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HOBBS, NM -- Mitt Romney returned to oil country this morning to sell his new energy plan, setting a goal of reaching North American energy independence by 2020 in large part by removing regulatory barriers to fossil fuel development in the United States, and increasing cooperation with fellow energy-producers Canada and Mexico.
"I will set a national goal of America and North America -- North American energy independence by 2020," Romney pledged. "That means we produce all the energy we use in North America. And there are a number of things I'm going to do to make that happen. It is achievable. This is not some pie in the sky kind of thing. This is a real, achievable objective."
Evan Vucci / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign event at Watson Truck and Supply Aug. 23.
Romney's plan, laid out in a white paper and conference call with reporters last night, calls for streamlining the permit process for energy development on federal lands and offshore, for building infrastructure like the Keystone Pipeline, and supporting basic research on next-generation fuels like wind and solar, while abandoning subsidies and loan guarantees that, Romney argues, have tilted the marketplace in favor of those energy sources.
With the plan largely fleshed out before Romney's remarks, the candidate took on the role of chief salesman for his plan today, telling a crowd of a few hundred supporters here there would be ancillary benefits to boosting domestic energy production beyond lowering energy prices at home.
NBC's Mark Murray reveals the new NBC News Battleground Map and discusses fresh polling in some key states.
"Three million jobs come back to this country by taking advantage of something we have right underneath our feet, that’s oil and gas and coal, we’re going to make it happen we’re going to create those jobs," Romney said.
"Let me tell you what else it does," Romney continued "It adds $500 billion to the size of our economy. That’s more good wages, that’s an opportunity for more Americans to have a bright and prosperous future. It also means by the way tens of billions, potentially hundreds of billions of dollars of tax revenues going into states and the federal government, which can make sure we have a military second to none and schools that lead the world and care for our seniors, better roads and bridges."
Romney also argued that becoming less dependent on unstable or hostile regimes for energy increases America's national security.
"This is not just a matter of economy and jobs and rising incomes and the growing economy and more tax revenues. It’s also more security. It means we don’t have to rely on people who in some cases don’t like us very much," Romney said.
Democrats responded to Romney's remarks with a statement.
"He will embrace a backward, drilling-focused energy policy that prioritizes subsidies and tax breaks for the big oil and gas companies and leaves behind efforts to increase energy efficiency and develop homegrown alternative energy," Obama campaign spokesperson Lis Smith wrote in a statement to reporters. "This isn’t a recipe for energy independence; it’s just another irresponsible scheme to help line the pockets of big oil while allowing the U.S. to fall behind and cede the clean energy sector to China."
Romney's choice of venue for publicly unveiling his plan raises some questions about his campaign strategy. The presumptive GOP nominee had not previously campaigned or run television ads in New Mexico, and while the state ranks 6th in oil production, according to government assessments, it is not considered a swing state. President Obama carried the state in 2008, and NBC's current battleground map, debuted this morning, places it in squarely in the "Lean Democratic" category.
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Paul Ryan is in North Carolina today criticizing the military sequester that HE voted FOR.
Not a great plan.
Removing regulations on oil companys is like promising free assault weapons to known gang members.
And what if are independent of ouside sources by 2020? That doesn't mean that the oil comanies will lower prices. All this means is that oil companies will have free reign to do what they want with little or no government oversight.
This is a recipe for disaster!
While the right wing nuts stick their fingers in their eyes, close their eyes, stomp their feet and YELL: LALALALALALALA!
Talk about some serious irony!
Drill Baby Drill!!!!!!!!!! (that's for you fisty)
Obama has put this country in a terrible predicament relative to energy. He has invested Billions in his friends 'green energy' business (all failed), cut drilling permits to next to nothing, won't get the keystone pipeline going (job killer), want to bankrupt coal energy producers.... the list goes on.
All this does is increase the burden on the middle class. But you libbys don't care about that (hypocrites).
Obama, a failed experiment.
Obama's war on America's energy independence must stop!!!
WHAT!!!!
No more half-billion taxpayer dollar solar powered boondoggles for Barry campaign cash bundlers??
No more fairy dust powered windmills held up in the air by skyhooks??
No more $45,000 electric cars nobody wants to buy??
WTF!!!
(and I don't mean Win The Future)
Wind and solar are 4.7% of the market. Wow, that is really tilted.
This man is not clueless however, he obviously believes that the voters are.
Dennis, Ryan's etch-a-sketching himself again today. How dare anyone point out that Paul Ryan voted for the automatic cuts :)) It's mind boggling how he can stand before an audience of voters and criticize what he voted "yea" to do.
nomoresameo, so true. Deregulating any industry is idiotic but the oil industry? Might has well just dump toxins in the drinking water and be done with it.
We could be energy independent now Mitt! With solar, wind, and other green energy projects and Responsible use of our fossil fuel resources.
If the T-Pubs would just get out of bed with the big oil corporations!
How about leaving some for the future. It will run out someday relatively soon;-most likely within decades or a century or so-what does it matter? Why not start by leaving new fields for the future and become self sufficient in energy now. That could be accomplished but it would mean less profits for the entrenched oligarchy who are making billions. So, of course they use this money, in small part, to fool people like the drill, baby, drill crowd who somehow think that energy produced by releasing pollutants into the atmosphere is somehow patriotic or "good" for them. Future generations will be cursing these people-that much seems certain.
Ryan owns land that is leased to oil companies ... duh.
Is it just me or do so many of Mittens plans seem to be so outdated? It's like a jump back in time. Our country needs to look for solutions that are cleaner solutions and he's going to end the subsidies for development of those??? Not only is he pale, male, and STALE so is his energy "plan."
He probably introduced this in New Mexico as they have some of the cleanest air. He should have wandered his butt over to the Grand Canyon and/or Zions to have a look at the dirty nasty air that invades our National Parks due to pollution from California!
They got to sleep with them who bought em!
Half of billion dollars is pocket change, we give 8 times that much each and every year for many many years to the oil industry, and they post astronomical profits every quarter, so why bitch about a few hundred million when your party will fight to the death before they stop giving 8 times that each year to an industry that certainly does not need it.
Not to mention all the support for our oil rich "allies" and the dirty little oil wars!
Grump: a bit grumpy today??
Without those tax provisions, the oil companies might have to cut my dividend payments. NFW I want that to happen.
Layton, the entire republican party is outdated. Their ideas and views take us backwards whether it is drill, baby, drill or eliminating contraception for women, or Reagan's voo-doo economics.
No more than usual Joe, just trying to give republicans a clue as to why they can not get any traction on the green energy subsidy issue. If you demand that the government must subsidize the most profitable industry on the planet, you look damn silly complaining about government subsidizing emerging technologies.
Yo Romney - Your plan is perfectly understandable, however, you have left out some costs that really must be factored into your solution.
- The cost of building underground cities and moving the entire US population to these new abodes. With the complete destruction of the environment, people will need safe places to live, away from the toxic world above ground.
- The cost of the massive air scrubbers to support these underground cities. Piping the polluted air into these underground cities won't be an option without detoxification.
- The cost of importing 100% of water and food stuffs. Obviously, water will be so toxic, we will need to import that water from outside the US. And since drinking water will be 100% imported, that means we will also have to import 100% of our food.
Now, if you wouldn't mind sir, please resubmit your proposals with these minor additions so the American public can fully access your plans. I would add that China, who will soon surpass us as a greener nation, may be a willing seller of the air scrubbing systems, food, and water required by the US population.
Oh the liberals sing their litany of how bad Oil is... how bad fossil fuels are and how damaging they are to the environment... Romney bad... Obama good.
Got a proposal for you liberals... stop driving your cars. Stop the electricity in your homes. Stop cooking with your stoves... turn off the heat and the air conditioner. Unplug your refrigerator, stop watching your TV's and turn your computers off. While you are at it, turn off your hot water heaters, all your lights, disconnect your internet, telephones and eliminate cell phones from your lives.
When you become totally energy independent, send me a smoke signal. Wait, you can't do that because it pollutes the air... I'll just have to take it that you did it by your silence.
How do you like your world now liberals? You have managed to take your self into the stone age... YOU can have that... I want no part of it.
I have noticed that the liberals seem to think we have very limited amounts of oil in this country. The only conclusion I can come to is they aren't interested in finding out the truth. The truth doesn't serve their purpose so they omit it. They stick with the idea that oil, natural gas and coal are bad and limited...
Oil-rich? Comparatively, no it's not. The USA can never be energy independent on oil.
Forrest Grump, big smile reading your #1.16.
RedDev, you made a great point. President Obama has said something similar often; the US can be the leader in manufacturing clean renewable wind turbines, parts, etc. but we have to encourage the investment otherwise, China will take our place.
