Posted on 05/29/2010 3:10:19 PM PDT by thecodont
California GOP gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner on Friday backed away from their party's "drill, baby, drill" mantra in the wake of the devastating BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is now considered to be the worst oil-related disaster in American history.
As President Obama visited the gulf region to respond to criticism about his administration's response to the spill, Whitman and Poizner said in separate appearances on the Peninsula that they have modified their views on offshore drilling in California as a result of the spill, which has gushed 18 million to nearly 40 million gallons, according to government estimates.
Speaking to reporters after an appearance before supporters at a Redwood City cement plant, Whitman distanced herself from former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's "drill, baby, drill" position. Whitman said she "would actually be on a different side of that issue" from Palin.
Whitman said she has "historically been against oil drilling," saying she would support drilling off California only if technology were developed to assure that the risk of accidents such as the one in the gulf would be very low.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/29/MNCQ1DMHD1.DTL#ixzz0pMJppENm
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I think people will go back to being pro-drilling sooner than the MSM thinks.
This accident is only the 2nd one to happen in the Gulf since 1979.
....or plane crashes so lets shut down flying for 6 months.
Hey, let’s let everyone else drill ... This is just so stupid. You have to wonder, should opne massive pileup stop all freeway construction?
So we have now had three giant government failure, the levees in NO, the gusher of cash to unqualified buyers from Freddie and Fannie and now the gusher of waivers from MMS.
Maybe it’s about time to shutdown big government.
We either drill or import.
I may be talked into coastal, deep sea, or land wells as the most preferable.
But either we drill or someone else does and sells it to us.
Meg is a fool.
Drill in shallow waters off California....if an accident happens, it’s easier to fix.
Didn’t like her when she headed eBay, by the way. She drove the sellers crazy with her constant, non-sensical changes, and so has her successor.
Meg isn’t qualified to shine Sarah Palin’s beautiful shoes.
with people like this, man would have never gotten in the air...
64% Favor Offshore Oil Drilling
Despite the major oil rig leak that continues to spew an estimated 5,000 barrels a day into the Gulf of Mexico, the majority of U.S. voters still support offshore oil drilling.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/offshore_drilling/64_favor_offshore_oil_drilling
51% In New York Say Offshore Oil Drilling Should Be Allowed
While BP continues efforts to control the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, just over half (51%) of New York Voters say offshore oil drilling should be allowed.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/new_york/51_in_new_york_say_offshore_oil_drilling_should_be_allowed
65% in Texas Still Support Offshore Drilling
Despite the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 65% of Likely Voters in Texas still support offshore oil drilling, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state. Twenty-one percent (21%) oppose such drilling
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/texas/65_in_texas_still_support_offshore_drilling
64% in Pennsylvania Support Offshore Oil Drilling
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 64% of Likely Voters in Pennsylvania still support offshore oil drilling, despite the ongoing major oil rig leak in the Gulf of Mexico. This marks just a five-point loss of support from a month ago
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/pennsylvania/64_in_pennsylvania_support_offshore_oil_drilling
I don’t think Poizner’s position changed, just Meg’s. He still supports offshore drilling in shallower waters where we already drill.
I have to agree with them. For example, there was a terrible crash on the highway. The highway needs to be shut down.
Better yet, if the government doesn’t prevent an oil leak, then shut down the government.
Hey, that’s Brilliant!
The response to the Caldecott Tunnel Fire (April 7, 1982) in Oakland, California (gasoline tanker overturned in the tunnel, causing a fireball and the deaths of seven people) was not to close the highway tunnel, but to restrict transit of hazardous cargo through the tunnel to certain hours of the day.
A report which came out of this can be found here: http://www.fas.org/ota/reports/8637.pdf.
Environmental restrictions are why the drilling is in deep water which is much more difficult to do than in shallow water and problems down there are much harder to fix. All this just might be the excuse that Soetoro thinks he needs to take over the oil industry and/or completely shut down the economy by ending oil production and maybe refining in the United States-”It’s just too dangerous!” Gasoline at $12+ should do the trick.
Also have additional controls mounted in another vessel some distance away where there will still be an electrical and hydraulic connection even if the drill rig is destroyed.
All this could be done immediately and not stall out drilling programs.
Witman’s BS was working with some but seems to be exposed now. She’s nothing but another RINO and will not win the GOP base or tea party patriots.
I don't have stats on how much conservation can really save on imported oil. This is purely anecdotal and based on electric use at home.
We recently replaced the fridge, the A/C unit and the pool pump with one of those slow start models (expensive). Our monthly electric bill went from $150 a month to under $50.
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