GOP Gains Boost Chances of Alaska Drilling

[Lori Price CLG]

GOP Gains Boost Chances of Alaska Drilling
Supporters of Exploration in Wildlife Refuge Appear to Have Majority in New Senate

Republican gains in the Senate from last month's elections (sic) have pumped new life into the administration-backed move to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, prompting environmentalists to mount what one of them called "the fight of our lives" to defeat the proposal.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3127-2004Dec15.html

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/

[Nikepallas]

1. Well, if they get their wish and are able to drill in Alaska does that

mean our troops can come home now?

[boilerbabe]

53. I don't think so! They seem to want to just mess up everything n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

2. It's the irreversible effects of the cabal's rule...

that are the most disturbing.

[Piperay]

3. I guess that means

that will be plenty of cheap gas to go around then, pickings for all. ;) :eyes:

[rodeodance]

4. a dig mentality from the WH vs investing in alternative energy

sourses!!!!!

[Botany]

5. A total of 6 months worth of oil in ANWAR.

Although if used up over 5 years it will make lots of money for bush's buddies.
bush and his thugs only care about the money and power. They care about
nothing else. Scum.

:mad:

[GOPBasher]

6. Woohoo! Let's rape the environment everywhere!

I hear more and more great news every day. The last four years have been simply superb!

[boilerbabe]

54. I was hoping that my marching around with signs was over..n/t

[ivolsky]

7. ANWR Reality

Despite a US Geological Survey study which concluded that only 5.2 billion barrels of ANWR oil is economically extractable, enough to supplement OPEC oil for a whole 18-36 months, the Bush push for drilling has been relentless. Yet there are alternative policies to decreasing America’s dependence on foreign energy sources. One alternative is to use less of it.

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank, a 0.4 mile-per-gallon fuel improvement in the nation’s automobiles would save more oil per day than ANWR could produce in its lifetime.

In fact, automakers could increase SUV fuel efficiency to 25-30 mpg and regular car efficiency to 40 mpg by using already existing technology. If vehicles averaged 40 mpg, the United States would save more than 3 million barrels of oil a day, more than we currently import form the Persian Gulf. Yet in spite of this, Bush opposed a 2002 McCain/Kerry bill that would have increased regular car efficiency to 36 mpg by 2015 and in response committed to raising SUV fuel efficiency standards by a mere 7%, to 2.2 miles per gallon over the next four years.

After 9/11 the president had an opportunity to rally the country in support of oil independence through the development of alternative sources of energy and the increase of automobile fuel efficiency. He blew it. Instead, he chose to side with his campaign contributors... again.

more: www.politicalthought.net

[klook]

15. Repeat this statistic over and over

"According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank, a 0.4 mile-per-gallon fuel improvement in the nation's automobiles would save more oil per day than ANWR could produce in its lifetime."

Thanks for posting this! And welcome to DU! :toast:

[boilerbabe]

56. I haven't yet read the link...

But I must say, that there are some factors, such as people (like me) driving older vehichles (sp...that word looks funny) Anyways, I don't see any reason to drill in an area that has a major caribou migration (which it does).

I have recently read an article that tried to somewhat downplay the seriousness of the environmental impact on that area in Alaska, and you ain't gonna see any cooperation amongst the congressmen/women or whatever, since they are all repugs. Drill drill drill they say. I can see the point of view as far as job creation, but like you have already pointed out, there's only limited amounts of oil we can get, so why don't we try some regenerative energy? I know i am going to get my ass slapped. I work for a power company and have been reminded that I cannot be a Leftie whilst doing what I do. OH YEAH? I am going to do my best to try to find the "Happy Medium", but I am afraid thatmy influence is probably minor. We at least have some very severe environmental constrictions, and I am the one that is in charge of tracking all that, so as far as that's concerned, I and my unit will not be contributing to any global warming at least...so now I have to figure out how to contemplate this Alaska drilling...

