Governors Buck Bush On Offshore Drilling

Schwarzenegger, Others Vow To Fight Attempts To Tap Ocean Reserves

(CBS/ AP)  Governors in some coastal states promised to block attempts to tap offshore petroleum reserves, citing concerns about the environment and tourism. Others agreed with President Bush's call to lift a 27-year-old federal ban on offshore drilling but said states should decide whether to allow it.

Bush on Wednesday joined Republican presidential candidate John McCain in calling for the lifting of a prohibition on drilling along the East and West coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. As the battle to lift the moratorium began to play out in Washington, states debated their stance.

"As Governor of California, I will do everything in my power to fight the federal government on this issue and prevent any new offshore drilling," Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a McCain supporter, said Wednesday.

As CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports, the debate divided along red and blue lines -- Democrats lining up behind Barack Obama opposing offshore drilling and Republicans pushing to open the taps. In the midst of the hot debate, John McCain and one of his possible VP choices, the governor of Florida, switched sides and now support drilling.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, reversed his opposition to oil exploration off the state's beaches after the presidential candidate said he supported lifting the moratorium. Crist said the issue is about local control.

"I think that not having that moratorium, blanket moratorium, and letting states rights be recognized, if you will, certainly is appropriate," he said.

Crist said he didn't know if Florida legislators would approve drilling, but like McCain he said states should be allowed to make their own decisions. McCain favors lifting the moratorium at the federal level, but allowing states to decide whether to allow drilling.

But Whitaker notes that in California, which suffered a devastating oil spill from a rig off Santa Barbara in 1969, opposition to offshore drilling is bi-partisan. From the governor to local environmentalists, California is largely green.

"You get much bigger improvement in a much shorter period of time by really aggressively going after conservation than you ever would with offshore oil drilling," said Mark Gold with the conservation group Heal The Bay.

Gold told Whitaker reserves off California wouldn't last long. In fact, at current consumption rates of 21 million barrels a day, Americans would use up the estimated 18 billion barrels off the coasts all around the country in less than two and a half years.

The moratorium applies to all federal waters, which extend three miles from the states' coastlines. If Congress lifts the federal moratorium without special provisions giving states a say, states would have little control over oil companies' exploration of federal waters.

If that happens, anti-drilling states' best recourse would be to sue the federal government for allowing activities that are odds with the states' coastal management plans, said Lisa Speer, senior policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Politicians and the public are increasingly divided on the offshore issue as energy prices spiral.

Virginia and South Carolina have largely supported lifting the moratorium. California is joined by North Carolina and New Jersey among the anti-drilling states.

"States should be able to control their own destiny with what happens," said Joel Sawyer, a spokesman for South Carolina Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

The state has "to be incredibly cognizant of our tourism industry and our other natural resources along the coast. We don't want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg," he said.

Those in favor of opening closed areas to drilling say they could eventually yield 18 billion barrels of oil and 77 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, but opponents say it could be years before production begins and that would do little to stem the current rise of energy prices.

A state's openness to allowing drilling off its coast will have a big influence on energy companies' decisions about where to explore, said Tom Moskitis, managing director of the American Gas Association, which represent utilities feeding 60 million customers.

"At this point, the energy companies are in favor of giving the states options," he said. "They are looking more to the East Coast where there is a big potential for oil and natural gas. The political climate in California is such that just about everybody is opposed so it's not logical that exploration would begin there."

The Democratic governors of New Jersey and North Carolina joined Schwarzenegger in speaking out against lifting the moratorium.

"Our $35 billion economy is driven by tourism and the use of the shore," said New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine.

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley also argued to keep the moratorium in place.

"It's doesn't work for states to decide. If the state above or below you has a problem it affects your shores as well," he said. "It's too much squeeze for the juice when you look at real estate on the coast, recreational fishing and tourism that could be adversely affected by some problem."

[keithle1]

Screw Bush. He''s out of here in seven months. Screw McCain. If he''s our next President, God help us. It will definitely be a third Bush term. Same old same old.

Stop buying the huge SUV''s & other vehicles that guzzle gas, idiots. When will you learn?

"In fact, at current consumption rates of 21 million barrels a day, Americans would use up the estimated 18 billion barrels off the coasts all around the country in less than two and a half years."

USA is 4% of the world''s population but we use 25% of its oil.

[txgrouch2004]

Slick Willy is a Boomer. Dubya is a Boomer. Hillary is a Boomer. Joseph Hazelwood is a
Boomer. 60% of Congress are Boomers.

I THINK THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING...

[txgrouch2004]

OK, I''m now officially fed up with this whole discussion.

I''ve got better things to do - like go ice skating in Houston in June.

If you don''t see any more witty comments from me, it''s because I''M NOT HERE.

Bye.

[beastof70]

Beastof70 whimpered
What''s with the double tap....
------------
Make it easy on yourself.

