Science and Society

Another classic case in Washington of doing nothing when we need it the most. Our economy is stagnant Right Now! I need relief...Now! All the Washington elites can do is bicker and toss blame back and forth across the isle...and still do nothing! If I could be King of America for a day...I'd fire every last one of them and put somebody in there that would actually do something. I'm sick and tired of all of them!

Just more posturing by Bush.

Once again Pelosi has demonstrated her apaling lack of understanding economics. In her zeal to insure the reelection of Democrats she is ready to bankrupt the United States turn a blind eye to the long range solutions to todays problems.

Let's just sit back and do nothing - Democratic Congress knows all about that! If it would provide more oil EVEN LATER ON wouldn't that be a good thing for everyone - including your children? Sheesh! In the meantime - good luck wringing an ear of corn in your gas tank and see how far you get! Ridiculous concept anyway!

Yeh - I can just see EVERY American running out and purchasing a battery powered car .. a myth! Unless we at least TRY to find more oil here domestically we're doomed and controlled by Arabs! Like that do ya?

Typical American - "I want relief now!" .. "I want my fast food now!"

Unless that's a choice or option .. then I'm against it! Fools!

As an old saying goes, "Even a broken clock is right twice a day."

Occasionally, President Bush does something right, and even though it may have little or no immediate effect, ending the ban on getting our own resources is a GOOD thing.

If we don't drill and pump our own oil and stop depending on our enemies, we DESERVE five-dollar-a-gallon gasoline.

Bush is right for the wrong reasons. This is, as much of his last 3 years, nothing more than posturing himself and his big oil buddies to get rich rich rich. However, we do need to move away from dependance on foreign oil powers and that includes not only alternative fuel research, but also tapping the resources we have here in the US. Unfortunately, this administration has flushed away eight years and billions of dollars that could be used to fix the energy crisis on daddy's war.

Magus...

You're right... 500 BILLION dollars on the Iraq invasion and occupation. And it's the WRONG WAR! Our enemies were (and still are) in Afghanistan, as they are now reminding us (again).

Think how much oil has been wasted for six years running military vehicles, which get 1 to 3 MPG.

Besides, more oil came to market from Iraq when Saddam Hussein was in power. So what if he wasn't a nice guy? At least there weren't daily suicide bombers killing civilians or anybody who happens to be available for mayhem.

Yes, we need to look at alternatives, but biofuel is a false hope; it will drive food prices to insane levels.

There is only so much land which can be farmed (remember, it needs water!), and if farmers replace food crops with crops to be burned, the end result SHOULD be obvious.

In the meantime, while we're working on other energy sources, let's use OUR OWN oil!

Pelosi is a disgrace as Speaker. She has the leadership position and the power to begin some comprehensive initiatives to address our oil and economic problems in both the long term and short term. Instead of getting people together, developing a strategy, and taking action, she continues to critizes George Bush, which, in case she hasn't noticed, is not a novel activity and helps noone. While I don't like Bush, I abhor Pelosi and the do nothing Congress she leads. I pray the voters will throw as many as they can out of office in the next election. We need to send a strong message!

I live in Florida and the local ABC station WPBF out of West Palm beach held a poll tonight. It was about "Do you agree with President Bush lifting the offshore oil drilling ban?" The response was 76% yes, and only 24% no. ABC get with it. Even your own listeners are voting to drill.

The cost of oil is a problem now. Creating new fields for drilling oil will only offer a solution decades from now. The problem we face is one of greed. The oil companies have us bent over a barrell and are giving it to is everyday, and then people turn around and blame Pelosi for not wanting to destroy some of our last remaining natural habitats. New ideas and technologies are coming all the time. Companies like Aptera, that is getting ready to release a car in California later this year that gets up to 300mpg and costs under $30,000, are making the changes that this country needs to pursue. Yet everyone seems to want to revel in the past and not make the changes that are needed to improve our lives and the world around us.

I don't want to drive a hybrid because reducing consumption is a coward's way out of the problem. If we conserve, the enemy wins. We should take over all the oil exporting countries until they respect America enough to charge us less money for oil. Drilling domesticly is responsible because our oil reserves are bigger than anybodys. It will last a lot longer then 3 years and we won't need hybrids because hydrogen cars will be there. I'm a patriot not a coward. I'm proud to be an American and I don't like it when liberals and foreners call us stupid. We do a lot for the world. Its time they do something for us. GIVE US THE OIL NOW!