We give approximately $4 billion per year in corporate welfare to big oil and gas and have for decades. These tax subsidies were put in place in the late 60's or early 70's to encourage more oil production in the US because of the glut of oil coming from the Middle East; it wasn't profitable to compete then. China and India were still sleeping. Big oil today is highly profitable and competitive on the world market because of increased demand.
In 2011 big oil income was: BP, $26 billion; Chevron, $19 billion; ConocoPhillips, $12 billion; Exxon, $41 billion; Shell, $31 billion. They hardly need the corporate welfare that forces spending cuts to education, infrastructure, and other discretionary spending because of the lost revenue.
I'm sure you don't, Joe. But I have news for you - most Americans are tired of shelling out the money that you gleefully stuff into your pockets. Why don't you walk the walk of your party, quit playing welfare queen, and go get a job.
Oh ok Joe, now I see, your Solyndra rants were never really about the wise use of taxpayer money, because like I said and you certainly agree, the oil subsidies are just about lining somebodies pockets with tax payer's money, and as long as it is Joe's pockets then it is a wise use of tax money. So your real complaint on green energy subsidies is simply that you are not getting in on any of it, your honesty is simultaneously refreshing and sickening, and now render any of your personal complaints about the prudent use of tax money illegitimate.
It's gunna happen too. Drill, Baby...just freaking drill!!!
Analysis of election factors points to Romney win, University of Colorado study says
http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/08/22/analysis-election-factors-points-romney-win-university-colorado-study-says
http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/08/22/analysis-election-factors-points-romney-win-university-colorado-study-says
He was the model for Batman's archenemy Two Face you know. :)
I also find that heartening Mr. Bickers
Brianb: sorry to bust your bubble, smart guy, but the reason why most liberals like myself think there is a limited supply of oil comes down to a basic concept: we rely on the information provided by the best experts in their field to formulate our opinions. And the best experts in the field of petrogeology, geomorphology and energy are in virtual unanimous agreement that oil production has been declining in America since 1970 and no amounts of new discoveries will reverse this.
Got that?
Now tell us, who are YOUR sources, hmmm? I would wager just about anything that you listen to demogogues with a political agenda, but have not a scruple to their names in the field of petrogeology, geomorphology or energy.
This is another reason why liberals are far more intelligent than you - we access the best experts for our information. You go to right wing loudmouths who have no credibility in these things.
Brian: funny how what you think about America's oil supply, or its prospect for "energy independence" runs contrary to what the experts think. But that is your problem, isn't it.
Red Devil: I don't need a job. So, why would I go get one??
Grump: "prudent use of tax money" The most prudent use of my tax money is letting me keep as much of it as possible. I firmly believe I can make better use of it than the govt can.
Notice how Romney's plans change daily.
Now it's if you give all the rich the money and the oil companies then revenues will go up and we can have better schools, roads, and can afford Medicare..........blah, blah, blah......
He still isn't specific in his plans, it's "elect me and I'll show you".
Don't trust Romney. He'll leave the middle class high and dry.
Spoken like a 'true' welfare queen.
who is the silver-spooner/draft-dodger kidding/if he wins we are done,if there is a god may he help us.
RedSoxRule (too bad they SUCK, go O's), Joe in Albany and BrianB... All of you spew half-truths, nonsense or out-and-out lies. Is it possible for any of you to participate in an adult discussion? None of the comments i have seen from you are worth the wear and tear on your keyboards and show your ignorance, hatred and lack of respect for dissenting opinions. I hope that your "troll" community appreciates your stupidity because those of us that would like to hold a mature, cogent and FACTUAL (vs opinion based) discussion find you mildly amusing at best and, at worst, an example of the discord politicians want us to be distracted by.
PS: I hope the Koch brothers, Karl Rove or the RNC is paying you well for your commentary.
"Grump: "prudent use of tax money" The most prudent use of my tax money is letting me keep as much of it as possible. I firmly believe I can make better use of it than the govt can."
Oh Joe, that is weak, you just got done saying you love other peoples tax money going into your pocket via oil subsidies. I can see why you are a big Romney fan, you are a great republican Joe, you think other peoples money should go in your pocket, but your money should stay in your pocket.
Your honesty is amazing today Joe, did somebody hit you up with some sodium pentathol this morning.
Ill say it again....American soil (including the arctic and evry where else) only holds 2% of the Worlds oil....America Consumes 22% of the Oil Supply. Drill Baby Drill IS NOT SUTAINABLE. Do the MAth!!
Ignoring development of Green ENergy as Romney does is foolish . Talk about saddling future generations with a polluted environment and astronomical gas prices (despite the increase in prodiuction). Supply and demand, Worlds Supply is dwindling and prices will go up
Sorry, but you are a MORON if you think domestically produced OIL is going to be cheaper....its sold on the World MArket where ...wait for it....maximum profit.
That the problem with MItt the Twat's little plan, NO INCENTIVe for the Oil compenies to ditribute directly to the US Market. And with 40 Billion is subsidies, why should they?
Epic fail, MIttens
Where is Janet Napolitano's sexual harassment story. It's not a republican so NBC will not cover it.
While you might argue just how much oil there is, you can't argue the fact that it is a finite resource, it takes millions of years and a lot of dead dinosaurs to make more, when it's gone it's gone, and it will become too expensive for common use long before it is gone. Any sensible long term energy policy would suggest and promote that our oil be used sparingly. We should save all we can so our military can use it to attack other countries for theirs when that inevitable time comes.
I have been in the workforce for 30 years, and I have never been subjected to any kind of sexual harassment, but hey I still have hope.
Jersey Devil said: Brian: funny how what you think about America's oil supply, or its prospect for "energy independence" runs contrary to what the experts think. But that is your problem, isn't it.
It's only a problem to you. I have a feeling that you live in Jersey... and I happen to live along the Gulf Coast... you have heard of the Gulf of Mexico, haven't you? While who you may call experts... college instructors, analysts, etc... and their information, I guess geotech drawings, surveys and underground strata information doesn't count too much, does it? I have had access to many drawings, surveys and information because several of my close associates work off-shore. In otherwords, I associate with direct experts. This is how I know what's here. When you compile all the known locations of recoverable oil and natural gas in this country, we are sitting on close to 200 billion + of oil we can get to today.
Keep on believing those who you will. Since you don't have direct knowledge, you can rely on your experts to tell you what they want.
Notaliborcon said: Joe in Albany and BrianB... All of you spew half-truths, nonsense or out-and-out lies. Is it possible for any of you to participate in an adult discussion? None of the comments i have seen from you are worth the wear and tear on your keyboards and show your ignorance, hatred and lack of respect for dissenting opinions. I hope that your "troll" community appreciates your stupidity because those of us that would like to hold a mature, cogent and FACTUAL (vs opinion based) discussion find you mildly amusing at best and, at worst, an example of the discord politicians want us to be distracted by.
Did you get this out of Alynski's book? Seems you have this bad habit of siding with the liberals... and that makes your name a lie.
"Obama has put this country in a terrible predicament relative to energy."
RedSoxRule--- it's time for a dose of REALITY --- something you right wing people can't stand. Domestic oil production is at an all time high. We have so much domestic crud oil that we are exporting gasoline. Natural gas production in the US is so high the bottom has fallen out of the market. We are closer to energy independence today that we have been at any time in the last 50 years. The bottom line is -- you don't know what you're talking about. Your knowledge of energy isn't even as good as your team's performance is.
"Notice how Romney's plans change daily."
http://orbat.com/site/energy/us%20energy%20independence.htm
1.124 Trillion Barrels of conventional oil left. according to the DOE alone.
Well, since the official figure you will see for US reserves is 21-billion barrels - just 3-years total consumption, you will be justified in asking what controlled substances has DOE been ingesting and why are we worrying about oil when we should be worrying about why DOE has not made this wonderful stuff available to everyone.
Fracking has to do with gas wells, not oil.
ALL the oil we use comes from foreign countries and the oil we produce is shipped overseas.
Good to see self-serving Romney up there promoting his buddies oil companies and Ryan criticizing the military sequester that HE voted for. Well, at least for the Democrats!
It is so very degrading to us, the voters, that these two think everyone is beneath them and are so stupid and ill-informed that we would actually believe their B.S.
Obama/Biden 2012
Dennis - Suffer from ADD? What does that have to do with the story?
Charlie said: Change daily??? How about hourly!!
I'm impressed! I didn't realize you were watching Romney on an hourly basis. Even I don't give him that much attention. I wonder if the other liberals are watching him constantly like you are Charlie?
I'm not sure what all the fuss is about... I went for a walk today near the Ponderosa fire in CA and the sky was clear with no breathing difficulties whatsoever.
I also plan to run a generator in my tent later... all should be OK.
Surely burning fuels does nothing to release toxins into the environment.
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT
From the article above:
Welcome, Governer, to my state.
New Mexico has over 300 days of sunshine; more than the state of Florida! I was wondering why it is overcast and cloudy today!