JUST ANSWER ONE QUESTION AT A TIME.
Posted by txgrouch2004 at 04:21 PM : Jun 19, 2008
===================

Atta boy, you appear to have finally got that peach pit to pass. Ya feeling better??

Watch out, here comes another one of those dang black helicopters...get down!!

ROTFLMGTBO!!!

[txgrouch2004]

Beastof70 whimpered
What''''s with the double tap....
------------
Make it easy on yourself.

JUST ANSWER ONE QUESTION AT A TIME.

[beastof70]

Beastof70 whined
contain the name calling
----------
Gosh, for a tough guy, you sure have a thin skin for name calling.

Maybe that 9/11 guy would have CALLED YOU NAMES until you were cowering and quivering on the floor and crawled away on your belly.
Posted by txgrouch2004 at 04:12 PM : Jun 19, 2008

=========================
Beastof70 misspoke
Hey projector, are you calling me a libwad??
-----------------
If your name is fedupwithit1, then yes.

Are you one and the same? Or are you just ACTING LIKE AN ILLITERATE REDNECK again and you can''''t read the name???
Posted by txgrouch2004 at 04:09 PM : Jun 19, 2008
===================

What''s with the double tap....You so lathered up you''re quivering like a **** hound trying to pass a peach pit??

[beastof70]

Beastof70 wrote
Had I been in flight school with one of these camel humpers, he might want to be more concerned about whether I was gonna rip his head off and exhaust a load down his collar.
-------------------
If you were in Houston in the summer of 2000, you could have been. I wish you were there and did exactly that.

Then YOU''''D be the one found dead beside a dirt road for challenging him. Remember, he was a member of Al-Queda, he was trained in hand-to-hand combat.

But of course, tough talk is EASY when you WEREN''''T THERE.

Well, if bin Laden''''s hit men didn''''t get you, ONE OF SLICK WILLY''''S BOYS WOULD HAVE. Because Clinton was personally clearing the way for the 9/11 attack.

WHY ELSE WAS HANJOUR TURNED IN TO THE FAA FIVE TIMES, AND THEY DIDN''''T EVEN SUSPEND HIS PILOT''''S CERTIFICATE???

If you were a pilot, you''''d realize HOW STRANGE THAT IS.

But you''''re not, you''''re just a beer-belly trailer dwelling redneck. So WHAT DO YOU KNOW.
Posted by txgrouch2004 at 04:04 PM : Jun 19, 2008

====================

Whatever floats your boat son.....At least I haven''t reach G.W.''s age thinking there are three components to a fraction. Or, in your case fearing all those black helicopters that keep flying over your house.

ROTFLMGTBO!!!

[txgrouch2004]

Beastof70 whined
contain the name calling
----------
Gosh, for a tough guy, you sure have a thin skin for name calling.

Maybe that 9/11 guy would have CALLED YOU NAMES until you were cowering and quivering on the floor and crawled away on your belly.

[txgrouch2004]

Beastof70 misspoke
Hey projector, are you calling me a libwad??
-----------------
If your name is fedupwithit1, then yes.

Are you one and the same? Or are you just ACTING LIKE AN ILLITERATE REDNECK again and you can''t read the name???

[beastof70]

Posted by mascarponi at 03:10 PM : Jun 19, 2008

Hey Manicoti, I''d invite Keith Overbiteman to perform a Lewinski on me, except I figure he''d take me serious and get all lathered up in anticipation.

[txgrouch2004]

Beastof70 wrote
Had I been in flight school with one of these camel humpers, he might want to be more concerned about whether I was gonna rip his head off and exhaust a load down his collar.
-------------------
If you were in Houston in the summer of 2000, you could have been. I wish you were there and did exactly that.

Then YOU''D be the one found dead beside a dirt road for challenging him. Remember, he was a member of Al-Queda, he was trained in hand-to-hand combat.

But of course, tough talk is EASY when you WEREN''T THERE.

Well, if bin Laden''s hit men didn''t get you, ONE OF SLICK WILLY''S BOYS WOULD HAVE. Because Clinton was personally clearing the way for the 9/11 attack.

WHY ELSE WAS HANJOUR TURNED IN TO THE FAA FIVE TIMES, AND THEY DIDN''T EVEN SUSPEND HIS PILOT''S CERTIFICATE???

If you were a pilot, you''d realize HOW STRANGE THAT IS.

But you''re not, you''re just a beer-belly trailer dwelling redneck. So WHAT DO YOU KNOW.

[beastof70]

fedupwithit1 left me feeling fed up
ROFLOL HE was in flight school with one of the 9-11 hijackers.
---------------
Whatever. I''''m used to being called a liar by LIBERAL RETARDS LIKE YOU.

Whenever libtards don''''t like THE FACTS, they just convince themselves that IT''''S LIES, ALL LIES.