DO PEOPLE TRULY BELIEVE THE OIL WILL GO TO AMERICANS? IT BELONGS TO THE OIL COMPANY THAT WILL BE DRILLING IT AND WILL BE SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.. MOST PROBABLY CHINA...NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I am agree with Respected sir Mr bush he is telling the real view of mirror to the americans.His line It's time to tell the oil industry. You already have millions of acres to drill. Use it or lose it are the best view for the oil company.We should wait and watch.
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peter

Gee, anyone have to be blind to see that this is nothing but another greedy plan by Bush to get more money for the oil companies.

It will take more than a decade before the oil in these untouched areas be brought to the market. By that time, most of America would already be driving hybrids, hydrogen vehicles, ethenol vehicles, etc. Also if America starts acting now, we can get a lot of wind and solar power as well. So we would mostly likely be on our way to becoming oil-free by the time the action by Bush would affect the market. That is if Congress follows Bush, which I very doubtful Congress will.

If we wait another 10 years to drill, we will be saying the same thing. "If they open drilling now, it'll be 10 years before it makes an impact." So what! We have to act NOW to make a difference 10 years from now. If we wait another 10 years, it'll be 20 years before we see a difference. Doesn't everyone see that? The quicker we act, the quicker we get the oil to market. Sitting on our hands is no longer an option. Doing nothing is no longer an option. Act, and act now. Stop finger pointing and accusing everyone under the sun for our problems with oil dependency. It is OUR problem, OUR fault. And the people WE elected to represent US should do as we ask and drill now. It's obvious from all of the polls that 3/4 of the people in the US want to drill. So, listen to us or you'll see yourself voted out during the next elections.

Opening the drilling does nothing for us and creates more dependence on oil for us and future generations. 10 years before we see any benefit if they get to start drilling today. 10 YEARS! We have alternative sources available, spend the money on those sources and get them reliable, abundant, cheap. Let the Saudi's hurt because we don't buy their oil anymore. So lets see, 10 yrs from now we can see more oil if we start drilling today. Or, 10 yrs from now we can see the Saudi's going BK because we are no longer dependent on oil. This has nothing to do with Congress. We need to act now and prevent the future castrophe of being dependent on oil, whose ever the oil is or came from.

Why would an oil man in the White House be a fair and impartial advocate of our energy policies. Just think about that for a little while and tell me it makes sense. It's almost like buying a Yugo from a used car salesman who tells you it's as good as a Lexus or Mercedes.

Pelosi is an idiot. How she ever got to be speaker ??? Tapping the oil reserves is the meaningless political gesture that means nothing. The strategic reserves are for true emergencies, not for economic convenience. More off shore drilling may not be the best solution and it may not bring down prices, but it most certainly would lead to some energy independence and it would put more of the dollars that go to oil into American companies and Americans pockets. I think it may be a valid part of the short term (5 to 10 year) solution. Wind and solar appear to be the best long term options supplemented by other renewable fuels. Now is a good time to use our oil reserves (the ones in the ground) to bridge to the new energy sources.

One other tidbit, up to 25% of the domestic oil we do drill for ends up being sold on the world market. So we are cutting our own throats! The oil we find now we sell to China and India. Drilling for more oil means we sell more oil on the world market. We are not keeping it! This is a ploy by the oil companies to sell more oil to the highest bidder, not to ease the stress on us. And with bush/cheney being from big oil, you can bet there is some kickback in there.

I did not say that we shouldn't keep producing alternative energy sources. But, what I was saying is, that if we have the oil domestically and we can get it, why not do it now. We are still going to need oil 10 years from now even with alternative sources. We cannot simply flip the light switch and be rid of oil forever. It will take some time. And in the meantime, let's get the oil we know is there domestically. Yes, let's do solar fields and wind farms. There is plenty of room for those sources. Let's expand our nuclear reactor capability. There is no reason we shouldn't have more of those. But, also, we need to realize there is plenty of oil here, domestically to support the US for 100 years or more. AND, if we are the ones producing oil for ourselves, that makes us oil INDEPENDENT, because we are not dependent on other nations for that need. So, for those of you who say, we don't need to drill for oil, we should be producing alternative sources, yes, I agree, but don't sell yourself short. Use the sources you have available to keep the price of ALL the energy sources down. Go and get the oil that is there. Don't be short-sighted (as our government has been on these issues for decades.)

