Posted on 01/27/2008 8:08:10 AM PST by yoe
Energy Policy: Our dependence on foreign oil is a crucial economic and national security issue. So with billions of barrels of crude sitting off Florida, why was the subject of getting it left out of the Republican debate?
It was by all accounts a dull and unhelpful affair. With Tuesday's Florida primary looming, there appeared to be a desire on the part of the candidates not to make any gaffes, ruffle any feathers, provoke any controversies.
This is the only explanation for why none of the GOP contenders brought up, or were asked about, a perfect topic for a Florida debate — drilling for vast known reserves of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast.
Maybe the media aren't interested or consider the subject closed. Maybe there's not that much disagreement among the candidates. Certainly, as we have noted, Sen. John McCain has voted against drilling in ANWR four times and has expressed no passion for developing domestic sources of energy.
In an interview with Florida CBS affiliate WINK-TV last October, another leading candidate, Gov. Mitt Romney, was asked about the subject and replied: "With regards to Florida . . . the federal and state governments have reached an agreement on a 120-mile limit, and that's something which can be pursued."
Wow. Something which can be pursued. At least not with enough passion to offend any Florida voters. Drilling for oil and natural gas in the gulf is certainly something the Cubans and their Chinese patrons are pursuing.
Cuba's state-run oil company, Cubapetroleo, has inked a deal with China's Sinopec to explore for oil in its half of the Florida Strait and is using Chinese-made drilling equipment to conduct the exploration. Since oil fields do not respect international boundaries, Cuba…………
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
Because it's already been decided that we're going to allow the Cubans and Chinese to have it on the excuse that if we drilled there, we might mess up FL's beaches. Instead, we'll allow foreigners to have the oil and to mess up the beaches!
You have to know that a lot of $ has changed hands on this one since there is no other reasonable explanation.
Meanwhile both China and Cuba plan explorations on that 120 mile limit……the environmentalists vote is not worth condemning the rest of the country to blackmail from foreign oil entities. Those running for POTUS should step up with leadership and courage to tell the world that our agreements in buying oil from those who charge far too much and disrespect human rights, those agreements will cease the day “I” take office and the drilling will commence in ANWAR and along out coasts.
And an easy answer to that question for any of them should be - “As President, I will explore technology to allow us to recover this oil WITHOUT messing up the beaches.”
Hell as much as I hate government spending, period - it’s probably a better investment that 90% of any other things that government will spend money on anyway.
Every day my admiration for China and contempt for the West grows. As evil as their regime has been, one must marvel at their sheer chutzpah. China goes to global conferences and complains about the U.S. not doing enough about climate change, while they build 2 coal-fired power plants per WEEK (none of which would pass the 1970 Clean Air Act, let alone the 1991 version). China ignores every environmental agreement known to man. Greenpeace complains about Chinese fishing practices, but would never dare block a boat in protest, because they know China would sink it without hesitation, while Japan never would. America is crippled by radical environmentalists and, now with Thompson out of the race, every single Presidental candidate is on board supporting the fraud of global warming and the economic suicide of carbon limitations. We won't drill in ANWR, FL, CA, the Arctic or in Western Shale. China is drilling 120 miles off our very coastline. We won't build a single nuclear plant or refinery. China is building hundreds. We are spending ourselves into obvlivion, while surplus-rich China is footing the bill (for now). What the hell is wrong with us?
That's a very good question. I would think that high gasoline prices unquestionably hurt Florida's economy --- an economy which appears to be sputtering from looking at tax collection information from the State of Florida. (Notably, however, tax collected under the "fuel-related taxes and fees" category seem to be holding up even through the end of 2007.)
And he voted against drilling in ANWR
How is his stand any different that Hillary’s?
He is also against building nuclear plants.
Nuclear energy is clean btw.
France even knows this.
And , why , Mr. McCain haven’t we built any refineries in this country for 2 decades?
That is why we are energy dependent. Washington has done NOTHING. Thanks John
Seems to me that carefully developing those petroleum resources would solve the economy problem with new jobs, lower gas prices and improved national security. With today's drilling technologies there needn't be any pollution problems.
Just too many Democrats and RINOs in the way of progress.
It will be sucked out by Cuba ( C H I N A *).
*Loose cannon Pirate/whore rollin' around the deck of the Good Ship Earth lyin', stealin', drinkin' & eatin' anything within reach. All this from folks who couldn't figure out a fork!
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