Obama announces drilling expansion for climate push

[seafan]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday plans for a broad expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling in an effort to win Republican support for new laws to fight climate change.

Obama, a Democrat, said his administration would consider new areas for drilling in the mid and south Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, while "studying and protecting sensitive areas in the Arctic."

The president, who needs bipartisan support to pass a bill that would set limits on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, cautioned that expanding drilling was not a catch-all answer to U.S. energy challenges.

"Drilling alone cannot come close to meeting our long-term energy needs, and ... for the sake of the planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now," Obama said in prepared remarks.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62T06520100331

---

Report says oil supplies in Fla. waters negligible, February 26, 2010



We need a reset button.

[villager]

1. Giving away the store now so that he "might" win Republican support, when he never will?

n/t

[saigon68]

87. Change you can "Believe In"

[Oregone]

2. "drilling expansion for climate push"

:rofl:

Seems Orwellian



But hell, better than slurping up the dirty tar sand oil, right? And better for the trade deficit too, right?

[Uncle Joe]

21. Sort of like f&%$#*!g for virginity. n/t

[Jamastiene]

23. Perfect analogy. n/t

[Mithreal]

37. +1

:thumbsup:

It makes sense if you embrace the farce.

[ShortnFiery]

40. Or "Chickens for Colonel Sanders" eom

[nuncvendetta]

3. bargaining 101

If you already give the other side a concession in time period 1, they have no incentive to give you a concession in time period 2 because they already have your concession. Stupid move.

[Newsjock]

4. Mr. Obama is a smart man, so why, why why?

When everyone knows "an effort to win Republican support for new laws to fight climate change"
is doomed to abject failure, why does he continue to pursue this fiction?

[yowzayowzayowza]

12. Cuz this'll ground the concerns of a whole lotta independents.

[ShortnFiery]

43. No, it's done simply to feed Big Oil and their Profit Margins. It has nothing to do with

anything that those who are not in the upper 1% need to worry our "little minds" about.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

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

[yowzayowzayowza]

64. Sure. n/t

[avaistheone1]

31. Smart people do dumb things.

Screwing the environment to save it is a good example.

[ShortnFiery]

41. He did it ... for the blessed Free Market. OIL, The Blood of Capitalism

:crazy:

We're not due to reach PEAK Oil Prices until 2020. There's a hell of a lot more BILLIONS to be made via oil exploration and massaging the Markets. :evilgrin:

We're Americans, and will be damned if we'll deny our OWNERS within the multi-national OIL cartels "their profit margin" until they are FORCED TO by NATURE. :eyes:




http://www.321energy.com/editorials/russell/russell110205.html

"Today, we are in a new period of tightening oil supplies along with correspondingly-high oil prices. Our situation is now seen to have its principle origin in geologic realities that have been only recently recognized. This 'energy crisis' may not go away in a year or even in five years. Perhaps not in my lifetime. Crude oil is more difficult and more costly to find every year because easy-to-access oil has already been exploited. Demand around the world keeps rising, some 1.5% to 2.5% per year. We are using 31 billion barrels annually now, and finding 8-10 billion barrels at the most.

This is the old crisis story -- made permanent. We are in a new era, all right, and I project that one will support a continued average WTI (West Texas Intermediate)crude oil price above $50 per barrel going out in time. And I anticipate prices will move (generally) higher until we reach Hubbert's Peak perhaps in the 2015-2020 period.

[Ian David]

5. He really thinks there is anything he can do to get Republicans to vote for ANYTHING he proposes?

He could give them all three wishes from The Djinni of The Lamp, and they'd still filibuster his pick for Dogcatcher General.

[RedCloud]

29. They only see the color of his skin.

[DesertDiamond]

52. They only see that he is called a Democrat

[Ian David]

65. I feel the same way about Boehner. n/t

[pleah]

6. So, is this his version of green jobs? n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. "...broad expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling..."

Obscene out of the mouth of a Democrat. :puke:

Oil, coal, nukes -- O's favorite solutions to solve climate change -- fuck that shit.