I am from a small paper mill town in Maine, and they are freaking out because the Nature Conservancy has bought a bunch of land in the area, and this is what makes me wonder...I have contributed to them, but there's definately a dichotomy between the logging/paper industry (total depression) and the intent of the Nature Conservancy (which I totally support, but, I don't live there anymore, so it's not such an urgent thing with me) I feel this is so much like the drilling in AK, the people there need jobs, the people that don't live there say, environment, what can you do? We really need to go through this and try to make a "happy medium" without either killing off the indiginous life and also not put the locals into a total depression... But if you follow the Bush admin, then it's all rape loot pillage as far as I can see.

I have always had a prob with the Dems trying to kiss up to those assholes. I think we should have asserted ourselves long ago, and not done that "Why don't we be friends" thing, since they would never have done the same. FUCK them, don't we have some ideals here??

[Ed C. Finley]

63. As a former Alaskan

I really didn't have a problem with drilling on the North Slope for oil, nor did I think a natural gas pipeline was a bad idea either.

Former governor Hickle also wanted to build a huge water pipeline to southern california form the yukon river and sell water to thirsty angelinos; great idea too.

But, for the money we have spent in Iraq, going on 200 billion that we know of we could have really jump started the solar industry in this country. Loans and grants for rooftop solar water heaters and panels, cheap savonious rotor wind turbines...hell painting every rooftop white in Cal and Arizona would have saved a shitload of energy. We could have given credits to startup companies and put americans to work, BUT NOOOO!!", As John Belushi used to say. We have to go put a whipping on Iraq. Of course if we controlled our borders we would need to increase our energy usage so much either, but thats a forbidden topic.

[roguevalley]

66. As a current Alaskan, I have a big problem with it. It doesn't

solve anything, the graft will be UNBELIEVABLE and it will destroy a pristine wilderness FOR NOTHING.

God almighty, is there NO PLACE that is sacred?

If you think there is graft in Iraq, you ain't seen nothing yet.

[Ed C. Finley]

67. So

I take it you don't accept your permanent fund dividend check, since it comes from all that drilling in the pristine wilderness thats the north slope.

[LevelB]

8. I like to

ask my republican friends this: Do we really have to drill in our last untouched wilderness? Can't we leave some wilderness for our grandchildren to spoil? Can we leave them some old growth forest to clearcut? Why should we have all the fun?

It made some of them think.

B.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Megahurtz]

46. I know you're not asking me, but

my answer is to STOP OIL DEPENDENCY, use another alternative energy resource for vehicles and

leave Alaska alone!!!!

Oh and welcome to DU! :toast:

For most of the answers to your questions, keep reading. You'll learn plenty from this site!

[liberalmike27]

9. This Issue

Much like the gun issue, this one I think we need to just give in. I think fighting for the tightest safeguards, but allowing it is best. Much like guns, people want this for the most part, and it only hurts our chances of getting elected unnecessarily.

[janetle]

10. Completely disagree

We absolutely cannot give up this issue. The WH has drill bits at the ready all over the Rocky Mountains as we speak. ANWR needs to be preserved and protected. I do not buy the argument that one small little structure with a small footprint does no harm. This destroys the untouched wildness completely and forever. To me it is rape.

Would you go have a picnic on a freeway median just because they left some grass, flowers, and trees untouched?

[janetle]

11. Reply to myself

The point is--we give up on ANWR in Alaska and we give up on all of the Rocky Mountains in the lower 48 and we are drilled.

[klook]

19. Correct. Also, the ANWR itself is worth fighting for

as are the people, animals, and plants that live there. See my post in this thread -- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1078741#1080437 -- for more information.

By the way, it was Subhankar Banerjee's book of photographs that Barbara Boxer presented to her fellow senators that helped turned the tide the last time the Republicans tried to trash this place.

[Tacos al Carbon]

28. God, I hate it

when people mis-use/overuse words like "rape."

[janetle]

29. Well,......

......EXCUUUUUUUUSE ME.

Have you EVER seen a clear cut???

