McCain's new ad touts 'renewable energy,' but his energy plan offers little to support it.
Comment: Is it true that the French dispose of their nuclear wastes by sending them to Russia?
Will Russia accept ours? If it's not free, we may spend as much to dispose of our energy waste as we currently do to buy oil.
tintaluz@prtc.net
Comment: Why is there such an ingrained irrational paranoia about nuclear energy and waste disposal among some Americans. Importantly also why is somehow okay for millions of Navy sailors to have served for nearly forty years aboard nuclear power American aircraft carriers and nuclear powered submarines and air force personnel to handle nuclear bombs but some Americans will not consider even remotely assume any risks involved with nuclear power. It is okay for our servicemen to be exposed to alleged risks but not Democrats who oppose nuclear power. This paranoia is particular evident with the Democratic people acceptance of risks that are associated with other aspects of modern American living. Forty thousand people die every year in the United States in auto accidents but there is no outcry to ban all automobiles in the United
States. Bridges have collapsed recently in Minnesota and tunnels ceilings have fallen but there is no consensus on eliminating bridges. There have been airplane crashes that have also involved injuries on the ground but there is no outcry to ban air travel. There have been repeated rail and ship accidents but no outcry to ban railroads or ship travel. The irrational fear involving nuclear power and waste disposal has no justification. American people undergo multiple medical and dental xrays and CT scans yearly and have no fear. TSA airport screeners and medical staff work daily around xray equipment, fluoroscopes, and CT machines and do not experience adverse health consequences as a result of their work exposure. There were no documented adverse health events associated with the Three Mile Island release of minor radiation in the 1970???s and no payments for health losses were ever made involving lawsuits related to that accident. The containment vessel held at Three Mile Island. In light of most Americans acceptance of risks associated with automobiles, trains, planes, and ships, the fear on the part of some Americans of nuclear power can not be viewed as rational. John McCain's proposals to build 45 new nuclear power plants along with his other energy proposals on conservation and renewable energy will help America achieve relative energy independence in the near term and long term.
Comment: Affordable Energy is not a Zero Sum Game
The Hill by Ohio GOP Rep. Steve Chabot Aug. 13, 2008
The debate on energy has reached a tipping point. For months, calls to allow a vote on domestic drilling have been stonewalled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but yesterday she conceded that the House ???can have a vote.???
The clear temptation is to vilify the Speaker for ignoring the will of the American constituency for so long; however, the focus should now be on the future of our energy policy, not on partisan politics.
The search for sustainable energy sources should not be a zero sum game. What we have are realistic and substantive proposals available for debate that emphasize both alternative sources like wind and solar, as well as environmentally responsible approaches to increasing domestic oil and gas production. What we need is for the Speaker to call Congress back from vacation to show her party is willing to admit that the status quo and proper tire pressure are insufficient for an energy policy.
Today I joined House Republicans on the floor for the informal session we???ve been holding since Congress adjourned almost two weeks ago. While some have derided our actions as a stunt, they seem to have brought about a change in the tide. Oil and gas are still critical to American families and our economy, and the time has come for Congress to deliver solutions.
America???s energy security is a bipartisan matter. Let???s get something done.
Comment: Until recently, I was a strong anti-supporter of nuclear enegry. Though, I need to do more personal research to confirm. It appears the French have developed a new nuclear reactor which can not over heat and products less waste. If this information is correct, I could support this form of nuclear energy.
Until then, I am a spark supporter of solar power plants in the Mojava Desert and wind power in the Midwest, which employ local residents first. Both systems would require America to update its electrical infrastructure something that has been ingored for too long. I also believe there is great potential in biofuels especially when kenaf is used instead of corn.
Both candidates in my option will do little to promote energy independence. They have their hands (campaigns) to well funded from oil corporations to offer any real change or help. Such change should be sought in a third party candidate.
www.votenader.org
Comment: Just because McCain doesn't throw money wildly at wind and solar doesn't mean he doesn't support it. The same could be said about drilling for Oil he doesn't want to throw tax credits to Oil companies doesn't mean he doesn't support that as well. I believe you have misrepresented his position.
Comment: If you think about it John McCain plan for forty-five new nuclear power plants is reasonable, needed and attainable. Our current 108 nuclear power plants supply twenty (20) percent of our electricity requirements. This is amazing considering that it has been thirty years since there has been new construction on new nuclear power plants anywhere in the United States. Construction on new nuclear power plants has occurred throughout the world but not in the United States thanks to Democratic leadership. In France, nuclear power supplies 80 percent of their electricity needs. Because 108 nuclear power plants are generating twenty percent of our needs, an additional 45 nuclear power plants will only increase the percentage of nuclear power to roughly 28 percent of our needs well short of French eighty percent nuclear power generation of electricity. John McCain proposals are reasonable and will help lead us to energy independence. Democrats under the leadership of Barack Obama want to study the issue for another 30 years. By that time the only remaining United States builder of nuclear power plants General Electric will have gone the way of Westinghouse and sold its nuclear construction division to a foreign owned company Toshiba Corporation of Japan. Given the Democratic led hostile business environment for nuclear power in the United States, we will have no United States owned companies capable of building nuclear power plants.
The reality is that one nuclear power plant will have a greater contribution to our energy independence than all the contributions of solar, wind, and thermal energy combined. One nuclear power plant will put out more energy than all the solar, wind, and thermal production together even when the wind is blowing which is not all the time.. Only the proposals of John McCain on nuclear power, offshore drilling, wind, and solar energy will make the idea of United States energy independence a reality.
Comment: We have about 10% of the worlds while we consume 40-50% the math doesn't work and for nuclear power plants, if we have 108 that produce 20% of our electric, what makes anyone think that 45 more will produce more than more 10% more? We can have wind mills that can produce 20-30% built in less than 2 years along with solar we can be 40-50% self sufficient in no time! What would you say same if a nuclear power plant was built close to your back yard? How safe would you feel? Would you feel safe if 3 nuclear power plants where built in your state? Would you feel ok if some of these companies that own these plants lacked on their security? Do you know how long this would take to build on of these plants? You haven???t even begun to answer these questions and many others, yet you are gung ho on these power plants! Have you thought of these questions? How about new clean coal technology or how about all these other fuels that are abundant in our country, like wind, solar, vegetable, and water that we already have? Where does switch grass come in to play? Bush talked about switch grass a few years ago, yet we haven???t seen anybody go to this alternative fuel! I just don???t understand why the Republicans are so against these new technologies and want to go to the old standards fossil fuel and nuclear power? Maybe there is no one giving them money in these new alterative ways of fueling our country and keeping it clean for our children! I guess money does talk, look at McCain, he is taking millions from the oil companies to push drilling which he earlier opposed!
