Now that gasoline prices have got everyone’s attention, even environmentalists are coming to their senses. “Offshore drilling foes relent,” screamed a Los Angeles Times headline yesterday. Republican Representative James T. Walsh summed up the change of heart nicely by saying, “For years I have argued that we should avoid offshore drilling and tapping into underground reserves in ANWR until there was an emergency that left us with no choice…That time has come.” I hope Rep. Walsh doesn’t take the same approach to health care, but better late than never.
President Bush has long pushed for exploration in the areas most likely to contain large deposits of oil, America’s continental shelf and ANWR. He and Republican lawmakers attempting to expand domestic supplies of crude oil were defeated by Democrats a few years ago, and since then the President has been fairly quiet on the subject. Until now. Maybe his renewed zeal is just election-year posturing; if so, so be it. His proposals of June 18th were spot on. Better late than never.
Upwards of 80% of the nation’s coastline is under a federal ban prohibiting exploration and drilling. Environmentalists pressured compliant Democrats to lock up America’s energy future after an oil spill in 1969 off the Santa Barbara coast, an event still cited by California Senator Diane Feinstein as reason enough to forever forgo the national treasure lurking off our shores. It’s like the Democrats are caught in a time warp, eternally reliving an event that can never happen again. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed or damaged more than 1,000 drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, but not a single one leaked. Unable or unwilling to download such new information — “Don’t bother me with facts, my mind is made up” — Feinstein, Boxer, and Obama stand foursquare against offshore drilling. If you are happy about $4 or higher gas prices, you know which candidate to vote for.
Barack Obama and virtually all Democrats endlessly parrot the same non sequitur. In response to the President’s call for increased continental shelf exploration, Obama offered that “renewed offshore drilling would not increase supplies or lower prices for years,” according to the LA Times, justification for Obama’s stance to not explore and not drill. Of course, his observation demands just the opposite, looking and drilling as soon as possible, precisely President Bush’s position. “It’s time to move swiftly,” said W. It’s always surprising that someone said to be so dumb can be so right so often. Hmmmm…
Diehard anti-seek-and-drill miscreants always raise the same false objections to drilling offshore. They claim leaks will despoil the environment, drilling rigs will mar the view, opening new oil fields will not bring down the price of gasoline, and increasing the supply of oil will slow our efforts to be more fuel efficient and postpone development of alternative sources of energy. Each of these arguments is simply bilge skimming, desperate attempts to keep America from doing the obviously right things. New technologies will prevent leaks and spills. The outer shelf extends 50 miles out to sea, well beyond the view of sensitive vacationers. Increasing the supply of oil will — must this really be said? — reduce energy prices, and the costs of food, plastics, and other products in the bargain. We are smart enough to harvest our energy supplies and increase fuel efficiency and redouble efforts to advance alternative sources of energy. Americans can walk and chew gum at the same time.
John McCain is, at long last, finally seeing the political potential in gas prices. This is a golden opportunity for McCain and all Republicans — are you listening Arnold? — to win votes by advocating the right path for America. Our energy policy should be comprehensive, exploring and harvesting offshore, in ANWR, and in the shale oil fields of Colorado and Utah, while simultaneously increasing fuel efficiency and seeking viable, clean, and renewable energy. It’s a winner, for America and Republicans.
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Posted by Jerry Pomeroy in Campaign 2008, Energy, Video