[Stumbler]

8. Oh for F*ck's sake...

Once again, Obama's administration is saying "F*ck you, Liberals. I'm going after Republican's support even though they've vowed not to support me."
:banghead:
Remind me again about the definition of insanity...

(Edited for spelling)

[RedCloud]

34. Why does he want to look "cool" to those assholes in the first place?

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Please remind me ..once again..WHO WON THE ELECTION??

[Zhade]

56. A corporatist liar who values conservatives over those who elected him.

NT!

[Tx4obama]

68. Obama is doing exactly what he said he'd do during the '08 campaign

Everyone should have been listening to him ;)

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/31/2253122.aspx

.

[Nihil]

84. Who won? The same people as always - the ones who bought it.

You don't really think that your quaint idea of "voting" has anything
to do with the subsequent behaviour of the elected officials do you?

All they need to do is listen to their sponsors and that most certainly
*doesn't* include the likes of you.

:shrug:

[dflprincess]

94. Not us n/t

[Myrina]

10. ... when he just acknowledged in the NBC interview ...

... the the GOP never intended to support anything he did WRT Health Care, and that he realizes they probably will never support anything he tries, yet he's still offering them cookies? :spank:

:freak: I cannot believe I even have to say this to someone as smart as POTUS is:

Hint #1, Mr. President - if you have a majority in both houses, and know the other party is never going to play ball, GO LEFT. HARD. To hell with that other party.

[Jamastiene]

24. I wish you had his ear. n/t

[RedCloud]

33. Yes. first center the bs that Bush did, THEN play bipartisan.

[ShortnFiery]

44. We are going to have to have our PROGRESSIVES in Congress take him on.

It's beyond time! :grr:

[Nihil]

83. Didn't think that their numbers made it into double figures ...? (n/t)

:shrug:

[paulk]

85. it's not the Republicans he's offering "cookies" to

that's just the public consumption excuse.

It's the oil industry - or perhaps better described as the energy industry.

Obama is not going to go left - he's not a leftist. He's center/right.

[newspeak]

89. yeah, so why did we get a freakin republican health care bill

All of those supposed concessions in the bill--Washington is filled with nothing but actors and this is theater for the little people.

[Mr. Sparkle]

11. What are the odds we will end up drilling for oil and with no republican support?

pretty much 100%, me thinks!

[Schema Thing]

14. It's not republicans we're after, it's Independents. n/t

[Mr. Sparkle]

17. It says in the article that "The president, who needs bipartisan support to pass a bill".

I don't know any republican independents in the senate, where i have to imagine his main problem lie's. Given that the right don't believe in climate change religiously, this certainly would be a bill the republicans would filibuster.

[Schema Thing]

26. both Ds and Rs need independents.

if you have independents, then you have leverage.

[Mr. Sparkle]

35. I dont get your point as independent voting does not partain to votes on climate change.

The republicans have always voted down the party line and the independents in the senate, Bernie Sanders and Lieberman, already caucus with the Democrats most of the time.

This was the kind of crappy deal made in the past when votes have had already been gotten for passage of a bill. A bit like healthcare, Barack is staring at the middle and will end up with a more to the right of centre bill.

[Schema Thing]

38. You seem to be talking only in terms of the Senate

and I'm talking in terms of the electorate and the electorate's influence on the Congress.

[Mr. Sparkle]

53. I am talking about the senate because the Democrats have a big majority in the House

who would be able to pass a good climate change bill. When it came to healthcare reform they were able to get the public option through. It is the Senate where good bills go to die.

As much as I hate to admit it, corporate America has more influence in the senate than the electorate has.

[ShortnFiery]

45. Most thoughtful and hard working Americans would be wise financially to be LEFT of Center.

Unfortunately, the M$M, Pentagon and some of useful Idiot politicians will not permit them to KNOW THE FACTS as it accurately pertains to their situation and lifestyle. :(

[Zhade]

57. I'm an independent, and obama can fuck right off.

I didn't intend to vote in someone who ran as one thing and reversed polarity once in office.

I sure won't make that mistake again.

