Posted by Neponset on July 17, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My though is that off shore drilling will create a lot of good paying jobs. The tourist industry may suffer trying to find people for their min. wage jobs when there are better jobs out there.

Posted by moonpie on July 17, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I belive it would create jobs but not help our oil situation unless the states are going to partner up with drillers, build refineries in their states and sell the oil/gas in their state. Because if it stays company run then the oil goes into the open market to the highest bidder. Alternative fuels are what we need to be going after. Wind, solar, natural gases, etc not drill more oil. We can engineer anything and make it work. We, Americans, have proven that! But who will pay for it? That's always the question. Oil is just the status quo.

Posted by wpc3iop on July 17, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sen. Ford may be smarter than I thought...we need to be drilling everywhere we can, conserving, and finding alternate fuels and energy supplies...it would be nice to be able to tell OPEC to pound sand and shove their oil up their ...!

Posted by charlestonpride on July 17, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Ford is listening to the "public cry" for off shore drilling, but will Congress?

Posted by Neponset on July 17, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If SC is thinking about drilling, you can bet that people all over the world are thinking the same thing. Get enough new oil on the market and crude prices will fall. Just the prospect of new oil will drive down spot market prices. I think I will buy some drilling company stock, like RIG.

Posted by RW on July 17, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Senator Ford,

Welcome to common sense. Call your buddies on the left and tell them that drilling is GOING TO HAPPEN.And they might as well go along with it!

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can we get an oil rig, flying the confederate flag, with an ACLU office right next door the planned parenthood office that sits right next to the NAACP office that is right next door to the Gay tourism office?

While were at it, build a rail out to the rig and back, install the electric chair, hang an IBelieve plate from the rig. Then put an Obama08/McCain08 bumper sticker on it.

Cold Beer, you can take it from...What would we name it?

Posted by berthelot on July 17, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, F- the birds and whales.

"Let's use the oil the Lord has provided" Clearly the lord intends for us to burn oil. Agreed. I wasn't convinced, but that quote just brings me right over the edge. You all win, let's drill. It is probably a great idea.

Posted by RW on July 17, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DRILL NOW! DRILL NOW! DRILL NOW!

Posted by drp7773 on July 17, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Robert Ford had a thought?????????????????????

Posted by RW on July 17, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tripsa,

The NAMBLA loving ACLU is not to happy about the possibility of a death penalty and drilling for oil.Why... we were just supposed to sit back and quake in our boots that those Deviant -Loving, Anarchist, Socialist were going to come down to the Stone Age South to exact true liberal justice. DRILL NOW! Deport Now! Liberals Leave Now!

Posted by ColdBeer on July 17, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow... that's a TALL order tripsa <lol>.

Actually it already has a name... we call it Congress...

Posted by Early on July 17, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Even more profitable would be to put a refinery in SC to process the oil off of our coast. Just a thought Mr. Ford

Posted by katrenavantassle on July 17, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! You peopele are on a roll and its still early...do you guys work nights and this is your "cool down period"??? LOL!
You drinking?? LMAO at Tripsa and ColdBeer; you two always give me a chuckle in the mornings. I am glad to read comments from you two. Thanks!!! As a matter of fact, that is mainly why I even read these comments...to see what you are up to today! LOL!!

Posted by BigSargeofSC on July 17, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Can we get an oil rig, flying the confederate flag, with an ACLU office right next door the planned parenthood office that sits right next to the NAACP office that is right next door to the Gay tourism office? What would we name it?" - tripsa

How about the New Four Corners of Law?

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

interesting artilcle;
How Wrong are the Democrats on Drilling?

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008...

"A Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst said in a report there is a lot of offshore crude that can be produced relatively quickly. The problem: It is located off California, where politicians have built careers opposing new drilling.

The Minerals Management Service said that of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil in off-limits coastal areas, almost 10 billion are off the coast of California.

California could actually start producing new oil within a year if the moratorium were lifted," the Sanford C. Bernstein report said, because the oil is under shallow water, has been explored and drilling platforms have been there since before the moratoria."