American oil companies don't need more land to drill - they have leases on 50 million unexplored acres. If you want more gas to bring down prices, then American oil companies need to stop selling to other countries. \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\..."...American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries.

A record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007. Shipments this February topped 1.8 million barrels a day for the first time during any month, according to final numbers from the Energy Department.

The surge in exports appears to contradict the pleas from the U.S. oil industry and the Bush administration for Congress to open more offshore waters and Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling."

Loony left Environmentalists are the reason we are in this mess. They blocked drilling, blocked new power plants, they are even working on blocking alternative energy example: There is a proposed solar energy project in California near El Centro, CA. where it routinely reaches 120 beg F. The planning is being blocked by environmentalist, who are fighting the power transmission line needed to bring the power to where it is needed! They are also working hard to halt existing hydro electric plants in the north west.

Sadly the only hole that is real and causing us problems is the gaping hole in Pelosi's head. More oil won't bring prices down? Uh hu, what else you got for us genius? She and other Dems complain that drilling today won;t bring oil to the market until 5-6 years. Ok. Tell me, Pelosi, I guess that peanut shell fuel or woodchip combustible engine is well on its way to market in less time, huh? Idiot. So why not drill while seeking other forms of energy? Democrats. Gotta love them.

Gee wiz the typical reactionary American stupidty strikes again.

FACT: Even if opened up it'll take 10-20 years before any oil flows.

FACT: Domestic drilled oil does NOT stay here, it ALL goes on the international oil markets and that price is determined by the Oil Speculators. With that in mind the opening of offshore drilling will impact the price by no more than 5-10 CENTS.

Blind leading the Blind, the typical money grubbin oil controlled republican way.

Bush and Big Oil would love for you to think that this is a "quick Fix"

Keith, you and many other Americans will be king for a day, vote Nov 2, 2008. Change the president and congress!

good point. make a statement in November!

Bush lifts the executive ban on drilling for oil here and the cost per barrel goes down $10. Pelosi and her party must have failed economics. Ignoring the law of supply and demand doesn't make it any less true. Evil plan from Bush?? God I fear the thought of a socialist, I mean democratic, president.

Meanwhile, US oil companies are EXPORTING nearly 2 million barrels per DAY. Redirecting that oil could bring immediate relief - unlike the oil that MIGHT come in 10 years from offshore drilling. Bush is full of hot hair and empty words.

Pelosi is a joke. How long would it take for us to burn through our oil reserve... and then what? We're back to square one and we don't even have a reserve to keep our military afloat (literally)... this is just where our enemies would like us. Just think if we have no reserves in case of attack to power our Navy, Airforce and other armed forces...this reserve is for emergency use only! We need to work toward a long term strategy and until alternative fuel sources become more practical, we need to tap our own country's vast resources and sever our dependence on the middle east. It's time we stopped funding our enemies.

Pelosi isn't a joke, but I agree that we shouldn't be tapping into our reserves. We need to redirect the oil that is currently being EXPORTED to other countries.

It's time we stop exporting American oil to other countries. Nearly 2 million barrels per day are shipped OUT of this country.

The Bush family pockets will be lined with gold when we sign away lease rights on off shore drilling. It will help his retirement and take the last bit of pocket change that every American may have left.
It does nothing to help the American Economy. He has time and again, turned his back on the American People. He has bled us dry. Now he wants the table scraps. How could so many of us elect so vile a man!

More bull from people who talk and do nothing. All you who are against finding and using American oil stand up, get off your blogging do somethings yourselves. I bet you drive to work, eat highly processed ( fast foods) and all the other things that you say you are against. The Democrats and or any other party will not solve the problems. You have to do it. Pelosi and California people are blind to the present and the worst users of the environment while pointing fingers at everyone else in the country. It is ann old trick. Scream at others so they don't see what you are doing. And that is what most of you writing here are doing. Can anyone of you think what the result of China and Cuba drilling off shore between Cuba and Florida will do to us? Pelosi is a hoax and those of you who are aginst using our own oil should have all items and transportation using oil blocked from your use.

