Obama in Lansing Michigan Video

Obama, who spoke in Lansing today, said McCain, in government for 26 years, has voted against renewable energy. He voted against fuel efficiency standards, against wind power, against an energy bill....

"It's important to remember that he's part of that failure." The only proposal McCain has is offshore drilling.


Even McCain supporters have said that offshore drilling would not lower gas prices. Unfortunately, that's another attempt by McCain Bush to exploit many Americans, who are feeling the pinch of high gas prices. 

It's about time to hammer McCain on this because McCain did NOT start talking about energy until Obama did. Republicans have NOT cared one iota about energy.

It's been all about oil.

McCain also talks about nuclear power but that's just a political thing because it ain't going to happen unless they figure out where to put the waste. Nevadans have successfully opposed waste being dumped at Yucca Mountain for years. 

A recent story in the local paper says:

LVRJ: The projected costs to build a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, ship used radioactive fuel to Nevada from around the country and operate the site for 100 years have grown to more than $90 Billion, an energy department official said Tuesday.

I capitalized the "B." Where's that money coming from? See, it's just political speak on the part of McCain. We can't keep falling for this crap.

McCain told a Nevada audience he wanted to build 45 plants by 2020. He didn't go over very well there. Obama has said he would consider nuclear energy if the waste problem-- storing it safely-- could be solved. 

Meanwhile, Obama gives another brilliant speech (sorry McCain)

Americans Want the Quick Fix

Most Americans favor offshore drilling, though they're not sure if it would lower gas prices. But half of the people thought it would! Amazing. No wonder we get the leaders we do.

CNN: But the poll also found that Americans are divided over whether or not offshore drilling will have an immediate impact on high gas prices.

In a separate poll, 51% of people surveyed said they believe that increased offshore drilling would reduce gas prices in the next year, while 49% did not.

The debate over offshore drilling has become an increasingly important political issue in the era of $4 a gallon gas.

Too bad offshore drilling won't lead to the quick fix-- lower gas prices -- now, next year, or 10 years from now. So why do Americans favor offshore drilling? 

Probably because they don't know enough and right now, the oil companies are lobbying heavily, pushing the Bush administration to push oil. Why is anyone listening to Bush? The Bush McCain motive: It's profitable.

There is no quick fix on this one, other than cutting back. Where are the democrats on this! I guess I'll keep my oil stock. 

Bush Makes Way for Oil Drilling

George Bush makes way for oil companies to profit and that's not so bad. What is lame, is the fact that he's telling us that we'll get lower gas prices. Americans are once again being fooled.

CNN: Citing the high prices Americans are paying at the pump, Bush said from the White House Rose Garden that allowing offshore oil drilling is "one of the most important steps we can take" to reduce that burden.

However, the move is largely symbolic as there is also a federal law banning offshore drilling.

"This means that the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil reserves is action from the U.S. Congress," Bush said.

....
Experts say offshore oil drilling would not have an immediate impact on oil prices because oil exploration takes years.

"If we were to drill today, realistically speaking, we should not expect a barrel of oil coming out of this new resource for three years, maybe even five years, so let's not kid ourselves," said Fadel Gheit, oil and gas analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. Equity Capital Markets Division.

But it almost certainly would be profitable.

Obama's response:

offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks. But most experts, even within the Bush Administration, concede it would do neither. It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years. Senator Obama believes Americans need real short-term relief, which is why he has proposed a second round of stimulus with energy rebates for working families. And over the long-term, Senator Obama understands that our national security and the survival of the planet demand a real strategy to break our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, new sources of energy and by vastly improving the energy efficiency of our cars, trucks and our economy. He is ready to lead such a transformation.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi calls Bush-McCain's offshore drilling proposal a hoax.

Bush Blames Democrats for Gas Prices

He doesn't take responsibility for anything and according to him, all is well and all is as it should be. What's wrong with him?

ABC: As the presidential election revs into high gear, President Bush drilled the "Democratic-controlled Congress" for opposing White House energy policies, which he said has resulted in the rise of "gas prices to record levels."

All this about domestic drilling is only line the pockets of Bush's oilmen. It would not lower gas prices, according to most energy economists. Bush is fudging and so is McCain.

Bush McCain Selling Us Out on Offshore Drilling

Bush is out supporting his guy McCain with a push for offshore drilling. The difference between McCain and Bush, McCain is able to say the word "conservation" and McCain wants to stay out of the Alaskan wildlife refuge, while George would happily drill there.

But they're both wrong.

The only way to lower gas prices, according to energy economists, is to lower demand. The real solution is not a short term one. Unfortunately, our country has put off developing any sort of energy policy that's proactive. There is no short term solution.

There are only long term solutions, which includes alternative energy fuels. In the meantime, we simply have to adjust, ride our bikes, get a smaller car, move closer to work, drive less, work from home part time. We have to make sacrifices now to make up for the lack of leadership on energy in the past three decades.

Bloomberg: President George W. Bush today will urge Congress to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling, a move that is in line with a similar call from Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

``With gasoline now over $4 a gallon,'' Bush ``wants to work with states to determine where offshore drilling should occur,'' and have ``the federal government to share revenues with the states,'' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said yesterday.

Democrats have long opposed Republican efforts to end the ban on offshore drilling that has existed in some areas since 1981. Expanded offshore exploration also has faced opposition in the coastal state of Florida, which will be a battleground in the presidential campaign between McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

``I don't see how either house of Congress passes this,'' said Pete Davis, president of Davis Capital Investment in Washington. ``This has been a long-standing issue and the lines are very hardened.''

Still, rising oil prices are creating a drag on the U.S. economy and energy costs have become a top political issue.

Bush ``is under a lot of pressure to show that he can still be effective on an issue that matters to voters, so this is one they've pulled out of the closet,'' Davis said.

Arizona Senator McCain, 71, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, yesterday called for letting states open up more territory to offshore oil drilling, even as he promised a break from the energy policies of the Bush administration.

Obama Disagrees

Obama, 46, an Illinois senator who the presumptive Democratic nominee, said there is no evidence that lifting the ban on oil drilling would provide relief to consumers.

``This is not something that is going to give relief now, and it's not a long-term solution,'' Obama said yesterday.

The Bush-McCain motive:

As for gas prices, resuming offshore exploration would not be a quick fix.

"If we were to drill today realistically speaking we should not expect a barrel of oil coming out of this new resource for three years, maybe even five years, so let's not kid ourselves," said Fadel Gheit, oil and gas analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. Equity Capital Markets Division.

But it almost certainly would be profitable.

It's always about making the rich guys richer, folks.

McCain’s Tax Cuts Fact Check
Obama Redistribution of Wealth
Drilling at Home Wouldn’t Lower Gas Prices