[yoe]

(Cuba)

(US Senators ban....)

(link)

[penowa]

" 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."

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.

[yoe]

McCain states he would not drill off the coast of Florida if the Floridians didn't want it and he would not drill off the coast of California if Californians didn't want it nor would he drill in the Grand Canyon etc. etc. BUT he also won't close our borders with Mexico even though the people want it.

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.

[snowsislander]

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?

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.)

[RightWingConspirator]

The local NYT-owned Venice Herald-Tribune rag is always at the forefront of opposing any oil and gas drilling (you know, those evil oil companies want to spoil our beaches) closer than 200 miles from the Florida coast. On the other hand, they are at the forefront of whining because the tourism and housing industries are seriously down, Florida gasoline prices are high and we have to depend on foreign oil.

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.