Comment: We have about 10% of the worlds while we consume 40-50% the math doesn't work and for nuclear power plants, if we have 108 that produce 20% of our electric, what makes anyone think that 45 more will produce more than more 10% more? We can have wind mills that can produce 20-30% built in less than 2 years along with solar we can be 40-50% self sufficient in no time! What would you say same if a nuclear power plant was built close to your back yard? How safe would you feel? Would you feel safe if 3 nuclear power plants where built in your state? Would you feel ok if some of these companies that own these plants lacked on their security? Do you know how long this would take to build on of these plants? You haven???t even begun to answer these questions and many others, yet you are gung ho on these power plants! Have you thought of these questions? How about new clean coal technology or how about all these other fuels that are abundant in our country, like wind, solar, vegetable, and water that we already have? Where does switch grass come in to play? Bush talked about switch grass a few years ago, yet we haven???t seen anybody go to this alternative fuel! I just don???t understand why the Republicans are so against these new technologies and want to go to the old standards fossil fuel and nuclear power? Maybe there is no one giving them money in these new alterative ways of fueling our country and keeping it clean for our children! I guess money does talk, look at McCain, he is taking millions from the oil companies to push drilling which he earlier opposed!
Comment: 10-for-10. The MCCain energy plan and fact check. Winning by "left to interpretation".
Comment: Have to agree with Ms. Robertson. I honestly do not think McCain has a clue and talks like a floundering fish out of water when asked questions that were not prepared before hand by his campaign managers. Bewildered describes him. He admits he knows little about the economy, and probably should have admitted he knows little of anything. More nuclear plants? Where will they be built? What about leakage and contamination? Where will the refuge go? Easy to say, Build more but unfortunately, there are many many things to consider. How about easy targets for terrorists? Oh my! We really should have someone to lead us, and it should certainly be someone who remembers what he says and knows more than 3rd grade geography!
thank you Susan
Comment: bridge -
"A floundering fish out of water" doesn't talk!
Obviously you have a problem paying attention to facts and reality!
Comment: The reality is McBush want the same failed energy policy we have had in the last 7+ years! McCain is a Minnie Me of George Bush! We need to get away from lobbyist, like big oil, who line politician pockets for their own agenda. We need stop having the energy companies tell us what our energy policy will be! They don???t like alterative fuels because of the cost and the low profits that they may get! Move this country in a different direction and McCain is not that person!
Comment: While camping and attending a bluegrass music festival, I took a tour of Comanche Peak Power Plant, the last nuclear power plant built in the United States. The plant is unobtrusive and is at perfect harmony with its environment. It is located near Glen Rose Texas a beautiful area that has bluegrass band festivals in the summer. It is a wonderful scenic country area and home to Dinosaur World and a state park. There are dinosaur tracks from 100 million years ago along the riverbed that can be seen some say are heading in the direction of New York City. The Brazos river flows through and the place is an environmental heaven. There is old green Sinclair Oil Company dinasour statue that stands at the park. Ironically most of the stations and assets of Sinclair Oil Company was bought by Arco Oil Company. Arco Oil Company was a jewell of an American oil company that explored and developed the Alaskan North Slope and at one time owned eighty percent of our Alaskan oil reserves. Arco Oil Company was subsequently bought out later by foreign owned British Petroleum during the second administration of Bill Clinton. The point of this comment is twofold. Democratic hostility toward United States owned energy companies has led to the sale of United States oil companies to foreign interests and that nuclear power plants can even be located next to wonderful wildlife and park areas and make good unobtrusive neighbors. Nuclear power is a friend of the environment and does not emit green house gases.
Comment: What would you say same if a nuclear power plant was built close to your back yard? How safe would you feel? Would you feel safe if 3 were in your state? Would you feel ok if some of these companies that own these plants lacked on their security? Do you know how long this would take to build on of these plants? You haven???t even begun to answer these questions and many others, yet you are gung ho on these power plants! Have you thought of these questions? How about new clean coal technology or how about all these other fuels that are abundant in our country, like wind, solar, plant, vegetable, and water? Where does switch grass come in to play? Bush talked about switch grass a few years ago, yet we haven???t seen anybody go to this alternative fuel! I just don???t understand why the Republicans are so against these new technologies and want to go to the old standards fossil fuel and nuclear power? Maybe there is no one giving them money in these new alterative ways of fueling our country and keeping it clean for our children! I guess money does talk, look at McCain, he is taking millions from the oil companies to push drilling which he earlier opposed!
Comment: If you think about it John McCain plan for forty-five new nuclear power plants is reasonable, needed and attainable. Our current 108 nuclear power plants supply twenty (20) percent of our electricity requirements. This is amazing considering that it has been thirty years since there has been new construction on new nuclear power plants anywhere in the United States. Construction on new nuclear power plants has occurred throughout the world but not in the United States thanks to Democratic leadership. In France, nuclear power supplies 80 percent of their electricity needs. Because 108 nuclear power plants are generating twenty percent of our needs, an additional 45 nuclear power plants will only increase the percentage of nuclear power to roughly 28 percent of our needs well short of French eighty percent nuclear power generation of electricity. John McCain proposals are reasonable and will help lead us to energy independence. Democrats under the leadership of Barack Obama want to study the issue for another 30 years. By that time the only remaining United States builder of nuclear power plants General Electric will have gone the way of Westinghouse and sold its nuclear construction division to a foreign owned company Toshiba Corporation of Japan. Given the Democratic led hostile business environment for nuclear power in the United States, we will have no United States owned companies capable of building nuclear power plants.
The reality is that one nuclear power plant will have a greater contribution to our energy independence than all the contributions of solar, wind, and thermal energy combined. One nuclear power plant will put out more energy than all the solar, wind, and thermal production together even when the wind is blowing which is not all the time.. Only the proposals of John McCain on nuclear power, offshore drilling, wind, and solar energy will make the idea of United States energy independence a reality.
Comment: The way to get control of energy prices is to produce more and use less. Ethanol made from corn is a joke! It produces little or no net energy but results in higher food prices and farmers get rich!
The dipsticks in Washinton are on vacation, thanks to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
Fix the problem, export Pelosi and Reid. Implement offshore drilling, ANWR drilling, nuclear, coal, wind, and solar power. Bring those exported jobs back home with energy produced by Americans in America!
Comment: Maramara, That is rediculous! You just contridicted yourself within three sentences. Wake up and realize that the US has IN TOTAL only 2% of the world's oil. You do the math. Also, just because you read something on some right wing blog doesn't make it true. Use your faculties and open yourself to FACTS whether or not they support your view of the situation.
Comment: badlogic -
Your name may describe you to a "T"!
Several other obamabots have already posted that the US has 3% of the world's oil reserves.
So here, either you or they are incorrect by 50%. Which is it?
And is that estimate quite a dated figure?
Just one or two months ago, there were several news reports stating that recent exploration suggested that the US had a greater quantity of untapped oil greater than that of all of the middle east countries combined.
And the Chinese have been reported to be negotiating with Cuba to begin drilling off-shore between Cuba and Florida. Why would they be willing to drill if the potential supply was so dismal?
