Obama, McCain tussle over energy

Never tap into reserves, its like taking from one's IRA to pay bills!! Amazingly, condescending to the American public.

@ least with mccain you know up front your screwed. obama would have you not being able to set the thermostat in your own home, not be able to goto a all you ca eat buffet, or drive whatever vehicle you whant. this is usa land of choice, keep your laws off of my choice. if you don't like it then don't do it. do your thing I will do mine.

This just shows what a hypocrite "The One" really is and what his real intentions are.

1. He chastizes McCain for taking "Big Oil" donations. Seems "The One" has neglected to look at his own FEC filings for the hundreds of thousands of $'s he has taken from "Big Oil" for his own campaign. HYPOCRITE!!

2. He first says "No Way" to offshore drilling and then when he sees that McCain wins on this issue, he switches to McCain's ideas! HYPOCRITE!!

3. He wants to tax "Big Oil" out of existence. What an easy target! Big Bad Big Oil. Seems "The One" should check with his Union brothers first before opening his mouth. Does he not realize that Unions' pensions are heavily invested in "Big Oil" and depend on their profits as share holders? Shouldn't "The One" take a basic course in Econ 101 before he slams "Big Oil" (and "Big Pharma" and "Big Utilities") and understand that EVERYONE's pensions, 401k's and IRA's are heavily invested in these companies? Yes, that means you are dependent on Corporate America to make a profit. Seems "The One" slept through that class at Harvard. Or he's listening way too much to his Angela Davis wife. (oooh, so sorry, that's racist to drag his wife into this)

"The One" wants to make sure NONE OF YOU get a pension and can retire when you want to. You need to give EVERYTHING to the State. Sure sounds like the born and bred marxist that he truly is.

This life-long Democrat will NEVER vote for this Race Card Waving Marxist.

NEVER!

P.U.M.A.

P.U.M.A.

P.U.M.A.

Get Hillary back into this election before it's too late!!!!

Tapping into the strategic reserve as the hurricane season begins is not a good idea. What if storms shut down oil production in the Gulf after we have depleted a good part of the reserve? The answer is higher prices for us. Also, this is a short term solution which will not help to solve our energy concerns. As far as the billions for alternative fuels, where is the money coming from for that and the additonal $1000 stimulus check? How long is it going to take for alternatives to come on line, and what do we do in the meantime? All of this is feel good policies that do nothing to help our country solve our problems. Obama is not a leader. If there were an elected office for Chief-Panderer, I'd vote for him, but for President - No!

Thank you, Boston Globe & Foon Rhee, for pointing out the 68 MILLION acres of land the oil companies (have permission to drill, but) are sitting on. I like this "use it or lose it" mentality. Thank you for reporting what, unfortunately, many Americans DO NOT realize.

Reps have found a new strategy - ridiculing Obama. They like playing dirty, and I should say McCain's campaign managers and McCain himself look more and more like Paris Hilton (in an intellectual context). Especially taking into account signs of dementia that McCain is exhibiting, thanks to his old age.

"McCain's backers will reportedly be outside Obama's speech with tire pressure guages -- gigging him for calling last week for people to take responsibility themselves for energy conservation by keeping their car tires properly inflated."

Not mentioned, of course, is the fact that keeping tires properly inflated and getting regular tune-ups - both easy and cheap - actually does increase mileage and save gas. Experts agree. But no, Obama is just some silly elitist with silly ideas.

Remedial like the man they vote for. Mccmuffin would be the biggest mistake this country could make since his busom buddy bush. Mccain supporters will wait with pressure gauges, wow thats the most mature thing I've heard all day. Do they know proper tire pressure and tune-ups do lead to better mpg? Guess not. They're too busy being negative like their grumpy a$$ runing mate to focus on actual issues. Are all you mccain supporters so elite that the crisis in this country isn't affecting you in any way. My god you people are ignorant. Stop the man before he cheats his way into office just like bush. He doesn't remember bills he voted on and it's okay becouse he's jesuses long lost brother. He airs ads that he thinks are funny becouse a f___ing comedian is what we need in a leader. And lets not forget the adultry on his fist wife to get with the rich wh@%e of a woman he's married to now. Please people don't be as dumb as the republicans are hoping you all to be.

It's high time someone recognized that this country is run by big corporations and stood up to them!