Posted by katrenavantassle on July 17, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Now, on a serious note: Yes! Drill!! And go ahead and build a refinery also. What a great idea! My friends hubby is retired navy. He worked on a submarine while in the navy and now he works on a oil rig outside of Louisiana and travels back and forth on the weekends. He makes boo koo money and has terrific benefits. He started out at high 5 digits...and he loves it. He told me, that his job was just like playing on XBOX! He has a joystick and watches a computer screen while maneuvering a small camera underwater to survey pipes for damages, and if he finds one, he has to dive and fix it. But most of the time he doesnt find any. I bet during Katrena he was really busy!!! What a life!!

Posted by guidedbystewart on July 17, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is delusional to think that there is oil off the coast of SC anyways. Then again most politicians in the South are delusional (Ford anybody).
Ford, "Yes boys, there is Oil in them waters." There is no where that I am aware of on the Atlantic that produces oil? Yet if there is I am sure that SC would find away to exploit it.

Posted by number1volsfan1 on July 17, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

guidedbystewart

The North Atlantic (coast of Newfoundland) is a major oil producing region with one of the largest off-shore oil rigs in the world.

Posted by Early on July 17, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

When I got out of the Navy as a diver, the same rigs offered 75k a year to do the same thing, that was in 85.

There is oil off of every coast, it's a matter of which area has the most profit for the least investment

Posted by guidedbystewart on July 17, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ok number1volsfan1, Newfoundland a long ways from SC but I stand corrected.
anyhoo, we are now pobably going to exploit every known oil location in the world causing us to run out a lot sooner rather than later. Sounds like a lose lose situation to me, no matter how you look at it.

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

number1volsfan1 - It is delusional to feed the trolls. Dont wast your time talking to the misguided.

The leftist have arrived......

Posted by number1volsfan1 on July 17, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My bad.............should have known better.

Posted by guidedbystewart on July 17, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tripsa,
BTW I got some thing for you!
http://www.brainphysics.com/ybocs.php
It's a test for OCD, take and let us know how you do, I bet you will score of the charts!

Posted by Don on July 17, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it's funny that because gas is $4 per gallon, you want to drill. No discussions about it when gas was $2. Drilling off the coast of SC is a gennie you can't put back in the bottle. Everything built by man has flaws. Safety? Remember Three-Mile Island? Exxon Valdeze, Exploding space shuttles? Titannic? I can go on... The fact is we really don't need more oil. Watch Who killed the electric car (Blockbuster has it). GM made a great electric car in the 90s. They could make it today. Go 500 miles for 9 dollars. It would work for 90% of US families. Honda makes a Hydrogen car with almost zero emmissions. Charge it at home with a generator that provides power and heat as well. We should have gotten off oil 50 years ago. If you want something in the ocean, use proven tide and wave-powered generators. South Carolina's number 1 industry is toursim. What happens to that when there is oil up and down the coast? There is only 1 way I would support drilling. Keep all oil in the state and charge $1 per gallon. And make the Politicians that vote for it pay out of their pockets for any spills. Never happen, we all will pay......

Posted by shoelaces on July 17, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tripsa:

Add to the list of job requirements for oil rig workers..

*must wear pants low

*must have attended a CCSD school

*must have been arrested for 1 of the following: digging holes on beach, building sand castles on beach, or drinking on beach

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008...

"A Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst said in a report there is a lot of offshore crude that can be produced relatively quickly. The problem: It is located off California, where politicians have built careers opposing new drilling.

The Minerals Management Service said that of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil in off-limits coastal areas, almost 10 billion are off the coast of California.

California could actually start producing new oil within a year if the moratorium were lifted," the Sanford C. Bernstein report said, because the oil is under shallow water, has been explored and drilling platforms have been there since before the moratoria."

Posted by justjerry on July 17, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don, you are correct, we do need to develop the electric and hydrogen car along with many other advances that can be expanded. In the mean time, however, we need to do something to increase the supply of oil and the only way to do that is to drill. I am not big on restricting markets but I would not mind if the compromise for allowing drilling were to only allow oil found off our shores (or within our borders) to be sold to domestic markets.