Obviously not.

[Tacos al Carbon]

31. No, I won't excuse you

Especially since you insist on equating the cutting down of trees with forced, violent sexual assault on a human being. I don't see how there can be any excuse for you or anyone who would knowingly make that comparison, as you just have.

[janetle]

33. Nope

Nope, I will continue to use that word. I grew up near Butte and Anaconda, Montana. You would not believe what a toxic pit moonscapes and dead environment exists there. I used to play on God knows what along crusty orange treeless stream banks. To me, it is violence to our earth which ultimately holds our life and it is RAPE.

[Tacos al Carbon]

34. You feel free to use any word you want

And I will feel free to continue to consider you to be on par with the soulless extremists in this world, right and left wing, who are so enamored with their pet causes that they stopped giving a damn about real life human beings ages ago.

[janetle]

36. Philosophical comparisons are beyond your comprehension

I'm sorry that you don't seem to understand the use of powerful metaphors, but because I am a human being with the right to feel passionate about God's creations, I also have the right to use whatever word I choose that will accentuate my horror at the destruction of our home.

Read a book.

[Tacos al Carbon]

37. You don't want to compare credentials

with respect to liberal arts education and ability to comprehend philosophical concepts with me. I'll make you look foolish. As for your rights, as I said, you have the right to use any words you want and I have the right to consider you to be intellectually and morally stunted in light of your apparent inability and unwillingness to use words that are appropriate for the situation.

[Tight_rope]

38. Tacos....I think you need to look up the definition of the word "RAPE"

But just in case you don't have a dictionary let me educate you on how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "RAPE".

Rape
Function: transitive verb (this is the context in which the word was used)

Inflected Form(s): raped; rap·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin rapere
1 a archaic : to seize and take away by force b : DESPOIL
2 : to commit rape on

SEE: The word "RAPE" is not defined as a the wrong doing of a "Sexual" act.

Now that I've educated you please take the time out to apologize to janetle.

[Tacos al Carbon]

42. Maybe you should take a moment and look up "archaic"

But just in case you don't have a dictionary let me educate you on how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "ARCHAIC".

Main Entry: ar·cha·ic
Pronunciation: är-'kA-ik
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Greek; French archaïque, from Greek archaïkos, from archaios
1 : having the characteristics of the language of the past and surviving chiefly in specialized uses
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time : ANTIQUATED <archaic legal traditions>
3 capitalized : of or belonging to the early or formative phases of a culture or a period of artistic development; especially : of or belonging to the period leading up to the classical period of Greek culture
4 : surviving from an earlier period; specifically : typical of a previously dominant evolutionary stage
5 capitalized : of or relating to the period from about 8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. and the North American cultures of that time
synonym see OLD

And now, for the actual Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of "RAPE" when used as a NOUN, as it was in this instance:

Main Entry: 3rape
Function: noun
1 : an act or instance of robbing or despoiling or carrying away a person by force
2 : unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent -- compare SEXUAL ASSAULT, STATUTORY RAPE
3 : an outrageous violation

No need to thank me or apologize. Educating you is reward enough.

[tabasco]

47. Maybe you should stop proclaiming how intelligent you are.

rape

n.
1. The crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse.
2. The act of seizing and carrying off by force; abduction.
3. Abusive or improper treatment; violation: a rape of justice.

tr.v. raped, rap·ing, rapes
1. To force (another person) to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse; commit rape on.
2. To seize and carry off by force.
3. To plunder or pillage.

www.dictionary.com

The third use of the verb is very common. It took me one minute to find this. Rape of the environment is a very common and correct usage.

[Tacos al Carbon]

49. Use any words you like

Hey, feel free. No one is stopping you. You and everyone else have the right to use words in any way that you like.

You can say that a car salesman raped some guy on a deal or that your friend Jewed someone in a transaction. You can call a political decision a lynching or call bad wages slavery. Feel free. And I will feel free to draw conclusions about you and others who use words in this way.

