Senate rejects GOP oil drilling plan (GOP measure, defeated Tuesday by a vote of 56-42)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 5/13/08 | H. Josef Hebert - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - The Senate has rejected a Republican energy plan that calls for opening an Alaska wildlife refuge and some offshore waters to oil development. Supporters of the measure couldn't get the needed 60 votes to overcome a Democratic-led filibuster threat.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said more domestic oil production is needed to keep prices in check and to reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports.

Opponents said areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and coastal waters that have been off limits to drilling for 25 years ought to remain that out of bounds to oil companies. The GOP measure, defeated Tuesday by a vote of 56-42, would have allowed coastal states to get a waiver to the offshore drilling ban.

[Just A Nobody]

You are welcome, Boats!

McCain picked a really bad time for a non vote - guaranteed to result in many thousands of same towards him.

I'm quite sure those thousands would have been regardless how he would have voted today. He voted against drilling in 2002 and 2005, so even if he had voted for it today it would have been seen, rightfully so, as pandering.

[TMA62]

Perhaps the stupidest quote from the Yahoo news article is this: “.....”We can't drill our way to lower prices,” said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.”

It is not a surprise that Turbin Durbin would understand capitalism, but drilling more oil would definitely lower prices.

Today's vote represents the Congressional reckless abandon that had been going on for 30 years. Congress has said “NO” to every viable and practical option for energy. From nuclear to petroleum to natural gas to hydroelectic damns.....they have essentially said NO to any more energy production.

Yet......they have no trouble in growing the government. More taxes. More spending. More programs. More pay raises. More Congressional staffs. BUT.....when it comes to energy, they tell us: “NO!! Not one drop more!!!!”

Talk about arrogance and hypocracy.

McConnell, bring this admendment up again next and every week up till the election.

[mikenk]

Here is your list:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00123

[evad]

You’re misspelling is the answer

LOL..thanks for the correction.

Must be my subliminal thoughts coming forward.

Oh, bye the bye, "you're" should be your ;-)

[evad]

LOL..as I said, subliminal.

[evad]

I'm willing to bet that that is PRECISELY what John McCain did on this one too!

Yeah...reaching across the AIsle means pubbie lemmings running across to be liberal dims.

This guy does so many scary things that he's just...well...scary!!!

[Manic_Episode]

I don’t see how I could possibly vote for anyone who is keeping us dependent upon our enemies who have us by the short hairs and helping rising gas prices to continue to rise.

[Nasher]

"Drilling is the failed energy policy of yesterday that has brought us record gas prices today.

Who comes out with a statement like that besides an out of touch politician? Has to be the stupidest statement I have ever heard.

So I guess the best policy is to stop drilling so that the supply of oil magically increases which then leads to lower prices. Am I right?

[Captain Beyond]

All that can be said for anyone who voted against this is that they are complete and utter DA's. (and I ain't talking about District Attorneys)

[4woodenboats]

All I can do is pray that he gets a veep and staff that aren't afraid of making him realize the damage this is doing to the country, and that he's been duped.

The alternative....just isn't viable.

[RandallFlagg]

Gas Pump Stickers (What I'm doing about gas prices)

[mathluv]

The nutjob is against drilling in ANWR, for global warming, for amnesty. He says he can work with dims. Can he work with pubbies?????? The only way I can even think of voting for him will depend on who his VP is.

[thackney]

It’s self-evident that ANWR oil production, under the best scenario, would take years to reach production capacity at a level to affect per barrel prices.

Yes, for several decades now the excuse has been it will take about 10 years to get significant production. It was the excuse President Clinton used when he vetoed it about 13 years ago. I guess we are rather slow learners.

almost certain to crash .... In two years, we will be back to $60 per barrel or less

Are you betting a lot of your own money on that? Future prices two years out are about $120.

http://www.nymex.com/lsco_fut_condet.aspx?product=CL&month=June&cmonth=M&year=10&currPrev=C

drilling now would simply give OPEC another excuse to ration production and offset any gains

Less money to OPEC and more invested in the US still sounds good to me.

At current rates, the Arab states and Iran will reach their peak in about 30 years

You need to look at historical production rates and proved reserves. Sending them our money continues to fund them to find new reserves.

but it is not a good idea to start drilling now

What criteria would you use to allow exploration given that it will take 10 years to bring it on line?

[Obadiah]

Not one “D” on the Yea side.

Typical.

And that's what frosts me. Republican weenies always want to reach across the aisle, while Democrats laugh. Democrats don't reach across the aisle. I'll say it again:

The GOP is broken.

IMO, it ain't worth investing in a GOP with the current crop of people who are more concerned about saving their own political skin than they are about the country. When will the GOP stand up to the fools who intentionally seek to hamstring our country?

[jpsb]

Why didn’t they try this when they were in the majority? The GOP knew this would never pass the time for action was 4 years ago when they COULD HAVE PASSED IT. This is just meaningless grand standing.

[EagleandLiberty]

The senate is proof you can train a monkey to do the same job.

Bet the trained monkeys would DO a better job. We need TERM LIMITS to get these PROFESSIONAL POLITICANS out of Washington.

Also, we need to ban LAWYERS as POLITICANS. What we need is normal citizens - business owners, secretaries, retail workers - to fix WASHINGTON!

[EagleandLiberty]

RINOs voting AGAINST cloture:

Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Dole (R-NC)
Martinez (R-FL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)

What great people there!!! My ‘Wonderful’ senator - Mr. Martinez had my vote when he ran, but he doesn’t want to have oil drilling off FLORIDA because it would hurt tourism, but you won’t see the rigs on the beaches of FL - and besides, TOURISM will be hurting if people can’t afford to visit - or have no gas to get here.

[EagleandLiberty]

This is the first election where I will truly hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils. I have been voting since Reagan's second term. Never has the difference between the candidates been so blurred. Aside from his view on Iraq and judges, I have no commonality with McCain.

Same with me. I am so F'ing afraid of conservatives not voting McCain that Obama will win. (Between McCain and Obama, I'll take McCain, because Obama is CHANGE we don't need!) If this was a pre-9/11 time, I might vote 3rd party, but sorry, not in these post 9/11 times.

[EagleandLiberty]

Martinez, figures, that putz. I can’t wait to vote against him.

You and me both...

[EagleandLiberty]

Homeschoolers are largely conservative for good reason. Vouchers would allow parents to send their children to private schools of their choice, and such schools would not all be dominated by liberals.

Unfortunatly, most people don't want their kids to be homeschooled because they themselves (the ADULTS) are out working to get the mcmansions and the toys (a BMW, Ferrari, boats). Homeschoolers are dedicated people, who'll sacrifice money for the good of their kids. I believe if vouchers get used, you might see the NEA/AFT try to LIBERALIZE some private schools.