[Tx4obama]

69. Obama DID run on off-shore drilling - the proof is on the link below

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/31/2253122.aspx

[frylock]

66. this independant is against more drilling

[optimator]

13. looks like Palin won

and Romney on insurance tyranny....
and Bush on war expansion...

2 logical reasons for this:
a. Presidents don't have any power
b. this one believes in failed republican ideas

[avaistheone1]

32. +1

[ozone_man]

15. Drill baby drill!

Trying to win the Sarah Palin vote I guess. Seems like a lost cause to me.

Just focus on green energy Obama. Our oceans are already dying and don't any more drilling.

[Are_grits_groceries]

16. WTF is he doing???????????????????

Offshore drilling won't add to the oil supply for a while and then it is problematic how much it will add.

He won't get their votes. Why should they vote his way when he gives them what they want UP FRONT??????????

Where the hell did he learn to negotiate??????

Who took the Obama I voted for away???? Where the hell did he go????

MEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jamastiene]

25. +1000000

[Ignis]

61. Fool me once, etc.

Very discouraging, isn't it? :(

[Heywood J]

18. Much as I might welcome new nuclear power,

this is very bad. Offshore oil is our emergency reserve - it shouldn't be touched until we're in an embargo, running out, or in some other kind of catastrophe. It should be held in reserve to make crucial things like plastics, lubricants, and other durable goods. Tapping your reserves to send them up a car's tailpipe is just stupid.

It feels like an alcoholic going around the house to find any bottles he might have stashed earlier.

[ThomThom]

27. true so true

we should save ours

[ShortnFiery]

47. Then be prepared for these "cash cows" to have delays & numerous cost overruns?

Nuclear an expensive distraction

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/nuclear-power-undermining-ac.pdf

Nuclear power could at best make only a negligible contribution to CO2 reduction; even then many years after massive cuts are needed and only by depriving real climate solutions of funding.

Investment in nuclear power stations is highly capital intensive and risky. Current forecast figures and construction schedules being provided by the nuclear industry to investors and governments are not supported by historical or even current experience.

In India, for example, completion costs for the last 10 reactors have been on average three times over budget. The Olkiluoto 3 reactor under construction in Finland is already over budget (see Case Study). Alternatively, The Energy evolution Scenario, commissioned by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) (see page 6 for more information) outlines a sustainable energy pathway, phasing out nuclear power and fossil fuels, that would produce an average annual fuel cost savings 10 times greater than the additional investment cost required for the necessary renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures. There is an investment choice to be made. The investment required to double global nuclear capacity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by less than 5 percent – would be between two and three trillion US dollars.6 And as Amory Lovins from the US Rocky Mountain Institute calculates:

“Each dollar invested in electric efficiency displaces nearly seven times as much carbon dioxide as a dollar invested in nuclear power, without any nasty side effects.”

[DesertDiamond]

19. I keep thinking: Is he really this naive, or is this just an excuse?

[RedCloud]

36. Maybe he's playing chicken with them?

But he sure acts chicken shit to do anything of importnace our way.

[ShortnFiery]

49. No, I've been disappointed far too often by this Executive Branch to believe anything less

than the Progressives in OPEN DEFIANCE (really take a stand on legislation) will move Obama's actions "to the SANE Center Left" :(

[seafan]

20. 'Drilling to fight climate change.' Add this to the list from 2000-2008.

....

Obama said that the “blogger community,” which by now is shorthand for liberal Democrats, gets frustrated with him because they think he’s too willing to compromise with Republicans. “My argument,” he says, “is that a polarized electorate plays to the advantage of those who want to dismantle government. Karl Rove can afford to win with 51 percent of the vote. They’re not trying to reform health care. They are content with an electorate that is cynical about government. Progressives have a harder job. They need a big enough majority to initiate bold proposals.”

.....

Ken Silverstein, Harper's, November 2006

Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time



Credit: NYT

[Jamastiene]

22. I guess if we destroy what's left of the planet,

we won't need to worry about climate change any more, will we? We'll all be dead. This is thirteen dimensional chess, here, I tell ya. Yup. Problem solved.