Folks were not worrying about it when gas was $2 a gallon because the price was not affecting their lives. I bet that most common folk did not even realize that we had the restrictions on drilling and exploration for oil that we have. Now that it is in the forefront of their minds (and wallets) they are asking the governing body who is restricting drilling WTF?

Oh, and as for spills, offshore drilling spills are virtually non existent. During hurricane Katrina there was alot of oil dumped on the shores on the Gulf Coast, none of it came from off shore drilling rigs.

Posted by justmyopinion7 on July 17, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hemp Powered Car Debuts in Washington DC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Am3yUDt......

Posted by farfallaspeaks on July 17, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think Tripsa's butt is so tight, he could stick something up it and power his own vehicle.

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

justmyopinion7 = peacenow = farfallaspeaks

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Actually, a lot of people have been saying "drill" for years now. Bush tried to get Anwar opened in his first term and the dems voted it down. The Rep. passed a bill under Clinton to drill in Anwar and Bill vetoed it. He said it would take at least 5 years to get the oil.....that was 10 years ago.....

People said in the 70's that the Alaskan pipeline would kill the caribou...caribou population is now triple what it was in the 70's...they actually hang around the pipeline because it puts off warmth...also making it easier to find food in the winter because the snow melts around the pipeline.

It won't take until 2030 to see that oil at our pumps. Oil companies estimate some of the oil will be ready within 2 to 3 years.

Alternative fuels? Well...how long will that take??Electrical cars produce pollution to don't they? I mean when they are plugged in and being charged up? Don't electrical plants produce a lot of pollution? Just wondering.

Agian, our national security depends on us having our own oil. The people that say we shouldn't drill because it won't make a difference are probably the same people that say we went to Iraq for the oil. Can't have it both ways.

Posted by KidYendor on July 17, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The President lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling and the ppb dropped $6 or more after the announcement so Hamilton Davis is wrong. We can get immediate relief. There were no giant oil spills from derricks from Katrina were there? We need derricks out there today and nuclear plants but the SUVs and Explorers and Escalades must still go. It is nice to drive and see less of them and be able to see what is around and in front of you easier.

Posted by DoaMM on July 17, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So how long will it take to get us to the situation proposed in the movie "The Road Warrior". The intro to that movie describes a lot of what's going on now.

"Governments and their leaders talked and talked..."

I say drill. The world is about survival of the fittest, and right now, America ain't it. We can squabble all day about a thousand different things but having our OWN oil WILL make a difference that everyone can appreciate, whether you're a person with a car that gets 2 mpg or you're a tree hugger with a hemp backpack hitchin' a ride.

It's time to get this country back on its feet before it's too late...

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems...

Dems willing to criticize oil despite holding stock

“I would definitely say that it’s not consistent, because if these companies were engaging in the bad things that you are alleging then one would assume you would divest yourself,” he said.

But Slocum also noted that these Democratic lawmakers, as shareholders, would bear the burden of such proposals as taxes on companies’ windfall profits.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), who has criticized “needless tax breaks for giant oil companies” and accused oil companies of deliberately decreasing capacity to boost profits, has one of the biggest oil investments. He owns assets in Richey Oil Company of Houston worth between $250,000 and $500,000, according to his financial disclosure report. He earned royalties worth $50,000-$100,000 from that investment in 2007.

His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio) owns stock worth $1,000-$15,000 in Exxon Mobil and $15,000-$50,000 in Chevron. Last week he criticized industries for “raking in record profits” while “sitting on 68 million acres of oil-rich federal land that they are not drilling.”

Wilson told The Hill that he doesn’t let his investments interfere with decisionmaking.
“Bringing down gas prices will help families, businesses and our entire economy,” Wilson said in a statement. “It’s my top priority right now. Obviously, bringing down gas prices will hurt Big Oil’s bottom line, and you could argue that works against my own financial self-interest as a shareholder.

But my duties as a member of Congress come first, and I think it’s important to speak out and encourage the oil companies to do the right thing.”

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) has spoken out on “unjustifiable tax breaks for Big Oil” and the “astronomical earnings report of Exxon Mobil.”