So what is the correct figure?
If the quantity of oil untapped in the US is so low, why would the American oil companies be so willing to drill for it? I imagine that each of the oil rigs or platforms would be very costly.
So, as you can see, there are quite a few unanswered questions in this regard!
Comment: Under the theory of plate tectonics and continental drift, 300 million years ago when oil was formed all of the continents were one supercontinent called Pangea. The continents then drifted apart. The Africa coast was right up against North Carolina 300 million years ago. Half of Nigeria???s oil production today is now offshore and the odds of large offshore deposits off our east coast are very strong. There are also huge oil deposits off of Brazil???s east coast. Brazil has tied up almost all of the world ocean drilling ships in the hopes of developing those deposits. Given there is confirmed oil off of Brazil, likely oil off the Southern US east coast and there is confirmed large deposits south of Newfoundland then it is likely there is oil all up and down the entire United States east coast. The United States has the world???s largest coastline and it is simple common sense to make use of those offshore resources to achieve our energy independence. John McCain energy proposals will bring about this development that we so desperately need.
Comment: Comment: Democrats under the leadership of Barack Obama want to treat the American people just like the Iraqi government treats its people. Iraq has been reported to be sitting on 50 to 80 billion in oil revenues. The money is just sitting in their banks. Iraq is pumping 2.5 million barrels a day. At one hundred and twenty dollar ($120 ) a barrel that is $300 million dollars a day. The total population of Iraq is 28 million. If the government funneled that $300 million dollars a day in oil revenue directly to the Iraqi people then every person in Iraq would get a daily $11 check and a family of four could receive $44 a day without walking out the door. If each Iraqi family received that kind of money the war and insurgency would be over tomorrow. Al Queda and other foreign extremists in the country could not receive the checks because they would not be able to document that they are native Iraqi citizens.
Similarly, Democrats and Barack Obama want to treat American citizens the same way the Iraqi government is treating its people. There is 2.7 billion acres of offshore land that is currently unavailable for drilling due to the leadership of Democrats and Barack Obama. If this acreage were divided up, each adult American citizen would be entitled to twelve acres. Tens of thousands of Americans including Democrats too would become instant millionaires.
Comment: I had a dream that McCain took office as our President. The whole country became like automatons, chanting "Don't worry, be happy" and guzzling gas like there was no tomorrow. Suddenly, we ran out of gas, and the Government hadn're prepared us for it. They kept telling everyone in ads running on TV sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute that "We have plenty of oil, enough to fuel 65,000,000 cars and vehicles for 60 more years..." and everyone believed them because all the oil experts and geologists, who were trying to tell people otherwise, and alert them to the coming shortage, were not being listened to.
The Government took over everyone's tv sets and all publications told us about the wonderful amounts of oil we had onshore and offshore, and everyone would go to bed at night feeling really good that they elected McCain.
But one day, we all woke up from our dream. The country's economy was in a shambles; oil had run dry and the global economy was suffering - people were starving even in the USA because there was no more oil to fuel the big huge trucks that we used for transporting our food across the country.
The planes couldn't fly so nobody could trade, travel overseas or even to the next state. Cars and trucks were inoperable, plants shut down (no energy), and the world came to a complete halt.
We started using horses to get around from place to place. We started scavenging for food in the forests (what's left of them) and killing each other over our hoarded supplies of dwindling sustenance.
The world was chaose because we hadn't planned ahead for hard times.
Vote for McSame and realize your worst nightmares - but rest assured that you're still a super-patriot. That's all that matters.
Comment: Scientist 101 is absolutely correct. I work in the oil biz and family members are geologists who concur with this: WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME FOR USING PETROLEUM FOR TRANSPORTATION; need to wean ourselves off it as soon as possible. Our economy is based on OIL. It's hard to imagine what we'll do without it - and politicians are the last ones to tell us what we don't want to hear.
Petroleum forms plastics, medicines, food mftg lubricants, cosmetics, synthetics, etc. We are wasting it driving our big fat SUVs and demanding our politicians to allow more drilling. It's a waste of time, effort and money. The oil companies know this - that is why most are investing in repurchasing their stock than in exploration for more oil - they want to ride the tide of the high prices as world supply /demand fundamentals shift to cause price increases like you've never imagined - until we run out completely of recoverable crude.
All you folks posing as "experts" demanding Pelosi and Congress allow more offshore drilling - that is a sad joke and it won't make a tinker's damn worth of price impact. Exploring for oil takes time, then it will be 10 years before the wells become producing. By then, oil will be so expensive (unless world demand drops significantly) that we won't really benefit from this drop in the bucket and it will be sold on the world market anyhow. There is no "national oil company" for the USA.
Comment: As a geologist, I can tell you without qualification that the amount of oil left on this planet, either offshore or on, won't keep our economy going much longer. It took millions of years to form the oil on this planet and we have used up the majority of it in less than 100 years (most of it in the last 30). With China, India and other countries developing their economies and thus their oil consumption, the remaining oil will soon be gone. If we do not begin immediately to develop other energy sources (plus vigorously pursue population control) the world economy will soon grind to a stop -- the entire planetary economy is based on oil. Of course, oil is more than just fuel, it forms is essential for our fertilizer industry and thus supports the world food supply. Without oil, the world agricultural system collapses. Shouldn't we be a tad more prudent with the limited oil we have left? It may be a little more important to feed the world's people than it is to lower the price of gas a nickel for your Hummer and other gas hogs.
Comment: Scientist101 -
As a alleged scientist, I'm sure that you would recognize that you do not have "all the answers," nor does being a supposed geologist ensure that you are a qualified expert in energy related matters.
I'm quite sure that there would be many geologists who would differ with you in regard to your expressed assertions and conclusions.
Have you been employed by several major oil companies?
If so, where?
And in what capacity and authority were you retained?
Usually, the really qualified don't bother to flaunt their credentials!
Comment: This is an excellent article. I think for that reason, it has attracted a lot of poison drivel from the right. McCain seems to be playing to the simpletons, including religious fanatics. These people have their thinking chores outsourced to FOX News and Rush Limbaugh. They can't trust their eyes. Anything that challanges what the propaganda machines have downloaded into their gullible and receptive minds is suspect to them. Bush went after the voters who reside on the lower end of the IQ scale; Gore and Kerry went after those of above average intelligence. That's why it was so close - because there are an equal number of people on each side of the average, which is 100. Bush didn't play to those on the upper end, just as Kerry didn't court the religious right and didn't campaign in the South, most of whom fall on the lower end of the scale. Not surprising, Obama is attracting the upper end. To get enough votes, he will have to get the more intelligent voters from the right, hoping that they got slapped out of their stupor by 7+ years of Bush giving away the store to the ultra rich. He won't get many, because they have spent most of their lives under the spell of the Republican brain snatchers. Maybe he can get enough. It will be close. The McCain voter base is influenced by bumper sticker slogans that don't challange their short attention spans. But judging by the respondents to this article, they are stuck with going after more intelligent fare just to regurgitate the swill they hold as true. They seem really threatened by the prospect of having to live in a country where they will be protected from the corporate pick pockets.