[RedCloud]

28. Shit, meet fan!

This is totally fucked up. We voted out people for even thinking about this kind of drilling. Maybe the AntiChrist is not so visble to us??????

[backtoblue]

30. Wall street journalAug. 2009

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203863204574346610120524166.html




"You read that headline correctly. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is financing oil exploration off Brazil.

The U.S. is going to lend billions of dollars to Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, to finance exploration of the huge offshore discovery in Brazil's Tupi oil field in the Santos Basin near Rio de Janeiro. Brazil's planning minister confirmed that White House National Security Adviser James Jones met this month with Brazilian officials to talk about the loan......." clip


http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/02/campaign.wrap/index.html


CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama responded Saturday to criticism that he has changed his position on opposing offshore oil drilling.


Sen. Barack Obama takes a question from reporters during a news conference in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Saturday.

1 of 2 Obama said Friday that he would be willing to compromise on his position against offshore oil drilling if it were part of a more overarching strategy to lower energy costs.

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama told The Palm Beach Post early into a two-day swing through Florida.

But on Saturday morning, Obama said this "wasn't really a new position."

"I made a general point about the fact that we need to provide the American people some relief and that there has been constructive conversations between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on this issue," he said during a press conference in Cape Canaveral.

"What I will not do, and this has always been my position, is to support a plan that suggests this drilling is the answer to our energy problems," Obama added. clip

[MisterP]

39. we have McCaincare and now "drill here, drill now!"

coming up, "bomb-bomb-bomb, bomb Iran" to "Barbara Ann"?

[ShortnFiery]

50. Yes, by all accounts the CIA is grooming the next Iranian "Chalabi" who just

recently defected from his work in the Nuclear Development Sector.

Manufacturing Consent for WAR, Part II. :crazy:

[truthisfreedom]

42. If you guys are seriously against oil, shut off your cars and walk/bike everywhere.

Obama needs to do everything at once. Stop buying plastic and driving at all if you hate oil so much. It's America's demand for oil that causes us to have to drill more holes in the planet.

[ShortnFiery]

46. We have a climate crisis. Every dollar wasted on oil is one less given to CLEAN energy.

“The question is not whether climate change is happening or not but whether, in the face of this emergency, we ourselves can change fast enough.”

Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, November 20061

[connecticut yankee]

48. I feel betrayed!

[northernlights]

51. Corporate Profits, +1

Planet Earth, 0.

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :sarcasm:

[CONN]

54. pathetic \n

[pundaint]

55. Add a provision - No corporate pay plus bonuses to exceed 100K if any oil spills remain uncleaned.

[Judi Lynn]

58. Barack Obama opens up vast areas of US coast to oil and gas drilling

Barack Obama opens up vast areas of US coast to oil and gas drilling
President Barack Obama faced a backlash from angry environmentalists after announcing he was opening up huge areas of American waters to oil and gas drilling.
By Toby Harnden in Washington
Published: 6:30PM BST 31 Mar 2010

The policy was welcomed by cries of "drill, baby, drill" from Republicans repeating a slogan from their 2008 election campaign. Their leaders on Capitol Hill claimed credit for encouraging the move and said they were ready to work with Mr Obama.

Exploration could lead to new oil and natural gas platforms in waters along the southern Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and part of Alaska. Proposed contracts in Alaska's Bristol Bay, however, were cancelled over environmental concerns.

The policy was welcomed by cries of "drill, baby, drill" from Republicans repeating a slogan from their 2008 election campaign. Their leaders on Capitol Hill claimed credit for encouraging the move and said they were ready to work with Mr Obama.

Exploration could lead to new oil and natural gas platforms in waters along the southern Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and part of Alaska. Proposed contracts in Alaska's Bristol Bay, however, were cancelled over environmental concerns.

More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/7542156/Barack-Obama-opens-up-vast-areas-of-US-coast-to-oil-and-gas-drilling.html

[bc3000]

59. Why should the republicans be bipartisan? Obama will do it for them.

[seafan]

60. What a surprise. Re offshore drilling, Bill Nelson claims Florida's concerns 'have been heeded'.

This is just insane.

