MSNBC BREAKING NEWS: President Bush to lift executive ban on offshore drilling, White House says

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

BREAKING NEWS: President Bush to lift executive ban on offshore drilling, White House says

banner @ top of page

[Captain Hilts]

1. Anything, ANYTHING to prevent conservation!!!!!!

[stray cat]

2. Is he the only barrier to it or do the states and congress have a say?

[TwilightGardener]

5. I don't think it's that simple--

I think there will be roadblocks before oil companies can actually act on this.

[ourbluenation]

13. congress must lift its ban too. n/t

[patriotvoice]

53. States also have their own shore regulations.

North Carolina, for example, prohibits drilling within U.S. waters off of the NC coast. Therefore, NC state law would have to change to allow for off-NC-shore drilling. You probably won't be surprised to learn, however, that there are motions already being made within the NC General Assembly to allow for "exploration".

[bdamomma]

3. oh this

fucking man has no shame and is just plain evil. He really needs his ARROGANT ass kicked to the curb. We have to stop this.

[Frustratedlady]

4. We aren't yelling "Uncle!" soon enough?

Sorry Bush, but you should know you can't rely on peons...particularly when they are being peed on.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Congress and the states have a vote in this matter too.

Although I believe it's posturing on the WH's part for congressional and senatorial elections. If dems try to introduce legislation to protect offshore points from oil drilling, they'll be pounced upon for ruining the economy by maintaining high fuel prices.

[stray cat]

9. It strikes me as political posturing/panering to set up elections

[crikkett]

32. ruining the economy by maintaining high fuel prices? oil companies exporting fuel at record levels

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3612752
(from response #12)

[Solly Mack]

7. Yeah?

[spanone]

8. the son of a bitch

[jaxx]

33. Exactly.

In doing this dubya puts the gas prices squarely on the dems heads. If they vote no, the people will be told that it's the dems fault we have high gas prices. If they vote yes, they pander to the ones who will tear our environment apart and never look back.

[malaise]

10. If the Dems vote for this I hope Al Gore leaves

the party.

[ourbluenation]

14. my state, calif, will have a fit. Me right along with em.

[Tikki]

20. Well, yesterday Arnold was defending the act of 'flip-flopping'...

but, I would be surprised if Arnold changes his mind
and pushes for drilling off the California Coast.


Tikki

[ourbluenation]

21. so will states rights overide the federal ok to drill?

[Tikki]

25. CA doesn't want off shore drilling...

the State would just keep pushing back
for a long time.

Tikki

[tburnsten]

45. I think this makes it a state issue now

or it will be, if congress lifts the congressional ban. Once that happens, it will be up to the states in question to decide whether or not to allow drilling. I personally think that drilling would be fine, so long as much of the oil we bring up is expressly dedicated to getting long-term renewable energy sources like wind farms and hydro-electric power up and running. I am concerned that we will run out of the oil we need to get those true clean power sources up before they are viable, which would be disastrous. once we have a significant amount of natural electric farms, dams, and tidal power stations up I think our need for oil as a less-expensive home and business heating fuel will decrease, since we could hopefully reduce the cost of electricity to the point that it is the cheapest way to heat homes.

[flashl]

50. Not likely ...

Fight Over Florida Coast Oil Intensifies Around Energy Bill

July 29, 2005 – The congressional push to drill for oil off Florida's Gulf coast reached a climax this week as House and Senate negotiators worked to meet a compromise on a massive energy legislation package. While lawmakers worked to hammer out an agreement that could pass both chambers of Congress, the White House was pushing for new rules that would change Florida's state boundaries at sea, opening a controversial area up for drilling despite major homegrown opposition to throughout the state.

Last Friday, Florida Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, released a leaked White House email that urged negotiating lawmakers to adopt a Bush administration's plan to redraw offshore state boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico and grant Louisiana control over waters currently controlled by Florida.

The New Standard

Last time I checked, changing a state's boundary required U.S. constitutional amendment.