Comment: jonnyooh -
So, you think that in the South, most of the residents fall on the lower end of the intelligence scale.
Are you a Southerner? Naw, maybe just a bigot?
Comment: Davole: I grew up in the South, North Alabama and Meridian Ms. We moved to Texas when I was fifteen, and after the Army, I spent two more years in the South when I attended two years of college at the U of A in Florence. I would say a majority of the residents fall on the lower half. Enough that Kerry was prompted to avoid the region altogether. The majority probably squished their Dixie Chicks CDs, and MSN had an article about two years ago of a guy that owned twelve radio stations over the South who said they could win awards but they wouldn't be played at any of the radio stations in the region. I think anyone who voted for Bush is on the lower end, and anyone who voted for him twice is a full blown moron, as is anyone who defends him now after living through what he has done to this country. He has done more damage to America than bin Laden did or ever will do. He is a liar and a crook. The only people who benefited from his administration are the super rich. You haven't heard any of them complaining about him. He is now strongly supported by 13 per cent of the country. That's one in ten. It has been as low as 12 percent. He has the moderate support of another 20 percent. That's 33 percent, and it has been as low as 22 and 23 percent in June and July of this year..So for eight years we get the kind of government that the fools who voted for him deserve. If we get a third Bush term from McCain I expect America will be on its way to becoming a second rate power. So morons don't just suffer themselves, they hurt the whole country. You have seen the same thing I have seen, and if you came to a conclusion that favors the Bush White House, you and those like you are part of the problem, and in my estimation, are enemies of the people.
Comment: jonnyooh -
You're entitled to your bigoted opinion, and it sure shows!
Comment: I wonder if inflating the tires makes more sense to Lori Robertson?
Comment: RedSonja. People with serious psychiatric disorders focus on bizarre visitations of God and Satan. I think you, your boss, and your daughter need help. McCain lying? Like he lied to his first wife with his vows, then he committed repeated adultery against her then divorced her for a trophy wife? He lies? Can't believe it, not McCain, not the man of the Republican Party, the party of honesty and decency, that never resorts to lies like they did several years ago when McCain ran against Bush and McCain was smeared as having an illegitimate black baby. Not the Republican McCain who loves the Confederate flag. Not the Republican McCain who has as endorsers preachers who say hurricaine Katrina was a punishment to America from God, who gives speeches to right wing conservative in-name Christians of Liberty University, one of the last places to desegregate. I can't believe it! You mean our beloved Republican machine would lie against such people as Vietnam war heroes such as Kerry and Max Cleland? The Party that rejected McCain several years ago for Bush who had no foreign policy and national security experience and now wants us to believe that McCain's so-called experience is oh so very important? The party that bankrupted the country and ruined our reputation throughout the world and claims to be patriotic? I can't believe it.
Comment: This was the most negatively biased article towards McCain. Really! Why doesn't Newsweek just come out & say "McCain s?!ks!" I'm so telling my husband to cancel his Newsweek subscription. Oh & by the way, that's why they're called our offshore "oil reserves!" Reserves are for emergencies, we're in one, that's why we're drilling.
Comment: ABOUT DREAMS"
MY DAUGHTER DREAMED OBAMA IS THE ANTICHRIST. SHE TOLD HER BOSS ABOUT THE DREAM, AND HER BOSS HAD ALSO DREAMED OBAMA WAS THE ANTICHRIST. ISN'T IT CREEPY THE WAY PEOPLE SHOW UP AT HIS RALLIES? HE'S A FRESHMAN SENATOR--HE ISN'T QUALIFIED TO LEAD THE SENATE, MUCH LESS THE COUNTRY
Comment: SORRY, I DON'T CARE. i DON'T HAVE A WIND GENERATOR IN MY CAR. IT USES OIL. ANYONE WHO IS FOR DRILLING--THAT'S WHO I'M VOTING FOR.
Comment: I SORRY I DON'T CARE. I DON'T HAVE A WIND GENERATOR ON MY CAR. iT USES OIL. I'M VOTING FOR WHOEVER WILL DRILL.
Comment: SORRY, I DON'T CARE. i DON'T HAVE A WIND GENERATOR IN MY CAR. IT USES OIL. ANYONE WHO IS FOR DRILLING--THAT'S WHO I'M VOTING FOR.
Comment: Although, you won't see any of that oil until five years later, and than even after that, it will take another decade to to reach full production. Even by that time time, you would be getting less gas per day than you would save by having your tires properly inflated. Properly inflating your tires would save 1.2 million gallons of gas per day. By that time, offshore drilling will only produce 800,000 gallons of gas per day.
Comment: Oh by the way, from a europeen point of view, if Mc Cain is elected, he will take this country even deeper down... trust me. he is no smarter than Bush and he has no agenda except to continue the Bush agenda. If you want peace in the world you better not vote for him, he is a war monger just like Bush and Cheney.
Comment: Of course the republicans are hurting this country... In fact all the flaws of the american people have come out of the closet with these guys in office.. and when it did, you lost your good reputation.. Now this country is really seen for what it is... the biggest bully of the world ever! and the rest of the world does not like it!! like china said, mind your own business, unless asked!!
Comment: By the way, John Mc cain think all americans are idiots this is why he is trying to manipulate you like bush did... they know it is a nation of sheep who can't think for themselves... and they use it... Of course they all laugh at the gun and religion clinging americans... they are easy preys.
Comment: TO: maramara osted By: maramara @ 08/08/2008 10:46:40 PM
How could you believe every word Bush said during his campaign?? I saw right away he was a lier and a manipulator, but yet, you, the avrage joe believed everything he said.. During the campaign of his first presidency, didn't you realize that he was talking like a retarted?? I mean, the guy kept repeating himself over and over again... How could you vote for such a morron? and vote for him twice?? Yes, as long as you idiots debate issues like abortion or gay mariage or religion, you will get what you deserve as a president. First, my advice, start checking what your government does overseas, because, often it is not pretty... then you won't wonder why did they attack us? The us governement is commiting crimes overseas you even don't have any idea of... Just an example... Shell is in nigeria and they are killing people by polluting their rivers and land with oil. It is a real environmental and human disaster. Halliburton is there too... supplying weapons to the nigerian government and killing the people of nigeria... all that to maintain your way of life... keep driving those gas guzzler after all what is a nigerian man's life worth to you??? Now if you start reseaching why america is so despised, you will find out why... here a good site to go to to find the truth about american aid to poor country... google us and foreign aid... you will understand why a country like africa who is so rich with natural resources is still so poor... because we want to keep them that way so we continue stealing their natural resources to maintain our way of life...It is so much easier to control a poor country who has no weapons of mass destruction, no big army, no money... they are at our mercy... Now wonder why so many hate us??? educate yourselves and stop believing all the lies and propaganda your government tells you.... you get so easily manipulated and they know it, so of course, they can make you believe anything they want.. Time to wake up, there are issues way more important going on than abortion, or religion or guns or what ever your mind is stuck on... Politicians manipulate most of you with these issues who are not the real issues to make your life better.. . Bush has destroyed the lives of millions and destroyed a country who was innocent. If this is not a crime against humanity, what is????