Sen. Bill Nelson:

"I’ve talked many times to (Interior Department) Secretary (Ken) Salazar and told him if they drilled too close to Florida’s beaches they’d be risking the state’s economy and the environment. I believe this plan shows they heeded that concern. And it ought to derail the scheme in the Florida Legislature to drill three miles offshore. Now I need to hear from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. And I want him to look me in the eye and assure me that this plan will not compromise national security by interfering with the unfettered space we have for training and testing our most sophisticated military weapons systems.”

Also okay with the deal is former Florida DEP chief Carol Browner, now assistant to the president for energy and climate change. She said in a conference call that the 125-mile buffer is good protection for the state.

But U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said, “Drilling for oil off of Florida’s west coast beaches would be a serious threat to Florida’s economy and jobs. Our long-term economic health is dependent on clean beaches and clean water. I oppose any threat to jobs and Florida’s tourism and fishing industries."


Posted by Alex Leary at 11:56:21 AM on March 31, 2010

Kendrick Meek, US Senate candidate (FL), urges caution on offshore drilling

From Kendrick Meek -- who has distanced himself from President Obama lately on a few issues:

"The bar for drilling off Florida’s coast needs to be raised higher than for other states. Ending our reliance on foreign oil, researching alternative green energy sources, and exploring domestic supplies of oil and natural gas is critical, but the cost for error in Florida is greater than it is for our neighbors. Florida’s economic
well-being is tied into the success of our tourism and fishing industries, and the preservation of our beaches. Our military’s readiness and training ability cannot be compromised at the expense of drilling for an unknown quantity of reserves. The damage potential to Florida, a hurricane-prone state, of offshore oil drilling could be
immeasurable. Today’s announcement on energy security and independence requires serious consideration and study as questions remain unanswered, but caution must trump expediency."


Posted by Lesley Clark on March 31, 2010

And, in the face of this energy crisis in our own country, why is the US sending massive amounts of OUR OWN ENERGY to other countries?


US oil firms seek drilling access, but exports soar, July 3, 2008

WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - While the U.S. oil industry wants access to more federal lands to help reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries.

A record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007. Shipments this February topped 1.8 million barrels a day for the first time during any month, according to final numbers from the Energy Department.

The surge in exports appears to contradict the pleas from the U.S. oil industry and the Bush administration for Congress to open more offshore waters and Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.

.....

Here's a suggestion:


Stop these G@$-D@8^ F'ing wars for oil and maybe, just maybe, we'd have sufficient funds to research and utilize safe and clean energy for our own people, instead of spending it to drop bombs on innocents in other countries.



Our nation is truly in jeopardy with the direction this administration is heading on many critical issues.

[Tx4obama]

67. Obama mentioned offshore drilling in '08 during the campaign. Proof via link below

Obama is just doing what he said he would do during the campaign
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/31/2253122.aspx

[mvd]

72. By that reasoning, he also campaigned on the public option

But let that promise go. He didn't have to support this. I just don't think we should endanger the environment to take modest steps. Now maybe they have taken precautions - haven't read much on that. And maybe it will make the Repukes look bad. We'll see.

[Marthe48]

70. I try to be supportive of Obama but

JC, stupid ideas like this make it so hard. If we run out of oil, someone will come up with something. If we run out of planet, that's it.
I'm sick of begging repugs to come to the middle. They will not. The environment shouldn't be a gd chip in a losing game.

[protocol rv]

88. Drilling offshore doesn't harm the environment

And it does create jobs for American workers. So what's your problem?

[Marthe48]

90. Enough is enough

nt

[newspeak]

91. so, you haven't seen photos of oil on beaches in California

and you don't think after Katrina hit New Orleans there was no oil pollution?

[Psephos]

92. I've seen photos of how other countries from whom we buy oil treat the environment.

Do you think that because we outsource oil production it eliminates harm to the environment?

The actual case is that because most of our suppliers (Canada excepted) have inferior environmental regulation, not producing our own oil worsens harm to the environment, sometimes catastrophically.

This is a classic NIMBY fallacy, thinking that because you move something unpleasant out of sight, no further analysis of net effects is required.

