Bush to lift executive ban on offshore drilling

[Chris_]

Bush to lift executive ban on offshore drilling

WASHINGTON (AP) - In another push to deal with soaring gas prices, President Bush on Monday will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling that his stood since his father was president. But the move, by itself, will do nothing unless Congress acts as well.
The president plans to officially lift the ban and then explain his actions in a Rose Garden statement, White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by former President Bush in 1990. The current president, trying to ease market tensions and boost supply, called last month for Congress to lift its prohibition before he did so himself.

But Perino said Bush no longer wants to wait. She pinned blame on the leaders of the Democratic Congress, noting that no action has been taken on this issue.

"They haven't even held a single hearing," Perino said. "So we are going to move forward, and hopefully that will spur action by the Congress."

Heh, maybe he can get the Congress approval ratings below 3 or 4 with this one.   

MORE

[Jim]

Going to be hard explaining continued inaction to the folks back home for the congress critters.

[Lord Undies]

The liberal tag, so far, on this move is that it is meaningless.  That is true as far as opening any gates.  The problem for the left liberals is this move is exploding with symbolism. 

Usually the lefty liberals love symbolism.  They love to "send a message" through symbolism.  In their world, it stands in for substance. 

Now that President Bush has made a symbolic gesture and "sent a message", symbolism and messages have become meaningless. 

One needs a spinning pie chart to keep up with liberal convictions   

[Jim]

The liberal tag, so far, on this move is that it is meaningless.  That is true as far as opening any gates.  The problem for the left liberals is this move is exploding with symbolism. 

Usually the lefty liberals love symbolism.  They love to "send a message" through symbolism.  In their world, it stands in for substance. 

Now that President Bush has made a symbolic gesture and "sent a message", symbolism and messages have become meaningless. 

One needs a spinning pie chart to keep up with liberal convictions   

they're only conviction is developing subservience of the prolatariate.

[Wretched Excess]

doesn't look like nancy has relapsed into anything resembling sanity over the weekend.  my theory
is that she finally had that stroke last week around wednesday or thursday.

Pelosi Statement on President Bush Lifting the Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush's announcement lifting the executive ban on drilling in protected coastal areas:

“Once again, the oilman in the White House is echoing the demands of Big Oil.

"The Bush plan is a hoax.  It will neither reduce gas prices nor increase energy independence.  It just gives millions more acres to the same companies that are sitting on nearly 68 million acres of public lands and coastal areas.

"If the President wants to bring down prices in the next two weeks, not the next two decades, he should free our oil by releasing a small portion of the more than 700 million barrels of oil we have put in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

"It's time to tell the oil industry: 'You already have millions of acres to drill. Use it or lose it.'"

Link

[PatriotGame]

This is all so much fracking bullshit on the Democrats part. When the incompetent one, Mr. Peanut Jimmy Carter had his kicked by the OPEC in the 70's, the mantra was more efficient gasoline engines, conservation, alternative fuels, and less dependence on foreign oil.

Since then cars get upwords of 500% better mileage than back in the 70's.
That covers the conservation and efficiencies issues.
Over the past 30 years untold billions of dollars have been extorted from taxpayers for "alternative energy" research and production and what do we have to show for it?
Ethanol?
Hillbillies have been pouring moonshine in their gas tanks since the 1930's and that is what we get for billions of dollars?
 
If this the Democrats were not beholden to enviro-wackos-terrorists, and allowed drilling our own oil for the past 30 years, over 70% of our oil would come from this nations own territories.

The Democrats and the old mother Earth worshiping hippie enviro-wackos are the ones to blame for this.
Problem is, blame does nothing to fix this issue however, the continual obfuscation  and impediments by the Democrats to start drilling now will only worsen the issue.
Think of it, if the OPEC members see the United States quickly ramping up to secure our own oil, they will realize the cash cow will dry up soon. Therefore, their only resolution to make as much profits off of us to to sell as much oil to as they can. The ONLY way to do that is to lower the prices.

[DixieBelle]

^H5!

Didn't OPEC run scared back in the 70's/80's when we tried synthetics?

