Palin on Oil Drilling: "Yes, We Can!"

By: Sergey Kadinsky
Topics: Republicans

(AP/Harper)

Sarah Palin has found a renewable source of energy in her party's quest for a comeback. "Drill, baby, drill," she writes in a National Review opinion piece, echoing a slogan she employed often on the campaign trail last year.

As the Obama administration continues to search for ways to jump-start the economy, Palin argues that an expansion of oil drilling will create jobs and reduce our nation's dependency on foreign exporters.

With billions of dollars slated to be used for highway work, Palin argues that driving should be made more affordable, so that the highway repairs will be worth the effort.

"Given that we're spending billions of stimulus dollars to rebuild our highways, it makes sense to think about what we'll be driving on them," writes Palin. "For years to come, most of what we drive will be powered, at least in part, by diesel fuel or gasoline...That means we need to drill here and drill now."

In her argument, Palin noted that drilling policies in the U.S. were less harmful to the environment than those of major oil exporters abroad.

"Many of the countries we're forced to import from have few if any environmental-protection laws, and those that do exist often go unenforced," writes Palin. "In effect, American environmentalists are preventing responsible development here at home while supporting irresponsible development overseas."

Palin also addressed alternative energy sources, but called for a diverse range of energy options depending on location.

"Electric cars might work in Los Angeles, but they don't work in Alaska, where you can drive hundreds of miles without seeing many people, let alone many electrical sockets," Palin writes.

She also proposes an increase in natural gas usage as a compromise.

"It contains fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels, it's easier to collect and process, and it is found throughout our country," Palin writes. "Natural gas can act as a clean 'bridge fuel' to a future when more renewable sources are available."

Palin concludes on a note which echoes President Obama's campaign slogan last year to spur her supporters into action.

"Alternative sources of energy are part of the answer, but only part," she writes. "There's no getting around the fact that we still need to 'drill, baby, drill!' And if those in D.C. say otherwise, we need to tell them: 'Yes, we can!'"

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by chitown639 October 18, 2009 7:34 AM EDT: Dear Sarah Palin,

Please run for president in 2012...please..please...please!!!!

yours truly, the DNC; Reply to this comment


by cjohnthan October 18, 2009 5:19 AM EDT: > by stn_sage October 17, 2009 3:41 PM EDT
> I respect her desire to want to increase her knowledge in various areas of >humankind's endeavors...I just doubt her intellectual curiosity, her ability to >absorb information, and her ability to analyze and understand it!

plain is a just watchdog. you say she is inexperienced, i agree, especially when comparing to the 2 biggest political machines(bush & clinton), now there is another one called chicago machine.

don't get me wrong here. i didn't mean they are not good for america. actually they were and will always be! i can say that, according to my humble judgmental capability. i like George Bush very much as an ordinary chinese citizen.

everything can change, you know, because of the need for change.

i just want to say, without an effective monitoring mechanism, democracy is nothing but a wishful thinking.

>
> She had a 'sweet job' as Governor of Alaska...she should have hung onto it!

only time can tell you that.; Reply to this comment


by cjohnthan October 17, 2009 5:39 PM EDT: >voxpopulus October 17, 2009 6:15 AM EDT
> Palin, you are not in a position to make that decision any more. You QUIT >remember?

please tell me, who are in a position to make those who make decision make the right decision? are you the chosen one?

i can't believe it. so many idiots out there in america. palin is working for you, do you know that?

you like no criticism? so go dictatorship.; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage October 17, 2009 3:42 PM EDT: She does take a nice picture, too!; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage October 17, 2009 3:41 PM EDT: I respect her desire to want to increase her knowledge in various areas of humankind's endeavors...I just doubt her intellectual curiosity, her ability to absorb information, and her ability to analyze and understand it!

She had a 'sweet job' as Governor of Alaska...she should have hung onto it!; Reply to this comment

by rqt October 17, 2009 11:13 AM EDT

Well it seems the left is still scared to death of this lady. Seems real funny since you did get your chosen one. So how's that change working. Not to good, created 30K jobs each job cost over 300K real good management. Lets start drilling today and not stop

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by lmartink October 17, 2009 1:53 PM EDT: I'm scared of her becaus she's dumb as a post. I've got smarter fenceposts on my property.

If you think drilling for more American oil is going to be cheap forget that one. All of those fancy technologies in the oil indsutry ads is your guarantee that American oil will never be cheap again.

And then there is the little fact that America could produce no more than 5%-6% of the oil it uses everyday.

And I reiterate for you -- Palin is an idiot. That photo of her was photoshopped to make her look more intelligent than she really is.

by SethPlatt October 17, 2009 8:03 AM EDT

Despite the innovations made by the petroleum industry and lies spun by Republicans during the Presidential campaign they cannot insulate off shore oil drilling from the potential threat of Hurricanes Off shore oil drilling threatens Florida's main source of economic revenue, tourism. Hurricane Katrina destroyed 46 oil platforms and damaged 20 others. Hurricane Rita destroyed 69 oil platforms and damaged 32 others. As a result of both storms, 124 spills were reported with a total volume of roughly 17,700 barrels of total petroleum products, of which about 13,200 barrels were crude oil and condensate from platforms, rigs and pipelines, and 4,500 barrels were refined products from platforms and rigs. Pipelines were accountable for 72 spills totaling about 7,300 barrels of crude oil and condensate spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.
-US Minerals Management Service "PIPELINE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FROM HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA IN THE GULF OF MEXICO"
http://www.mms.gov/tarprojects/581/44814183_MMS_Katrina_Rita_PL_Final Report Rev1.pdf

We have not even begun to tap the immediate supply of alternative energy available in America, yet there are still those who seek to plunder our nations resources in some of its most fragile ecosystems.

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by jsd330 October 17, 2009 10:29 AM EDT: And how long will it be before we tap alternative energy? 20,30,50 years, what do we do in the meantime.


by Hosheen October 17, 2009 6:25 AM EDT: This is further evidence that this woman is a total fool and completely out of touch with reality in the modern world.

The Republican's best bet would be to discredit her now while they still have time to promote someone that doesn't reveal themselves to be a disgusting idiot every time they speak.

The Democrat's plan must be to contribute to her campaign and promote her every chance they get. If this moron manages to buy the Republican nomination in 2012, Obama will be a walk-in for re-election.; Reply to this comment

by dilligaf2 October 17, 2009 5:52 AM EDT

The scary part is that these wackos believe that she is smart enough to lead the country.
I suppose then that they would also believe that the oil companies will drill and lower gas prices out of the goodness of their hearts. In reality, they will buy their oil where it is the cheapest and makes them the most profit.

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