He owns Exxon Mobil stock worth between $100,000 and $250,000 and Chevron stock worth between $50,000 and $100,000. He purchased additional stock in those companies last year.

Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) and his wife own shares of Chevron worth between $15,000 and $50,000 and Exxon Mobil worth between $250,000 and $500,000.

Posted by Name_Withheld on July 17, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Former Senator turned energy lobbyist Trent Lott (R-MS) falsely claimed, during a Tuesday MSNBC appearance in support of drilling for oil offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, that Hurricane Katrina didn't cause oil spills.

"We didn't have one drop of oil [spilled] when we had the biggest hurricane in recent history, Hurricane Katrina," Lott said on Tuesday. "I think that the American people," he added, "are saying 'Look, do whatever is necessary, do it all, and do it now.'"

Former Senator and lobbyist John Breaux, a Democrat hailing from the gulf state of Louisiana, said that opponents of offshore drilling should reconsider. "We've shown that for the last sixty years you can do it safely, you can develop all natural domestic resources here in the United States, and it can be done safely."

Oil spills, in fact, numbered over 100 in the hurricane's aftermath, plaguing New Orleans and nearby areas and also contaminating the Mississippi River. The Coast Guard, MSNBC itself reported in September of 2005, estimated that 7 million gallons of oil, between 44 separate facilities around southeastern Louisiana, had been spilled as a result of the storm.

Hurricane Ivan had caused spills out of offshore platforms in 2004, and while satellite photos were said by advocacy group SkyTruth to have revealed 7,000 square miles of oil slicks floating in the Gulf after Katrina, the Coast Guard's Capt. Frank Paskewich disputed it. "As for now, I am confident that we have no received any reports of significant oil spills offshore," he told Reuters.

On Monday, Nancy Pfotenhauer, energy lobbyist and senior energy adviser to Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, told MSNBC's David Schuster that "we withstood Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and we didn't spill a drop." In the past month, the same talking point has been spread by government officials such as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Senator McCain, and Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.

Posted by berthelot on July 17, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not being sarcastic this time. After reading these three articles (esp. the one from the CATO institute) I feel that it in fact may be in our best interest to allow oil exploration in the U.S.

I understand some of this isn't specifically about the issue at hand, but reading this material will give a better understanding of the big picture I think.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb108/...

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc...

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3584.ht...

Posted by berthelot on July 17, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I meant to add that we should explore alternatives just as vigorously.

Posted by Name_Withheld on July 17, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oil spills, in fact, numbered over 100 in the hurricane's aftermath, plaguing New Orleans and nearby areas and also contaminating the Mississippi River. The Coast Guard, MSNBC itself reported in September of 2005, estimated that 7 million gallons of oil, between 44 separate facilities around southeastern Louisiana, had been spilled as a result of the storm.

Posted by berthelot on July 17, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For those who don't want to read all of that to understand what I am saying, here is my conclusion:

We are getting jerked around by our "friends" and "allies" in the Middle East and we need leverage to be able to tell them to get lost. It really isn't about oil in the long run, it is about getting out from under their thumbs so that we can truly re-gain our independence. Alternative fuels are the future, no one can deny that. In the mean time our economy cannot continue to survive (or begin to prosper again) as long as we are at the mercy of our enemies. I get it now.

Posted by Charles_Town on July 17, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hard to believe no one has come forward yet to complain about him using the phrase "whistling Dixie" I am sure that reference offended someone somewhere.

Posted by lloyd007 on July 17, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ROBERT FORD, PLEASE!!! YOU WERE A SELL-OUT ON
THE FLAG ISSUE AND NOW YOUR A SELL-OUT ON
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AS WELL ( DRILLING WOULD
DO MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD ).WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
THIS TIME???. THEY SAY "'POLITICIANS MAKE STRANGE
BED FELLOWS'" GET OUT OF BED WITH GLEN McCONNELL,
AND MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE A MOMENT TO COME TO YOUR TRUE
SENSES..MAN , WHAT A TRUE DISAPPOINTMENT YOU'VE
BECOME...WHATEVER HAPPENED TO STANDING UP FOR TRUTH
AND WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST....MAN, SELL-OUT, SELL-OUT
SELL-OUT.......