That $1000.00 rebate sure sounds good!! And getting it from big oil!!! Hmm.. where do they get that $$, anyways?? Oh yeah, from us! So what will happen for them to get that money back? They will raise prices again!! UGH... Obama is the worse candidate the Dems have pushed to the front of the line in years. The fact is the Democratic led Congress is responsible for NOT voting on an energy policy but instead GOING ON VACATION for 5 weeks!! What is wrong with the sheeple voting these bafoons in year after year? There is a host of Repubs IN CONGRESS TODAY fighting to get Pelosi and her chronies back in just to VOTE. That is VOTE people, vote on an energy plan. Instead, we pay the high prices for gas AND for their extended vacation. Sick.

Just how far is that $1000 going to go ? What are you going to do ? Put it into in a gas account. Like hell you will, you are America, you are going to spend it now. "investing $150 billion to create 5 million "green" jobs, and weaning the country off Middle Eastern oil in 10 years". Now that's more like it ! Now I can sleep better, knowing we are all going to be taught how to hibernate for 10 years.....Bull S*** my kids are hungry now. I bet his kids don't go hungry. And I suppose they are going to tighten their belts and sacrifice just like the rest of the United States of Obama is expected to do.....I notice he drives a big car. But that is O.K. he is God. This man? is the biggest hypocrite that ever hit Washington.

Question please:

If Obama spent 20 years in Wright's hate-filled church, why is he running for President?

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. Obama changes his mind again. Every time he changes his position, it's an acknowledgement that his 1st position was wrong. I guess the "Change" we can expect from Obama is that he will change his mind to match which ever the way the political winds are blowing that day. Doesn't he have enough brain cells to thoroughly analyze the situation before he opens his big mouth and announces a policy he has to reverse himself on later. It would seem Barack has at least one thing going for him. He's smart enough to realize that he can be pretty stupid at times. What if he needs to send in troops as president some day, then changes his mind a few days later? He could get us in real trouble. Any military man will tell you the most dangerous time in combat is when you withdraw. As an ex-marine who witnessed the pullout from Viet Nam, I can tell you that. No thanks, I'll support McCain.

This McCain camp, they always have a snide comeback line whenever Obama says something.... reminds me of the JOKER in the old Batman Tv series. McCain is always talking in riddles. The McCain camp has given Junior High temper tantrums a whole new meaning.

Barack Obama says he's a supporter of clean energy alternatives.

Barack Obama is coming to Massachusetts tonight for a fundraiser.

Massachusetts has one of the biggest "clean energy" projects in the country - Cape Wind - languishing in regulatory hell because it will spoil the "pristine view" from the mansion of Ted Kennedy and John Kerry.

The $64,000 question - will anyone from The Boston Globe (or any other news media, for that matter) ask Obama where he stands on Cape Wind????

$1000 bribe to vote for him supposedly paid for by a windfall profits tax on oil that will be paid by the recipients of the $1000.

$150 billion to produce 5 million "green jobs". We already pay $20 billion dollars a year for "alternatives" Each additon to these "green jobs" adds a continuing federal tax burden to support "alternatives" that are not needed, cannot supply enough for our needs, do not clean the air and cost many times more.

Adding 10% of electricity from wind or solar would cost tens of trillions of dollars, cannot be done as no grid can accept this much power from wildly fluctuating sources which are 60 to 75% inefficient. This will clean no air as 100% back-up is required from conventional power plants mnone of which can be shut down. This 10% addition in addition to the unaffordable capital cost and being unworkable will ad 40% to everyone's power bill.

50 new nuclear power plants would supply 10% of our power and it would be 90% efficient making it the equivalent of eight times any wind or solar nameplat value. It would cost $250 billion of mostly private investment. It would provide 10% of our power 100% clean and without any back-up power required.

Obama is against anything that makes sense and for anything that doesn't. And then ther are his plans for carbon taxes.....please, he has no workable plans for anything.

what is the purpose of any typeof reserve if it isn't to be used when needed?

excellent points Mr. dahun...regarding the 68 million acres of leases, here's a news flash: There's no fng OIL in them there hills! Its been explored with minimal success. We know, as a matter of fact, that there are billions of barrells off our coasts and in the Rockies. The techniques used to extract oil are not nearly as invasive as the early 80s when these bans were put it place. Here's another sobering thought: Cuba is now leasing waters for drilling to China..less than 90 miles from our coast.