[janetle]

43. Why thank you

Thank you tight rope for coming to my defense. What makes me laugh is that if Tacos actually knew who I was or what my connections are or anything about me, he or she would be apologizing...and probably profusely. So I smile.

[janetle]

45. And...

If you look over the edge into the Butte pit--rape is the right word.

[Megahurtz]

48. KICK!!!

Right on Tight_rope!!! :kick:

[boilerbabe]

60. Rape is a perfectly appropriate word here, n/t

[aquaman]

12. GIVE UP???????????????????????????

That is insane, that passive approach is exactly what is wrong within the Democratic party now. You say that "people want this for the most part." May I have your source for this please?

[boilerbabe]

62. I think it's about time the Dems got up off their collectives butts, too

passive is for pussies, the REPUGS have forced us to play their game, we can do it better, I think...
We are smarter.
Just as long as we don't equate it with the Lowest Common Denominator, we may be able to beat them at their own game. Lee Atwater is DEAD. Karl Rove is NOT.
These people have simplified things to present to the general public, but kept the complexity to themselves. I think we outta just tell everyone that they are all fucked up. Why should we be nice, when so much is at stake, and people are voting against their best interests>

I am a blue collar female, and I make more money than most of the people that voted for Bush, and we need to inform them that they are going down the wrong trail here. I have to deal with the misinformed on a daily basis at work, it's not easy trying to enlighten anyone, when the Dems have such an intellectual approach, and the Repugs have BLACK and WHITE, RIGHT and WRONG!@ get the picture?? We are the people that see the gradations, it's not easy being a Democrat, especially when you are trying to explain it to someone that wants it in black and white, which is I think our whole problem...maybe we need to say...

Abortion on demand (at least every other week , screw you)
Gun Control...all guns illegal unless you are in high school
Smoke Dope unless you don't like the results
Drink in moderation, and don't even try to drive (at least not backwards)
Don't let anyone tell you what to do unless it is meaningful (you decide, don't let FoX News decide)
Wear what you want to wear, depending on the climate.
Have some fun, apparently someone is trying to smack that one down.
Play video games if you must, but hopefully you will have some other social interaction before that...
Remember that the leather you are wearing is a cow that was killed mercilessly, it's hard to be a purist, but you can get pretty close if you pay attention. Try eating like macoroni or something. Think about it.

[boilerbabe]

58. what are you worried about> someone not liking you? n/t

[Megahurtz]

13. What happened to Bush's promise

during the debates to invest time and money towards hydrogen-powered cars?

Oh I forgot, the election's over now and so are his "promises"

[Canuckistanian]

16. After the lights are turned off and the reporters are gone

Most of these promises are quietly killed. Just like corporate governance laws and "No Child Left Behind".

[Megahurtz]

22. And now all of those reporters are keeping everything quiet

they seem to be protecting Bushitler.

[sarcasmo]

26. He also said there would be no draft

[mulethree]

35. Wrong promise

Remember

"We need an energy bill that encourages consumption."
—Trenton, N.J., Sept. 23, 2002

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

65. Don't forget about the

sex slave violations in Venezuela that caused bunnypants to forgo a $200 million grant to Chavez's leftist leaning government...

Lies, lies, lies...

[oneold1-4u]

14. bush name in oil

If the bush name wasn't already on every drop of oil in this country and abroad he would be more believable!

[klook]

17. "Frozen wasteland" teems with life

Look at the photos on this web site -- http://wwbphoto.com/projects.html -- and read the information on the site, and you'll understand why the fight for ANWR is so incredibly important.



Also good are books by Debbie Miller, such as Midnight Wilderness: Journeys into Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge[/i>, and A Caribou Journey:

[InvisibleTouch]

20. Thank you for the links!

After my immediate visceral reaction, my next thought was to ask if anyone had a link to the very site you mentioned. Rather than just sitting back and fuming, we need to spread these pictures far and wide now.