Because THAT''''S WHAT THEY DO THEMSELVES. It''''s called projection. Look it up. It''''s you.

Don''''t worry. You''''ll see your beloved Slick Willy dangling from a noose LIKE SADDAM.
Posted by txgrouch2004 at 03:49 PM
=====================

Hey projector, are you calling me a libwad?? Cause you accused me of being a liar a few minutes ago??

Ya jist can''t contain the name calling can ya grouch?

[txgrouch2004]

ubrew12 rebuked
You''''''''re an anachronism
=================
NOW I remember you.

You''re the one who said the Muslim king of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem around 500 BC.

Speaking of anachronisms...

It''s really true. Trolls ARE what they accuse.

[beastof70]

LOL ok now

Txgrouch = Beastof70

Wackadoo''s all
Posted by fedupwithit1 at 03:41 PM : Jun 19, 2008

======================
Wrong as usual booger muncher. This old nuckle dragging Texas boy walks in fear of very few.....Had I been in flight school with one of these camel humpers, he might want to be more concerned about whether I was gonna rip his head off and exhaust a load down his collar.

[txgrouch2004]

Beastof70 drooled
BTW: How come you ducked the question as to whether or not cutting gross sales in half would result in an equal cut in production??
-----------
Because you''ve proven that YOU''RE A COMPLETE AND UTTER MORON and there''s no point explaining anything to you.

YOU STILL DON''T KNOW HOW TO CALCULATE A PERCENTAGE, and you refuse to learn when I teach you.

And you''ve ducked the question of what kind of engineering you do, so I CAN AVOID GOING ANYWHERE NEAR ANYTHING YOU ENGINEERED.

I would be in fear for my life. Even if you designed A CAN OPENER.

[txgrouch2004]

fedupwithit1 left me feeling fed up
ROFLOL HE was in flight school with one of the 9-11 hijackers.
---------------
Whatever. I''m used to being called a liar by LIBERAL RETARDS LIKE YOU.

Whenever libtards don''t like THE FACTS, they just convince themselves that IT''S LIES, ALL LIES.

Because THAT''S WHAT THEY DO THEMSELVES. It''s called projection. Look it up. It''s you.

Don''t worry. You''ll see your beloved Slick Willy dangling from a noose LIKE SADDAM.

[txgrouch2004]

ubrew12 rebuked
You''''re an anachronism, txgrouch2004, still hating your boomer children
=================
I was born AFTER 1960.

You seem to have your anachronisms out of synch.

[beastof70]

Beastof70 wrote
I''m just a pea brained engineer by trade
--------------
Now that''s REALLY scary. You don''''t design bridges, do you?

BTW, I graduated with an engineering degree, too. Electrical engineering. In my school, you had to be able to FIND OUT things like the percent formula if you weren''t sure.

You are not only ignorant, but also unteachable. Plus you don''t know how to do your own research.

How did you ever get ANY degree? Wait, maybe I don''''t want to know...
Posted by txgrouch2004 at 02:48 PM : Jun 19, 2008
==========================

Electrical Engineer?? Now that is scary....I sure hope you never connected the negative lead to your denominator??

Or, perhaps it explains your grouchyness?? Was you able to have children??

BTW: How come you ducked the question as to whether or not cutting gross sales in half would result in an equal cut in production??

Enquiring minds want to know??

[ubrew12]

txgrouch2004 said: "OVER 60% OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE BABY BOOMERS!!"
The boomers didn''t create the national debt, their parents did, by swallowing what Reagan was selling about supply-side economics. This same group was too proud to realize that they were skunking their own kids, when it became obvious something had to be done. Nothing was, BushJr''s put the last nail in the coffin in the name of all things Republican. By doubling the debt, he spooked Global smart money into dumping dollars and buying that other major Global currency: oil. For this alone, I hope the Republicans are dumped this fall and are never in power again. Although, Dems certainly aided in some of this. You''re an anachronism, txgrouch2004, still hating your boomer children, its easy to see how your generation could do this to their own kin.

[txgrouch2004]

I personally saw one of the 9/11 pilots at the same flying school where I was taking flight instruction in the summer of 2000. He was so absolutely terrifying that I literally had to leave the room to get away from him. Everyone else in the room felt the same way. He was obviously a dangerous criminal, and he was reported to the government 5 times. But the FAA didn''t even suspend his pilot''s license. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WAS ACTIVELY, DIRECTLY, AND KNOWINGLY SUPPORTING THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE 9/11 ATTACK IN EXCHANGE FOR HUGE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. The only condition was to delay the attack until after Clinton left office. It was originally scheduled for 9/11/2000. WHY ELSE WERE THE PILOTS TAKING FLYING LESSONS IN THE SUMMER OF 2000???

We will see Bill Clinton hang like Saddam. And probably Hillary is the one who will rat him out to save her own neck during one of her many investigations.