White House Won't Back Down on Oil Drilling in Energy Bill

[kskiska]

Democrats call for focus on power grid

CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- Under fire from Democratic lawmakers in the wake of the worst blackout in U.S. history, a White House spokesman insisted Monday the administration will not back down from pushing its Alaska oil drilling initiative as part of President Bush's national energy policy.

"The president believes strongly that we need a comprehensive solution, not patchwork crisis management," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters at the president's vacation ranch.

Since the massive blackout, Democrats have accused Bush of blocking legislation that would have allowed for upgrading the transmission system. Democrats say if the president would drop his initiative to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the national energy legislation before Congress would stand a better chance of passing.

more…
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/18/bush.energy/

[Parche]

1. so thats why it happened

To scare America into more terra, and drilling of Alaska for their oil

So now we know why the blackout happened!!

[JackSwift]

2. I hope Daschle hands their asses to them

.

[gratuitous]

3. SOP for the GOP

Talk about the gang that couldn't shoot straight! Hijackers take down four planes in the U.S., and 15 of the 19 hijackers are from Saudi Arabia. Naturally, the corrupt Bush administration goes after Afghanistan. Then Iraq. Uh huh.

There's a power failure that affects 70 million people in the upper northeast. So naturally, the solution from the corrupt Bush administration is to . . . drill for oil in Alaska!

Anyone remember Unca Dick's Super Duper Secret Energy Panel? Curious what they might have been talking about? And why Arnold Schwarzenegger knows more about what went on in those meetings than you do? How about Junior's one day Economic Summit? You remember, the one where he couldn't attend any of the meetings, but claimed he'd be reading the reports generated? Do you wonder if he's actually read any of those reports? Or if any reports were actually written up? Do you ever wonder about things like that?

Well, you're not alone; neither does anyone in the media. And any opposition to this administration's crackpot ideas is dismissed as mere politics, and the dumbshow just goes on for another week.

[Stephanie]

4. Just got these links in email re: legislation

Democrats Tried to Invest $350 Million to Upgrade Electric Grip, But Tom DeLay Said NO

Daily Enron reports, "When Bush weighed in on the issue he quickly politicized the situation. He argued in favor of modernizing the grid, adding that he's 'said so all along.' This statement should immediately be filed under the long list of Bush administration falsehoods concerning energy policy. In June 2001, Democrats in the House advanced a proposal that would offer $350 million in federal loans for the express purpose of updating the outdated power grid. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) blasted the proposal, calling it 'pure demagoguery' and arguing that Democrats 'have no credibility on this issue whatsoever.' House Republicans voted it down. Then they voted it down again. And then a third time. Three straight party line votes killed the bill, while the White House worked behind the scenes to orchestrate the death blow. After the bill was scuttled, Democrats issued a supplemental report once again arguing for the need to address the situation."
http://www.thedailyenron.com/documents/20030815132640-93614.asp


GOP Opposition to Grid Improvements in 2001 Led to Blackout of 2003

BuzzFlash reports, "In June of 2001, Bush opposed and the congressional GOP voted down legislation to provide $350 million worth of loans to modernize the nation's power grid because of known weaknesses in reliability and capacity. Supporters of the amendment pointed to studies by the Energy Department showing that the grid was in desperate need of upgrades as proof that their legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) should pass. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration lobbied against it and the Republicans voted it down three separate times: First, on a straight party line in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, then on a straight party line the U.S. House Rules Committee, and finally on a party line on the floor of the full House ." Why did Republicans block grid improvements? Because the transmission bottlenecks let Enron & Co. manipulate supplies to rape consumers. Defeat ALL Republicans!
http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/08/15_blackout.html

Bush Was Warned of 'Grid Failures' but He Went AWOL

Boston Globe reports, "The organization responsible for preventing massive blackouts in the United States has been warning for months that the nation's system of voluntary compliance with electricity standards is inadequate and could result in just the kind of widescale power outage that occurred yesterday. Indeed, in a document written just days ago, the North American Electric Reliability Council said there has been 'a marked increase in the number and seriousness of violations' of guidelines governing the nation's power companies and that 'the very stability of the electric system upon which our economy and our society depends' has 'no effective recourse today to correct such behavior.' The document goes on to warn that 'the longer it takes to establish this new system, the greater becomes the risk and magnitude of grid failures.'" Bush was AWOL again, causing massive economic damage - Impeach Bush Now!
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/08/15/group_warned_of_potential_blackout

[CatWoman]

5. Well, I also remember these assholes beating their chests

and boasting that they wouldn't apologize to the Chinese for bumping into our spy plane.

[dansolo]

6. What does oil drilling have to do with

electricity transmission infrastructure? They are two completely different issues.

[Stephanie]

7. It's blackmail - they are bundling the issues together

in one bill. They are criminals.

[Rose Siding]

8. All of BushCo's most dastardly deeds involve energy "policy"

Iraq, Davis/CA, environment- all related to the energy industry.

[Junkdrawer]

9. He used to only say "tax cut", now he can say "drill in ANWR" and...

"tax cut". See, and you thought he wouldn't grow into the office.

[Stephanie]

10. BTW, who is the beneficiary of the ANWR drilling?

Does one company already have dibs on that, or will that be going to the largest donor of the Bush/Dick 2004 campaign contributions?

Really, they must have already promised it to someone. Why else would they be so pigheaded about it.

[legin]

11. Not to many people actually

Saudi oil out the ground for 5 dollers a barrel.
Caspian Sea 10 Dollers
Although not quite the same thing, ANWR only economically viable at a world price of 20 to 25 dollers a barrel and that is only for the first few billion barrels.

The best explanation I've seen is by another poster who said something along the lines of ANWR is like the key battlefield against enviromental protection, drill ANWR and you get to rape the rest of the country all you like.

[sandnsea]

12. Phoenix out of gas and now this???

John McCain has been against this drilling. Funny how the only pipeline to Phoenix bursts and the White House comes out with ANWR drilling in the same day, right after the biggest blackout in history.

The CIA has been disrupting countries and governments for decades, no reason to think they aren't doing it here. It's to save the country from the communist liberals don't ya know.

I am getting more scared every day.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. The agenda is fixed

The Agenda has never changed:

1. Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

2. Open ANWAR for oil drilling

3. Eliminate Environmental and OSHA regulations

4. Pack the Supreme Court & Outlaw Abortions

5. Cripple Labor Unions

6. Topple Saddam/ Appease Israel

7. Push all social programs off onto bankrupt states for eventual elimination

8. Move the responsibility for Medicare into the private sector

9. Privatize Social Security Investment


Don't ever be fooled by any distractions, these items are be worked every day by these bastards. What I will never understand is how any common person could possibly get behind this and support it, how is it that it's approval rating isn't closer to zero?