Here in New Mexico, you will find a diverse population of many cultures, including Native American, Hispanic, and Women. All of whom aren't going to vote for you.
Our proud 5 Electorial Votes are going to President Obama this election, but thanks for stopping by.
Be sure to get the EXTRA-Hot green chile Chicken Enchiladas before your board your plane home. It will make the last hour of your flight alot of fun.
Salud.
Chuckie, you be quite stupid. How many barrels do we produce? How many do we consume? Learn some simple math.
LMAO
libbys, so fun to watch. You guys are just like Barry, the infomercial president. Its all about the razzle dazzle, not the facts.
Barry, the shamwow president.
LMAO
On a different note, I just heard that the unemployment numbers are not looking good at all. Sorry Mr. Obama, it seems you're growing weaker by the week... I guess we'll have to hear the liberals start going off the deep end in his defense.
It's funny... bad news for Obama and the liberals try to beef up their support for him. I guess there's nothing like falling into a bush full of thorns and digging in deeper when you hear bad news.
Just a simple report from the Washington Times... about how the government is not telling us the truth about unemployment... Interesting.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/economic-sophisms/2012/aug/20/current-unemployment-numbers-are-misleading/
Let them frack in the back yards of those who vote for him if he's elected.
I wonder if the other liberals are watching him constantly like you are Charlie?
It's like this Braiand -- I'm informed. I don't drink the right wing cool-aid like you do.
'Chuckie, you be quite stupid. How many barrels do we produce? How many do we consume? Learn some simple math."
So RedSoxRule -- it that your idea of a response? I live in an oil producing state. In fact -- we're having an oil and gas boom. I see increasing production first hand. Wells are even being drilled on the golf course where I'm a board member. I read about it in local newspapers just about every day. I said earlier the bottom line is -- you don't know what you're talking about. Your knowledge of energy isn't even as good as your team's performance is. And with your childish comments, you continue to prove me correct.
This race is.....o v e r.......President Romney will win this.....g o i n g..... away
Oh brianB... Bringing up Saul Alynski to try to deflect from my point that you and your ilk are simply not relevant to discussing anything in a constructive manner. In fact, by bringing Saul Alynski up (like Newt) shows just how right I was so maybe you are not deflecting after all.
My handle means what it says... yes, I am PROGRESSIVE but I am a TRUE libertarian who feels that the republican party has been co-opted by the Teapublicans who in turn are financed by Koch bros, Dick Armey and various other right wing radicals that feel that the rich are the only citizens that deserve to be in the US. I do not agree with Obama or the democraps on many things but DEFINITELY more than the teapublicans. Examples: 1) Obama folded when it came to proposing a single payer healthcare system. 2) Obama and his administrations actions have been utterly pathetic when it comes to prosecuting the criminal malfeasance of the banks and investment houses. The teapublican congress has been nothing but obstructionists and traitors to the underlying principles of the US when it comes to correcting the causes of the financial crisis. 4) The Obama admin's environmental platform is entirely wrongheaded... the tax subsidies for solar, wind and geothermal should be extended for atleast 5 years but instead they are dithering because the oil industry (BILLIONS in taxpayer subsidies for the fossil fuel guys) feels threatened by competition.
You on the other hand have written NO comments that are factually accurate instead you choose to peddle vitriol, stupidity and conspiracy theories that do not advance the dialogue in any way. So, how much do the Koch bros pay you to type up nonsense?
BoSoxRule.... Are you giving up like the Bosox?
TomasGrande, I also live in "The Land of Enchantment" and while, as you say, our electoral votes will go to President Obama, I'll bet not one single person from Hobbs will vote for him. That's red-neck country. They don't like Democrats and they don't like "outsiders".
Obama-Biden 2012
President Romney will win this.....g o i n g..... away
Fisty Dum Fux, you are one ignorant biatch.... Limited water supply? You should keep your hairy lips attached to Odumbo's a$$.... hopefully that would prevent you from spewing your venom all over the web and contaminating the water supply in your area.... Keep impressing us with your superior knowledge of our water resources, Petroleum engineering and the content of Bill Mahr's colon....
Romney is officially delusional.
nomoresameo
The Principle of Supply and demand states that as supply increases, price goes lower. Restrict the supply the price goes up and somebody gets a big bonus. It a principle, that is outside the bounds of capitalism or even "controlled" economies.
During the Bush years, Oil disasters dropped from 2 per year under Clinton to less than one per year, even though Bush had approved more wells than Clinton.
I'm sorry, but anyone who studied the Gulf disaster knows that most of the approvals on BP day to day operations were by Obama appointees from BP. BP was a contributor to Obama. Obama was supposed to make oversight stricter. What a joke.
Xabre
Democrats and the left have preached that we would be out of petroleum in 30 - 40 years since 1970. Funny that is still the projection, yet we are pulling many times the petroleum out of the earth than were were being pulled out then.
In 1972 near Oaklahoma City, Oaklahoma, there were two successful petroleum wells drilled to 30,000 deep. Today the Russians have over 50 wells drilled at 30,000 feet producing petroleum. Some of these wells were drilled in areas where they were certain there would be no petroleum.
Why don't you get real smart and ask why if petroleum is a fossil fuel why it's ingredients don't have at least trace amounts of every mineral in the plants and animals of the areas where petroleum is found. Why is it that there are several regular elements in petroleum that are not found in plants and animals that are poisonous to plants and animals? The closest we can come to a synthetic petroleum is a sea algae that is not in huge abundance?
The Russians figured out in the 40's that Petroleum is not a fossil fuel but are chiefly the result of water carbon, Extremely high temperatures, and high pressure. The petroleum is forced up by the pressure toward the surface of the earth an pools in porous layers of the earth.
This really makes sense because we find cooled tar pits with very well preserved dinosaurs suspended in time. The tar and oil was coming the whole way to the surface at that time.
Today, not only are we finding huge pools of oil in places we didn't think it was, but we have returned to places we thought were tapped out only to find large quantities of petroleum again.
We apparently are not even close to runing out.
Any energy policy beats Obama's Solyndra plan
Jody
Any special benefits to the oil industries were eliminated for the large companies in the 80's. Any deductions etc. are the same as for all other corporations.
And Jody, just think, those companies profits on a gallon of gasoline is between 6 & 7 cents per gallon. The federal government gets 48.8 Cents per gallon - and wastes most of it!
John 2032532
I heard it from an unofficial source in the Republican party that according to republican internal polling, Romney is currently up by several points in almost all the swing states by 4 & 5 points. If so, the next 80 days is going to be a long road to toe for democrats.
Jersey Devil
You mean science academics who have never spent a minute working in an oil field, don't drill for oil, and don't want to. You will not find one expert in the petroleum business who says we are going to run out right now.
Now we know what the $7 million Romney got from the oil companies in Houston last week bought. In addition they agreed to up the gasoline prices to help him get elected so they could really get a good payback.
Forrest
No, no one will argue that there a limits to it's availability. The problems is that US Science is hauling down the wrong road. The Foreign countries are quite happy with the position US Science is taking and are plenty happy to take us to the cleaners for it.
Quiet one
Yup fracking has to do with gas wells, but years ago, oil wells would get "shot" once in a while if it was not producing enough. Sometimes it would bring more oil in, but most times, it cost production.
DB Akron: sorry, you are way off. US oil production peaked back in 1970-early 1971 and it has been downhill ever since, even with the Prudhoe Bay oil field coming online in the late 1970s. Please do not try to introduce totally false information here, because you will be called out for it.
DB Akron: oh, and by the way - yes, the experts in petrogeology I referred to, above, have indeed spent many years in the oil patch, with many entering acedemia and/or have written books on the subject. Thanks for asking. Because they are beholden to no one since retirement, they have been in virtual agreement that the age of cheap oil is over, energy independence is a myth, and we will NEVER be able to drill our way out of our predicament.
TomasGrande .... I like your posts more now knowing you live in the Land of Enchantment. My bFF lives in Los Alamos. Beautiful state you have and excellent post.
Once again dog abusing tax evader Mitt Romney lays out another huge pile of B.S. in front of the American people. North America is already on track to becoming energy independent around 2020 due in large part to President Obama’s energy policies. Of course Romney would take credit for Obama’s energy policy because he hasn’t had an original thought in his entire life. It’s truly mind boggling that anyone with even 1/10th of a normal human brain would actually vote for this Republican fraud. And don’t even get me started on Paul Adolph Ryan whose German uncle was a Catholic too.
db akron
Are you an investor?
The reason I ask is that you are right the oil companies have a net profit of 6 to 7 cents per gallon compared to the government taxes 0f 48.7 cents per gallon. the difference is the industry does not foolishly waste their 6 to 7 cents like the big government does on their 48.7 cents.
Its funny that the media does not put out these figures.