Posted by Picky on July 17, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

South Carolina's got nothin' but sunshing and hot air. Why not invest the money in developing renewable energy here? The oil will be depleted in a decade or so. The sun: 4.5 billion years. Let's think long-term.

Posted by drp7773 on July 17, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hell why not tie Ford up on a telephone pole, everytime he opens his mouth itshould be enough hot air to light up N Charleston for a day.

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I keep hearing we shouldn't drill because the risk of oil spills. Well, our national security depends on oil. Question, do you think China is more likely to launch nuclear missiles if we can defend ourselves or less likely? What do you think our environment will look like if we are nuked?
Sorry, but I am willing to risk an oil spill for our national security. Did you know the oil in ANWAR is NATURALLY seeping out of the ground right now? I saw the footage of it a couple of years ago. By the way, they are not going to be drilling where there are the beautiful mountains. It is in the flats where there are roads and buildings NOW.
I said it earlier and I'll say it again, wouldn't you folks on the left like us to drill for our own oil so we don't have any more "wars for oil"? I'm just askin'?

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Also, isn't it arrogant of us to expect other countrie to risk having oil spills in their country, but we refuse to drill in ours for that reason?
Picky, alternative fuels sound great, but how many decades will that take? We have enough shale oil to last 150 to 300 years.

Posted by tallblonde on July 17, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Are we sure Rep Ford knows what kind of " drillin' " is being discussed?

*Innocent Smile*

Posted by Neponset on July 17, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A lot has been said about protecting our tourist industry, but with high fuel costs and the economy going south, how much longer will this industry thrive? It will be interesting to see how the tourism numbers look for this year and next. Lets get on with drilling and create some good paying jobs.

Posted by Don on July 17, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane-

We don't get nuked because we have oil. It's the comcept of mutually assured distruction (MAD) supported by our nuclear powered submarines carrying nuclear missiles. They don't run on gas or oil...

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Name_Withheld-

Natural Seeps: 62 Million Gallons
Offshore Drilling: 15 Million Gallons

Sources of oil in the oceans:
Some ocean oil "pollution" is naturally occurring; seepage from the ocean bottom and erosion of bottom sediments and rocks releases oil.

Only about 5 percent of oil pollution in oceans is due to major tanker accidents, but one big spill can disrupt sea and shore life for miles.
O
ffshore oil production can cause ocean oil pollution, from spills and operational discharges.

http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANE...

Down the Drain: 363 Million Gallons
Used engine oil can end up in waterways. An average oil change uses five quarts; one change can contaminate a million gallons of fresh water. Much oil in runoff from land and municipal and industrial wastes ends up in the oceans. 363 million gallons §
Road runoff adds up
Every year oily road runoff from a city of 5 million could contain as much oil as one large tanker spill §.

Routine Maintenance: 137 Million Gallons
Every year, bilge cleaning and other ship operations release millions of gallons of oil into navigable waters, in thousands of discharges of just a few gallons each. 137 million gallons §

Up in Smoke: 92 Million Gallons
Air pollution, mainly from cars and industry, places hundreds of tons of hydrocarbons into the oceans each year. Particles settle, and rain washes hydrocarbons from the air into the oceans §.

Natural Seeps: 62 Million Gallons
Some ocean oil "pollution" is natural. Seepage from the ocean bottom and eroding sedimentary rocks releases oil.

Offshore Drilling: 15 Million Gallons
Offshore oil production can cause ocean oil pollution, from spills and operational discharges

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

some good news we can all celebrate;
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,3850...

"WASHINGTON — The first war crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay can begin Monday, a federal judge has ruled, saying civilian courts should let the military process play out as Congress intended.

U.S. District Judge James Robertson on Thursday rejected an effort by Usama bin Laden's former driver, Salim Hamdan, to postpone his trial."

WAY TO GO. A judge that gets it.

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Enemy #1 to America's future;

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/17/a...