Lastly, how is it that big oil deserves capital letters? I notice that Foon uses caps, except when the term is used in the context of a campaign's quote. Does Big Media share the Obama terminology, implying that Big=Sinister? What happened to the use of so-called, like "so-called supply side economics" or " the so-called surge" or "so-called partial birth abortion" or "so-called Reagan Revolution"? Perhaps Big Media might find the answer to where its Big Readership went...people, particularly the youngens, don't like to be manipulated...oil companies provide the bloodline to our economy. Don't buy the notion that oilmen are the new boogiemen....and stop picking boogies while you're at it!

A rep from the US Department of Energy -- yes, the Feds ---, on CNN or MSNBC, said that offshore drilling might take a few cents off the price of gas maybe 5 or 10 years from now, and that's not a solution. Why did that disappear from public discourse?
The latest figure I've heard -- and this was recently on the news-- is that most Americans THINK most of our oil comes from the Middle East, but actually it's only 20-25%. Yes, we could save that much gas by a combination of proper car maintenance and technologically feasible raised CAFE standards.
GREEN MANUFACTURING AND MAINTENANCE JOBS making and maintaining windmills and fuel-efficient cars could really start turning this country around.

I agree that everyone should have proper trire pressure and tune-ups. But that is why we have mechanics and such. The President is supposed to make smart every policy decisions. Not tap into a reserve that is meant for supply disruption, not to control prices. Who says prices are going to come back down with China and India usage rising? Can we all see now that is just a politican like all the rest saying what he can to get in?

$1000 rebate, plus another stimulus is going to bring down the deficeit how exactly??

where would "THE ONE" be without the Kennedy's. They are the ones picked & groomed him for the position, because there was nobody around clean enough. Does this make him their "lap dog"? HILLARY, needs to step back in.

Obama should appoint Ludicrus as his energy czar. Fits with his energy "plan".

Hey, Min W

If offshore drilling might only take a few cents off the price of gas 5 or 10 years from now, why has the price of oil dropped over $25 a barrel in the less than 4 weeks sincer Bush said he would take away his prohibition on offshore drilling?

Why have gasoline prices fallen almost 30 cents a gallon in the same period?

Or is that just a figment of somebody's imagination?

Hey, Min W

If offshore drilling might only take a few cents off the price of gas 5 or 10 years from now, why has the price of oil dropped over $25 a barrel in the less than 4 weeks since Bush said he would take away his prohibition on offshore drilling?

Why have gasoline prices fallen almost 30 cents a gallon in the same period?

Or is that just a figment of somebody's imagination?

what is the purpose of any typeof reserve if it isn't to be used when needed?

Hyacinth: when Iran starts picking off oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, hits at our Navy fleet and shuts off the Straight of Hormuz....oil would go to 8-10 bucks a gallon within a week. They threatened to do so yesterday..that would justify opening the reserve, not simply to score cheap political points...It exists for emergenices not convenience...or simply "when needed".

see Jeff in Orlando's comment above regarding hurricanes.

I am amazed at how many people actually seem to be listening to McCain!
Lots of folks jumping on the Obama hate wagon. But it is a lot easier for cowards to attack those who dare to even suggest that there is hope of finding a new path than it is to actually face the prospect of admitting that McCain is a barely sensible geezer who can do nothing but ridicule and attack those who hope for change.
Go ahead and jump on the fear bandwagon but you will not change the fact that it is McCain who has done the turnaround. He has gone from the man Bush tore apart with negative attacks to the man who now agrees that negative attacks are the only thing to which America will respond. I vote that he, and Bush, are still wrong.
.

Okay who wants a nuclear plant in their backyard? Raise your hand.

You might want to ask your State representative energy conservation? How much gas, oil and electricity we could save, if we sent illegal aliens packing.
We cannot keep up the demand for it right now! Oil! Diversity Alliance for Sustainable America.(earthtimes) stated in it's article that if the U.S. grants amnesty and gives citizenship to 12 to 30 million illegal migrants already here, as McCain, Obama and the majority of Democrats propose. That all those naturalized citizens could possibly add 120 million U.S. and foreign-born relatives to the U.S., in the next 20 years whom all will CONSUME MAJOR ENERGY. Does the American people need to escalate the 315 million plus population, the census estimates we have now? To a new total of 435 million?

The executive director of (DASA) admitted "Proposal to reduce energy costs in the U.S. will not work unless we also simultaneously curb U.S. population growth by reducing immigration and curbing teen pregnancies." Severing the illegal immigration occupation and deporting those already here is a good start, but not the complete solution to this serious energy problem that cannot be reversed. Unless another Nikola Tesla, an underrated genius of the 19th century invents a some new form of energy, we will be reliant on fossil fuels for years to come? Clean coal, geothermal, eco-fuel, nuclear and of course wind power and solar. The latter is energy that is a perpetual source of unimaginable power that knows no bounds.