You are are also right that a lot of subsidies have gone away and that the only deductions that a business can take are for equipment depreciation and certain business expenses. which makes me Wonder how that can be a tax break for the rich or tax payer money.
some of you posting do not have a clue on how the business structure works.
@ Joe in Albany,
For how long? We don't have oil reserves that last for ever. How long and is the assumption of time going to be based again on current consumption?
Biggest problem we have is the scumbag oil companies sell our oil overseas you want to drill keep it here. To all Voters: is this what you want the selling of America to the rich vote GOP and thats what you get nothing for the rest of us
uaw.......
What will happen as a result of the "drill, baby, drill" energy policy is that world oil prices will see a temporary drop until demand increases.
Since the use of crude oil by developed countries is relatively stable, the increased demand will come from developing world economies like China and India. Those are the places there is a shortage of oil/gasoline.
Think of it as providing them with more oil to fuel the increase in their production capacity, increasing job opportunitites in those countries. Now we can import more and more products from the developing world.
We would be trading a long term national resource for a short term price benefit, at the cost of increasing the production capacity of our global competition. That "giant sucking sound" you would be hearing would not be oil coming out of the ground, it would be more US jobs lost to foreign competition.
For all the ballyhoo about oil and refining capacity in the US, there is no shortage.
When was the last time an American waited in a long line at the gas station, only to be told when they got to the pump that there was no gasoline?
When was the last time gasoline was rationed in the United States?
If there is no shortage, why do we need to dramatically increase production?
For who's benefit is a production increase, if our usage is not only stable, but meets demands?
"Three million jobs come back to this country by taking advantage of something we have right underneath our feet, that’s oil and gas and coal, we’re going to make it happen we’re going to create those jobs," Romney said."
I wonder how many of those 3 million jobs he refered to were outsoursed by Bain..his company ? The oil CEO's have got to lovew Romney's plan..it will make them even richer , and little for this nation as a whole. That pipeline he refered to would have taken gas to be sold elsewhere..so what help would that be.? As for more drilling...just how long would it be before this nation saw any real change from it ? Lots of ideas from Romney...no real definations for any kind of time frame...because he does not care as long as he is elected.
We will not be energy independent by following our current policy!
So we should spend billions of dollars on a dead end technology?
There is more that goes on when you flip a light switch than the light coming on. Just think about all of the energy that went into mining all the metal for the tower. All the copper for the electric motor, Oil that is used in the gear box. The material for the blades. I wonder how long it takes before the wind turbine produces more energy than was used to make it and install it? That does not even count the miles of power lines that we will need to connect them to the power grid.
So where are we going to get all the metal from? is that going to come from the United States or overseas? If it comes from overseas how is that being independent? I know that most if not all of the magnets come from China. They are controlling how much leaves from there in the raw form.
Peak oil production did peak in the 70's, we have pumped a lot of the lower priced oil out of the ground. Our reserves have actually been increasing over the last 10 years.
Taxes are a funny thing, should a company pay taxes on total revenue? Or should they pay taxes on actual profits?
@CPO Sharkey,When the Saudi's and the like need money for social well being in they're country's they manipulate the price of oil to reflect it why can't we
All we have to do is put redhead in front of a windmill and we will be energy independent forever.
at uaw......
I'm not sure what you are getting at.
The historical price for a gallon of gasoline, adjusted for inflation and restated in 2011 dollars, from 1944 to 1978 averaged $2.50/gallon. This varied between a 1973 average of $2/gallon to a 1981 average of $3.37/gallon. Not much manipulaltion by the Saudi's because this era was pretty much pre-Aramco.
By 1998, post Aramco, the average price of a gallon of gas, adjusted for inflation and restated in 2011 dollars, was $1.50/gallon. The 1990s were the era of cheap gasoline. The average price for a gallon of gasoline by 2011 was $3.48 gallon.
So, you can see that Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, actually produced enough oil in the 1990's to drop the price, adjusted for inflation, approximately $1/gallon under what the oil companies provided before the Saudi's took control of their oil production. It was actually cheaper to fill up your gas tank after Aramco control, then it was before Aramco control.
Today's price, adjusted for inflation, is not that materially different than the price of gasoline from the 1980s.
I am not sure where you are getting your data that the Saudi's are maniplulating the prices for their own personal benefit? The data I have seen does not support that claim.
Matter of fact, taking into consideration production efficiencies in the manufacture of the internal combustion engine, the closer tolerances resulting from technology have increased the miles per gallon of vehicles since the 1944 to 1978 time period, and it is actually just as inexpensive to fuel and operate your vehicle now as it was then.
I don't understand the panic politics of "drill, baby, drill", as suply is adequate to meet demand, and the price of fueling a vehicle is consistent with the prices in 1981, if adjusted for inflation.
Just as an aside....
According to the US Census bureau, in 2010 the median family income in the US was $47,022, which, when adjusted for inflation is $49,445 in today's dollars.
In 1967 the median family income was $5,952, which, when adjusted for inflation, is $40,770 in today's dollars.
So, in 2010 families actually saw a slight improvement in their income over 1967 by about $8,700, as adjusted for inflation.
So, for those working, I don't understand the politics of panic that they are losing ground economically. It seems that you are actually just as well off today as you were yesterday, unless you have let your spending get ahead of your earnings.
The Saudis just informed the brokers they want $94.00 a barrel or they will cut production. Reason: to meet future social needs in country
see 2016, the movie
We will have clean unlimited energy as soon as energy companies figure out a way to charge for the sun. We need to drill baby drill a hole in Rmoneys head and let the air out. Sequester carbon from coal??? morons. Everything the Republicans do is slanted to oil and gas companies, who not only gouge the sh.t out of us but own the Republicks lock, stock and barrel. Science needs to be deployed into energy that will not end up destroying the planet. That's the future we should be giving our kids, not the BS being espoused by the traitors in the other party.
uaw.....
Once again, I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but the Saudi's have announced a price decrease for Asian customers (China, Japan, Korea) for Sept 2012 due to a softening in the Asian market.
Worldwide supplies of oil are up due to the economic downturn. The Brent price is down, not up.
The Saudi's can either cut production, or cut prices.
They just choose to cut prices, not raise them.
Once again I will ask you, if oil supply is such a hot topic issue that we need to "drill, baby, drill", where are the long lines at the gas pump, the shortages, and the rationing?
There are none, because the current supply meets the current demand.
And the price of gasoline in 2012 dollars is comparable to the price of gasoline during the 1980s.
There is no domestic supply crisis, it is politically manufactured.
"Romney's drill everywhere approach is also unlikely to yield a huge new bounty. Seventy percent of the nation's oil and gas resources are already available for drilling, according to recent report from the Congressional Budget Office.
Regulation of greenhouse gases from the Environmental Protection Agency -- one of the main headwinds facing the coal industry -- is court ordered. Neither Obama nor Romney can change that without Congress changing the Clean Air Act -- a dim prospect."
Doug....
The easiest problems to resolve politically are the problems that were invented politically by the politicians themselves.
All the politician has to do is step out onto the stage and convince people that there is a crisis only he can deal with, and, once elected step back out onto a stage and convince people it has been solved after actually doing nothing.
The Republicans are doing it with "drill, baby, drill", and the Democrats are doing it with their "War on the Middle Class".
Just as there is no crisis in the supply, or price, of gasoline, there is no crisis of the middle class. The middle class is doing better today than it was in 1967, unless they ran out and overextended themselves with easy credit.
So, if they overextended themselves with easy credit buying a bigger house than they could afford, new cars, new boats, and other toys, who's fault is that? Why do they expect a bailout?
The issue is not so much a shrinking middle class/class warfare, but one of a lack of jobs recovery.
So, just as the Republicans create an issue over energy to hide the fact they don't know what to do for a jobs recovery, the Dems create an issue of class warfare to hide a failed jobs recovery program.
Whichever candidate wins, Romney or Obama, neither has a jobs plan.
That's why neither discusses jobs, but uses "smoke and mirrors" politically created issues instead.
Perhaps i misunderstood the comment, But i am sure i heard this from a economist on oil and gas pricing
Barack Obama has:
Signed the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) Bill into Law allowing any US citizen to Be Detained WITHOUT trial (A federal Court Blocked it in May because it Violates the Constitution, but Obama is not trying to get it UNBLOCKED!).
He has Killed HUNDREDS of Innocent people (Including 3 American Citizens) in Pakistan and Yemen with Drone Strikes (He's Ordered even more drone strikes than Bush!).
The rate of National Debt under George Bush was Around $60 Billion a Month. Under Obama, it's been $190 Billion a Month, so that would be Nearly $600 Per US Citizen (Thanks Obama!).
Obama Care: Page 22. MANDATES, The Government will Audit Book of ALL Employers who Self Insure. Page 50, Section 152, Health Care WILL be Provided to ALL Non US Citizens, Illegal or otherwise. Page 126, Lines 22-25, Employers Must Pay for Their Part time Employees Health Care AND Their Families. Page 127, Lines 1-16, The Government WILL Tell you How much Money you can Make.