Here's one minute's worth of googling. I'm sure someone smarter than me could do better.


http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/caspianenviro.html




http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.foreignpolicydigest.org/Ethnic-and-Sectarian-Challenges-September-2009/index.php&usg=__o3ZG08O2DTw2qANuiQk-2QJLsGY=&h=317&w=475&sz=42&hl=en&start=74&sig2=TaIPqcd7yUQm3mHjCpNDYw&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=dEoaapcHNMTM4M:&tbnh=86&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dforeign%2Boil%2Bpollution%26start%3D63%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26ndsp%3D21%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=FCu4S6f0O478MIW7jOIL


http://saveamericasforests.org/Yasuni/index.html
(scroll down)

etc., etc.

[Marthe48]

95. I don't want additional drilling anywhere

For me, it is not a matter of NIMBY. Humans could try harder to find and use alternate sources of fuel. But the easy way is to go drill for oil in new places, thus spoiling more of the world. I saw people post here that the oil recovered from drilling the east coast won't be available any time soon, and other people who posted it'd be sold to the highest bidder anyway, so where is the use? If the US is truly committed to developing alternative fuels, then don't drill in new places. Want more jobs? Hire people to clean up the sludge from the petroleum age.

[Psephos]

97. No one does.

However, until alternative sources of energy are developed and brought on-line, oil will continue to be sought and pumped.

If we displace foreign imports with local product, then two things happen: we keep our money in our own country instead of giving it others (many of whom are despicable), and we offset environmentally reckless production with production under stricter US regulation. From the Earth's point of view, that's a net good. From the jobs point of view, that's also a net good.

Personally, I believe we should produce domestically where scientific consensus says that risk is within environmentally conservative limits, and then allocate the tax revenue from that production for alternative-energy infrastructure. That's going to cost hundreds of billions at least. Without a new-technology grid and distribution system, alternative energy cannot become our dominant source. Given the catastrophic budget deficit levels we already have, I don't see where else that money's going to come from.

Domestic production is choosing the lesser of two evils, I know, but most political decisions are. :(

[Tx4obama]

71. What Obama said in 2008

September 2008: Obama Said Part Of America’s Energy Strategy Should Include Increasing Domestic Production. “That means that we, as one of the biggest consumers of oil -- 25 percent of the world's oil -- have to have an energy strategy not just to deal with Russia, but to deal with many of the rogue states we've talked about, Iran, Venezuela. And that means, yes, increasing domestic production and off-shore drilling, but we only have 3 percent of the world's oil supplies and we use 25 percent of the world's oil. So we can't simply drill our way out of the problem.” ---Transcript, First Presidential Debate, 9/26/08

October 2008: Obama Said, “I Believe In The Need For Increased Oil Production. We’re Going To Have To Explore New Ways To Get More Oil, And That Includes Offshore Drilling.” “And let's take the example of energy, which we already spoke about. There is going to be the need for each and every one of us to start thinking about how we use energy. I believe in the need for increased oil production. We're going to have to explore new ways to get more oil, and that includes offshore drilling. It includes telling the oil companies, that currently have 68 million acres that they're not using, that either you use them or you lose them. We're going to have to develop clean coal technology and safe ways to store nuclear energy. But each and every one of us can start thinking about how can we save energy in our homes, in our buildings. And one of the things I want to do is make sure that we're providing incentives so that you can buy a fuel efficient car that's made right here in the United States of America, not in Japan or South Korea, making sure that you are able to weatherize your home or make your business more fuel efficient.” ---Transcript, Second Presidential Debate, 10/7/08

[seafan]

73. September and October 2008? Here's what Obama said in June and July of 2008:

Candidate Obama's Position on Offshore Drilling

By JAKE TAPPER and HUMA KHAN
March 31, 2010

.....

In June 2008, then-Sen. Obama told reporters in Jacksonville, Fla., "When I'm president, I intend to keep in place the moratorium here in Florida and around the country that prevents oil companies from drilling off Florida's coasts. That's how we can protect our coastline and still make the investments that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and bring down gas prices for good."