The Save Act (H.R.5088) is an enforcement federal bill only, to start the EXODUS of foreign nationals illegally in AMERICA. NUMBERSUSA has all the unsuppressed facts

Experts that are in the business say that offshore oil would take one or two years in areas where infrastructure exists, which would be adjacent to existing offshore oil wells that deliver the bulk of our domestic oil. Sites further away would take 4 years tops. The north Slope oil fields were developed and an 800 mile pipeline built in a little over two years. Attaching to this existing pipeline could not take more than two years.

John Kennedy announced we would send a man to the moon and eight years later we landed a man on the moon. An "expert" says it will take 5-10 years to drill some oil wells??? It is amazing how things like big oil price fixing, speculators are to blame, oil companies are sitting on huge oil deposits and won't drill for it, becoming energy independent rather than being at the mercy of despots and dictators for oil will only drop the price by pennies.......all these things disappear beacuse they are simply the excuse of the month for congress.

We cannot continue to have a congress whose motto seems to be "nothing that makes sense"

Oil pricing is all smoke and mirrors.

GWB's friends in Big Oil want you to pay more money.

And you do.

Look at the data.

I know the answer, the goverment is looking into the speculation in the market now and going to fine people for muniplulation of price. The unethical people who can run up the price in the market, especially commodies, are not stupid. If the numbers show a drop in the reports when the senate meets in sept. The senate/house is unlikely to pass legislation that will hurt these people. So stop doing as much speculation and the prices drop to "normalish" levels till it all blows over and then ramp it up to make more profit later.

Let's see, McCain, definitely a disaster
Obama, may be a disaster, may be good for the country,
and people will still vote for McCain, onthe basis of "the evil we know?" So much for rational thinking.

PUMA Gal from GA., good going! Give it McCain. Kill Roe v Wade. Hillary Clinton's back in the Senate doing her work and working for the party and Obama. You discredit her and her work. Good riddance.

I looked at the data Mr, Stevenson. 30 years ago we imported 30% of our oil and produced 70%. After 30 years of blocking offshore, shale oil, ANWAR we import 70% and supply 30% domestically. Canada is our largest supplier of oil.

Canada gets 45% of their oil from tar sands and shale oil. According to the Department of Energy the US has 2 trillion barrels of developal oil in shale oil deposits. The US now bans shale oil development.

Canada has another large source of oil it is from Yellowkinife which is adjacent to ANWAR. Yellowknife and the Nort Slope oil fields sandwich ANWAR which as billions of barrels of oil and many trillions of barrels. ANWAR is blocked from oil development by the US congress.

The US has at least three hundred years of coal that could be converted to clean oil. The US congress is not financing coal to oil.

The US utilizes 15% of it's offshore oil sources and they produce the bulk of our domestic oil. 85% of all offshore oil areas are blocked from development by the congress.

My research indicates that we have 2.2 trillion barrels of oil in this country blocked by congress. Saudi Arabia has 267 billion barrels of reserves.

I cannot believe anyone cannot see where the problem is and what the solution should be. Those in office that are not intelligent to see this must be voted out. Any candidate not able to realize this is not smart enough to be president. Any candidate that thinks we have only 3% of the world's oil has not done their research and must not have anyone helping them that has either.

Dahun: You should post here more often. The rest of you should read his posts above twice. He knows the energy business.

Seems like the Obama crew is getting a bit defensive and touchy here. Perhaps you're concerned about his negatve bounce from the European Tour. You should be... He's going to tank after his rock concert at The Broncos' stadium. His bs is starting to stink among independents and some democrats. .

now, before I have to go check the air in my tires....It's called The "Stategic" Oil Reserve for a reason: to be used in the case of emergency when access to oil supplies is compromised.....and PUMA gal: are you single?

Re 23 & 24 above from "Look at the data": Here's a different possibility: The US conversation about alternative energy is getting serious. T. Boone Pickens has a plan, even likes Obama's plan; the news steps up coverage of wind, solar, hydrogen, etc., and it looks like something might really happen.

Big Oil wants to nip this in the bud -- or at least delay it until they can position themselves to be the major player and make the major profits -- and so they bring down oil prices.

BTW, the Pickens plan would give the oil companies an "in" because his plan features natural gas as a bridge. But they don't want to be rushed.

Very nice site!