Comment: Maramara:
You state we can???t drill our way out of our energy problem. You are wrong. Under Joh McCain proposal,s with increased nuclear power, increased drilling, and additional conservation we will solve our energy problem. They have found oil 300 miles south of Newfoundland and there is also oil off of Key West and Cuba. China is currently drilling for oil off of Cuba. If you draw a line between Cuba and Newfoundland, the line extends along our whole East coast continental shelve, 1900 miles long. There are huge undiscovered oil and gas deposits along the entire 1900 miles in between the two confirmed oil discoveries.
The Canadian Hibernia oil platform 280 miles southeast of St John???s Newfoundland Canada came in with daily production of 50,000 barrels a day with just one well. Fifty additional development wells have been drilled at Hibernia. Interestingly tugs capture and divert potential icebergs that could hit the drilling platform that also serves as a holding reservoir for over one million barrels of oil. This is the world largest oil platform that was drilled with the help of Mobil Oil and Chevron and loan guarantees by the Canadian government. Obama and the Democrats would never consider government loan guarantees for a sure thing that will produce energy for the American gas tank.
Comment: What a moron. Its common knowledge now that China is not drilling off of Cuba. Cheney said that, just like the thousands of other lies he spews on a daily basis.
A NATION OF SHEEP! DUMB SHEEP! EDUCATE YOURSELF!!!
Comment: McCain have no idea why is he running for, and what 's his plans in their miss as a republican. Republicans need to get out from the Office. Bush, Cheney, McCain are hurting our country including overseas.
Comment: A total of 2.7 billion offshore acres have the potential of being leased. Many lawsuits and delays involved the federal governemtn requirements of having to deal with NEPA National Environmental Policy Act. Federal Agencies and officials of those agencies who do not follow the Act are subject to criminal penalties. Years of delays and many lawsuits can be avoided by giving the current 2.7 unleased acreage to ordinary citizens with each citizen receiving 12 acres. The exact location of each citizens acreage would be determined by a lottery. With GPS global positioning devices, assigning tracts is not that difficult. Unlike the Bureau of Mineral Management and other federal agencies, ordinary citizens are not subject to the National Environmental Policy Act which will short circuit many suits by giving the offshore land to ordinary Americans.
Comment: Democrats seem to ignore the 8000 lawsuits brought by envrironmentalists against oil companies on current leases that prevent drilling on those leases. And since there are more envrinomental lobbyists in DC than oil lobbyists and the envrinomental lobbyists give to Democrats, it is in the Democrats interest to ttry and hammer the oil companies about drilling on current leases.
Comment: check out the Maria Bartiroma interview with Obama in April in Business Week. Only people under 75k will receive tax relief. That means he feels anyone making over 75k is rich and will have higher taxes.Anyone having mutual funds outside of a retirement account, will see an increased cap gains tax even if they don;t sell the mutual fund. That took a lot of people money during the tech bubble. Retirement accounts will be taxed at ordinary income which also will get s boost in taxes. Raising the cap is a mistake. Taking 6.2% more each out of business and people who make over 89k.
Comment: check out the Maria Bartiroma interview with Obama in April in Business Week. Only people under 75k will receive tax relief. That means he feels anyone making over 75k is rich and will have higher taxes.Anyone having mutual funds outside of a retirement account, will see an increased cap gains tax even if they don;t sell the mutual fund. That took a lot of people money during the tech bubble. Retirement accounts will be taxed at ordinary income which also will get s boost in taxes. Raising the cap is a mistake. Taking 6.2% more each out of business and people who make over 89k.
Comment: Democrats under the leadership of Barack Obama want to treat the American people just like the Iraqi government treats its people. Iraq has been reported to be sitting on 50 to 80 billion in oil revenues. The money is just sitting in their banks. Iraq is pumping 2.5 million barrels a day. At one hundred and twenty dollar ($120 ) a barrel that is $300 million dollars a day. The total population of Iraq is 28 million. If the government funneled that $300 million dollars a day in oil revenue directly to the Iraqi people then every person in Iraq would get a daily $11 check and a family of four could receive $44 a day without walking out the door. If each Iraqi family received that kind of money the war and insurgency would be over tomorrow. Al Queda and other foreign extremists in the country could not receive the checks because they would not be able to document that they are native Iraqi citizens.
Similarly, Democrats and Barack Obama want to treat American citizens the same way the Iraqi government is treating its people. There is 2.7 billion acres of offshore land that is currently unavailable for drilling due to the leadership of Democrats and Barack Obama. If this acreage were divided up, each adult American citizen would be entitled to twelve acres. Tens of thousands of Americans including Democrats too would become instant millionaires.
Comment: Comment: I will remind everyone McCain and his party OWNED THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT FROM 2001 TO 2007. The republicans could have gotten almost anything through that they wanted.
DO NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER NOW.
OBVIOUSLY, the republicans do NOT give a damn about electricity generation or the lowly consumer and what they have to pay. If they did, they could have made it happen when they were in TOTAL CONTROL.
As it turned out, all they made happen is ENRON.
Were talking VOTER PANDERING by McCain baby, nothing else but.
Comment: tiredoflies -
If you are truly tired of lies, why do you continue to spout them?
McCain and his party didn't "own" the entire government from 2001 to 2007.
Yes, the Republicans did have the presidency, and a majority in the House and Senate.
But proposed measures or bills do require a certain finite number of votes in order to pass.
Often that number was not achieved due to individual representatives who did not support the ruling party's proposal for whatever reason, so they either voted against it, refrained from voting, or were absent at the time of voting.
And your capitalized rant to avoid considering nuclear power is childish. Hopefully you'll "get over it".
In regard to the generation of electricity, the Republicans have suggested the continuation of coal powered generators, and other means which were dismissed because they weren't proposed by democrats.
The Republicans do care about the lowly consumer - that's why they champion the idea of drilling for additional sources of oil, instead of just conserving the dwindled currently available supply.
At least 70% of the US population support that viable drilling option.
You have demonstrated that many (not all) democrats are dumbfounded by actual facts and reality!
Comment: Those who are advocating for drilling even in their bedrooms as a way to energy independence have a psycological probem. They have a good Dr. for them. Who? John Mccain-BUSH
Comment: Those people who are advocating drilling as a way to energy independent surely have a psycological problem. The have a very good Dr. for there problem, Who? John Mccain-Bush
Comment: maramara -
Could you explain why most obamabots can't pay attention to detail, yet they insist on posting their flawed comments?
