Shameless Award I

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 9/7/5 | Editor

[SmithL]

IT'S NO secret that Hurricane Katrina has upended Washington politics, rightfully making relief efforts the top priority. So re-labeling old ideas as a part of disaster recovery is the new political game.

The first, though not last, Shameless Award in putting the hurricane to other uses goes to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. He's tapping the oil refineries shut down by Katrina and higher pump prices to advocate for drilling in Alaska's Arctic edge.

Never mind that these supplies are seven to 10 years away. Never mind that the reserves may amount to only 4 percent of this nation's energy needs. Never mind that conservation and higher highway fuel economy are better answers to oil dependence than invading a wildlife refuge.

Katrina's wind and waves did shut down refineries and drilling platforms, . . .

[SmithL]

Clueless in San Francisco

[Mamzelle]

Plain sense ought to be without shame, as it is blameless.

[Pondman88]

Ya, okay--lets not drill for more oil in the wake of huge price hikes and shortages......

Liberals are dumb.

[VRWCmember]

Never mind that these supplies are seven to 10 years away. Never mind that the reserves may amount to only 4 percent of this nation's energy needs.

And as long as we let idiots like this keep us from opening up production those supplies ALWAYS REMAIN seven to 10 years away. Just because we made the wrong decisions for 8 years while clinton was president and allowed the dems to continue blocking this during W's first term is no reason to continue making the wrong decision based on the irrelevant fact that we won't be able to use those resources for seven to 10 years. If we had started this in 1995 when we should have, then those resources would be online right now. How much longer must we continue to keep making the same mistakes you idiot left-coast whiners?

[TexasCajun]

Homoville is already Military Free, I suggest it also become Oil Free!

[popdonnelly]

And here I thought shameless applied to blaming Bush for the hurricane and the incompetence of Louisiana and New Orleans.

[dsc]

"I suggest it also become Oil Free!"

Morons probably think they could just switch to natural gas.

[thackney]

Never mind that these supplies are seven to 10 years away.

I guess he thinks we will not use or have hurricanes 7~10 years from now.

Never mind that the reserves may amount to only 4 percent of this nation's energy needs.

A lot of people this week would have liked to have had that extra 4%.

Never mind that conservation and higher highway fuel economy are better answers to oil dependence than invading a wildlife refuge.

And never mind that they are not exclusive choices. Doing both would help even more.

I wonder how many people realize that over 100 MILLION acres are designated as wilderness in the U.S.?

[Mensius]

I was hoping that the silver lining of this disaster would be that most Americans would see the dire consequence the hyper-environmental policies have placed our country in.

The politicians have been so inept and downright irresponsible for so long regarding environmental policy, they have put the whole country at risk. When a hurricane, albeit a large one, can take out 15% of our nations refineries and cause a significant hit to our economy, it becomes a question of national security, not just ineptitude.

The libs have made this bed re: energy policy and the whole country has to sleep in it, to our peril. The GOP has been afraid to tackle an issue so glaringly obvious before the hurricane that I'm afraid they will be just as craven in its aftermath.

Another thing is also glaringly clear. Al Queda has also seen the hit a refinery disruption will cause this nation and the world economy as a whole. Won't be long I think until they take advantage of this.

[arkady_renko]

Never mind that these supplies are seven to 10 years away.

And, until we drill, they'll always be 7 to 10 years away. Gee - what would have happened if we had actually drilled 7 to 10 years ago?

A_R

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

"...Never mind that these supplies are seven to 10 years away. Never mind that the reserves may amount to only 4 percent of this nation's energy needs. Never mind that conservation and higher highway fuel economy are better answers to oil dependence than invading a wildlife refuge..."

A walking Encyclopedia....wow...I wonder if my grades would
have improved if I came up with such researched data..???

Nahhh... I was to lazy to research data, any ways,
I always needed to identify my sources ....

[MNJohnnie]

The first, though not last, Shameless Award in putting the hurricane to other uses goes to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. He's tapping the oil refineries shut down by Katrina and higher pump prices to advocate for drilling in Alaska's Arctic edge.

OH but all the people blaming the Feds for the complete failure of the 1st Responders(City of NO) and the 2nd Responders (State of Louisiana) just get a free ride? But it IS San Fran. Last intellectually honest thought anyone there had was some time back in the 1950s.

Hmm compare that FRAUD with Frist. Problem-High Energy costs. Solution-increase the Energy supply. Gee I guess we can see who the REAL Shameless Award should go to. Gee Frist was down helping out the victims. Other then sitting on their ass spewing pure partisan bile, what has THIS Columnist done?????

[Mogollon]

Never mind that conservation and higher highway fuel economy are better answers to oil dependence than invading a wildlife refuge

It's a mosquito infested mud-flat where the oil drilling will take place.

[Bigh4u2]

"Never mind that the reserves may amount to only 4 percent of this nation's energy needs. "

4% less that we need to buy from the Saudi's, that I thought liberals despised!

[SueRae]

Unbelievable, even for the land of fruits and nuts.

Bill Frist, shameless award???

I saw Dr. Bill Frist working in one of the emergency triage units, doing what he could on the ground. Did anyone see DR. DEAN anywhere?????

[an amused spectator]

Never mind that conservation and higher highway fuel economy are better answers to oil dependence than invading a "wildlife refuge". (my quotation marks)

Save the black flies! ;-)

[CyberAnt]

Dear Editor:

I am stunned that you would pick out Senator Frist to castigate in this Katrina mess. I happen to agree with the Senator - it's time to get Alaska online to produce more oil for us so we are not so dependant upon foreign sources. However, along with that oil - we must build more refineries. People need jobs - then put them to work building the things America's infrastructure needs. Subsidizing some of these companies to do the work would be a lot cheaper for America than paying all those people months and months of unemployment, food stamps and living assistance. This would give people a sense of purpose and hope.

After all - this is a picture of the portion of Alaska which would house the drilling - it's not pristine forest - as all you liberals want the public to believe:

Funny .. you think it's more important to attack Senator Frist - but NOT ONE WORD OF CONDEMNATION ABOUT THE GOVERNOR AND MAYOR WHO LEFT THEIR CONSTITUTENTS STRANDED - TO DROWN.

I'm appalled that a Governor would believe it was more important TO NOT AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (for political reasons), and forgetting that all those black people she provided busses for to VOTE FOR HER - were now dependent upon her for bus transportation out of the danger area.

I'm equally appalled at a mayor who would not want to save the school busses - and use them to transport these people out of danger instead of ALLOWING ALL THE BUSES TO BE RUINED BY THE STORM. That level of incompetence is just beyond the pale.

There is no RACE problem here - we had a white Governor and a black Mayor - and neither one of them was competent to hold their offices.

Such arrogance, insolence, condescension, carelessness, and complete incompetence DEMANDS NOTHING LESS THAN RESIGNATION.

[signature]

[TXnMA]

You forgot the "[Barf Alert!!!]"...

[sauropod]

Who's the moron that wrote this bilge?

[CyberAnt]

See #17