Posted by confederatethornman on July 17, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tripsa has operational discharge every time it thinks of Debbie Schlussel. Don't forget to switch hands! A solitary Popeye forearm is quite unbecoming.

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes Don, but we do use oil to power our fighter jets and some of our carriers. And as I said earlier, we are funding terrorism with oil money.

Posted by Neponset on July 17, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another alternative motor fuel option is the conversion of coal (which we have a lot of). However, this will take a large investment for the plants and in the past with oil prices going up and down, has been too risky for investors. The technology has been around since WW2. I don't know how messy the process is, but if the lights go out, anything is possible.

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

confederate...you disagree with tripsa why? And so you don't like the facts he's posted and you come up with some disgusting innuendo. Some of you folks could care a less if we can defend ourselves or not. You could care a less about our national security.

Posted by confederatethornman on July 17, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tarzan's biatch:

tripsa is composed of one-dimensional right wing seepage. It makes an amusing read, however.

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I rest my case conferate..

Posted by Picky on July 17, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane,

From the article: "New offshore drilling would not significantly affect prices, and any domestic oil harvested would not make it to the pumps before 2030, he said. "

What would you rather spend the next few decades developing? And why are you against renewable energy anyway? Americans can create anything they want, rapidly. Just look at how technology advanced here in World Wars I and II.

Our economy is faltering in it's oil-base. Investment in renewable energy would solve many economic problems.

Posted by justjerry on July 17, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by Name_Withheld on July 17, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Former Senator turned energy lobbyist Trent Lott (R-MS) falsely claimed, during a Tuesday MSNBC appearance in support of drilling for oil offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, that Hurricane Katrina didn't cause oil spills."

Hardly any of the spillage from Katrina was from offshore rigs, and those that did have spills were primarily from oil stored on the platforms and in damaged sections of pipeline. Most of the oil spilled was from damage done inland. That is what Lott was referring to.

From www.mms.gov "Over the past 20 years, less than .001 percent of the oil produced in U.S. state and federal waters have been spilled." And the record is getting dramatically better every year.

If you are attempting to use scare tactics at least get the facts straight.

According to the

Posted by Jane on July 17, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Picky, I never said I was against alternative forms of energy. I pointed out that folks wanted to build wind mills in the Nantucket Sound that would have provided 75% of the power to Cape Cod and it was Ted Kennedy and other dems who tried to stop it. Kennedy didn't want them there because that was where he and his family went yachting.
The gentleman in the article who said it would be 2030 before we got oil was an environmentalist and I don't put alot of stock in what they have to say.
The oil companies say they can get some of this online within 2 to 3 years. You also need to understand that oil is used in alot of products ...plastics to name one. It is quicker to start drilling then to not drill and hope for an alternative. We can do both. My point is the naysayers say it will take too long to get the oil and my point is it will probably take longer to come up with alternatives. There might not be an alternative that is as good as oil for running cars, trains, airplanes, etc.

Posted by Picky on July 17, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Perspective

America uses one billion barrels of oil every 12 days.

If there are 18 billion barrels of oil on all coasts (combined), that would yield about 216 days of oil, or 7.2 months.

In other words, if we started drilling off of every coast on January 1, all of the off-shore oil would be used up by July 4 if used as our sole source.

If there are 15 million gallons of oil off our coast, that would provide 357,142 barrels, or (give me a sec here...) 4.285 days US Consumption. Wow - so not worth it.

Posted by zoomru on July 17, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ford...your busted!!

Where were you 5, 10, 15 ...YEARS ago??

Don't be envoking the LORDS name now..YOU DEVIL!!!

You don't FOOL ME!.........

Posted by Neponset on July 17, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane
Well said. I would rather drill and have AC and lights, than wait for these folks to come up with alternatives. Looks like these folks have lots of "not in my back yard" and few, if any, positive/practical solutions.

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane thanks for your responce to Bozo the clown better known as confederatethornman.

confederatethornman - yet another keyboard coward, intellectual midget, with nothing to add but a demonstration of his/her ignorance and anger/bitterness.

I posted factual material. what do you have?

