we can become isolationists and insulate ourselves from interdependence with other countries. One of the major obstacles to relative energy independence, I feel, is the paradigm shift away from gasoline. It is way too easy, even at $4/gal, to fill up the tank in comparison with truly conserving and demanding a shift away from oil and gas. It won't be cheap or easy, but as someone mentioned earlier, the view has to be shifted away from the 4 year or 10 year outlook. Drilling doesn't lead to energy independence, it remains too shortsighted.

Thanks goodness no drilling in Georges Bank. This will protect the Kennedy's property values and keep their friends in Venezuela/Citgo rolling in the dough. I was SO worried for them.

I haven't seen any mention of building new refineries. Assuming the current refineries are working to capacity, what do they plan to do with the oil that they pump after all this drilling?

Most comments are so short sighted with their drill here and now so we can drive drive drive. Sean Ladd has is right. It's the whole picture of our dependence on the ocean for food and climate and coastal erosion (where we build willy-nilly) ...but given the vehemence of the many idiots... it's clear we're going down into the oily, hungry swamp of our own making.

This is stupid, there are so many untapped oil and natural gas reservoirs on land in the U.S. like the Tusculoosa Trend or the newly found haynesville (Gold rush era) shales as well as many more. Everyday people know nothing about this, these were explored years ago but now because of the price of this comodity it has become profitable to drill besides the ablity to drill deeper with the high tec drilling gear. Drill the reservoirs on land, it's there for the taking! Who are the Republicans fooling? They are counting on the American people to remain ignorant, that's how they pull the wool over our faces everytime!

It would probably serve some of the folks responding here well if they at least knew that the Georges Bank is one of our primary fishing areas (not the, but one of). Even erecting a single rig in that sensitive area could greatly effect one of our primary sources of fish - when many of our fish sources are overfished anyway.

Drilling will not deliver oil until at least 2018, maybe, so any change in current oil prices is simply smoke and mirrors to convince people that it will make a difference if drilling is approved. Notice that the last time the issue came up President Bush called for drilling, price went down, question comes up again, oil goes up again (excuse being Ike), will probably drop now that this bill has been passed (but just temporarily). I'd lay money on it, and I'm not a gambler.
Even if we started drilling now to prepare for 2018, by then the demand from China and India will be that much greater.
Stop fooling yourselves, stop letting the politicians fool you. Gas prices will never go down much from here. In a year, they will have acclimated us to four dollars per gallon as they did to three and to four, and will be shooting for five.
Alternatives have to be found, but thinking that gas prices will go down at all is simply a fairy tale.

How much pollution happens when a wind turbine collapses in the ocean? Same question for an oil rig? So our Reps say no to a wind farm 18 miles off our coast--with known safe engineering principles. But say yes to oil drilling 100 miles off our coast (shipping lanes, gulf stream, whales, beyond continental shelf) in water far deeper than we have drilled before. The people (I don't care which party) want us to rely further on oil and NOT on something like wind energy.

Why? Oh yeah--NIMBY. They all have beach houses on the Cape, Vineyard, or Nantucket. Windfarms THEY could see. Oil rigs-no one can see. And when they leak/collapse it is all okay---the gulf stream will sweep all that oil to england and france so THEY don't have to see all the dead whales, fish, and birds the oil has killed.

And transporting oil. How many more barges being towed to the Cape Cod power plant need to wreck in Buzzards Bay before we realize how stupid this means of transporting energy is?

Canada will be drilling in their side of George's Bank and Cuba is Drilling off the coast of Florida. Only the US is barred from drilling off our shores.
Let's drill with our strong environmental rules and stop shipping our jobs and money overseas.

It is long past time to face the actual economic realities regarding oil. Oil companies put all of the oil they find into the free market supply and sell it to the highest bidder. They are going to do the same with any oil they happen to find offshore along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. There is no law compelling them to act differently. Maximizing profit is the only objective of oil companies. They are not going to be kindhearted and use any new oil they discover to increase the supply in the U.S. if countries, companies, and/or people elsewhere in the world are willing to pay more for it. Believing that any new oil finds along our continental shelf will somehow guarantee an increased supply of oil for Americans, or lower gasoline prices in our country, is a fairy tale.

trying to find and extyract oil from s

Ok, here it is, you can't argue this, if you think you can, you are lying to yourself:

Oil is not a permanent solution, it merely delays the inevitable, a shift to renewable resources. Solar and Wind are sufficient to last as long as humankind, when the winds stop blowing or the sun stops shining, we will be long gone.

Oil usage pollutes the environment. Solar and Wind harm nothing.

If you are supporting the continuation of Oil, you MUST acknowledge to your children and their children that YOU did not step up and take the responsibility to make the world cleaner for them, but rather were too weak at heart and are passing the inevitable burden on to them.

Call this liberal whatchamacallit, but you know you can not dispute these facts. When you go to sleep tonight, remember that YOU are being selfish and weak for not meeting the real challenges in this world. More worried about your pocketbook than passing on a cleaner, better world to your offspring.. that is not very honorable, is it ? Act like you have a pair and accept that change must come at some point, the sooner the better for this planet and it's inhabitants, current and future.