I notice that in your mere 2 sentences, you have displayed 4 spelling errors.
OK, I'll even explain them for you -
independent should be independence
psycological should be psychological
the should be they
there should be their.
It sure seems that you've been skipping way too many classes.
Your parents may be entitled to a tuition refund.
Also, would you care to explain to whom you refer when you state John Mccain-Bush?
Are you unable to differentiate between John McCain and George W. Bush, your current President?
Comment: REALITY CHECK, you are right on. Nonetheless, what ever happened to buying products "Made in America"? Consumers need to stop buying & relying on products (including oil) made in other countries. We also need to stop using services from companies that outsource to other countries. I hate calling my credit card company???s customer service dept. to find that I am talking to someone in India. While we are helping other country???s economies, we are hurting our own. Not that we shouldn???t help at all but we are digging ourselves a hole. It is all in the consumer???s hands; therefore, lets stop the demand. I am also ready for non-bias media. How about you?
Comment: Give the land to every American and they can expeditiously see to the leasing of the land. Mercedes Benz limousine liberals and wacko environmentalists can finally keep their mouths shut and instead use their own fat checkbooks to buy up acreage and prevent development if they choose with the acreage they buy from ordinary Americans. Let Barack Obama and the Democrats tell the American people that they are better trustees of the offshore land with limited or no development and that each American is not entitled and should not profit from their 12.8 acres of offshore land.
Leasing and royalty payments are not insignifcant even for small acreage. An example is east of Fort Worth Texas where natural gas drilling companies are paying 25 percent royalties and $3000 leasing payments to owners of quarter acre homes for natural gas drilling rights under their homes
Comment: Mccain is driving towards a cliff. I am an independent who voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004. It is clear to me that Bush is a liar and manipulator. The evidence that have emerge to date concerning the invasion of Iraq and other hot issues have left me very dissappointed with the Bush era. Lies during presidential campaigns might have been successful in the past but this time around, lies will leed the candidate to doom because we know what the lies and propaganda of the Iraq war has done to us; 4500 lives, trillion Dollar cost, distractions, poverty and misery in American families. John Mccain should stop lying to the American people because it is very annoying.
Comment: maramara -
I doubt the validity of your post.
Even most independents would know how to spell McCain's name correctly (hint - capital C).
And the mentioning that you voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 does seem to be in accordance with the standard obamabot attempt to deceive.
With regard to your statement that you voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 - if you were the required minimum 18 years of age to vote in 2000, that would put you at approximately 26 years of age currently.
Your post and its naive assertions seems to indicate that you are barely entering your twenties.
Maybe I have failed to enter in consideration for possible arrested development in your case.
If, for whatever reason, you are as annoyed as you say - good - maybe now you will actually strive to begin to become informed.
Comment: Twelve acres for every adult American, suggestion for John McCain to help follow through on his promise to increase offshore drilling, help the American people and create an immediate economic stimulus to the American economy.
Democrats under the leadership of Barack Obama want to effectively give away in trust our offshore exclusive economic zone by standing in the way of any current offshore development. Under the 1982 United Nations Law of the Seas Convention the US has an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles and mineral seabed rights up to 350 nautical miles extending along the Continental shelf. A nautical mile is 6080 feet so our exclusive economic zone extends about 240 miles and mineral seabed rights extend 420 miles. The US has the world's largest offshore exclusive economic zone totaling 4.4 million square miles. In comparison, the total land area of the United States is only 3.4 million square miles.
On the East coast alone, if you drive from Key West Florida to Bangor Maine it is 2000 miles. Multiply the 2000 miles by mineral seabed rights extending out 420 miles results in a total of 840,000 square miles of ocean acreage. Because we have the world's largest offshore coastline which is twenty-five percent greater than our land area, it only makes common sense that we exploit our offshore resources to achieve our energy independence.
Comment: Do you honestly think McCain or the big oil companies are going to let evey adult American have 12 acres of that area?
Comment: Raddave: the big oil companies such as Shell and British Petroleum are foreign owned. Shell is based in Holland and British Petroleum is based of course in London. The big oil companies do not care who they pay leasing to fees for the rights to look and drill for oil. It does not matter if they pay the leasing money to the United States government through the Mineral Management Service or pay ordinary Americans. Ordinary Americans might be more likely to strike a harder bargain with the oil companies just as you are more likely to negotiate a better deal when you sell or buy your own car or house. But on the whole, oil companies could care less who they pay for the right to drill and who they pay royalties on the production. Remember if they find oil on your twelve acres, they will pay you normally a royalty of one eight of the production. At todays prices that is about $15 for every barrel that is produced. Only one well at Hibernia oil platform 300 miles south of Newfoundland is producing 50,000 barrels of oil a day. If you owned the twelve acres close to it, you would earn 750 thousand dollars a day in royalties off of your leased acreage. There are a lot of Democrats that could become millionaires under McCains plan.
Comment: I have followed John McCaion's political career with interest for many years. I am a retired sailor who was in the A-4 squadrons out of NAS Lemoore when John McCain was a junior Naval Aviator (we called them nasal radiators) and was shot down. His Admiral dad pinned a medal on my chest during an awards ceremony on the USS Coral Sea in 1968. I appreciated his heroics at that time, but since then, I have changed my mind about his credibility. After calling the minions of the right wing evangical wingnuts "Agents of Intolerance" when they were swiftboating him, he then bent down to kiss the collective butts of Falwell, Robertson, Dobson,et al to court thier support during the primary campaign. That cost him any support from me. A for his TV blitz against Obams, he comes off as a vindictive, gurmpy old fart.
Comment: Saying I'm going to require that 25% of all electricty generated has to be by reneuable sources and that I'm going to spend XXXX tax dollars. Are not solutions or even suggestions on how to do it..
IMO neither have specifics, just sound bites.
Comment: McBush thinks we are stupid and that he can feed us with rubbish call ads. Someone should tell John Mccain that he is the most stupid person that has ever lived by using the Cheney-Bush political book for his campaign. The respect I had for him is gone. I started losing respect for him when I observed the way he treated female journalist who asked him questions on the campaign trail. John Mccain is not different from Mugabe who can say anything even if t means discredit ing himself to get elected.
John Mccain, the protector of Big Oil
Comment: maramara -
Your comment that John McCain is "the most stupid person that has ever lived" underscores your gross lack of objectivity and rationality!
Take some time, and just THINK about it!
Comment: McCain has been disrespecting Americans by telling lies in ad after ad....but I think that we are smarter than McCain thinks that we are...
Obama wants Big Oil to start immediately drilling on the 68,000,000 acres that they have under leases right now...so when are they going to start?
NUCLEAR POWER creates radioactive nuclear waste...this waste will have to be dumped in our states...do you want it dumped in your backyard....