[crikkett]

31. there's no voting on this one. it's an executive order. n/t

[ourbluenation]

61. yes but it's only half of what would be required. Congress has to lift their ban too. n/t

[freesqueeze]

11. we could see it coming

all this coordinated nonsense from the GOPeople about you domestic drilling bans are the problem with gas prices. Then here comes this inevitable before the truth about refinery limits can be explained.

Florida, California (and all those US beaches with actual waves) let me introduce you to the tar stations of the beaches of Texas where we allow offshore drilling.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article634009.ece

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

12. You have stories like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3612752

And he responds by opening drilling. Amazing. He really does want to leave nothing but scorched earth.

[bdamomma]

15. he is a defiant little

PRICK isn't he?

[stevedeshazer]

16. Funny, since his DAD signed it in the first place.

I don't think most people know that Poppy himself initiated the ban in the first place.

[liberal N proud]

17. Ah FUCK!

There goes the beautiful sunset off the coast of Florida
What a crying fucking shame

The emerald and blue waters that once lapped at the white sand beaches.

And for what? A few fucking cents of a fucking barrel of oil 10 years from NOW!


These fuckers need to be strung up and dragged through the streets. That is the only punishment suitable for the crimes they have committed against this world.

[spanone]

18. Congress must still lift legislative ban before offshore drilling can start

any bets on THIS congress??????

[durablend]

22. Hear that sound?

Sounds like a cave-in is coming...

[wtmusic]

26. rumble...rumble...

A wall of obsequy has crushed the Capitol.

[global1]

19. I Hear They Got Oil Rigs Targeted For Just Off The Coast Of Naples, Florida.......

those Repugs down there would really support * on this one. (sarcasm)

[hatrack]

23. Too bad we don't have the rigs. Too bad we don't have the crews. Too bad there's not enough oil.

Too bad it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference.

[jazzjunkysue]

24. Isn't there anything else left he hasn't plundered?

Is he going to just take whatever money is sitting in the social security coffers and fly off to venezuela with it?

He gets away with everything. What incentive have we given him to stop?

[wtmusic]

27. Foul beaches while the fouling's good, ExxonMobil

This ain't gonna last forever.

[AndyA]

28. Now Bush needs to push through a big tax cut and (more) subsidies for the struggling oil companies.

That should make everything better. :eyes:

[underseasurveyor]

29. Why that filthy, dirty, disgusting

Oh I am so fucking pissed:mad:

[spanone]

30. and president obama can reinstate it as soon as he's sworn in.

[briv1016]

39. Yes he will

[kentuck]

34. If it was that simple, why did he wait so long ??

Why didn't he do this a long time ago ??

[Ichingcarpenter]

36. I'm still hearing and reading that Congress needs to do it too

I'm more worried about the Corporate Socialism bailout that's happening.
I think this offshore drilling thing is an election hedge issue that they
figured they could run with when you have a misinformed voter.

The Democratic Party needs to start a counter campaign and get their best
talking heads out in the media to explain the 20 year lapse before
one drop of oil comes to the corporate refineries.

California will fight it.

[spanone]

38. now he can blame the entire energy crisis on the democrats...cause they oppose drilling

he can beat up on congress and obama

[MiniMe]

46. It's not that easy. There is a Federal Law that would still be in effect after lifting the exec ord

Congress would have to repeal that law in order for them to be able to drill.

[alfredo]

35. Disater capitalism. This does nothing to help our situation, but it does

turn over more of our commonly held property to corporate interests.

[kpominville]

37. Gas Prices Continue to Rise

This is just meaningless political theater designed to take advantage of the public's desperation. This will do nothing to lower gas prices. All it will do is hand over billions more taxpayer dollars to the oil companies.

[PlanetBev]

40. Apparently, Congress can weigh in on this executive order...

Anybody laying bets on how fast the WeenieCrats cave-in on this?

I'm so depressed...

[briv1016]

41. White House: Bush to lift offshore drilling ban (AP)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25674571/

WASHINGTON - 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.”

