Domestic Drilling OK, Just 'Not in My State,' Senators Say

CNS News ^ | May 23, 2008 | Josiah Ryan

[vietvet67]

On the Spot (CNSNews.com) - The United States should increase its domestic oil supply by opening up more drilling sites, several members of the Senate told Cybercast News Service Thursday, when surveyed on the issue at the U.S. Capitol. But some senators also said they are wary of allowing increased drilling in many locations - especially in their own states.

"There may be places that make sense, I am not saying, 'Let's not drill anywhere,' " Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in response to the question. "But do I want to drill off the California coast? No. Do I want to drill in the Arctic in endangered areas? No."

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), strongly endorsed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) -- but not in his home state of Florida.

"I just don't think we should do it in areas like the Florida Keys, which are environmentally very sensitive," Martinez told Cybercast News Service.

"But I am very supportive of what we did a couple of years ago which opened eight million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for exploration," he added, referring to the Domenici-Landrieu Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

The bill, which was signed into law by President Bush on Dec. 20, 2006, opened up a part of the Gulf of Mexico to oil-drilling leases.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who joined Feinstein in limited support, echoed her exact words, saying, "We can't drill our way out of this crisis."

"I can't say categorically we shouldn't open any drilling," Levin said. "I mean, I oppose drilling obviously in the Great Lakes if that's what you're referring to. I would not endanger any fresh water and surely not the Great Lakes. In terms of drilling in the ocean it depends on where and how much protection there is of the shoreline."

Several other senators, however, offered more general support for domestic drilling.

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) told Cybercast News Service that there are increased drilling operations in North Dakota and that he also has long been a proponent of allowing increased drilling in the Gulf.

"I believe the Gulf of Mexico has an even greater potential and we should open an even greater portion of it," he said.

Two other senators, Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), said they favor across-the-board increased drilling.

Absolutely," Sessions said. "I have voted for that consistently. We absolutely should drill in that small area in the vast ANWR in Alaska. That could reduce our imports by 10 percent. I also believe we need to open up more of the Gulf of Mexico which has very large reserves."

"You know my answer to that," Cornyn told CNSNews.com. "That's why I voted for the Domenici Amendment that would increase American supply of our natural resources instead of relying on exclusively on imported oil."

[bray]

If you like $4/gal, Thank Congress

[avacado]

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said... "Do I want to drill in the Arctic in endangered areas? No."

These politicians are morons. There are seismic surveys and leases already underway off the coast of the ANWR and these nimrod Democrats can't do a thing about us! LOL!!!

They are all full of it!

[hosepipe]

[ "There may be places that make sense, I am not saying, 'Let's not drill anywhere,' " Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in response to the question ]

Isn't that special.. Like Diane knows the slightest thing about fuel, energy, or even economics..

"A man needs to know his limitations" -Dirty Harry..
With women.... it's even more important..

[MovementConservative]

Drill, and soon.

[ken21]

difi married a billionaire

so she has all the money for gasoline

that she wants.

[tobyhill]

NIMBY idiots out in full force.

[kms61]

The GOP had its chance to push this through when they controlled Congress, but couldn’t keep people like Mel Martinez in line. And correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t Jeb Bush dug in his heels on Florida drilling too?

[y6162]

“The United States should increase its domestic oil supply by opening up more drilling sites, several members of the Senate told Cybercast News Service Thursday, when surveyed on the issue at the U.S. Capitol.”

Crack! The over night poll results must have come in and it looks bad for the Democrats. It was a big mistake to do a show trial with oil CEOs.

[y6162]

“The GOP had its chance to push this through when they controlled Congress, but couldn’t keep people like Mel Martinez in line. “

Yea but gas was a lot cheaper and people weren’t pissed.

[RC2]

OK Feinstien.....what do Californians want or do you care.

[tobyhill]

Wait till the idiots who thought they were getting 35 mpg in their Prius wake up and realize that they were actually getting 20 mpg or less.

[kellynla]

not a matter of what a few of senators “want”
it's what the MAJORITY of Americans “want!”
heck, if you put it to a vote in my state of CA;
I would bet the house that the majority would WANT drilling off our coast ESPECIALLY if there were royalties for the state involved!!!

