The Lure of Black Gold

YES.

Obama is exactly where I want a leader to be on this!

Just yesterday I was telling a family member, "You know, I would support domestic drilling IF it came as part of an agreement to develop a renewable energy plan down the line. If I were a Congressman, I would say, 'Yes, I will back your five-year domestic drilling plan - in stone - if you will back my twenty-year solar energy plan."


I was against domestic drilling too - but I would support it now IF it's not a permanent measure. We NEED a sustainable energy plan. If we could get one in place for the long-term - and drill in the short term - we could get out of our energy crisis and leave a wonderful world for our children.

Obama '08!

Cheney's secret energy meetings resulted in a secret plan. A plan so secret that he spent years in court to successfully keep it from the American public. The smartest idea (to get what the energy companies wanted: ie drilling everywhere they currently aren't allowed) - would be to manipulate gas prices to a point where consumers are severely hurt. Push Americans into a corner (since they have to feed their families, after all) and they will bend to a "promise" of relief they wouldn't have trusted on its own merit.

Was this part of Cheney's plan? Doesn't it make perfect sense? A Republican controlled White House and Congress couldn't get American's to trade away their precious natural resources and environment - but hit them in a manipulated financial sense . . . and they start to believe they have no choice.

I completely agree that as a nation, we need to get away from oil as soon as possible. However, the technology and infrastructure to make such a dramatic shift is still many years off. While we do need to fund the development and testing of alternative fuels, we do need to also permit offshore drilling in the years until a feasible, diversified solution to oil is found. It's great to be an idealist and say that we need to get away from oil, but do you really want to see gas prices continue to soar at the current rates for year and years while we wait for some miracle technology? We at least need some relief at the pump until the country breaks its oil addiction.

5 Democrats (moderate) and 5 Republicans (moderate) have come together to discuss our current energy crisis. They have come up with ERA of 2008. ENERGY REFORM ACT of 2008. Under the leadership of Senator Conrad (D-ND) and Senator Chambliss (R-GA), today, they submitted a bill that is fully paid and offers a BALANCE of Finding More US oil, Funding alternative energy, and conserving energy. It will open up the southern eastern offshore - but NOT around FL nuclear weapons testing area and NOT WITHIN 50 miles of FLORIDA COAST. It will be funded by levying ROYALTIES on all offshore drilling. (Not just minor lease payments)

This is the only WIN-WIN solution offered on the Senate floor in the past 1 1/2 years.

Please contact your Senators to support the ENERGY REFORM ACT OF 2008, by Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).

...and luckylarry, you don't have to figure out McCain? A year ago, he was for legalizing all illegal immigrants, against offshore drilling, basically voted with the democrats on most issues. Now he's a conservative? Doubtful.

Yes, it's gaining acceptance. Even Obama has flip-flopped (again) and is now accepting it for political expediency.

www.hellnobama.com

When you cannot afford the gas to go to work or harvest crops you have to try to relieve the truama many families are facing. Simple economics is more supply and less demand equals lower prices. This is a proven fact. To just shug and say tough crap is neither responsible nor humane. All sides are going to have to compromise and work toward a common goal. Drilling our resources is not a luxury, it is a neccesity. We must force Congress to address this issue now. I like the idea of basing license plate fees for vehicles on the amount of mpg they get.

Offshore drilling will NEVER happen with a Democratic controlled Congress.

Even limited offshore drilling isn't going to help. The propaganda is that it's going to lower prices - which is crap. The fact is oil prices are up because the industry wants them to be up. This whole issue is a red herring so the oil companies can get more oil and put us right back in the position we are now. Alternative energy is the only solution. Sadly though people always end up thinking in the short term.

The technology for drilling has greatly improved over the last 40 years and is much safer for the enviroment today. Now please do not misunderstand me as I live in a very green enviroment with beautiful natural resources and wild life and would be upset if anything were to harm them. Until someone can bring alternatives to an affordable means it is our governments duty to act in the best interest of the people. It will take a transition of at least twenty years to convert, so let them get the oil now and begin the transition without starving people into desperation.