Is the United States so arrogant...that we can tell Iran that they cannot use NUCLEAR POWER to create energy...but the United States can?
McCain gets called out and Obama is the problem...
but,
McCain has DEMENTIA...EARLY STAGE OF ALZHEIMER???S DISEASE...we are doomed if he is elected...
Comment: The best way to effectively exploit our offshore resources and really help the average American is to divide up the 4.4 million square miles of US offshore economic zone among the 218 million Americans adults who are 18 years and older according to the 2003 US census. Because a square mile equals 640 acres and you multiply 4.4 million square miles times 640 acres, there would be 2.816 billion offshore acres to be divided among the 218 million American adults. The current federally leased acreage of roughly 100 million acres both onshore and offshore represents roughly only three and a half percent of the total 2.8 billion offshore exclusive economic zone acreage of land that could be leased and divided up by all Americans. Subtract out that acreage and you still have 2.7 billion unleased acreage. Granted this remaining acreage may not be the best prospects but we won???t know for sure until there is actual drilling. The Democrats say that there is 80 million acres leased and the oil companies are sitting on it. Well here are 2.7 billion new acres that new and older drilling companies can bid on.
Under this proposal, every adult in the US would be entitled to 12.8 acres of mineral rights to offshore production. A lottery could be set up to randomly assign 12.8 acres to every American. You may end up with mineral rights to acreage south of Canada???s Hibernia offshore project 300 miles south of Newfoundland that is producing 50,000 barrels a day from only one well. The resulting lottery would create ten of thousands of instant American millionaires whose acreage abuts known contiguous offshore oil fields. A market to buy and sell acreage rights could be created which would put money into the pockets of those who acreage contains unknown oil potential. Turning over the acreage to ordinary Americans to collect leasing revenues and royalty rights will empower Americans and stimulate the economy. We do not need the Minerals Management Service of the Department of Interior and Nancy Pelosi to argue over the next four years which tracts of land should be leased and have that money end up going into the General Treasury. Its your money and you can get it now when you sell the rights to drill for oil and collect your royalties for the next twenty years.
Comment: You're right, coal and nuclear are not renewable energy sources - they will run out in a few hundred to several thousand years, but so will the sun - in about 5 billion years. While solar and wind are certainly nice ideas, they're not feasible on a large scale for 30 years or more. In the meantime, we can either develop our own resources (oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear) and create American jobs in the process, or we can continue to send $trillions to our enemies overseas.
Comment: Alexclarkus, you had me believing that you might know what you were talking about for a little while there. However, as I reached the tail end of your comment I realized that you are just another person that has no clue. The old saying "to be trusted with large things, you must first prove trustworthy with small things." There is a homework issue here, to make the comments you made of NAFTA provides enough evidence that you are not trustworthy enough to take seriously about the comments you made on taxes. You see, as you should know NAFTA was started by 41, then enviornmental changes were made by Bill Clinton. What you had to say about major corp. taxes is very simple in logic, however thats not how it works.
Comment: Newsweek, your BIAS is showing again. Obama HAS proposed higher taxes on energy, and that means ALL of us. And how is he going to give each working family a $1000 tax credit (over $100 Billion total cost) from a few $billion in extra taxes from oil companies? Is he going to have different tax rates for different businesses (illegal, and a real nightmare). Why not try being impartial, or register as Obama's lobbyist?
Comment: Obama and the Democrats would never consider government loan guarantees for a sure thing that will produce energy for the American gas tank. Democrat loan guarantees and earmarks are only reserved for off the wall improbable future technologies such as hydrogen power that offer no short term chance of solution for our energy problems. Democratic disdain for energy production by US companies is evident with the current ownership of former US energy companies. Is it any surprise that the jewell Arco Oil Company which owned 80 percent of our Alaska Oil Reserves was bought out by British Petroleum Corporation at the end of the second administration of Bill Clinton due to the hostile Democratic attitude toward energy companies. It is no accident that the largest US builder of nuclear power plants, Westinghouse Nuclear Power Construction Division was bought out by Toshiba Corporation of Japan. While 80 percent of France electricity is generated by nuclear power, only twenty percent in the US is generated due to the successful efforts of Democratic party to kill the US nuclear power industry. Significantly, nuclear power is not considered a mainstay of Democratic plans to address our energy crisis.There is also a worldwide shortage and backlog of orders for oil drilling platforms and oil drilling ships but US shipyards are not building these ships. Only one percent of the world's commercial ships are built in US shipyards. Hold your breath for the Democratic outcry and push for government help to US ship builders to build oil drilling ships in the US.
Comment: Lori Robertson writes an article to debunk a McCain ad. Has Lori Robertson ever written an article debunking an Obama ad? No? Oh, maybe she thinks none of Obama's ads need debunking. For that matter, has any MSNBC columnist ever written an article debunking any Obama ad? Who would that be? Notice I didn't ask whether Newsweek ever published any op-ed type article by a non-wacko liberal writer. I asked whether any MSNBC paid writer has ever written an article debunking an Obama ad? Don't you guys ever get embarrassed by your blatant liberal bias?
Comment: How exactly does Obama plan to pay for all this research and development of alternate fuels? We'll from what I've gathered he plans on increasing taxes on big business. There's only one problem with that. If you increase the taxes on businesses then the products and services these companies provide have to cost more for them to maintain the same revenues. Which means that all you consumers out there that think your getting a tax break are really paying out more because the products you buy cost more, and not only that, but in order to stay competitive your jobs are being outsourced. So next time you have to buy a vehichle you can thank the people that increase those taxes because in the long run you pay more. Also, remember that NAFTA was supposed to be this great agreement, so long jobs! You can thank the democrats for that.
Comment: What exactly is Obama's energy plan, and how does he plan to pay for it? Also, as far as I can tell these affluent corporations that he is planning on increasing the taxes on to pay for these programs are the same corporation that are giving people jobs. That is why all these companies are outsourcing and sometimes even shutting the doors. If you keep increasing taxes on the corporations then who exactly do you think pays for these extra taxes? Have you ever wondered why vehicles are so much more expensive than they used to be? I'll give you one guess.
Comment: I will remind everyone McCain and his party OWNED THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT FROM 2001 TO 2007. The republicans could have gotten almost anything through that they wanted.
DO NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER NOW.
OBVIOUSLY, the republicans do NOT give a damn about electricity generation or the lowly consumer. If they did, they could have made it happen when they were in ENTIRE CONTROL.
As it turned out, all they made happen is ENRON.
Were talking VOTER PANDERING by McCain baby, nothing else but.
Comment: tiredoflies -
If you are truly tired of lies, why do you continue to spout them?
McCain and his party didn't "own" the entire government from 2001 to 2007.
Yes, the Republicans did have the presidency, and a majority in the House and Senate.
But proposed measures or bills do require a certain finite number of votes in order to pass.
