Instant gratification works well with us. Why anyone would be listening to George Bush (McCain) is beyond me.
If the republicans are so interested in energy now, it's purely for political gain because they have had years to do something about it. The world's shortage of oil isn't the republicans fault.
Even the Saudis are diversifying out of oil.
The fault of the republicans, who have been "leading" the country, is that they have never bothered to come up with a plan for life after oil. They've only been plotting: how to get more oil. I suspect the Iraq war had more to do with this than anything else.
Reuters: "There is a real misconception that proponents of drilling are fueling, implying that somehow this oil is going to go directly to U.S. consumers," said Julia Bovey, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The oil companies are the ones who are going to be the beneficiaries of this."Boiling a complex issue into a picture book:
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said oil is traded globally "so any changes we make impact the world oil market - not a separate domestic market."
The Swamp: Oliphant: I guess the question of the moment is: Is $4 dollar-a-gallon gas the new gay marriage? I guess you think it is.
Tankersley: Ask me again in October. Let's see what gas costs then.
On the other hand: "San Francisco judge legalizes $6 a gallon gas" -- sounds like something to rile up Ohio voters, doesn't it?
Oliphant: It's one of those issues where it's a lousy play to be a progressive. Nobody wants to sacrifice for conservation. It brings to mind Jimmy Carter wearing a sweater. No president will ever wear a sweater again because of that.
Tankersley: You wear sweaters.
Oliphant: Only because they have puppies on them.
Tankersley: To be fair, I've always seen your style as less Jimmy Carter than Mr. Rogers.
Oliphant: Speaking of energy, here in Washington we have discovered that there really are monsters in the dark. Such as the Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Tankersley: You say "monsters." I say "smart politicians." Who would have thought that the House GOP would get more attention with the lights off in the chamber than they've gotten while in session?
Oliphant: The other day I was reaching for a lightswitch and tripped over Mike Pence (R-Ind.).
Tankersley: I would mention that Illinois' own Rep. Peter Roskam (R) said yesterday that coming back from his vacation in Michigan for this got the phones ringing off the hook in his D.C. office. So maybe it's resonating.
Oliphant: Well, it is smart. I just saw the aformentioned Pence on CNN, and normally he couldn't get on CNN in the morning unless he hit Lindsay Lohan with a car. Like with McCain, there is resonance to be found in gas pain. Everyone can debate whether offshore drilling would change anything, but it's a way of boiling down a complex issue to an easy word picture.
The Swamp also points out that in McCain's "speech" in May on energy, he didn't mention drilling once.
The U.S. oil exports have hit record highs:
Reuters: The White House on Wednesday made a new push for expanded offshore drilling to help lower fuel prices, days after new government data showed American petroleum product exports hit record levels.
Flanked in the White House Rose Garden by his cabinet after meeting to discuss energy issues, President George W. Bush called on Congress to pass legislation before its month-long August recess to allow more offshore drilling.
"To reduce pressure on prices, we need to increase the supply of oil, especially here at home," Bush told reporters.
Bush this month lifted an executive order that had banned drilling in most U.S. waters and wants Congress to end its own drilling ban before lawmakers leave town in August.
"The sooner Congress lifts the ban, the sooner we can get this oil from the ocean floor to your gas tank," Bush said.
Critics of the offshore drilling plan noted that the Energy Department released data this week showing that U.S. exports of finished petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel, soared to 1.592 million barrels per day in May.
The exports set a record for the month and were up 31 percent from a year ago.
Jim Greeff, deputy legislative director for the League of Conservation Voters, said the export data shows it was "misleading" for the administration or the oil industry to suggest new offshore supplies would reduce U.S. pump prices.
"The oil companies pushing for drilling is nothing more than a land grab," Greeff said.
Obama supports limited oil drilling IF it leads to an overall energy package.
The key point is that oil drilling will not lower gas prices.
