Bush, Dems Trade Blame Over Energy Prices

President Points Finger At Congress For Restricting Drilling; Dems Say Bush Offers No Serious Response To The Problem

(AP)  President George W. Bush on Saturday tried to pin the blame on Congress for soaring energy prices and said lawmakers need to lift long-standing restrictions on drilling for oil in pristine lands and offshore tracts believed to hold huge reserves of fuel.

"It's time for members of Congress to address the pain that high gas prices are causing our citizens," the president said. "Every extra dollar that American families spend because of high gas prices is one less dollar they can use to put food on the table or send a child to college. The American people deserve better."

With gasoline prices rising, Bush and his Republican allies think Americans are more willing to allow drilling offshore and in an Alaska wildlife refuge that environmentalists have fought successfully for decades to protect. Nearly half the people surveyed by the Pew Research Center in late June said they now consider energy exploration and drilling more important than conservation, compared with a little over a third who felt that way only five months ago. The sharpest shift in attitude came among political liberals.

Democrats say they are for drilling, but argue that oil companies aren't going after the oil where they already have leases. So why open new, protected areas? they ask. Democrats say there are 68 million acres (27.5 million hectares) of federal land and waters where oil and gas companies hold leases, but aren't producing oil.

"Americans are fed up every time they go to fill up and they're right to demand action. But instead of a serious response, President Bush and his allies simply repeat the same old line more drilling," Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen said in the Democrats' radio address.

"Democrats support more drilling," he said. "In fact, what the president hasn't told you is that the oil companies are already sitting on 68 million acres of federal lands with the potential to nearly double U.S. oil production. That is why in the coming days congressional Democrats will vote on 'Use It or Lose It' legislation requiring the big oil companies to develop these resources or lose their leases to someone else who will."

"But we know that drilling by itself will not solve the problem of high gas prices," Van Hollen said. "We cannot drill our way to energy independence."

He cited Democrats' calls to tap the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, because it is full and "America's rainy day is now." And he said the country must focus on new energy policies that focus on alternatives to oil.

Bush said that Democrats are at fault and that "Americans are increasingly frustrated with Congress' failure to take action.

"One of the factors driving up high gas prices is that many of our oil deposits here in the United States have been put off-limits for exploration and production. Past efforts to meet the demand for oil by expanding domestic resources have been repeatedly rejected by Democrats in Congress."

Bush repeated his call for Congress to lift the restrictions, including a ban on offshore drilling. A succession of presidents from George H.W. Bush to Bill Clinton to the current president have sided against drilling in these waters as has Congress each year for 27 years, seeking to protect beaches and coastal states' tourism economies.

[teekaa1]

You know what? I have been sending my gasoline receipts to Mr. Bush on a regular basis, nd I remind him with each letter that I am retired, have had to take a job at my age, and that I also had to sell my home due to the rising cost of living. Now do you think that he has answered any of my letters? Oh yes--I put my address in there for his convenience. Haven''t heard from him. Do you think that he just did not receive any of those letters?

[libsluv2spit]

liberal icon cindy sheehan is so mad that she will take her caravan of 8mpg suvs to a much longer protest ride...

[passerby2]

Isn''t ironic how bush says "the American people deserves better" but yet he''s still president.

[lambor59]

Mr. Bush, if we have to drill some where, the best places would be you wife and your two daughters, you b.astard, your brain has been damaged with all the booze, Bush.

[rhs648]

We had a twelve-year republican congress ans an eight-year republican administration; WHY DIDN''''T YOU LIFT THE BAN????????

Typical fu*ck*in republicans: pass the blame and look the other way. Bunch of a$$holes

Posted by nikosk1

Gas wasn''t at the $4.00 per gallon level. People were still enjoying their full size SUVs. Americans were not concerned with the future cost or possible shortages of gas.

[rhs648]

From Yahoo News:

"In another push to deal with soaring gas prices, President Bush on Monday will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling that his stood since his father was president. But the move, by itself, will do nothing unless Congress acts as well."

This puts the issue in the lap of Congress. Congressional action (or lack of action) will show the American people what Congress is willing to do to help the American people with future fuel supplies. It will settle the argument of who is refusing to take action. Each new barrel of oil contributes to the world supply of oil on the market.