Obama has By-passed Congress to Enable the DREAM Act (Unconstitutional to By-Pass Congress, and the Illegals he allowed to become Legal Citizens has Committed over 19 Murders and Over 142 Sex crimes).
Obama Claims he Campaigned in 57 States (Maybe he wasn't Born in this Country?).
I'm NOT a Romney Supporter, but I would say Vote anyone BESIDES Barack Obama. And if Obama Gets Re-elected, buy Guns.
Any guesses how many times we hear drill baby drill next week at the circus in Tampa?
What they really should be repeating is; SPILL BABY SPILL!
And what is up with all the juvenile chanting of "USA...USA" at their klan rallies?
Are they trying to convince themselves or us they are "real Americans"? lol
How about this - "Three million jobs come back to this country by taking advantage of something we have right underneath our feet, that’s oil and gas and coal, we’re going to make it happen we’re going to create those jobs," Romney said.
Right underneath our feet in NORTH AMERICA - not just the US. So Romney can tout 3 million jobs, but unless we annex Canada and Mexico, a lot of those jobs are happening elsewhere. But 3 million jobs sure sounds good in a stump speech.
Ursula,
If infuriates me that we still do not know the extent of the damage from the Gulf spill, and these nitwits want to see if they can duplicate it!
Just look at his audience....
China is in negotiations with Canada to buy all of its oil regardless of the direction of a future pipeline.
The worst oil spill in history took place on Obama's watch and he completely bungled the entire mess.
Three days after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, the Dutch government offered to help. They have both experience and plans for combating such accidents. It was willing to provide ships outfitted with oil-skimming booms, and it proposed a plan for building sand barriers to protect sensitive marshlands...
“the embassy got a nice letter from the administration that said, ‘thanks, but no thanks,’” said Geert Visser, consul general for the Netherlands in Houston...
How quickly liberals forget.
Feisty,
And then there's fracking and those pesky earthquakes. Who ever thought earthquakes could be man-made?
Where in his plan is the building of new refineries?
That is the single largest bottleneck in the process over recent years. Refinery accidents, fires and hurricanes have slowed the production and caused an increase in prices at the pump more often than any other problems.
Yeah Yeah Yeah!
We know President Obama personally placed the faulty equipment on that rig and then pushed the panic button himself!
Go sit down, take your meds and STFU!
Romney is such a bold-faced liar and he gets away with it. 3 million more jobs says Mitt but for how long and where? We don't have enough refineries now to keep up with the amount we pump. We have produced more oil the last couple years than we have in decades. So much for that "regulations costs jobs" nonsense Mitt and the GOP spew.
Ah, yes...obviously the entire problem with the Gulf spill was the cleanup and not that the explosion happened in the first damn place.
...and how can we forget the way BP, Transocean and Haliburton all took responsibility for what happened...by pointing fingers at each other saying, "I can not tell a lie...it's HIS fault!"
Remember, the fall will kill you, Sundance.
Ursula,
If you haven't seen the movie "Gasland" I highly recommend it!
It will scare the bejeesus out of you with what's going on out there!
These science hating neanderthals don't understand there is a finite amount of water on this planet and once we pollute it... game over!
Poor Redhead, the ignorant dweb knows less about the oil and gas industry than she does politics.
You STFU, you have no power here. In fact, you are nothing but a liberal mouthpiece that spews @!$%#.
I see I have the power to make you respond! lmao!
Why so much anger... honey?
Apologies for twanging your nerve! ;o)
No anger here, so don't flatter your phat cellulite ass.
You are not Harley worthy ;)
@ Harley hic,
Go frack yourself! Feel Free!
Are you an expert on geology? I think NOT!
Well-stated Feisty! Not only do they not understand the science of a woman's body, they don't understand the eco-system of their own PLANET!
As a matter of fact i am, fuzzy hole.....frack this and let the mouthpiece fight her own battles.
The only thing you're an expert at dear, is spouting RWNJ propaganda! Sooo, you're a geologist. OK I'll buy in. Where did you get your degree? Which oil company do you work for?
My my my... talk about a contradiction?
Have you looked into anger management? If not it might be a good time to start!
PS: I wouldn't know what a fat cellulite ass looks like, but, obviously it's something you're familiar with! ;o)
Pink Taco Strip Club! ;o)
They're the only one who has a pole large enough to accommodate her!
The only geology that this dim witted wench understands is with respect to the rock occupying the empty space between her ears.
The Rush Limbaugh Academy for Village Idiots.
What the hell is a 'dweb'?
When we run out of oil we will run out of:
Ammonia, anesthetics, antifreeze, antihistamines, antiseptics, artificial limbs, artificial turf, aspirin, awnings, air conditioners, asphalt
and there are 25 more letters in the alphabet
A "dweb" is someone too stupid to spell DWEEB!
Between the convention, the Strip Clubs, Gay Bars, and Airport, I'm going to guess that not only will the phrase be overheard thousands of times, but will be enacted just as often.
....because the methodology that the Dutch used to collect water involved dumping collected water with oil droplets back into the water in violation of US Law. The Dutch wanted to provide the sand berms using Dutch labor to build and the govt wanted to use US labor to build the berms. In both cases as the disaster further developed Dutch help was accepted.
I can just see the tards on the right if Obama would have violated US law without first going to congress and if he paid Dutch workers to construct a berm when the US unemployment rate was as high as it was.
Any idiot, such as Harley Whore here, can post crap that has a semblance of truth, but never do they post the context that explains the decisions. One could say that they are intellectually lazy or purposely misleading people by misusing factual events, I say they do both. I think of the GOP and their hacks like Harley Whore, and then I think "Pond Scum".
Harley Chic, your #2.4 has to be the dumbest comment yet and there have been many ignorant, uninformed and totally irrational ones made by conservatives. You're blaming President Obama for the BP oil explosion that killed people just because he happened to be in office when it happened while ignoring that the approvals, the businesses involved all began the effort before he was even elected. That's the equivalent of disconnected logic as someone blaming Bush for Hurricane Katrina that nearly washed away New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast.
Feisty - I see Harley Chic is the one nominated to attack you today. Chic, who doesn't know anything about anything is trying to get you! That's ALMOST funny - almost but really pathetic.
When will the GOP realize that even drilling for oil doesn't do anything for us as most of it will go on the international market - per the Keystone Pipeline plans.
Romney/Ryan just conveniently forget to mention that little tidbit!
Obama/Biden 2012
If Obama had jumped in any sooner on the BP spill, TPRepubs would've been all over him for not letting private industry show they had it all under control. Besides, remember all the lies involving BP and its 'don't worry, it's not as bad as you think'!!!!' If they had fessed up, maybe the govt would have accepted the help, but BP lied and now we'll never know.
Notice how Romney's plans change daily.
Now it's if you give all the rich the money and the oil companies then revenues will go up and we can have better schools, roads, and can afford Medicare..........blah, blah, blah......
He still isn't specific in his plans, it's "elect me and I'll show you".
Don't trust Romney. He'll leave the middle class high and dry.
You see the results when they send a rookie to do the job! lol
I always wonder why someone would try to pass themselves off as someone they're not by using "clip-art" in the process ?
harley chic,do the recrumblicans pay you to post lies about president obama?at least get the facts beforehand so the other posters dont make you look foolish,and i'm being polite,otherwise they would put me in the deletion zone,not a good spot.
Where did my "geologist" friend disappear to? She seems to have left us.
RE: the oil spill - Let's also consider that the US reponse on the BP oil spill was predicated on the the estimates and information supplied to the Government by BP. Recall that they at first claimed the leak was 1,000 barrels a day with the leak point about 26 miles off shore and roughly a mile underwater. This information and the reassurances provided to the Gov't by BP seem to indicate there was time to figure out what to do.
"BP officials, even after the oil leak was confirmed by using remote-controlled robots, expressed confidence that the leak was slow enough, and steps taken out in the Gulf of Mexico aggressive enough, that the oil would never reach the coast." (source: http ://www .nytimes.com/2010/05/01/us/01gulf.html?pagewanted=all )
It wasn't until over two weeks later that BP said, (sic) "maybe as much as 5,000 barrels a day" and not until MUCH later that it was determined (and BP admitted) the leak was over 60,000 barrels (over 2.5 million gallons) a day. With inaccurate information being relayed by the "industry experts" and the efforts to cover up the real extent of the issue while trying to dump responsibility on anyone else, it's no wonder the federal response was somewhat spastic.
Oh, and the sand bars? Ask Gov. Jindal about those. Thye seemed to have washed away and didn't work . . something about wave and tidal action on loose soil . . .
Frankly, this event alone and the deliberate disinformation spread by the oil industry should give us pause in allowing them to be essentially self-regulating and reducing regulatory oversight.