Wasn't one of these photo exhibits stashed somewhere in a basement and the text was ordered removed, because someone thought it was "too controversial" to show the beauty of the landscape?

[klook]

27. Yep, see janetle's post below about the Smithsonian's chicken act (n/t)

[Botany]

32. Thank you!

The pictures are awesome. bush would trade this all for money and
he thinks nature is his stocked bass pond.

:yourock:

[InvisibleTouch]

18. Rethugs ruin everything they touch.

I can't describe how much I hate these people.

[Megahurtz]

21. I'm with you on that one

I get more and more bitter everyday.:(

[idiosyncratic]

23. We can't let this happen. We can't!!

n/t

[janetle]

24. Yes, display censored and banished to the depths of the Smithsonian--link

Here is a column about the power of visuals to help preserve the last wild places on our earth.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/200887_joel24.html

And a quote about the AMWR photo display:
"Subhankar Banerjee was home here last weekend after a 25-city tour showing his slides of polar bear dens, migrating caribou and ptarmigan footprints across a frozen landscape that Interior Secretary Gale Norton once called "flat, white nothingness."

The photos became a Washington, D.C., cause célèbre last year. Fearing the wrath of Alaska's congressional delegation, Smithsonian curators banished an exhibit of Banerjee's work from prime display space to a basement hallway at the National Museum of Natural History."

[tkurth]

44. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

I lived in Alaska for 8 years and am acquainted with the staff at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (note: folks who want to drill there will often use ANWR instead of Arctic National WILDLIFE REFUGE when referring to this special place.) There are many grass roots organizations and MANY people in Alaska against drilling in the Refuge. The Northern Alaska Environmental Center is in Fairbanks www.northern.org with links to the Refuge home page.

The refuge is truly a special place, teeming with wildlife. For centuries, the porcupine caribou herd has migrated from Canada to the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge to drop their calves. The wildlife is abundant and breathtaking. Drilling will permanently alter this habitat.

Pro drilling people will tell you that they will leave a "small footprint". Any footprint will change this place from a pristine wilderness to....

Please write your representatives and senators and ask them NOT to support drilling in the refuge.

[boilerbabe]

59. Those Repugs are beyond repair

I have never been to Alaska, but I can see that it is just another business transaction to those assholes. I am fuming, wish I could do something about it!!

[Borgnine]

25. Pathetic scum.

All they care about is lining their pockets with a little more cash. Hey, it doesn't matter if they trash the planet. Jesus is beaming them up soon anyway, right? They might as well be comfortable while waiting.

[CityDem]

30. We need to move to the center on select issues

Kerry stated that we needed to reconsider our position on choice -- maybe we need to reconsider on ANWR. The oil companies are already drilling on the north slope, why not add a few more acres to the mix. We need to shed the the extremist label for red america and this may be a place to start.

[InvisibleTouch]

39. You ARE joking, I hope. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

40. That's the thinking that's put us in the awful position we're in!

Every time the left moves toward the center, the right moves to the right...and tells us we're too extreme and too unwilling to compromise.

Do you really think it would be any different this time?

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Megahurtz]

50. Good God!!!

You must be joking! Holy shit we've got enough pollution on this planet, it needs to be cleaned up.

There are sure some odd postings on this thread from people who seem to have come out of the woodwork somewhere............:eyes:

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

55. We are not the extremists here

The extremists are the Bushistas who insist that the only answers for the country's economic woes require raping the Earth.

[genieroze]

57. Grr

:puke:

[genieroze]

61. I changed my mind. I'm glad they will be drilling in a red state.

When the oil is depleted in a few years and their ecology is f*cked and they have a major catastrophe and it becomes a hell hole, good for their asses. Let's see how allowing gays being pro choice or having a gun protects your asses from ecological devastation. Freaking retards!

[Learning2Fly]

64. I find it disheartening

that Alaskans, fully aware of Bush's environmental policies, would vote overwhelmingly for him. Makes it more difficult to sustain the cause when the very people in whose backyard this will happen don't seem to give a damn.