The great thing is, I know that it pisses you off and the only way you can respond is by insults.

So, to communicate on your terms - you are an idiot!

Posted by ColdBeer on July 17, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My wife and I occasionally "drill" off of the SC coast...

Posted by confederatethornman on July 17, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I fully support offshore swilling.

Posted by confederatethornman on July 17, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tripsa, jane and other righteous righties,

Drilling for oil in places like SC's coast is no better an idea than throwing more money at our local public schools. They both equate to a big expensive band-aid on a sucking chest wound.

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

confederatethornman - "I fully support offshore swilling."

me too.
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confederatethornman - "tripsa, jane and other righteous righties,

Drilling for oil in places like SC's coast is no better an idea than throwing more money at our local public schools. They both equate to a big expensive band-aid on a sucking chest wound."

not sure how righteous I am, but I am right. as for the public shools, I agree with ya there.

Posted by confederatethornman on July 17, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Righteous righties has a nice ring to it. I agree that you know you are right.

A small, yet symbolic and noble gesture for US oil companies to make would be to stop exporting crude and other petroleum products. We export more than 1,400,000 barrels of such products each day. Of course, in contrast, we import more than 13,000,000 barrels a day.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_mo...

Posted by shoelaces on July 17, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CB...too funny...now that you mention it, my husband and I have dabbled in the offshore drilling business too.

Question...If so much oil was spilled, leaked, oozed, or whatever due to hurricane Katrina and damaged New Orleans so badly why don't we hear about all of it? I haven't seen any pictures of the oil damage.

Posted by Don on July 17, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If we want a quick supply of oil to drop gas prices, the president can release oil from the strategic reserves. It has 727 million barrels we paid for. Even 10% would make a big difference. Its more full that it has ever been. No waiting 2-10 years foa a SIGINIFICANT amout of gas to come to the pumps. Thumb our nose at the middle east next week!! And lets drill on the unexplored land in the lower 48 and Alaska (not the wildlife refuge) the Oil companies already own. 68 million acres on land and 33 million acres offshore. They are using the high cost of gas to get what they always wanted (new offshore drilling permits), but don't need....

Posted by Johnq2 on July 17, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If RW and tripsa are for it you can be sure it will be bad for SC.

We already know what is instore for us if drilling is allowed off our coast. There will eventually be a spill and the oil company responsible will drag out the clean up and recovery and will resist all efforts to restore those harmed by the spill.

The Exxon Valdez is now the blueprint of how future oil spills will be handled. Drag it out and delay forever.

No drilling off our coast!

Posted by tripsa on July 17, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

we would drill in your head john_tolate_inthe _Q, but there is nothing there but empty space!

Posted by RW on July 17, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

JohnQ,

Move to Cuba! No energy problems there. But there again it's a third cesspool barely above the standards of Haiti!Sorry you lefties are so out of the mainstream! But, there is going to be drilling somewhere. America can no longer let you bedwetting marxist dictate our energy policy. Besides taxing big oil will do nothing at the pump. Blow up your love doll and ride off in the sunset you leftist pinko! The other 99% of South Carolina wants to be energy independent! There will be no oil spills. But if there is who cares..we will clean it up. You pinko's cant even find evidence of the Exxon Valdez spill. [Which was caused by a drunk captain}Save your little marxist bilge for Move-On!

Posted by RW on July 17, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

JohnQ,

One more idea.We will also use the oil platforms to hang criminals! Naw..not really. I just said that because you love criminals so much!

Posted by moonpie on July 17, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oil dropped $20 bucks a barrel today I wonder how long it will take to see the decrease at the pump? I mean if it goes up a dollar gas rises immediately.
I cry BS!

Posted by stand828 on July 17, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I couldn't care less about whether we drill off the coast or not, but I'd like to know why the 68 million acres of land already leased to the oil companies haven't been drilled already... if the companies didn't think oil was available on those lands, then why did they pay for the leases?

I'd much rather those lands be drilled first, if possible, than to drill off the coast, even though I agree the risk of environmental damage is relatively low.