In July 2008, he said, of lifting moratoriums on offshore drilling, that "if there were real evidence that these steps would actually provide real, immediate relief at the pump and advance the long-term goal of energy independence, of course I'd be open to them. But so far there isn't."

But his Republican opponents -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and perhaps even more so, his running mate, then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, with her "drill, baby, drill" chant -- used the issue to paint Obama as a stubborn ideologue.

But by August, then-Sen. Obama signaled that he was willing to support legislation that included offshore drilling as part of a bipartisan compromise.

"What I don't want is for the best to be the enemy of the good," he said at the time. "If we can come up with a genuine bipartisan compromise, in which I have to accept some things I don't like and the Democrats have to accept some things they don't like, when it's actually moving us in the direction of energy independence, I'm open to that. What I will not do is support a plan that suggests that drilling is the answer to our energy problems."

By September 2008, Obama was saying an energy strategy meant increasing domestic production and off-shore drilling.

As president earlier this year, he said in his State of the Union address that a sound energy policy "means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development."

On Thursday, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency will sign the final rule establishing new greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy requirements.

Quite a metamorphosis, I'd say.



Finally hitting that brick wall of denial will indeed be painful for many.



Somehow, finding a leader for the people who will honor his/her stated principles is becoming a fleeting fantasy. For as long as we are prisoners in the iron grip of the fusion of corporatism and government, the health of a democracy we were founded upon will not be served.

[Tx4obama]

74. Politifact rates this issue 'NO Flip'

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/mar/31/barack-obama/once-wobbly-obama-not-inconsistent-latest-oil-dril/

[seafan]

76. From your link:

So, has Obama gone from a Half Flip to a Full Flop on the issue of offshore drilling? Not if you're basing the ruling on his position on election day.

Back in August 2008, he did clearly change his stance on the issue. This time, according to all the environmental advocates and experts we spoke with, his latest announcement isn't much of a departure from his rhetoric during the last part of the campaign and during his first year in the White House. As a result, we say there's been No Flip in Obama's latest stance on offshore drilling.

Clearly, Obama's position as of June and July of 2008 reversed after August 2008, when the wingnut political pressure ramped up.


We've followed this story from its beginning, not merely from a closing chapter.

[Tx4obama]

77. That's correct, Obama has NOT flipped from his Aug/Sept 2008 position. n/t

[seafan]

78. You are intentionally trying to mislead. You won't get anywhere with it.

[Tx4obama]

79. I am not trying to mislead anyone.

Obama said during the presidential debates August 2008 and September 2008 that he was for off-shore drilling.
Then the election was November 2008.
Obama has not changed his position since the debates or since he was elected president.

Obama stated his position more than once before we voted for him.
So, now that Obama is doing what he said he would do should come to no surprise to anyone.

Didn't you watch the debates and hear him?

[ProudDad]

82. He was fucking wrong then and he's even MORE fucking wrong now! (n/t)

[Tx4obama]

75. Obama's doing something right cause Boehner is bitching about it LOL ;)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/35240.html

[Honeycombe8]

80. Orange face criticizes EVERYTHING the O admin. does. "NO, YOU CAN'T."

We now know this, and the administration knows this. No matter what the admin. does or doesn't do makes no difference. The Republicans got together and planned last year to criticize, block, obstruct, and scream at everything the admin. does/doesn't do, for political reasons.

This is a big year for elections for the Republicans. If there's one thing the Repubs know how to do, it's win elections. They can't govern worth a flip once they win, but they sure know how to win.

[Turborama]

86. They got together and planned their "hell no" strategy as soon as as the 08 results came in

I remember Boner being interviewed by CNN after the results came in and he stated that the Republicons would do whatever it takes to make sure Obama would fail (paraphrasing). I have made a detailed search for a quote and/or clip of what he said but haven't been able to find it yet.

[newspeak]

93. the oil companies already have federal leases that they haven't even used

Do you think this is going to benefit the American people. How much oil does these so-called American oil companies export? What this is carte blanche to the corporations for anything they want. The commons is being raided.

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

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

[Odin2005]

96. What kind of ORWELLIAN garbage is THIS!?!