Oh WOW!!!! A presidential candidate says we're going to be "energy-independent" by ---- pick your date. Gee -- that's never been said before has it!!! And he's going to do in by expanding coal and oil!! Now that's what I call original!! Drill baby drill!! OK Sarah -- you betya.
Should anyone remind Romney even Saudi Arabia isn't energy-independent? But then -- Mitt will change his position on this 15 times at least between now and November
Thank you all for adding the necessary scope to the inflamed (and inflated) accusations by Harley Chic regarding the oil spill. I was unaware of the fine details surrounding that tragedy, and the clean up that followed.
Once again, we have to cut through the conservative partisan half-truths in order to decipher the actual winners and losers of an event.
Apparently Harley Chic jumped on her bike and rode outta here after seeing she was dealing with an educated, informed crowd. Must be extremely unlike her regular surroundings watching late night FOX and morning sessions of Fox and friends! Those programs are a spill of their own...lol.
A veteran Wall Street executive who performed an independent review that exonerated the Obama administration's program of loans to energy companies contributed $52,500 to re-elect President Barack Obama in the months since completing his work, according to an Associated Press review of campaign records. The executive defended the integrity of his conclusions and said he decided to donate to Obama after his work was finished.
The campaign contributions to Obama started just weeks after Herbert M. Allison Jr., in congressional testimony in March, minimized concerns that the Energy Department was at high risk in more than $23 billion in federal loans awarded to green energy firms. Two weeks later, Allison began giving to the Obama campaign. His contributions to Obama and the Democratic National Committee totaled $52,500 by last month. Allison previously was the former head of the government's mass purchase of toxic Wall Street assets. Go ahead google it, unless your google is set on "left" then you won't see it! P.S. did you read the first part -- He was a Wall Street executive, you know the one the empty suit in the WH rails against and you parrot what he says. Laughs on y'all!
Drill baby drill. Yeah what a great plan for the future.
BP
I think many of you are forgetting that BP leased that rig to Transocean, a company with a history of safety violations and fines.
Trans ocean once again kept up with the reputation and bypassed the safety of the preventors and yes BP had the overall responsibility.
I dont think our industry willallow a trans ocean to operate a rig. Yes Haliburton has been caught in the past of trying to cut corners but have cleaned up their act.
Now lets allow the industry to replace existing refineries withnew ones built by state of the art construction and safety features and are environment friendly.
Romney wiil definately address this issue.
The last refinery built was 1987 and all refineries are outdated, not that environment friendly, and are powder kegs ready to go like the one in Northern Ca which is one of the oldest refineries.
PEOPLE! American Energy Independence is another LIE by the right, they sell this on the OPEN Market for profit. If they wanted Independence, they would keep it IN America!
john -
Regarding Transocean - they own about half the floating oil rigs in the world that they either rent out or rent out and provide services for. Yes, the industry will continue to "allow them to operate" rigs, they have no choice in the matter.
The refineries are on land and the oil companies have never been stopped from upgrading them. However, much like power plants, upgrades rarely occur and replacements rarely happen. The industries simply haven't done it because of the increased emissions regulations, improved building codes, and the cost. I'm not aware that anyone is trying to stop them from putting up safer buildings and cleaner systems. Modifications of the systems alone are so expensive that the industry would be required to upgrade everything as it falls under "substantial improvements" in buiding code and safety laws.
I agree with you that they should be upgraded or replaced, however IMO the oil industry is far more interested in chasing the dollar than caring about the safety of the "powder kegs" or else they would have done it by now.
When is someone going to tell redhead's boss she is using company time to make all her comments here? She has been badmouthing the people she works for for at least a year. Reason for high employment and low productivity. She is taking a job from a productive person and not doing the work she is paid for. Check the time she uses for all these statements and the time she should be working. Ooops here comes a deletion and/or a collapse.
So who's fault is it that we do not have new refineries? why would anybody build a new one when there does not seem to be a big push to drill for more oil? yes our oil output has increased but almost all of that increase is on private land, not government permit required open water drilling, or federal land drilling.
What is wrong with a company making a profit?
How is 2 trillion dollars of tax revenue each year not stealing in the first place.
How can you say that you are for a balanced budget when we would have to tax all income over 250k at 100 percent and still not have enough revenue to cover our current spending?
All I hear from most of you is not in our backyard. Well if not in ours then who's backyard should we be drilling in? How is that going to create jobs here in the United States?
Good point, the US has an estimated 1.7 trillion bbls. of recoverable oil. At current usage that would last for over 220 years. If we become an exporting nation and sell 10 million bbls. per day overseas we still 155 years supply. Once Romney is in charge, we will start building the infrastructure to explore for, develop and refine this oil. Once we run out of oil we have 500 years of coal to liquify.
Seriously, First Read? Where are your proofreaders?
Yes, I can't wait until the entire nation looks like Houston Texas. Oil pumps beside every Home Depot and WalMart.
Scientists tell us global warming is causing the increase in severity of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and drought but the Republican Party is still pushing to burn more oil. Unbelievable. Maine has had a great summer, but I hear it hasn't been so comfortable for the rest of you. If Americans vote for Romney, I swear, they deserve the wrath of Mother Nature.
It's been one of the hottest summers on record here in Utah and the entire Western United States has been battling fires all summer. I haven't seen a blue sky for months with all of the haze and smoke! :(
Listen to the GOP and they'll tell you it's "God's will".
@ Layton: What are you doing in that state? Your vote won't count :(
AnitMitten - I'm not sure about that. Not all of Utah is Mormon! Wouldn't it be funny if Romney couldn't carry Utah????
Obama/Biden 2012
Notice how Romney's plans change daily.
Now it's if you give all the rich the money and the oil companies then revenues will go up and we can have better schools, roads, and can afford Medicare..........blah, blah, blah......
He still isn't specific in his plans, it's "elect me and I'll show you".
Don't trust Romney. He'll leave the middle class high and dry.
Anti - trust me I know :((((((((((( But it counts on the local levels!
Have no fear, all she has to do is go to work for MoveOn or the new ACORN and they will transfer her in time to corrupt the will of the people in a swing state. Just like in 2008.
The Obama energy plan is to continue sinking more and more tax payer dollars into the failing solar panel industry (disguised kick backs to campaign donors) and wind projects. To the extent these projects produce any energy, the percentage is very low and the cost of production here is the US can not compete with the Chinese and others. Which is why these companies continue to go bankrupt.
The answer does not lie in continuing to pump tax payer dollars into these companies. The answer lies in leveling the playing field when it comes to trade. Doing that will give the free market the chance to compete with countries like China in developing, producing, marketing and selling the products. If the products are viable the demand will be there and their use will increase. If the products are not viable we will not have wasted huge sums of tax payer money.
In the meantime, the Romney plan will give a much needed boost to our economy A) by creating jobs and B) by making US less dependent on foreign energy sources.
And. unlike Mr. Obama, Mr.Romney has a plan to address China's unfair trade practices, which will restore America's competitive edge and return manufacturing and jobs here to the US.
Lets face it folks, Mr Obama was never really qualified to be President. Add on top of that his ideological outlook, that government is the center of everything, and it is and has been a disaster in the making. Under Mr. Obama's plan that disaster is laid out for all to see in his last proposed budget which calls for continued massive deficit spending leading to a $26 Trillion dollar deficit for our children and grandchildren to figure out how to pay. Making solar panels and windmills at companies destined to go bankrupt, because they can not compete with China's substandard production and safety practices, and wages/benefits that don't even come close to ours, is not going to allow our kids and grandchildren to pay Mr . Obama's massive debt.Then in order to try and keep up with China we will have to become like China. Dependent on the government for everything while we slave away for meager wages and substandard living conditions.
Colorado-Man (okay, we'll give you that although my guess is that's a gross exaggeration) The ACORN garbage? Are you really stooping that low?
President Obama was elected in 2008 because he was the best person running. He will be re-elected in 2012 because - wait for it - he is the best person running. His support was and is diverse. No one group put him in office and no one group will keep him in office - it will be a diverse group of concerned Americans.
As a white woman I was proud to be in Grant Park the night he won. I was surrounded by whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, everyone. No one group voted him in and ACORN had NOTHING to do with his win. That lie has been debunked - just like most Republican lies, over and over again.
Obama/Biden 2012
Lack of Sanity - I don't know whether you are dishonest or ignorant but ACORN and MoveOn did disenfranchise the votes of thousands of people in swing states in 2008.
@colorado man
What are the sources for your claim that moveon or acorns disenfranchised any voter anywhere? You're either terminally stupid, literally retarded, or intellectually lazy to sprout that nonsense.
Drano - You are the intellectually
dishonestlazy one. Try to pull your head out of the Pelosi's rear once in a while and do your own research.China is kicking our arses in alternative energy. So is Europe. So America needs to "drill baby drill"? Why can't you conservatives see beyond coal, oil, gas and the internal combustion engine (a 200 year old technology)?