[rhs648]

I normally would not be in favor of naming any public building or facility after george w. bush however I changed my mind after reading that a local city govenment in the San Francisco bay area decided to name their new sewage treatment plant after Mr. bush. I nearly spewed my coffee all over my Sunday paper. How appropriate is that! Only 190 days left! Enjoy! -

Posted by leftyintexas

What do you expect from San Francisco? The whole idea is disrespectful. For your information, some people would love to see George Bush serve another four years if that were possible. Not everyone is disrespectful toward our president.

[leftyintexas]

I normally would not be in favor of naming any public building or facility after george w. bush however I changed my mind after reading that a local city govenment in the San Francisco bay area decided to name their new sewage treatment plant after Mr. bush. I nearly spewed my coffee all over my Sunday paper. How appropriate is that! Only 190 days left! Enjoy!

[forthepeopl1]

your goverment hidding 7 oil well ready to produce all the oil we can handle,from 1970 until now they have held these,already drill and cap,just hook up. there more oil and gas than all of russia,and saudia,together..come americans demand they come clean


The Energy Non-Crisis
Forword

The honesty, integrity, and therefore the credibility, of the authors of this book is unquestionable to the limit of their combined facts and knowledge.

I can personally attest to many of the facts, and certainly many of the conversations quoted in the book, as I spent a week with Chaplain Lindsey on the North Slope of Alaska during the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. I was privileged to talk with high officials of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. For reasons unknown to me, I was given access to private information that apparently very few outsiders were ever given. I moved among the men at work and in the baracks. My week on the North Slope was a liberal education.
Our President has stated that our energy problem is the equivalent of war. Yet he has embraced policies that have continually discouraged and hampered the development of our oil industry.

It is with great pride and pleasure that I endorse this manuscript and compliment the authors for taking time to do the research and make it available to all of us.

March 19, 1980 Hugh M. Chance
Former Senator of
The State of Colorado

[Gary Kempf]

"It''s time for members of Congress to address the pain that high gas prices are causing our citizens," the president said. "Every extra dollar that American families spend because of high gas prices is one less dollar they can use to put food on the table or send a child to college. The American people deserve better."

Eloquent statement for someone who didn''t know what the price of gas was two weeks ago. It proofs a good speech writer can make even the "mentally challenged"
sound like the two remaining marbles in his head made contact with each other.

[inventagod2]

That oilman, Bu$h - will retire rich.

[kdf_worf]

''So nice to see the American Hitler bush blame the Oil and Gas prices on the Democrats; after all, he''s been in big oil''s pocket since the beginning, but I guess he doesn''t want to be seen for the greedy bast*rd that he truely is! I hope him, his own Ministry of Evil, and all the supporters of this Fascist biggot get what they deserve, and not in a good way!

[baldwin2008]

Americans, TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY. Vote for the Constitution! CHUCK BALDWIN 2008!
www.constitutionparty.org
The Largest THIRD PARTY with registered voters.
WRITE IN CHUCK BALDWIN on your BALLOT!!!
Don''t be the COWS the media thinks you are.
MCAIN or OBAMA is NOT the only choice!!!
They are both puppets of the elite that will continue to dig this further into the HOLE of DEBT - DEPENDANCE and GLOBALISM.

[rhs648]

In all thruthfulness, I have not observed any evidence of current shortage or ANYTHING.

THere have not been any lines at the gas stations or any lack of supply in any way. Although long term OIL is at some point goingto run out, there is no evidence that shows lack of supply currently is in any way a cause for gas prices.

When was the last time you wnet tothepump and it was dry??

Point made.

Posted by Nearl4511

As the price of gas goes up, people tend to drive less. As long as fewer people drive, shortages at the pump are less likely. Those who can afford it will continue to drive without restraint. One way to get cars off the road is to drive prices higher. This could have possitive results. Less traffic, less wear and tear on roads, fewer deaths, etc. As people are forced to pay higer prices, they have less money for other things. This can have a ripple effect throughout the economy. Finally, if we don''t start drilling soon for our own oil, the world''s energy crisis will worsen. We can''t have our cake and eat it too unless we bite the bullet and start to drill for more oil. There are ways to protect the environment and drill for oil. Don''t expect improvement unless we take decisive action.

