Radio Address from the President to the Nation, 07-19-08

WhiteHouse.gov ^ | 07-19-08 | George W. Bush

[Salvation]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 19, 2008

President's Radio Address

  President's Radio Address
  Audio
  En Español

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This is a challenging time for families across our nation. I know many families are worried about rising prices at the pump and declining home values. So this week my Administration took steps to help address both these challenges.

To help address the pressure on gasoline prices, my Administration took action to clear the way for environmentally responsible offshore exploration of key parts of the Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS. Experts believe that these areas of the OCS could eventually produce nearly 10 years' worth of America's current annual oil production. So on Monday I lifted an executive branch prohibition on exploration in these areas.

 Unfortunately, a full month has passed since I called on Congress to lift a similar legislative ban, and Congress has done nothing. This means that the only thing now standing between the American people and the vast oil resources of the OCS is action from the United States Congress.

Bringing OCS resources online will take time, and that means that the need for congressional action is urgent. The sooner Congress lifts the ban, the sooner we can get these resources from the ocean floor to the gas pump. Democratic leaders need to show that they have finally heard the frustrations of the American people. They should match the action I've taken, repeal the congressional ban, and pass legislation to facilitate responsible offshore exploration.

In the short term, America's economy will continue to depend on oil, but in the long term our economic future depends on promoting alternative energy technologies. So my Administration has worked to expand the use of alternative fuels and raise fuel efficiency standards. We're investing in new advanced batteries, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cells. We're working to expand the use of clean, safe nuclear power, solar and wind power, and clean coal technology. With these steps, we're enhancing America's energy security.

To address challenges in the housing market, my Administration announced steps this week to help increase confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These two enterprises play a central role in our housing finance system, and we must ensure that they can continue providing access to mortgage credit during this period of stress in financial markets.

So Treasury Secretary Paulson has worked with Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, the companies, and the government regulators on a plan to strengthen these enterprises. I urge Congress to swiftly enact this plan into law. And I also urge Congress to pass legislation that strengthens the independent regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernizes the Federal Housing Administration, and allows state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime loans.

Despite the challenges we have faced, our economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Exports have continued to grow, productivity growth has remained strong, and while economic growth in the first quarter of this year was slower than we would have liked, it was growth, nonetheless.

Thanks to the economic growth package we enacted, American families have more cash in their wallets. We now have delivered more than $91 billion in tax relief to more than 112 million American households this year. And in the coming months, we expect more Americans to take advantage of these rebates, and inject new energy into our economy.

I have great confidence that our economy will pull through this difficult period, because I have great confidence in the boundless, innovative spirit of the American people. This is a Nation that has faced tough challenges in the past and overcome them, and we will do so again. With sound policies in Washington and the ingenuity of our citizens, our economy will emerge from this period stronger and better than before.

Thank you for listening.

 

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[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

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[bray]

Hammer them GW!! If you like $5/gal, Thank Pelosi in Nov.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[SERKIT]

Energy Manifesto:

* Cease all ethanol subsidies. (If an entrepreneur want to “go for it” let ethanol be successful on its own merits with good ‘ol American market forces.) Ethanol takes away from food production and the unintended consequence is higher food costs. As diesel prices go up, the cost of farming tips the balance of cost to make ethanol a bad idea. Just say "no" to ethanol! Even Jimmy Carter says that diverting farm production from food to fuel is dumb – even HE gets it. This will create only ONE "blend" of gasoline and will cease regional "boutique" blends (gasohols) which are stupid, costly, and meaningless. Trucking custom blends around the country is wasteful. Ethanol blends may actually lead to fewer miles to the gallon, and adds to the cost of production and transportation. Newer cars do not need oxygenated fuels.

* Lift the restrictions in order to drill for oil in Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, and other sites in the CONUS as a matter of National Security.

* Encourage the petro industry to construct state-of-the-art refineries and/or retrofit current and dormant ones and crank up production for our newly-accessed oil in the CONUS.

* Make all “carbon credit” scams unlawful. Discrediting Algore should have been a slam-dunk a long time ago. Stop electing Reps who buy into the Global Warming / Global Cooling / Climate Change Hoax. CO2 is not our enemy!

* Construct SEVERAL, regional Pebble-Bed Modular Reactors (or other similar modern designs) that are rechargeable, and cleaner than any current nuclear generator design. Refine spent nuke fuel for recycling. DO SOMETHING NUCLEAR to resolve energy problems.

* Use the residual heat from the reactors above to process motor fuel from coal and/or shale. Even though Clinton "stole" some of the best coal reserves, we still have a lot to use.

* Become independent enough to make the cartels (i.e. OPEC) inconsequential.

* Lift or cap the tax on gasoline. When the tax is higher than the profit margin, the argument over what is “obscene” becomes moot.

* List (chapter and verse) all the regulations and laws that need to be repealed in order to drill, and drill now. Use this list as the new "Contract With America for Energy Independence". Have a mega-bill introduced that in one fell swoop removes the self-imposed energy embargo.

If you squint real hard, and read between the lines, the ‘manifesto’ will require fewer RINOs and LibDems and the election of some clear-minded conservatives to even consider the above.

[Salvation]

**Thank Pelosi in Nov.**

By un-electing her. (Don’t know if she is up for re-election, however.) I just think that she has to be losing popularity in CA.

[Salvation]

**Cease all ethanol subsidies.**

Agree. Bring down food costs!

[Salvation]

How about *Uncap the wells on the OCS that were capped after Congress passed their stupid bill?

We could have more oil in ONE year!

[Salvation]

 

 

Contact your Congress critters to let them know that you are tired of high gas prices.

U. S. Senate

U. S. House of Representatives

[bray]

So your saying let the Market decide the price and source of gas?? What a novel concept. It would never work in America since there are so many bad side effects like prosperity and private sector jobs. We can’t have that.

If you like $5/gal, Thank Congress in Nov.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[SERKIT]

How about *Uncap the wells on the OCS that were capped after Congress passed their stupid bill?

We could have more oil in ONE year! THANKS! I will add that to the manifesto. Do your have a source or link? You idea would also chill down the speculators immediately like President Bush's latest announcement (but you won't hear that linkage in the drive-by media!).

[hermgem]

North Easterners.
Place a picture of Nancy Pelosi next to your oil tank this coming winter as a daily reminder of the one responsible for fleecing you with heating oil pricing.

[RightWhale]

‘A record number of 4,315,000 babies were born in the US last year, nearly the double of those born a century ago’

Of course the population is triple, but those babies will be needing food, transportation, heated houses, all the usual, and the USA is doing next to nothing about building nuclear fusion power plants.

[FlyVet]

I don’t know why, when he gives a speech like this, he doesn’t pick the low-hanging fruit. The Dims have been saying over and over that Big Oil should drill in the areas already leased to them. Why doesn’t he call them out on that?

[Salvation]

I just saw it referenced on another thread about a capped well, I believe, in the Long Beach area.

[Salvation]

**Place a picture of Nancy Pelosi next to your oil tank this coming winter as a daily reminder of the one responsible for fleecing you with heating oil pricing. **

And think of the education you would be doing with those who pump your gas or walk by your car when you are pumping your gas! LOL!

[Salvation]

**The Dims have been saying over and over that Big Oil should drill in the areas already leased to them. Why doesn’t he call them out on that?**

If I’m not mistaken some oil companies are already cleaning up the old platforms and getting ready to either uncap or drill..............depending on the situation.