UPDATED: Democrat Warner opposes Obama's Va. coastal drilling ban

WAPO ^ | 12.1.10 | Anita Kumar

[pillut48]

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said Wednesday that he agrees with Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) in opposing President Obama's decision to restrict oil and gas drilling off the coast of Virginia for the next seven years.

"Mid-Atlantic coastal oil and gas production does not represent a 'silver bullet' solution to our energy challenges, and while it is appropriate to take the time to incorporate lessons learned from the Gulf disaster, Senator Warner sees no reason to delay this process for what realistically could be another seven years or more,'' Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.

McDonnell is calling for the White House to reconsider its decision and for the Virginia congressional delegation to work toward a possible solution.

[pillut48]

UPDATED: Longtime drilling opponent U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) has taken the opposite position from both Warner and McDonnell--siding with the administration's decision to keep its Atlantic coast drilling ban in place. < snip >

Statement from Moran:

"I offer my praise for the new revised OCS drilling plan. It clearly reflects the lessons learned from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster and recognizes the inherent risks of drilling in environmentally restricted areas and where economic and national security interests are in conflict. The Defense Department has expressed strong reservations about drilling off Virginia's coast, finding it incompatible with military operations and readiness. With this action by the Secretary, no drilling will occur off the Mid-Atlantic and Virginia through 2017...< snip > "We will never achieve energy independence by drilling for more oil on land or at sea - even if we open up every restricted area to drilling. To pursue such a reckless policy only advances the day we exhaust our limited reserves and undermines our effort to transition to cleaner and more sustainable alternative sources of energy."

[pillut48]

That last paragraph by Moran is a load of crap! >:-(
I hope Governor Palin shreds both HolyO AND this maroon over this!

[goldstategop]

Warner is looking to run for re-election. He’s going to shoot Obama full of bullets.

[Chong]

DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OldDeckHand]

I lived in Moran's district for several years. He's insufferable.

This of course will be but the first of many times Warner tries a little political sleight of hand - "See, I'm NOT like Obama, please reelect me, and especially forget about all those Obama judicial appoints I voted for, as well as Obamacare and all the rest - I'm really like you conservative-leaning Virginia".

[hal ogen]

warner is a Johhny-come-lately. He is a DIM and supports nobama’s policies. He lies. He regrets being a DIM at this juncture because that openly labels him as a non-thinking loser. Any drilling should be into his cranium to see what exactly is sloshing around in that macaca’s head.

[Cicero]

I shouldn’t think the Dems in Louisiana would be too happy about this, either. Obama has given that state a really rough time.

[tirednvirginia]

I wonder what WEbb’s position is.

[pillut48]

Oh, it’s obvious this is retribution against Bobby Jindal for having the guts to speak out against His Oneness. >:-(

[Enterprise]

"Democrat Warner opposes Obama's Va. coastal drilling ban"

BFD. Now if he actually DOES something about it, wake me up.

[rfp1234]

Warner could be a dark-horse to unseat Bambi in the 2012 primary, and might be tough to beat if he pulled that off.