Steve M : So you don't have a problem with American oil being exported, while Americans are paying $4+ a gallon for gas?

Steve M...I live here in California and agree that we should drill offshore. The fact of the matter is that if we don't--someone else will. So why should China, Korea or India get to drill off our coastlines while the tree huggers say "no" to what seems a good portion of this nation wants to do. And that is drill. A local news station here did an online poll asking that very same question...should we drill or not? 75% said yes and 25% said no...and this a Los Angeles news station may I add. This poll may not have been scientific--but at least it gives some indications to what people are thinking about this issue--even here in Cali where we are the state that is tree hugging central think we should drill. Go figure that one!

mytwocents: the respondants to the LA poll were the people that happened to be listening to that radio station. Hardly scientific. I live in florida, and we do NOT want offshore drilling. Even Jeb Bush opposed it during his governorship. American oil companies would be able to offer some relief by curtailing their exports - but that would probably cut into their multi-billion dollar profits. You don't oppose their right to be as profitable as possible, do you?

Just goes to show you how democrats don't care what happens to the people of this country. They have made oil a partisan issue. They caved to some wacko enviro eco-terrorists and now won't go back and change their dumb laws. Meanwhile China pumps our oil dry.

The other thing I find just pathetic is there are those democrats which refuse to accept the fact that we are still married to oil. By drilling and refining more oil, which we all use, we are not denying the need for somehting else. We can and will continue to develope a replacement. In the meantime, drill and use oil cheaply. Our lives depend on oil.

According to MMS (U.S. Minerals Management Service), the total amount of oil In The Banned U.S. Off-shore Areas Are 17.8 Billion barrels of Oil, which the U.S. would not acquire for 1-2 decades, and which must be averaged across a 60 or 80 year period, which is the actual rate of extraction in 'real time' for these oil fields. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) - U.S. Dept. of Energy, U.S. Oil Consumption Per Day in 2007 was 21 Million Barrels Per Day ($600 billion per year). Off-shore oil amounts to 700,000 barrels PER DAY, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) - U.S. Dept. of Energy statistics. That means the bottom-line grand total of off-shore oil amounts to less than three percent (3%) of current U.S. oil consumption (a few pennies per gallon improvement). Thus the off-shore oil impact is "nominal" ... "trivial" and largely insignificant. Pandering politicians on both sides of the isle know full-well this off-shore oil is a "non-issue" utterly incapable of producing a discernable difference (or improvement) in the problem. Pandering politicians simply want to give the impression (false impression) they are doing something meaningful to address the problem, when in fact they are NOT. The question is "Will a gullible public allow itself to get "duped" once again, or will they hold politicians accountable for having tried to defraud the public?"

If we don't change our own behavior and actions, such as conserving more and using a quarter of the world's energy with only 5% of the population, we deserve AT LEAST $10 gas....it is sad that here, people tell govt. to get off their backs and then blame them at the same time....oil offshore wouldn't even be online for a decade and then, HOPEFULLY, we will be using much more sustainable non-fossil energy or be driving horse and buggies...

every time Congress tries to pass a bill to help Americans, bush vetoes it, and he still stands alone in repudiating any type of climate agreement or even acknowleding climate change...and then has cojones to say congress is the villain....most of us know who the real villians are and they need to be booted out as fast as possible...I am not sure what congress could do now with this bozo in the white house....except talk....it is sad....although bush has repeatedly tried to get rid of checks and balances and give more power to executive branch, maybe that will help the next President....people need to start getting angry now AT OUR ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS....and not at each other......that doesn't help anything....WE NEED TO DEMAND CHANGE...

Write your congressperson....picket......get politically involved...do your part before we are no longer a democracy...we are turning into a dictatorship and theocracy...downtowns EVERYWHERE are disappearing, and corporations are taking over who couldn't care less about you or me and they are highly subsidized by bush just like big oil/coal...the more this happens and we become disenfranchised, the less we care about anything, which is what bush wants.....PLEASE STOP HIM!!!!!!!ALL OF US!!!!

Speaker Pekosi needs to work for a living. I think Congress is a big failure and a joke. I am not a Dem or a Rep., but I am one mad AMERIAN!!! Congress is not listing to the people, I know if we would have done something 10 years ago we would not be in this shape and we can"t wait 10 more years. We need to take action and stop saying can't.