Senate Votes to Forbid Drilling Filibuster

Yahoo/White House - AP ^ | 3/10/2005 | ALAN FRAM

[Logical me]

Great start. We still have 5 to 10 years before the oil will flow. Lot depends of the time it takes to drill, weather (damn cold and snowy up there) and how to get it piped or shipped to the mainland for processing. But the start is sure a welcome thing. I have a little oil investment and understand some slant drilling will keep the surface with less environmental problems.

[Zeppelin]

HAHAHA the ANWR would supply Texas for 9 years. wow. compare that to D.C. - 1710 years. That was a pretty cool link. Added it to my favorites. Thanks!

My cousin works for an oil firm that goes out and finds oil for large companies to drill, and he just recently made a "huge" discovery in the Gulf. He wasn't allowed to divulge any specfics, but he said "look for development of a platform that will provide upward of 2 billion barrels". That's pretty significant. Needless to say, his superiors were pretty happy with him.

[cake_crumb]

Drill baby, DRILL!!

[macrahanish #1]

The Republicans could frame this issue as a populist question by pushing to have the issue decided by a referendum by the voters of Alaska. The subsequent hue and cry by the 'Rats would, if exploited, expose them as the elistist NIMBY's they are.

[QQQQQ]

Also checkout the photo gallery at

http://www.anwr.org -- they show some very happy caribou and bears near and on top of the oil pipeline -- so much for teh pipeline hurting them. LOL

Congratulations to your cousin -- it's about time that we explore oil at home and in our own back yard.

If only use for emergencies, it is still very important, because we won't be at the mercy of foreign oil and those who are controlling it. It puts us in a very good bargaining position.

[EternalVigilance]

While they're at it, uncap all the domestic wells.

We have alot more energy available to us right here in North America than people think...

[John Lenin]

[EternalVigilance]

PING...

[Continental Soldier]

It's about time!!!

[cake_crumb]

Can't wait until they actually start drilling. Oil futures ought to tank, taking gasoline prices with them.

[RinaseaofDs]

Maybe, but GWB is a pretty resolute guy. SS is a huge problem, and he doesn't want to leave it to another generation to fix.

This 'not leaving it to another generation' is a theme with him. The Middle East problem was one that has been handed from President to President since 1935. GWB stopped that particular buck too.

You may be right, but I think he isn't fooling.

[cake_crumb]

"Message to Dims: If we're willing to do this for ANWR, we'll sure as heck do it for judicial appointments, if you force us."

I hope you're right. I DO NOT want to see headlines saying that senate Pubbies decided to leave the rules alone and let them continue filibustering judicial nominees in some sort of 'fence mending' APPEASEMENT gesture.

[Species8472]

(In his best Howard Dean Voice)

Yeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh!

[Right_in_Virginia]

Just drill baby.

Now!

[bert]

What procedural manuver allowed eliminating the need for a cloture vote?

It would seem to me this is the most important aspect of the story.

[Jazzman1]

Am told it would yield @ 1 million barrels a day. We use upwards of 20m per day w/ @ 13m imported.

[billybudd]

They should call this a tactical nuclear option.

[Conservative Infidel]

Excellent! Now why can't the judicial committee do the same procedural trick with judges???

[Buckeye McFrog]

now we need to do something about building some refineries!

[John Lenin]

WASHINGTON -- A scenario for an unspecified day in 2005: One of President Bush's judicial nominations is brought to the Senate floor. Majority Leader Bill Frist makes a point of order that only a simple majority is needed for confirmation. The point is upheld by the presiding officer, Vice President Dick Cheney. Democratic Leader Harry Reid challenges the ruling. Frist moves to table Reid's motion, ending debate. The motion is tabled, and the Senate proceeds to confirm the judicial nominee -- all in about 10 minutes.

This is the so-called "nuclear option" that creates fear and loathing among Democrats and weak knees for some Republicans, including conservative opinion leaders. Ever since Frist publicly embraced the nuclear option, he has been accused of abusing the Senate's cherished tradition of extended debate. In truth, during six years as majority leader, Democrat Robert C. Byrd four times detonated the nuclear option to rewrite Senate rules.

Thus, Frist would set no precedent, would not contradict past Republican behavior and would not strip the GOP of protection as a future Senate minority. The question is whether Republican senators will flinch from the only maneuver open to confirm Bush's judges.

Byrd's nuclear option