Yesterday, Seattle Times editorial columnist Bruce Ramsey seemed puzzled:
I am trying to figure out the argument not to drill for oil.
Um.. okay, Bruce, how about this…?
The Arctic Ocean’s sea ice has shrunk to its second smallest area on record, close to 2007’s record-shattering low, scientists report. The ice is in a “death spiral” and may disappear in the summers within a couple of decades, according to Mark Serreze, an Arctic climate expert at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Look, nobody’s saying don’t drill any new oil wells (well, some people probably are, but nobody’s listening)… but the Republican campaign slogan, “Drill, Baby Drill,” is just plain crazy. Opening up environmentally sensitive coastal areas to more drilling and exploration won’t do anything to lower short term prices at the pump, and in the end is little more than a twentieth century solution to a twenty-first century problem.
Drill if you want. Potentially sully some shorelines or damage a few more fisheries. But for McCain to put offshore drilling at the center of his energy proposals may make for some effective election year sloganeering (or not), but it does nothing to address our long term environmental and energy crises. The future is in wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels and yes (gasp), even nuclear (if we can deal with the waste issue)… not to mention the most promising technology of them all: conservation.
The call for more drilling is nothing but a distraction… an empty promise that perhaps six years from now, gasoline might only be $7 a gallon instead of $8 or $9. Meanwhile, we’ll all be enjoying the consequences of an iceless Arctic sea.
“Many evangelicals are talking about Palin being like the biblical Queen Esther, who saved the Jews from the genocidal Haman, and believe that Palin has come, like Esther did, ‘for a time such as this.’
This email just in:
Dear friends:
Barack Hussein Obama has taken the nation by storm. From obscurity, with zero executive experience, or much of any kind, he has vaulted into the position of Presidential frontrunner. It is stunning. On the surface, it appears attributable only to his eloquent oratory and his race. But an invisible factor may be a strong spiritual force behind him, causing some people to actually swoon in his presence…
Last week at Obama’s acceptance speech, that spirit exalted itself in front of a Greek temple-like stage, and to a huge audience like in a Roman arena. Obama was portrayed as god-like. His voice thundered as a god’s voice.
At the end, Democratic sympathizer Pastor Joel Hunter gave the benediction and shockingly invited everyone to close the prayer to their own (false) gods. This was surely an abomination, but it was compatible with Obama’s expressed theology, and Hunter’s leftist leanings.
God was not pleased…
Enter Governor Sarah Palin. With incredible timing, the very next day, Sarah Palin also appeared out of nowhere…
We quickly learned that Sarah is a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, attends church, and has been a ministry worker.
Sarah is that standard God has raised up to stop the flood. She has the anointing. You can tell by how the dogs are already viciously attacking her. But they will not be successful. She knows the One she serves and will not be intimidated.
Back in the 1980s, I sensed that Israel’s little-known Benjamin Netanyahu was chosen by God for an important end-time role. I still believe that. I now have that same sense about Sarah Palin…
Only God knows the future and how she may be used by Him, but may this noble woman serve to bring renewal in the land, and inspiration.
http://www.salon.com/politics/.....lin_email/
Goldy,
The set f answers to drill,drill, drill should be dumb,dumb, dumber. I am aless concerned about the envirnmental aspect than I am about the fiscal stupidity.
Our current oil use is a lto like the pre crashes markets of the 30’s and O8. Rather than cncerving resources and setting oil/capital aside for future needs, we spend, spend, spend.
The most valuable place for the oil is in the ground. In the meantime, the single biggest spource of energy for our domestic market is conservation.
It’s dimwit Newt Gingrich behind the “Drill baby, Drill” resolution, a push for America to finally go over the edge. Argument not to drill for oil? Here’s another one: It can NOT deliver what they’re promising and it only adds money and power to the idiots destroying democracy. Ezra Klein demonstrates this with graphic clarity.
If only we had started on the responsible drilling, renewable energy kick, and better MPG standards 10 years ago (ie, it drilling is always 10 years out for the economic benefit). BC and AG didn’t really plan ahead, did they? Damn that GW, he only put the Texas in the lead for wind energy. This nation needs all sources of energy, from drilling to nuclear, hydro to wind, electric to natural gas. Ten years ago which party was trying to pull hydro dams in this state? Both parties have it wrong on this one, and have failed in the past. You can’t only drill, only conserve, or only submit to the seattle enviro-wacko’s to secure our economic/energy future. It has to be a broad-based program. Affordable energy is the key to economic growth, no matter which sector you work in.
Have a nice day,
Farmer Fred
The biggest complaint the socialist “Republicans” had against the Democrats’ compromise legislation in the House was that it didn’t establish profit-sharing with the states… Didn’t establish profit sharing with the states!? Those neocons really love socialism!… Socialist profit-sharing would make the states agents of the oil companies doing the drilling! If that’s not socialism, then it could only be Fascist corporatism.
Neocons are the biggest threat to our democracy today.
Please! What’s O-Blah-Blahs Earth-saving idea again?
From his web site.
Provide Short-term Relief to American Families
• Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families.
• Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.
• Swap Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Cut Prices.
Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years
• Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
• Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.
• Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
• Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
• A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
• Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.
Create Millions of New Green Jobs
• Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
• Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
• Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
• Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.
Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
• Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.
Dave #5 confuses his own Fascist leanings with the International Fascism of the Democrat hierarchy. Pelosi (as a major investor) of T.Boone Pickens’ wind ventures stands to make millions from it and was determined to thwart ANY oil-drilling that would eat into her profit. A clause in her Kill Energy Independence makes a state’s permission to drill as a necessary condition of off-shore drilling. Lacking financial incentives, the states will undoubtedly refuse to go along, thus guaranteeing our dependence on foreign supplies and insuring her corrupt profiteering.
I believe in drill, baby, drill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.....mal_energy
I think that would be a better allocation of capital than very expensive offshore drilling platforms that are in such hot demand right now won’t be available until 2013. Cars that run on renewable juice – what a concept!
As for the idiot @ 8, yes, Pickens is old flim-flam man whose wind venture is a cover for draining the Ogalala aquifer (as if it hasn’t been drained enough) to slake Dallas Metro’s insatiable thirst. He’ll make more money on water than he ever will on the juice from the wind turbines. Substituting natgas for oil is a long shot but one he’ll shill to death for considering that shale and coal bed drilling technologies are increasing natgas reserves to the point where the industry is having a tough time finding storage for all the gas they’re producing.
@8: How fucking hypocritical is it to talk about conspiracy theories from the left, when oil companies are blatantly looking for profits from the right? I wouldn’t expect T. Boone Pickens to be doing something for nothing, but enhancing green power production has a hell of a lot more advantages than supporting our national oil habit.
It’s almost like you’re protesting a heroin detox program because the doctors are being paid.
the call for domestic drilling is the ONLY transition strategy that makes sense
and drilling of N. Gas makes even more sense as it is a cleaner fuel, and lots of it out there
Goldy, you have become a hack, following an antique party line constructed in the 1970’s
All proposls out there seem to combine some new drilling with alt. energy – much of which is a long time in the future.
Battery power takes electricty which must be generated – wind is not an option everywhere – tide, pure speculation – solar, the option, not really optional except in some climates to heat some water
Engage brain – transition – that has to be the plan.
Chanting “Drill Baby Drill” is like chanting for more typewriters at the beginning of the personal computer revolution.
The stone age didn’t end because we ran out of stone.
Yea, we need to drill for more oil…
cause we only exporting 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.
@4 If only we had drilled for that oil 10 years ago, we would have used it up by now, and then you wouldn’t be able to use it 10 years from now.