[DumbAss Tanker]

Remember, it has to be a fairly significant find to make the economics of offshore drilling and production worth the cost and effort.

That's a no-shitter, the capital cost to drill and pump offshore makes land drilling look like a freebie by comparison.

[Chris_]

Remember, it has to be a fairly significant find to make the economics of offshore drilling and production worth the cost and effort.

That's a no-shitter, the capital cost to drill and pump offshore makes land drilling look like a freebie by comparison.

Having worked for a firm that designed and supervised construction of off-shore rigs, AMEN Brotha!

[Tess Anderson]

All I have to say about Bush lifting this executive order is that he should've done it a few months ago - guess he meant to time it closer to the general election in November.

Pelosi and Reid are both probably steaming. Ball's theirs now.

[Chris_]

All I have to say about Bush lifting this executive order is that he should've done it a few months ago - guess he meant to time it closer to the general election in November.

Pelosi and Reid are both probably steaming. Ball's theirs now.

They've already fumbled.

Senate Rejects Bush Ban on Offshore Drilling

Monday, July 14, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, on Monday rejected a call by President George W. Bush to lift a moratorium on offshore oil drilling.

Bush announced on Monday that he lifted the executive branch's restriction on offshore exploration, saying only Congress stood in the way of opening up America's untapped oil riches.

But Reid said oil companies should focus instead on drilling on much of the 68 million acres that they have leased but not used for exploration.

Asked, however, if he expected to have the votes to block legislation to lift the moratorium in face of soaring gasoline prices, Reid told a news conferences, "We will have to wait and see."

Reid said he hoped to have legislation introduced this week to crack down on oil speculators.

LINK

On a side note, how about the spin that Reuters put on that headline, eh?  Seems to bear little relation to reality - or anything else in this universe.

[Tess Anderson]

Figures the jackass Congressional "leaders" would say and do the wrong thing. The GOP out to thank them for a great Republican issue to campaign on. It's a gift. About that title'

Senate Rejects Bush Ban on Offshore Drilling

Sounds like Reuters knows it, too.

[djones520]

All I have to say about Bush lifting this executive order is that he should've done it a few months ago - guess he meant to time it closer to the general election in November.

Pelosi and Reid are both probably steaming. Ball's theirs now.

The thing that kills me is that they have nothing to lose by doing this.

The lunatic fringe will howl indignitly, but it's not like they really get off their lazy asses and vote.  By showing their willing to work with the otherside, they'd probably gain votes.  Or atleast stop making themselves look like a bunch of dumbshits.

By continually denying the obvious, their only damaging themselves, and that just simply amazes me considering that these people had to have some brain power to climb to where they are today.

[Chris_]

All I have to say about Bush lifting this executive order is that he should've done it a few months ago - guess he meant to time it closer to the general election in November.

Pelosi and Reid are both probably steaming. Ball's theirs now.

The thing that kills me is that they have nothing to lose by doing this.

The lunatic fringe will howl indignitly, but it's not like they really get off their lazy asses and vote.  By showing their willing to work with the otherside, they'd probably gain votes.  Or atleast stop making themselves look like a bunch of dumbshits.

By continually denying the obvious, their only damaging themselves, and that just simply amazes me considering that these people had to have some brain power to climb to where they are today.

They do -- they do.

The last poll had almost 80% of Americans saying to drill now.  hussein and mrs. skeletor's faint protestations will be flung away in the storm to follow.

McCain -- the President has served you a cookie -- if you muff it, we will know where you REALLY stand.

[Chris_]

"The only thing standing in the way between Americans and low gas prices, is Congress."

Oooh, burn! 

Just heard that on ABC News (radio).

[rich_t]

It just gives millions more acres to the same companies that are sitting on nearly 68 million acres of public lands and coastal areas.

I'm hearing this one a lot as a moonbat talking point.  Having actually worked in the oil bidness, I can tell you, not every lease has oil under it (far, far from it), as the moonbats seem to think.  The companies buy leases, usually "blind", and drill the ones that look promising.  If they're not drilling them, then they don't think anything is there worth drilling.
 
Remember, it has to be a fairly significant find to make the economics of offshore drilling and production worth the cost and effort.

Exactly!