America needs to compete in new energy. In fact we should be leading the world in new energy technology instead of "take my country back" to the 19th and 20th century.
Put up or shut up Colorado moron. Cite your source for your allegations about acorn and moveon or STFU and crawl back over to fox.
It's been almost 30 years since a new refinery was built. Why should we continue to rely on OPEC and foreign oil when we have the resources right under our feet. Obama's policies have handcuffed us, and his "green" energy investments with taxpayer dollars have been a colossal failure, costing Billions.
Drill Baby Drill.... Put America back to work!
NIMBY
We rely on OPEC and simultaneously export American oil, oil is a world comodity sold on the world market to the highest bidder, you know the free market, now lets see how Romney is going to regulate the free market.
Yeah, and in the last 32 years the GOP has been in control of the presidency for 20 of them, so's what's your excuse now> Why not just STFU and crawl back over to FOX where you belong and your idiocy is welcomed.
How about leaving some for the future. It will run out someday relatively soon;-most likely within decades or a century or so-what does it matter? Why not start by leaving new fields for the future and become self sufficient in energy now. That could be accomplished but it would mean less profits for the entrenched oligarchy who are making billions. So, of course they use this money, in small part, to fool people like the drill, baby, drill crowd who somehow think that energy produced by releasing pollutants into the atmosphere is somehow patriotic or "good" for them. Future generations will be cursing these people-that much seems certain
They've been closing refineries all over the place, then complain that refineries are the bottleneck? Just google 'closed refineries' and read all about it. In particular, read this one -
Just wait until the Keystone Pipeline goes through. They will close more refineries in the midwest as ALL refining will be done on the Gulf Coast or California. As competition erodes prices will go up, as we already see happening. And the fools blame rising gas prices on Obama. Idiots and morons.
Go watch Rollerball. Not the joke of a remake - the original one with James Caan. You think you're speaking up for freedom when you're actually being the water carrier for big business that wants to own you all.
When a law is passed that forces all oil produced in the US to be sold in the US, I may jump on your bandwagon. The only control we currently have is by refining oil where the oil is produced. The Keystone Pipeline would move oil to the Gulf Coast and close those local refineries - so we lose any control we had and we lose jobs due to closed midwest refineries. So the Keystone Pipeline will be a net job loss when all is said and done. They've already closed (or will be closing) many East Coast refineries to add to the job losses.
All oil is (or soon will be) thrown into the world market and sold everywhere. How does increasing our output affect prices here?
I thnk someone was given an assignment with a specific angle to push. Maybe you should ask for another assignment?
Blearyeyed,
do you know why they are closing?
Look up the reason, and get back to us. I am interested in what you find out.
Drano,
Yep and the whole time every time it was brought up it was voted down.
"I will set a national goal of America and North America -- North American energy independence by 2020," Romney pledged. "That means we produce all the energy we use in North America.
In order to achieve that you have to keep all the American oil in America, we now export our oil to the highest bidder and buy oil from other nations and resell it to the highest bidder, I want to see Romney tell the oil companies that our oil stays here, I want to see how they feel about him tinkering with the free market, I want to see him pass the regulations required to keep north American energy products in north America. I guess Romney is suddenly going to propose we build a lot of electrical power plants and start driving electric cars. When somebody starts their speech by telling you this is not pie in the sky, that's exactly how you know what you will hear next is pie in the sky.
I wonder how the folks in Canada and Mexico feel about Mitt setting goals for them.
what a liar he's going to screw us all except for his own family and he might even screw them also.
What an awful, stupid policy.
Is Romney intentionally trying to lose?
It seems GOP energy policy will remain substantially the same forever, e.g., do what's best for Big Oil. The GOP candidates have been in the oil companies' pockets for a long time. Didn't we get a clue when they nominated not one, but two former oil guys for president and vice-president in 2000? We need an administration on the side of the people at large, not any one particular industry.
Steve,
please look up oil profits for the last 30 years. I think you might change your tune a little bit. Big Oil is big
due to one fact, we use millions of gallons each and everyday. That is not going to change any time soon.
I agree that Oil will not last forever, I am 47 and I have heard how oil is going to run out as long as i can remember. It has not happened yet, It will not happen in my kids life times either. it is going to keep on going up, there is no doubt about that.
What is President Obama's energy policy?
Our economy is never going to get back on track without using our own resources.
The Democratic policy is to put your head in the sand and hope that things will change. Well you know what things are changing, they are getting worse!
One thing is certain. Mitt Romney still has not had an original idea.
The energy independence by year ??? goes back several decades. Republicans, however, limit that promise to oil, gas and coal--why bother with renewal, clean energy when we can just suck every ounce of limited resources out of the ground first! Democrats, beginning with Jimmy Carter, have always included clean, renewable energy resources in the mix. When Reagan took office, the US was the #1 producer of solar and wind turbine; he eliminated the tax breaks for renewable energy and kept them for dirty energy and guess what? China took our place.
More " Drill baby drill"
------------------------------------
No mention of global warming,
No mention of conservation;
" Level the playing field" means kill renewable credits for solar and wind
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The policy comes two days after Romney has a fundraiser with oil/gas/coal boys. The Koch Brothers are committing $400 million to Romney and allies.
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Gawker.com has some disclosure of the byzantine tax shelters of Romney and Bain Capital. Some of the documents suggest Romney worked at Bain well PAST 1999.
for more on credibility and full disclosure --- gawker.com
You are correct. The Romney plan is very short sighted. Typical business mentality. As long as there is a profit to be made in the short term it doesn't matter what the damage will be in the future.
Romney's plan is even being criticized by T. Boone Pickens.
The keystone pipeline already exists. It was approved by George W. Bush in 2008 and went operational in June 2010. What they want to build is an extension called Keystone XL that shortcuts across Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Then continues through Cushing Oklahoma all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Why go all the way to the gulf of Mexico? Is it because of the two large Texas Ports?
Maybe, but that would create too many jobs for liberal logic to apply.
Blah, blah, blah. Do republicans have any ideas for creating jobs that don't involve tax cuts for the rich or extending an oil pipeline through 5 states?
Did it ever occur to you why the folks at TransCanada want Keystone XL to go all the way to the Gulf?
That is where the big refineries are??? LOL
Never occurs to some folks that the delay was requested by farmers both repub and dem, GOP state legislators and governors because, it's their aquifer that is at risk. Why worry about polluting the huge aquifer that supplies much of the entire region's drinking water; let's get those oil sands to market, and worry about the disaster that will inevitably happen later. Let's just allow Canada's oil sands (the harm from oil/tar sands is far worse than regular oil which is bad enough) to take the scenic route across the US instead of across their own land. Turns out the number of jobs wasn't even close to the 100,000 the GOPers claimed, maybe about 12,000 temporary jobs. John Boehner (no doubt other legislators do as well) owns stock in the companies involved, is it any wonder they refused to listen to the State Governments and instead pushed for Keystone.
The oil moved by the Keystone Pipeline will not end up in the gas tanks of cars or trucks in the USA. It is destined for OIL TANKERS in the gulf--and will go elsewhere.
Nah, Barry sold his soul to the environmental lobby who provides millions. He couldn't approve that pipeline for the American worker because of his allegiance to the whack jobs from the Sierra Club. Heck, even the unions are po'd that he vetoed that project. Romney just hit a political home run with this plan.
SO Harley where is the oil coming out of that pipeline going to go? Ill help you out...its going on a slow barge to China and the rest of the World Market. The only Oil from that pipeline that will be in the USA will be when it is in the pipe flowing to the shipping terminal. The next time we see it , it will be imported from the world market (along withj the ever-increasing market prices.
Keystone does ZERO for US Energy independence. ZERO.
Harley, your a Liar
NOPE! US drillable locations (including offshore US and the Arctic refuge hold only 2% of the Worlds estimated oil supply. The USA CONSUMES 22% of the World's supply. DO THE MATH, Scott. HOw does that get us energy independence in 7 years?
So unless Romney is going change the laws of mathematics...its all just smoke and mirrors
FAIL
Once again, I guess we're just supposed to ignore the opposition from the state of Nebraska.
Scott - you're a moron. The Republican governors of the states the pipeline were to run through were against the pipeline.
Next????
Obama/Biden 2012
And what is wrong with using all the types of energy we have in this country, including Wind and solar, batteries etc?
It's people like you that do not have any ideas, new or old. Yeah Mit is bland when speaking and he will get 4 years to correct the errors that Obama has made. Yes Bush screw up, but Obama was hired by me and others to fix, but he made it worse time 4.
As I have heard on a famous tv program, YOU ARE FIRED!!!!!
Romney/Ryan 2012 Obama/Biden, don't worry you can deliver speeches in Schools and make money, which is less of what can be said of all the Americans that still don't have a job.
