The Reason I Thought The "Drill Here, Drill Now..." Chants in 2008 Were Nonsense...

[TomCADem]

...was not that I thought there should not be any off shore drilling under any circumstances. Rather, I was insulted by the argument from the McCain campaign that offshore drilling would somehow cause oil prices to fall, and put the U.S. on the path to energy independence by itself.

Now, I don't see President Obama pushing offshore oil drilling as a magic cure all. I don't necessarily support it, because I would want to see whether it could be done in a safe manner. However, unlike McCain, I don't see the Obama administration saying that off shore oil drilling is some magic cure all. Its not.

I would like to see the President implement a comprehensive energy strategy that does not simply depend on more drilling. The stimulus bill does have significant incentives to promote energy efficiency, and alternative energy, but sadly these programs are rarely promoted or mentioned. Instead, the bulk of the focus once again is directed to drilling.

What about the weatherizing, solar panel and wind power tax credits, etc.? The programs are out there, but they are rarely promoted or discussed on the news.

[The Wielding Truth]

1. I'm so confused by this action by Obama.

[sandnsea]

2. He is implementing a comprehensive energy strategy

and specifically said oil isn't the answer. He laid out an entire energy strategy but you won't hear any of that in the media either, any more than you hear anything about the biggest investment in clean energy we've ever had. It's just sad that there is really so much going on in this country and all the cable "news" can report is who let the daily fart and which direction the wind carried it.


"On the other side, there are going to be some who argue that we don’t go nearly far enough; who suggest we should open all our waters to energy exploration without any restriction or regard for the broader environmental and economic impact. And to those folks I’ve got to say this: We have less than 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves; we consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil. And what that means is that drilling alone can’t come close to meeting our long-term energy needs. And for the sake of our planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-energy-security-andrews-air-force-base-3312010

[Go2Peace]

3. We have an expensive house, so we must mortgage all our equity. Same argument. Regressive!

Period. This is indefensive unless you are short sighted and tone deaf.

Nothing justifies this except short sighted thinking or a sell out.

[sandnsea]

4. Good. You understand drilling is short-sighted

So does he. Read his remarks. He said so.

Since he does understand drilling isn't a long term solution, and he does understand alternative energy IS a long term solution, then why do you think he announced this drilling plan. Remembering that it would take years to even get a permit to drill, let alone actual drilling. Look how long Cape Wind has taken.

So?

[EFerrari]

5. Who was that smart young man who did green and who was let go

shortly after the stimulus package was put together? Over some stupid flap? Was his name Jones? I'm sorry I don't remember but do remember watching him talk so well and so persuasively about developing green jobs and Joe Biden smiling from his place around a table.

What happened to him? He was great. What happened to THAT?

[laughingliberal]

6. Glenn Beck did not approve of him as I recall.

Shame. He seemed to have great ideas.

[EFerrari]

7. It's Van Jones. He is remarkable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Jones

[laughingliberal]

8. I was impressed with him and not happy at his rather abrupt dismissal

I now see it as foreshadowing a pattern we may be seeing now.