Asked if Bush’s action alone will lead to more oil drilling, Perino said, “In terms of allowing more exploration to go forward? No, it does not.”

The president, in his final months of office, has responded to record gas-prices with a series of proposals, including more oil exploration. None would have immediate impact on prices at the pump, according to White House officials, who say there is no quick fix. But starting action now would help, they say.

Bush’s proposal echoes a call by Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, to open the Continental Shelf for exploration.

Congressional Democrats have rejected the push to lift the drilling moratorium, accusing the president of hoping the U.S. can drill its way out a problem.

Bush says offshore drilling could yield up to 18 billion barrels of oil over time, although it would take years for production to start. Bush also says offshore drilling would take pressure off prices over time. In addition, the president has proposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, lifting restrictions on oil shale leasing in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and easing the regulatory process to expand oil refining capacity.

Congressional Democrats, joined by some GOP lawmakers from coastal states, have opposed lifting the prohibition that has barred energy companies from waters along both the East and West coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. A succession of presidents, from Bush’s father — George H.W. Bush — to Bill Clinton, have sided against drilling in these waters, as has Congress each year for 27 years. Their goal has to been to protect beaches and coastal states’ tourism economies.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

42. Makes me wish Carter was still president

Never mind the fact I wasn't born during Carter's presidency (1981... first year of Reagan, ugh). Many years later, I heard about Carter putting solar panels on the white house roof. \

Then that eejit Reagan removed them. How I surely wish our next president (Obama) follows Carter's lead on energy saving.

It's really important in this day and age.

[ellacott]

43. Something I never understood

What reasons do the oil give for not driling in all the land that is already leased to them? Whenever a Dem brings it up during a debate on TV with a Repub that questions is never answered.

[MiniMe]

44. This basically does nothing. There is still a federal law in place banning the drilling.

Let's not get overly upset about this.

[Froward69]

47. Fucking idiot!!!

[Jade Fox]

48. So, that's why gas has been $4.50/gallon!

It's a f*#king set-up to starve the addicts (that's us, who have no choice but to drive) into accepting the "need" to lift this ban.

I'm so surprised. :eyes:

[Vinca]

49. Apparently it is not possible for Republicans to tell the truth.

Rather than admit what everyone knows - we could drill everywhere and it won't amount to anything - Shrub pulls political, feel good bullshit. The sheeple figure he's trying to get gas prices down . . . what a great guy. It makes me sick.

[MiniMe]

51. CALM DOWN EVERYBODY. The exec order was in place before

Congress enacted a law to do the same thing. Removing the ban doesn't make anything different unless Congress repeals the law.

[Baclava]

55. Exactly - will Congress cave? That is now the question.

Tighten your seatbelts - it's gonna be a rough ride.

[jtrockville]

52. NO mention of SAFEGUARDS ??!?!!?

It's clear the oil barrons don't plan to offer any safeguards rto prevent spills or clean up after the inevitable spill happens (see the 20 year old/recent Valdez case). So now big oil is free to steep all our shores in crude.

[spanone]

54. the democrats better get on top of this immediately cause the media will mimmick bu$h*

[FatDave]

56. Becaue the surest way to lower gas prices is to give oil companies everything they want.

I know republican loyalists are just a few clicks north of functionally retarded, but are even they dumb enough to believe this shit? No, don't bother to answer that.

[Initech]

57. Un fucking believable. This is like giving the alcoholic the keys to the liquor cabinet.

He still is totally fucking clueless.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

58. OH NANCY!!! IMPECH THE FUCKER ALREADY!....

[nam78_two]

59. Disgusting -and I pity the dittoheads that think this will actually do anything about oil prices.nt

[progressoid]

60. A Republican told me that it was all Pelosi's fault that we couldn't drill off the coast.

I guess she won't want to know that her pal Bush didn't lift a finger for 7+ years either.

[Democrata08]

62. The OIL man's dream

This is what the Big Cats have been waiting for. Finally we can tap the oil off shore, the government drill them on refineries and guess what they would build them close to the people who don't have a voice.