I just wrote DiFi and Boxer emails the other day and read them both the “riot act!” not that it did any good. LOL

[Enchante]

"There may be places that make sense, I am not saying, 'Let's not drill anywhere,' " Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in response to the question. "But do I want to drill off the California coast? No. Do I want to drill in the Arctic in endangered areas? No."

Brilliant idea, DiFi!! Let's not drill anyplace that is actually known to have oil! Let's only drill in places that have no oil.

[kellynla]

“people weren’t pissed?”

people were “pissed” enough that the Gelding Old Party lost the majority in BOTH houses while controlling the WH after just four years. LOL

[y6162]

“Wait till the idiots who thought they were getting 35 mpg in their Prius wake up..”

Well..I coexist at work with a moveon.org type who was singing the praises about his Prius. One day he was bragging about how he ran out of gas on the highway and was able to battery his way to a gas station. Of course, I’m thinking about how stupid it is to run out of gas.

We agreed never to talk about anything but work related issues as the last political words we exchanged were you’re a dead man. =)

[doodad]

Why should they care? They get vehicle allowances.

[vietvet67]

Pssst Mr. President. Executive Orders..

[avacado]

"And correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t Jeb Bush dug in his heels on Florida drilling too?"

Yes, he pandered to the millionaires who don't like to look at offshore rigs.

[y6162]

“..lost the majority in BOTH houses while controlling the WH after just four years. LOL”

Not for nothing, the GOP lost the majority in both houses in 2006. They held the WH for 6 years. And energy prices didn’t have anything to do with losing the majorities.

Bill Clinton lost the house after two years in the WH. Now that was a feat.

[CindyDawg]

How about we make each state sovereign to supply gas to citizens with valid state drivers licenses for no charge and then sell gas at market price to the ones that won't.

[Charles Martel]

Jeb is evidently a member of the Flat Earth Society. The rest of us know that coastal oil drilling platforms are generally over the horizon.

[TigersEye]

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who joined Feinstein in limited support, echoed her exact words, saying, "We can't drill our way out of this crisis."

No of course not. Increasing domestic supplies can't possibly effect price or foreign dependence. Aiyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Oldeconomybuyer]

"I can't say categorically we shouldn't open any drilling," Levin said.

Sure you can, and you already did with your votes over the past 20 years.

[kellynla]

“And energy prices didn’t have anything to do with losing the majorities?”

Maybe in your mind. LMAO

[ballplayer]

I propose that the State that allows drilling will get to let all of its citizens share in the oil Revenue ,ala Alaska ,Norway ,they can fund their retirements or use it to
pay health care or just take a vacation

[okie01]

Yes, he pandered to the millionaires who don't like to look at offshore rigs.

I've often wondered why a drilling company didn't work up a series of "disguises" for offshore rigs. Then, those who are offended by the very sight of a drilling rig out on the horizon could instead be treated to views of Xmas trees, three-masted schooners, skyscrapers, lighthouses, etc.

Well, I guess the Xmas tree might be even more offensive than a drilling platform to some...

[y6162]

“Maybe in your mind. LMAO”

Well point me to a published, post 2006 election analysis by a reputable pundit, left or right, that even mentions that the price of gas as a reason why the Republicans lost in 2006. Just one.

I bet your laugh sounds uncannily like Hillary’s cackle. Is that you Hill?

[magooey]

DiFi - NIMBY Bimby?

[avacado]

You may be on to something. Make them look like a giant marlin jumping out of the water.

[Dog Gone]

Pssst Mr. President. Executive Orders..

They can't overrule Congress.

[vpintheak]

Do I want to drill in the Arctic in endangered areas? No."

Hey Fineswine, there aren't "endangered" areas in Alaska, and by a huge margin, we want drilling in our state. So shut your pie hole and stand up for America once!

[MNJohnnie]

So instead the Chinese are drilling in Cuban water so they can take the Oil from our fields for their economy instead.

Just how stupid do you have to be to get elected to Congress?