[r_bob1965]

I guess oil company''''s will be glad to see oil prices fall. I am sure they are working as hard as they can to make the price of oil and gas fall. They hate to make more money...you know how those corporate types are; real money haters. Now, the airlines say that they want the government to rain in speculation because they think THAT is the problem. Now, the airlines, they buy lots of fuel and lower fuel prices help them... I wonder who REALLY wants prices to fall? Maybe we should listen to the industry that has the biggest stake in having prices fall? Oil Company''''s seem to agree with GW Bush that the best way to make prices fall is to drill in areas they can''''t get access to now. Now Hummmm...You don''''t think maybe they would try to mislead the public into letting them have a bunch more land... so they could get their hands on a lot of overpriced oil five or ten years from now do ya? Nawww, GW Bush has been a straight shooter ...we can trust him and Johnny McCain can''''t we. Hummmmm sounds fishy to me.

[daysrnumbrd]

Investing has been good to me. Most of my investment decisions have led to possible results.

Posted by rhs648 at 09:49 PM : Jul 13, 2008
.............

Now there is an example of decision hindsight! Investments are NEVER good when you make them... they are only good when they make you money.

In hindsight, the financial adviser my parents chose was a bad decision, as he has lost over 80% of my parents'' retirement savings/investments and now my dad will work to the grave.

On the other hand, following your dreams and working to achieve your life''s goal(s) are always a good decision, (one of the few that is "good" from the start). Even if there are bumps in the road that leads to your ultimate goal. I am happy for your son in the decision he made to work towards and eventually reach his life''s goal.

[nothappyatall]

He cited Democrats'' calls to tap the nation''s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, because it is full and "America''s rainy day is now." And he said the country must focus on new energy policies that focus on alternatives to oil. "

The reserve is at best a few WEEKS worth of energy, it''s only supposed to be a RESERVE for emergency, not to reduce the pump prices 10 cents!
Using that up NOW to save 10 cents it will al have to be replaced, and at that time it will cost MORE- the trend has been UPWARD prices, so this saves nothing.

[nothappyatall]

"said lawmakers need to lift long-standing restrictions on drilling for oil in pristine lands and offshore tracts believed to hold huge reserves of fuel"

It''s not up to them, the American PEOPLE have repeatedly and consistantly said we do not want industrial oil drilling in sensitive wildlife refuges or, national/scenic parks- the SAME way we don''t want loggers clear-cutting the last remaining stands of 1,000 year old redwood trees!

EVEN if we drill today, the first drop of any found oil wouldn''t even hit the pipeline for YEARS, we need a fix **TODAY** not 2018. Why would anyone think the oil companies CARE about getting oil here which might REDUCE prices??? hel1 they are making RECORD profits every quarter, drilling here would reduce that- use your heads!

[daysrnumbrd]

Drilling would do little good for this country, and the world overall.

Posted by DaysRnumbrd at 10:09 PM : Jul 13, 2008
..........

I should note one major thing:

I wouldn''t be against more drilling for oil in America, but at the same time, I am not a cheerleader for it either. What will happen among the powerful elites, will happen. I''m just restating the facts realized by experts in the fields of energy and economics.

[daysrnumbrd]

Again, by increasing the world supply of oil, the shortage in America is also lessened.

Posted by rhs648 at 09:58 PM : Jul 13, 2008
...........

But by such a small amount, that experts predict only a few pennies in savings at the gas pump.

And by such a small amount, that the potential damage done to the environment would vastly outweigh the cost savings to Americans.

And by such a small amount, that the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the elite class would still continue as the tax subsidies the oil companies will cry over, (and eventually given to them by the corrupt politicians they have paid for), would continue to grow our national debt for years to come.

And with the news of drilling, the mass of idiot-Americans would feel it''s okay to go back to the old days of living without feeling the need to conserve. 90mph in a Suburban down the highway... no problem! (not)

And with the news of drilling, the popular ground swell of support for alternative energy will fall by the wayside. Thus, any important technological discoveries or breakthroughs on that front would get, (if lucky), page 10 of the news paper... or perhaps the "strange" section of this website.

Drilling would do little good for this country, and the world overall.