• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Gasoline prices zip toward $3 mark

Let Oil Drilling Ban Expire, Top Republican Says
Thursday, August 21, 2008

Just as I thought, campaign hype aimed at those unaware we passed peak oil decades ago.

So you say yet the earth keeps making oil. it is under the ocean.
 
Drilling is only banned in a few areas. There are plenty of places in the US the oil companies could drill. Oil companies have cut back new drilling and exploration until prices go back up.
Refineries are being shut down and production cut. There is no need for new refineries. They are not very profitable right now because the price of gas is down and crude is up.


After years of failed energy policies that contributed to skyrocketing fuel prices and environmental degradation, the Bush-Cheney White House and their congressional allies now seek to divert the public's attention.

After almost eight years of subsidizing a wealthy oil industry and refusing to appropriately diversify our energy resources, their best and brightest solution is drilling — a path that would further distance us from what should be our shared goal of reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.

From 1999 to 2007, drilling permits issued for the development of public lands increased by more than 361 percent. Despite this increase, gasoline prices rose exponentially. At that rate, the United States, which uses about 25 percent of the world's energy, but has only an estimated 2 percent of energy reserves, will never drill its way to a solution.

Additionally, oil companies have refused to even file for permits to build refineries that could process crude oil, thus keeping supplies of gasoline and heating fuel low and prices — and their profits — high. Furthermore, companies already lease 91.5 million acres of on-land and offshore federal lands; yet only 23.7 million acres are actually used for production. One could be justified in concluding that the industry is simply speculating by stockpiling more federal lands.

There are ways to affect fuel prices. Although it would have slow and minimal effect on current prices, we could start by compelling oil companies to actually develop the already-leased acres or risk losing their permits or incurring an escalating charge for letting them lie unused. The money collected could be applied to lowering prices for consumers or for research and development of alternative sources of energy. Such a bill is being passed by the New Majority in Congress.

That same New Majority Congress has already passed a law — over strenuous administration opposition — mandating new fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles and requiring new standards for appliances and building materials. The U.S. House of Representatives has also passed bills to combat price fixing, market manipulation and price gouging by unscrupulous companies. It is moving to curb unregulated market speculation that experts claim may be adding $30 or more to the cost of every barrel of oil.

The Bush administration and its accomplices are opposing these obvious solutions, as well. Pundits are right when they suggest that if this oil-oriented White House isn't going to lead, then it should get out of the way.

Still, we should not have to wait for sensible action. Together, with the aforementioned legislation, we should act now to move forward on support for mass transit, and on the redirection of fossil fuel subsidies of big oil companies toward support for efficiencies and alternative energy resources.

So, yes, drill the leases already available as a bridge to the future, but stop misleading the public by claiming that drilling in fishing grounds and conservation areas is the solution America needs and deserves, and let us move forward with an honest and effective energy policy for the future.

Makes no sense to drill if there is not oil there. Give leases where there is oil.
 
Makes no sense to drill if there is not oil there. Give leases where there is oil.

There is oil there, why do you think they bought the leases? Hello? The oil companies are looking out for their future profits. Can't drill it all at once. The are millions of square miles just in the Gulf of Mexico left to drill.
 
So you say yet the earth keeps making oil.

Not as fast as we draw it out. That has been the problem. We have been dependent on foreign oil since the 70's.
 
I see it as a mixed blessing. Sure it finacially harms many poor families which is a bad thing, it also reminds us that we are much to dependent on oil. Manking survived without oil for thousands of years yet suddenly we base our entire society on it. I feel that the world as a whole would be better off if we took a step back and reevaluated our relationship with oil and readjusted our priorities.
 
I see it as a mixed blessing. Sure it finacially harms many poor families which is a bad thing, it also reminds us that we are much to dependent on oil. Manking survived without oil for thousands of years yet suddenly we base our entire society on it. I feel that the world as a whole would be better off if we took a step back and reevaluated our relationship with oil and readjusted our priorities.

A well reasoned approach to sustainable energy? Nah, they'll never go for that!

Excellent post! We are 3 to 4% of the earth's population, use up 25% of its resources and some bitch when they have to pay $3 a gal to fill up their gas hogs.
 
There is oil there, why do you think they bought the leases? Hello? The oil companies are looking out for their future profits. Can't drill it all at once. The are millions of square miles just in the Gulf of Mexico left to drill.

They buy the leases and have done no exploration it is not known if there is oil there when the get leases. Can't drill in many areas of the coast like off Florida.
 
Not as fast as we draw it out. That has been the problem. We have been dependent on foreign oil since the 70's.

Thanks to democrats and the environmental whackos putting restrictions on drilling and refineries.
 
A well reasoned approach to sustainable energy? Nah, they'll never go for that!

Excellent post! We are 3 to 4% of the earth's population, use up 25% of its resources and some bitch when they have to pay $3 a gal to fill up their gas hogs.

There is no reason for $3 a gallon.I will keep my gas hog.
 
That was Bush's fault.
The Spokesman-Review.com - Bush prevents oil, gas drilling off Florida coast
Not to mention Arnold banning drilling off Calif.

So Nelson had nothing to do with it?
JC-hysterical.gif
 
So Nelson had nothing to do with it?
JC-hysterical.gif
With what?
Schwarzenegger Still Opposes Offshore Drilling - US News and World Report

You blame democrats for limiting drilling when it's just as much republican.