Often that number was not achieved due to individual representatives who did not support the ruling party's proposal for whatever reason, so they either voted against it, refrained from voting, or were absent at the time of voting.
And your capitalized rant to avoid considering nuclear power is childish. Hopefully you'll "get over it".
In regard to the generation of electricity, the Republicans have suggested the continuation of coal powered generators, and other means which were dismissed because they weren't proposed by democrats.
The Republicans do care about the lowly consumer - that's why they champion the idea of drilling for additional sources of oil, instead of just conserving the dwindled currently available supply.
At least 70% of the US population support that viable drilling option.
You have demonstrated that many (not all) democrats are dumbfounded by actual facts and reality!
Comment: . Democratic disdain for energy production by US companies is evident with the current ownership of former US energy companies. Is it any surprise that the jewell Arco Oil Company which owned 80 percent of our Alaska Oil Reserves was bought out by British Petroleum Corporation at the end of the Bill Clinton???s second administration due to the hostile Democratic attitude toward energy companies. It is no accident that the largest US builder of nuclear power plants, Westinghouse???s Nuclear Power Construction Division was bought out by Japan???s Toshiba Corporation. While 80 percent of France???s electricity is generated by nuclear power, only twenty percent in the US is generated due to the successful efforts of Democratic party to kill the US nuclear power industry. Significantly, nuclear power is not considered a mainstay of Democratic plans to address our energy crisis.There is also a worldwide shortage and backlog of orders for oil drilling platforms and oil drilling ships but US shipyards are not building these ships. Only one percent of the world's commercial ships are built in US shipyards. Hold your breath for the Democratic outcry and push for government help to US ship builders to build oil drilling ships in the US.
Comment: The John McCain campaign should use as an example Chevron???s discovery 270 miles southwest of New Orleans and 175 miles offshore. The first discovery well produced 6000 barrels of oil a day. At 44 gallons to a barrel, this first single well is capable of producing a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline a day for US automobile tanks. This well named Jack 2 was drilled nearly 21,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico in more than a mile of water. Imagine, they drilled almost five miles deep. This well is within our exclusive economic zone. If Barack Obama and the Democrats had their way, we would not have this production available for the American public.The Canadian Hibernia oil platform 280 miles southeast of St John???s Newfoundland Canada is also a poster child of Democrat led US hostility to energy production. The first Canadian well at Hibernia came in with daily production of 50,000 barrels a day, almost the equivalent of 2 million gallons of gas a day. Fifty additional development wells have been drilled at Hibernia. Interestingly tugs capture and divert potential icebergs that could hit the drilling platform that also serves as a holding reservoir for over one million barrels of oil. This is the world largest oil platform that was drilled with the help of Mobil Oil and Chevron and loan guarantees by the Canadian government. Obama and the Democrats would never consider government loan guarantees for a sure thing that will produce energy for the American gas tank. Democrat loan guarantees and earmarks are only reserved for off the wall improbable future technologies such as hydrogen power that offer no short term chance of solution for our energy problems.
Comment: Under this proposal, every adult in the US would be entitled to 12.8 acres of mineral rights to offshore production. A lottery could be set up to randomly assign 12.8 acres to every American. You may end up with mineral rights to acreage south of Canada???s Hibernia offshore project 300 miles south of Newfoundland that is producing 50,000 barrels a day from only one well. The resulting lottery would create ten of thousands of instant American millionaires whose acreage abuts known contiguous offshore oil fields. A market to buy and sell acreage rights could be created which would put money into the pockets of those who acreage contains unknown oil potential. Turning over the acreage to ordinary Americans to collect leasing revenues and royalty rights will empower Americans and stimulate the economy. We do not need the Minerals Management Service of the Department of Interior and Nancy Pelosi to argue over the next four years which tracts of land should be leased and have that money end up going into the General Treasury. Its your money and you can get it now when you sell the rights to drill for oil and collect your royalties for the next twenty years.
Give the land to every American and they can expeditiously see to the leasing of the land. Mercedes Benz limousine liberals and wacko environmentalists can finally keep their mouths shut and instead use their own fat checkbooks to buy up acreage and prevent development if they choose with the acreage they buy from ordinary Americans. Let Barack Obama and the Democrats tell the American people that they are better trustees of the offshore land with limited or no development and that each American is not entitled and should not profit from their 12.8 acres of offshore land.
Comment: Democrats under the leadership of Barack Obama want to treat the American people just like the Iraqi government treats its people. Iraq has been reported to be sitting on 50 to 80 billion in oil revenues. The money is just sitting in their banks. Iraq is pumping 2.5 million barrels a day. At one hundred and twenty dollar ($120 ) a barrel that is $300 million dollars a day. The total population of Iraq is 28 million. If the government funneled that $300 million dollars a day in oil revenue directly to the Iraqi people then every person in Iraq would get a daily $11 check and a family of four could receive $44 a day without walking out the door. If each Iraqi family received that kind of money the war and insurgency would be over tomorrow. Al Queda and other foreign extremists in the country could not receive the checks because they would not be able to document that they are native Iraqi citizens.
Similarly, Democrats and Barack Obama want to treat American citizens the same way the Iraqi government is treating its people. There is 2.7 billion acres of offshore land that is currently unavailable for drilling due to the leadership of Democrats and Barack Obama. If this acreage were divided up, each adult American citizen would be entitled to twelve acres.
Comment: At this time McCain is starting to worry that Obama is getting better support then what he is so he is doing what he is good at takeing someones ideas and twist it around. to make him look better but the truth is no matter what you say the truth always comes to the serface. i think that Obama will be a good leader.
Comment: JayGuy -
The truth is that the Obama campaign and its patronizing main stream media are unable to comprehend why their empty suit messiah is not leading by at least 15 - 20 points in the current voter polls!
They are truly worried! Is this a prime example of buyer's remorse?
Comment: Give the land to every American and they can expeditiously see to the leasing of the land. Mercedes Benz limousine liberals and wacko environmentalists can finally keep their mouths shut and instead use their own fat checkbooks to buy up acreage and prevent development if they choose with the acreage they buy from ordinary Americans. Let Barack Obama and the Democrats tell the American people that they are better trustees of the offshore land with limited or no development and that each American is not entitled and should not profit from their 12.8 acres of offshore land.
Leasing and royalty payments are not insignifcant even for small acreage. An example is east of Fort Worth Texas where natural gas drilling companies are paying 25 percent royalties and $3000 leasing payments to owners of quarter acre homes for natural gas drilling rights under their homes
Comment: The best way to effectively exploit our offshore resources and really help the average American is to divide up the 4.4 million square miles of US offshore economic zone among the 218 million Americans adults who are 18 years and older according to the 2003 US census. Because a square mile equals 640 acres and you multiply 4.4 million square miles times 640 acres, there would be 2.816 billion offshore acres to be divided among the 218 million American adults. The current federally leased acre