[y6162]

I propose that the State that allows drilling will get to let all of its citizens share in the oil Revenue ,ala Alaska ,,

That’s a real good idea. Oil derricks would mushroom overnight on city greens everywhere. Greens would protest and be beaten down by old ladies with canes. =)

[YOUGOTIT]

The Royals in the Royal 100 Club are responsible for the price of gas as they have stopped drilling and new gas production facilities for the past 30 years. Let then eat cake! They are anti-American scum.

[tired1]

These politicians are morons. “

please, these people are not stupid, they are simply following their own self interests. they are insulated and isolated by their own choice and are as corrupt as any politician anywhere and anytime.

Wilson, FDR and LBJ are long gone; the crap remains until the economy collapses, at which time there may be a major shift in politics (i’m not optimistic).

Hill, The Prophet (may he never be called to Account), and McPaine are all Club Members. their clints are not taxpayers but simply: everyone who stands to gain from sucking from Big Brother’s teats.

[freekitty]

She needs to be voted out or recalled.

[TLI]

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who joined Feinstein in limited support, echoed her exact words, saying, "We can't drill our way out of this crisis."

Yep. You are soooo right Mr Pinhead. IT is a real crises and it is in our faces and ignorant government policy and inaction let it happen. The real solution lies in attacking the problem from various directions.

Explore and drill, east and west coasts and Alaska. And yes, that includes YOU Californians. You ain`t nothing special, except maybe "special-ed." Besides, you need the money because your state is going bankrupt from all the illegal aliens you won't get rid of.

Develop the reserves contained in the Bakken Formation

Build modern technology refineries

Build Nuke power plants

Build Coal power plants

Open the clean coal deposits Klinton “closed” which contains 62 BILLION tons of environmentally safe low-sulfur coal from the Kaiparowits Plateau in Utah.

Slowly but steadily increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)

Tax breaks to companies developing bio-diesel techniques that create fuel from cheap waste.

Tax breaks and investment perks for moderate temperature geothermal ORC power plant technology that operates off industrial waste heat / geothermal applications to generate power directly and run at 90% efficiency, without impacting oil and gas production.

At 400kW per unit you just line up as many as you need for a small community. Quiet and extremely clean.

But noooo, we can't do this the simple, easy, smart way, we get ethanol. And from CORN no less.

And the enviro-wackjobs demand this...

If the President were to announce this program tomorrow and clearly state that due to the necessity of averting a disaster to the economy and a threat to National Security he will emplace Executive Orders that will not only immediately initialize this overall program but exempt it from excessive or unnecessary environmental regulatory agencies rules where do you think the hedge fund speculators will go, thus dropping the market price of crude by 25 - 50 bucks?

They will go straight to that new market of energy production and the companies that will build it, the new technologies that will emerge, as a well functioning "new energy industry" SHOULD be that inviting. Not only will the price start to drop immediately, the very nature of new industry gains and emerging technologies will keep the price down. And, as always, when other nations began to utilize the new and more efficient (higher profit margin) techniques the overall demand will slow.

BTW, as we move into the future and plan ahead we should think about how we use the energy source. Examples... All future power plants should be Nuke or Clean Coal. Reserve the natural gas for heating homes. That will allow more fuel oil to be used in diesel trucks because it is not heating houses. The natural gas can. You can heat a home with natural gas but you can not get the hauling capacity by trying to run the 18 wheeler on it.

Get the automakers together on a relatively cheap electric car and start building the new technology Nuke power plants to handle the extra overnight charging demand. And get the automakers off the shoebox on a roller-skate designs. Hello GM / Ford / Honda your designs are BUTT-UGLY.

Build these and we will buy.

However, you are going to have to give up on the $109,000 price tag. In return we will come off the 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds thing.

[ArmstedFragg]

views of Xmas trees, three-masted schooners, skyscrapers, lighthouses, etc.

Bunnies? Liberals love bunnies.

[okie01]

Make them look like a giant marlin jumping out of the water.

Or a whale spouting.

Fact is, all of this could be done -- at a reasonable expense.

Demonstrating that it could be done -- and offering to do it -- might actually help some see how silly are their objections.