Bush prevents oil, gas drilling off Florida coast
Government to buy back leasing rights


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/magazine/18wwln-phenomenon-t.html


From wire reports

Associated Press
President Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday.



WASHINGTON -- With his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, looking on, President Bush sealed a deal Wednesday to prevent further oil and gas drilling off the white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast and in the cypress swamps near the Everglades
 
Last edited:
Thanks to democrats and the environmental whackos putting restrictions on drilling and refineries.

And when the Republicans were in charge........????
 
And when the Republicans were in charge........????

He fell for all that political spin during the election. The Oil companies calling to open up more areas, at the same time making record profits.:roll: It proves the theory there is a sucker born every minute.
He ignors the fact that oil companies are shutting down refineries.
 
There is no reason for $3 a gallon.I will keep my gas hog.

Sure, why not! As long as you have young men and women dying to make the ME safe for big oil at the tax payers expense, why wouldn't you?
 
With what?
Schwarzenegger Still Opposes Offshore Drilling - US News and World Report

You blame democrats for limiting drilling when it's just as much republican.


Bush prevents oil, gas drilling off Florida coast
Government to buy back leasing rights


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/magazine/18wwln-phenomenon-t.html




From wire reports

Associated Press
President Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday.



WASHINGTON -- With his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, looking on, President Bush sealed a deal Wednesday to prevent further oil and gas drilling off the white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast and in the cypress swamps near the Everglades

We are talking about the feds not State Governors. Nice spin. :spin:


http://www.seattlepi.com/national/370748_bush15.html

President Bush on Monday lifted an executive ban on offshore oil drilling and challenged Congress to follow suit, aiming to turn the enormous public frustration about gasoline prices into political leverage. Democratic lawmakers rejected Bush's plan as a symbolic stunt.

With gas prices topping $4.10 a gallon nationally, Bush made his most assertive move to extend oil exploration, an energy priority of his presidency. By lifting the executive ban on coastal drilling, Bush rescinded a White House policy that his father put in place in 1990.

The move will have no practical effect unless Congress acts, too. Both executive and legislative bans must be lifted before offshore exploration can happen.

Bush had called on Congress a month ago to go first, then reversed himself Monday. He said the country could no longer afford to wait.
 
Last edited:
We are talking about the feds not State Governors. Nice spin. :spin:


Bush sends a challenge on oil drilling

President Bush on Monday lifted an executive ban on offshore oil drilling and challenged Congress to follow suit, aiming to turn the enormous public frustration about gasoline prices into political leverage. Democratic lawmakers rejected Bush's plan as a symbolic stunt.

With gas prices topping $4.10 a gallon nationally, Bush made his most assertive move to extend oil exploration, an energy priority of his presidency. By lifting the executive ban on coastal drilling, Bush rescinded a White House policy that his father put in place in 1990.

The move will have no practical effect unless Congress acts, too. Both executive and legislative bans must be lifted before offshore exploration can happen.

Bush had called on Congress a month ago to go first, then reversed himself Monday. He said the country could no longer afford to wait.

You are right: Bush Sr enacted the ban. Another republican.

With gas prices topping $4.10 a gallon nationally, Bush made his most assertive move to extend oil exploration, an energy priority of his presidency. By lifting the executive ban on coastal drilling, Bush rescinded a White House policy that his father put in place in 1990

Bush's lifting of the ban had no effect on exploration.
 
In 1981 Reagan signed a law banning some offshore oil drilling.
 
Sure, why not! As long as you have young men and women dying to make the ME safe for big oil at the tax payers expense, why wouldn't you?

Nice spin but take diesel. It was cheaper than gas until the dems and their environmental lobby decided sulfur must be taken out then it became more expensive than gas. It also now gels at a higher temp.
 
You are right: Bush Sr enacted the ban. Another republican.

With gas prices topping $4.10 a gallon nationally, Bush made his most assertive move to extend oil exploration, an energy priority of his presidency. By lifting the executive ban on coastal drilling, Bush rescinded a White House policy that his father put in place in 1990

Bush's lifting of the ban had no effect on exploration.

It did cause prices to drop. It had no effect because democrats refused to drop the congress restrictions.
 
Nice spin but take diesel. It was cheaper than gas until the dems and their environmental lobby decided sulfur must be taken out then it became more expensive than gas. It also now gels at a higher temp.

Yeah, better to keep spewing the sulfur so you can save a few cents a gallon.:roll:
Breathing is overated, anyway.
 
Last edited:
Never had enough votes to stop a filibuster like Obama had.

Are you talking about ANWR? We can conserve more oil by conservation than is in ANWR!

"Okay, let's say we had a real president who actually cared about ending our addiction to oil during a time we are at war in the Persian Gulf. Let's say he made a major effort to work with the governors and the mayor is to educate the public and perhaps had an economic stimulus package that included vouchers for low income people to get their car tuned up.

How much could we save? Let's be conservative here and just say 10%. That's 900,000 barrels a day. That's ANWR.

That's six times what is currently blocked by the congressional moratorium on coastal drilling."

More oil can be found in your car than offshore | Grist
 
So now you have to go back almost 30 years to blame the GOP?
JC-ROFL.gif

Reagan is the father of our modern day energy crisis. It is his legacy!
 
Back
Top Bottom