Nuke energy first, first and first

What about the thousands of acres the oil companies lease to drill on now. Why are they not drilling? Is it to costly to invest in more drilling operations? Then why would they drill offshore? Passing a bill means nothing if the oil companies do not act. We are being duped by the oil companies and government. Government cannot solve our problems, they show us time and again. More oil will still be expensive if we keep buying more. Change the way we use our resources and we can fix the problem ourselves. Vote for no government and use your power to change to cut profits to oil companies. The power is in our ability to see a better way. Cut your driving, carpool, buy more efficient vehicles, generate your own electricity. You will have to on our current course. We are not helpless as the government would have us believe.

More drilling is just smoke and mirrors. It won't affect prices and won't do much in the way of energy independence.

Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Hydro are all superior in these respects. Of course, oil is a big part of American business, so why don't we just sell our oil to other countries while developing and utilizing alternative energies for ourselves.

The bill is a success because it proceeds with caution, exactly what we need in a precarious time like this.

I find it laughable that the dems say they are for the middlclass when they come up with this bogus bill that is nothing but a polical ploy. these are the same morons who say they want affordable health care for all americans but who want to stiff the the american taxpayer on footing the bill for 12 million illegals in this country.

Drilling off shore isn't the solution to our energy needs, but it is a big part of the overall solution. Most people in the US have said their biggest concern this election season is the economy and energy prices. Drilling in and off the shores of America will help both of those issues. Drilling for oil may take some years before that oil actually hits the market and helps to lower prices but that's not the only benefit of drilling here. These oil rigs are don't run themselves, they require manpower to make sure everything runs smoothly. The unemployment rate in America is currently just over 6%. Drilling here would create new jobs that would last for at least a decade, getting people who may have lost their job back to work and putting new jobs out there for people just finishing school. It's not just the gas prices that drilling will affect, it will help put food on the tables of many families.

The concern for wildlife is one that I share, but in the broader picture it is not as bad as drilling opponents make it sound. There is no denying that the immediate and short term impact on wildlife would be disasterous. The long term effects on wildlife are virtually nonexistent. Many species would be displaced in the short term, but if there's one thing that we can learn from history is how resillient nature is. Look at the Chernobyl disaster, or the Mt. St. Hellens erruption. These areas aren't devoid of life as they were in the days immediately following the disasters. In fact, both areas are more prosperous now than they were before the incidents.

We need alternatives to oil that is for sure. We need something to bridge the gap between now and the alternatives that are on the horizon. That something is oil, because in the end the American people will profit from domestic and offshore drilling - whether it be from increased jobs, lower gas prices, corporate taxes etc. If you don't like Exxon/Mobil or Big Oil or any of that remember we live in a free market society and there is nothing stopping you from creating your own oil company to take advantage of domestic drilling.

The offshore drilling moratorium expires at the end of this month.This bill will not pass congress and if it does Pres Bush allready said he will veto it.So when it does expire we will drill anyware we want.

DRILLL BABY DRILL!!!

It is very simple, lets deal with facts. The U.S. represents 4% of the world population. Yet we consume 25% of the world's oil. Now let's also deal with the fact that according the dept. of energy drilling would not result in a difference in gas prices until 10-20 years down the road. We also have to acknowledge that India's middle class will be twice the population of the U.S. by 2020. They too are going to need resources. Compound this with China's thirst for oil and their own billion+ population. Then whats going to stop the feds from putting this oil in the strategic petroleum reserve or given the weak value of the dollar what's going to keep these companies from selling their oil to countries with stronger currencies? We are now in a state of permanent oil shock. Better get used to it. Drill, converse and alternatives.

I like my fish, get yer oil somewhere else. argghhh!

Drill baby Drill geniuses, opec just cut production a half a million barrels a day, 2 1/2 times what we will ever see from offshore drilling, dopes, dupes...

Do any of you remember when gas was more than $4 per gallon? HAVE WE DRILLED MORE OIL IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS? Drilling did not make the prices go down. More drilling will have virtually no impact on the price of oil.
DRILL IT ALL NOW AND LEAVE NOTHING FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. They won't need petroleum products like plastics or chemicals or fertilizers to grow their food. They'll be glad to know their grandparents cared so much for themselves.

I have said this before and will repeat it here once again ... the USA EXPORTS, yes EXPORTS, 1.89 million barrels of oil a day. This is almost the exact amount imported from our largest trading partner ... CANADA ... and almost as much oil as we import from all of the Arab countries COMBINED!

A little conservation and keeping US oil at home and the Arabs can keep their oil.

And I think it is scandalous that the media has not jumped on EXPORTED OIL forcing the government to enact laws that keep our energy resources at home.

Does anyone understand that fuel is a fisherman's biggest expense? I find that the liberals on this board that seemingly care about the fisherman's welfare insist on restricting other fishing grounds, keeping oil prices high, and keep taxes high. As for exporting oil, we HAVE to because we lack refining capacity. We export our alaskan oil to china and they sell it back to us for a premium. Iran is forced to do the same thing!

Drilling is not the answer. We need to be putting our energies into clean technologies and renewable energy choices. It's time for radical change on this front, and we've got the brains to make it happen. Get it together, Washington.

OBAMA......PALIN.......REID.....

ALL THE SAME......BAD CHOICES TO FIX THE PROBLEMS OF THIS ECONOMY......ELECT THIS FOOL AND GET WHAT YOU DESERVE

BIDEN.....NOTHING WORTH MENTIONING !

That is a really smart idea.

that last comment was awful...come on man!