[puppypusher]

I guess old Mel Martinez is going to be happy when the Chinese start drilling for oil off of Florida.

He better Pray the Chinese do a good job because a blown oil well right there will send all of that oil on Florida's fancy beaches and the state of Florida will not be able to do a damn thing about it.

The Chines are not thought that highly when it comes to their construction practices.One only needs to look at the recent earthquake to see that.

[taildragger]

"I can't say categorically we shouldn't open any drilling," Levin said. "I mean, I oppose drilling obviously in the Great Lakes if that's what you're referring to. I would not endanger any fresh water and surely not the Great Lakes. In terms of drilling in the ocean it depends on where and how much protection there is of the shoreline."

This Fartknocker is my Senator.

My guess is there is Oil and Gas, tons of it under the Great Lakes. The Canadians are sideways drilling and are getting enough Natural Gas for 20,000 homes.

But notice their tone...

Well, I not saying we can't drill....

Folks I called it 2 days ago when Leahy tried to Grill Mr. Hodmeister and he gave it back to him politely. My guess is their phones are ringing off the hook, people are pissed, ans their starting to realize it is the fault of the FartKnockers not Hodmeister.

[pallis]

Cowards always pass the buck.

[vietvet67]

Very well said.

As I suggested in post 18, there has to be a way to issue the appropriate executive orders. I’ve read that only 2 EOs have ever been overturned.

[vietvet67]

“Cowards always pass the buck.”

It’s the seeing of their mugs in the responsibility mirror that triggers that behavior. Always blame others..

[Ben Ficklin]

"The GOP had its chance"

As Martinez was quoted, they opened 8 million acres known as Area 181. This was one of the last acts of the GOP Congress in Dec 2006.

[Argus]

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in response to the question. "But do I want to drill off the California coast? No.

"I'd prefer my Communist Chinese friends to drill there instead."

[kellynla]

“I bet your laugh sounds uncannily like Hillary’s cackle. Is that you Hill?”

tell ya what,
any time you think you have the balls to insult me to my face, you just let me know and I’ll even pick you up at LAX

I won’t be holding my breath though...none of you punks ever show up.

Like the rest of the FR flame-baiters who post insults; when the rubber hits the road; all of you have a yellow streak running down your backside as wide as the 405....

[PubliusMM]

“We can’t drill our way out of this crisis.”

Uh...yes, we can. Of course, stupid DhimmiRat Libs don’t understand that the preservation of our nation and our way of life should be of a higher importance than snail darters, spotted owl and polar bears.
I do not believe the doomsayers preaching ecological disaster at every turn. Issues from the Alaska pipeline have been minimal and resolved in due course. The Exxon Valdez is a notable exception, and while I have major concerns with that whole situation and its ‘remedy’, I don’t believe that it represents the ‘expected’ outcome of new offshore or ANWR drilling.
Plus, with technical research into recovery processes, we have billions of barrels of oil trapped in shale formations in the nothern plains states.
We have improved nuclear safety technology and should pursue nuclear as a source of electricity.
We need to add refinery capacity.
We need to continue research into bio-diesel, ethanol from non-food materials, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and on and on.

We have dozens of prospective solutions on the table, but our hands have been utterly tied by the enviro-whackos and DhimmiRat Libs who can’t recognize that production of new energy sources and the preservation of the environment are NOT mutually exclusive activities.

Of course, their pathetic hand wringing will always attract the dinosaur media types.

[PhiKapMom]

Senator Inhofe stated at the OK GOP Convention if you opened all the marginal wells in OK/TX that were closed thanks to the Dems, we could supply more oil then Saudi.

Clinton signed EO’s to halt some of the wells and put a pumping limit on them. My guess it was to pay back the Arabs. Now with the Dems in charge of the House and Senate, we have high oil prices and yet the marginal wells are not allowed to be reopened.

Hope those idiots that stayed home or voted Dem to teach the rest of us a lesson in 2006 are paying the highest prices for gasoline of anyone. GOP is far from perfect but we wouldn’t be having the problems we are having today that go right back to the Dems in charge.