Posted by willie08 on July 17, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

stand828, that is exactly why congress is fighting the ban on off shore drilling, and I agree.

Man can only control what he does to his environment, and how he works with it.
Although we will always have Tsunamis, Earthquakes, and Hurricanes, we can learn to survive them through better technology (Architecture, Warnings, Energy, Organization, Community). We CAN control these things, and we must be smart about them.

Great movement of the earth will continue, and we must be prepared for it. Drilling in on our coasts that are constantly destroyed by hurricanes is pointless, if a hurricane will come and knock it all down, spill oil in our already polluted waters.

We must not add to the problem. Whether you think global warming exists or not I don't care. I listen to the Scientists, who over 90% of the world scientists believe it is real. The cause is our way of life. Now the politicians, EVEN BUSH, are starting to recognize it.

This is a chance for us to really turn our lives around and start becoming dependent on more efficient and environment friendly forms of energy (which already exist, but are not being used to their fullest potential).

Why do we not use the already existing earth friendly sources of energy? Why can't we choose BioDiesel at the Gas Station?
Why are we feeding the greedy corporate billionaires by becoming so dependent on them?

There is technology out there that will allow us to even produce our OWN energy and food in very limited space. We can change the way we live completely, if we let the scientists come forth with their technology, and give them the merit it deserves. We live in a century if great inventions and science. We can evolve further as human beings. Do you want us to evolve, or become an Idiocracy?

Let's close the doors to the oil companies, that have done nothing but make us dependent on oil that is ruining our environment (water, marshes, mountains, and air- all of which human life needs to survive) and let's open the door to clean efficient, and never ending energy (sun, wind, wave, biodiesel).

Also, I realize that plastic plays a role in all this. I bet you could all agree that we waste too much plastic, and very little of it gets recycled. We are dependent on it for EVERYTHING we do, every day. Plastic is another huge problem creating an immense amount of trash.

Posted by rollo on July 17, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Picky,

"America uses 1 billion barrels of oil every 12 days."

Where did you find that bit of misinformation? That comes to over 83 million bbls/day, the whole world uses less than 90 million!

US use is less than 21 million.

The US has over 22 billion bbls in proven oil reserves, this does not include suspicious areas (offshore)where exploration has not been allowed.

Posted by rollo on July 17, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tripsa,

Read your link, it's amazing!

Pelosi claims to be looking out for the interests of the American people, while Sen Boxer is threatening farm state Sen's that they could lose their ethanol subsidies if they vote for offshore drilling!
Lies and coercion! I thought Pelosi was bringing an end to the "culture of corruption" now she and her friends are promoting it!

Of course, Pelosi also promised "common sense solutions" to our energy situation two years ago!!! (I'm still waiting!)

Posted by lifes_adventure on July 18, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jane, God Bless You!!! I agree with everything you've posted.

I'm a mod, but the only plausible answer to this crisis is to drill now.

Posted by lifes_adventure on July 18, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The hot air streaming from Pelosi's mouth could fuel the world for generations yet to come. Democrats out, Republicans in for now and forever...Never will I vote for a Democratic anything ever again! I denounce my New England heritage. Please forgive me for my past indiscretions (i.e. arrogance).

Posted by Don on July 18, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)

The Oil Man himself says we can't drill our way out of this....... Quote....

America is in a hole and it's getting deeper every day. We import 70% of our oil at a cost of $700 billion a year - four times the annual cost of the Iraq war.

I've been an oil man all my life, but this is one emergency we can't drill our way out of. But if we create a new renewable energy network, we can break our addiction to foreign oil.

On January 20, 2009, a new President gets sworn in. If we're organized, we can convince Congress to make major changes towards cleaner, cheaper and domestic energy resources.

read it here...

http://www.pickensplan.com/

Posted by goodkarmasc on July 19, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oil is too important to our economy, our national security, and the livelyhood of our republic to continue to allow the Middle East, Wall Street and US oil barrons to dicate prices.

Nationalize it....pay off our debt, rebuild our infrastructure, fund our military, and tell the Saudis to go pound sand!

Every country that has nationalized their oil production, gasoline is under $2 a gallon.