'Las socialistas nuevas' is the answer you are looking for.
Xabre, Goggling is not going to help you. When both Genders are being addressed you write Los Socialistas Nuevos. But go ahead and keep making an ASS of your selves and hopefully some of the Spanish folks here will correct you. Oh please, do read my lesson.
your selves? You speak English almost as badly as you speak Spanish.
Concern(ed?) citizen - you are completely wrong
james-3709089 - Concern is ALWAYS completely wrong but not smart enough to know it. But, look at what she considers a FAMOUS TV program - 'nuff said.
She is only good at regurgitating the GOP hate points - doesn't have any concept of what is going on in this country.
Obama/Biden 2012
Concerned - by your own definition, you must be a RACIST!! That is what you call anyone criticizing language syntax.
Xabre - I'm still trying to figure out how to goggle myself as some sort of self-help 12-step program. One thing is for sure - I am laughing my ass off trying.
Sounds like pie in the sky to me. Rape the land with impunity and all will work out in the end. Deregulation is not the answer. We put those rules there because we got tired of rivers catching on fire and having cities where you couldn't breath the air.
If you want to see the results of deregulation I recommend that you spend a week in Beijing China. Because that is exactly what Romney is proposing doing to our country.
Xabre you can't get away that easy from me. the answer to your previous post, most all mighty Liberal _____. Please fill in the blanks.
Xabre, now it's my turn to make fun of you. In Spanish there are some words that do not denote any gender for instance socialistas, there is no such word as socialistos, also in Spanish we do not say White house but La Casa Blanca (the adjective after the noun). Therefore you are one of "los nuevos socialistas is correct.
I forgive you anyway because Spanish is not your language which is something that you don't have in your heart or your brain.
Thanks Jim, and the others. My political point is that these folks are the real ignorant, racist, prejudicial, most insulting and then they sell themselves as compassionate.
Of course, you throw 'nuevos' before the noun, so why am I debating Spanish with you again?
"los nuevos socialistas" is absolutely incorrect, you are stupid
james-3709089 - even I know her Spanish is wrong - and I only had 5 years of Spanish, it wasn't my main language.
She is a joke - and a bad one at that. What an embarrassment for legitimate, intelligent Hispanics in this country.
SeekingSanity-
I have come to believe Concerned is really a Mail Order Russian prostitute posing as a blatina. I have never seen anyone with Spanish as first language attempt to spell liar as lier. That is closer to Eastern European or Russian. But hey - it is her online persona, to each his/her own.
RedDev - I can't quite figure out WHAT Concern is. My guess is a nine year old who got on a computer and is just having a ball looking stupid - doesn't really care. But, you could be right.
SeekingSanity, RedDevPS, james-3709089, and Xabre,
You girls got my number, I give up and should go back in chains as our VP says.
You have taught me something very important and that is, that even a 9 year old would have come to the conclusion that you four are even too stupid and immature to be good Liberal.
Romney and Bryan up by 1%. Oh my goodness, no wonder you are so out of control.
NBC, estas locas y arrogante mujeres necesitan un hombre que le den mucho amor. Ellas estan frustradas, y necesitan un macho bien grande paras que las pongan ha gosar. Parece que tienen muchos anos sin que las toquen. Por favor NBC alluden las antes de que le hagan pasar a ustedes una pena.
Wow, you can hear the desparity in the liberal comments.
Obamas hope and change energy plan of giving away taxpayers money to Chinese and European companies for wind power dreams and electric car fantasies not working so well is it?
What about it is not working so well? Year by year, we are progressively increasing the % of energy that comes from renewable sources and they are getting cheaper every year. By the way, Obama put a 50% tariff on all wind related products that come from China, so I don't get your point there.
Steveo - The spoiled and entitled republicans don't have any concept of long-term stability. They don't believe in sacrificing for the greater good, or in investing in our future prosperity.
Canon, let's not forget the contract to Brazil so that we can become their best customer.
If they have a spill in Brazil, does the rest of the World suffer, how about the pollution in China, does it stay in China only?
I say do it here and do it safe. Sounds like a contraceptive commercial, lol.
No need to answer you Xabre.
canon - okay, admit it - you're related to Concern, aren't you? Wow, you can hear the desparity in the liberal comments. Desparity means the difference between two socioeconomic classes of wages. My guess is you mean desperation but don't quite know how to use it.
And, you'd be so wrong because liberals aren't desperate!
Hint: Don't follow Concern's example - it will mess you up every time!
Concern - as usual you babble with absolutely no sense attached to your comments.
Obama/Biden 2012
Indeed, why would you dig that hole any deeper?
Please James the liberals have already sacrificed the next generation by haning a 16 trillion dollar debt wieght around there necks that Obama will do nothing about.
And as far a increasing the percentage of renewables. The Government investement in renewable enerby has increased 5 fold in the last 4 years and the percentage of energy increase 3%. Wow what a bargin. If it were worth doing the private sector would already be doing it.
A local company in my area just develped a wind farm and the local electric company cut a deal to buy power from them. It cost more per kW than they charge the customers. If it were not for government subsidies it would not even be worth the trouble to buy it because it is an unreliable source of power.
You two need to read more.
I just can't help myself ... it's like a bad train wreck!
What part of removing regulatory barriers sounds safe to you Concern??????? You do remember the Exxon Valdez don't you??? Drill baby drill turns into spill baby spill.
Noticed your comment the other day about SQL and how many tags are on comments. You planning on hacking into the FR database or what?
canon - in most states green energy is actually about 20% cheaper than that of fossil fuel. Too bad the company in your area is out to cheat people. I get my energy through my regular electric company but pay actually 30% less than what I would pay if at least 20% of my energy wasn't green. I'm switching to 100% green in October and will still save 10% over a traditional electric bill.
So, as usual, you know nothing!
Obama/Biden 2012
Ok, so what about Nuclear Energy then that took 30 YEARS to produce more energy than it took to produce it? Government HEAVILY invested in it...it failed.....we kept on investing and developing and now its a viable alternative energy source. So by your standards, then we should have stopped developing Nuclear Energy because it dint produce an immediate result.
Typical, shortsighted thinking from Republicans on Energy. Heck, even Natuiral GAs isnyt efficient for energy use yet in vehicles, etc...but here you are....stating it should be further developed even as it too shows no efficienecies at the current time. HIPPOCRISY
Please James the liberals have already sacrificed the next generation by haning a 16 trillion dollar debt wieght around there necks that Obama will do nothing about.
Guess what --- my parents generation hung a huge debt on me to pay for WWII, the GI Bill, the interstate highway system along with all kind of schools, hospitals and similar infrastructure projects. In took from 1945 to 1998 to pay it off but it was still a good investment We build for the future. And the expansion of the debt since 2008 has not been caused by some massive, new spending programs passed by the Democrats and president Obama. The debt is mostly a loss of revenue caused by two massive tax cuts during the Bush administration and the Bush recession
No, it continues to grow at record setting pace because Mr. Obama refuses to live within our means by cutting spending to meet incoming revenues. There is nor reason this country can not function on the $2trillion it takes in in revenue each year. Why does Obama insist upon spending another $1.3 Trillion above and beyond that? And his proposed budget projects a $26 Trillion debt caused by all that deficit spending. Time for the spending to stop.
No, it continues to grow at record setting pace because Mr. Obama refuses to live within our means by cutting spending to meet incoming revenues.
Did Bush worry when the national debt continue to grow at record setting pace because he and his Republican congress refused to live within our means by cutting spending to meet incoming revenues?? Bush and his Republican Congress gave us us two unfunded wars, two unfunded tax cuts, a massive, unfunded, new entitlement, the largest expansion of government since LBJ.
Funny -- when Bush and his Republican congress were turning the largest surplus of all times into the largest deficit of all times, I didn't hear anything about sacrificing the next generation by haning a 13 trillion dollar debt wieght around there necks. Where was the outrage then??
KingK - you spout the usual GOP talking points - you know nothing. Charlie posted a well thought out explanation of how our country works.
Obama/Biden 2012
Oil is hugely subsidized. How many billions of dollars do we hand out in tax breaks and Incentives to Oil Companies? How much land have we given over to them for either free or pennies on the dollar? How much money has been spent in defense of our oil supply chain? If you took away subsidies for everyone, most all green energy products would very likely be much cheaper than oil.
Fantasy - it takes eight years for any major oil project to even get started. And T. Boone Pickens criticizes it for leaving out natural gas development.
Charlie
That is a very lame argument. Essentially what you are saying is that Bush screwed up so Obama should be allowed to screw up even more. Remember, Obama ran against the Bush era deficit spending and debt building. But as soon as he got in office he forgot all that and continued the deficit spendingand debt building at a record setting pace. Even after the Iraq war ended.
Many conservatives took exception to the Bush era spending. Bush should have vetoed the Dem Congress spending, but he didn't. And Obama, despite all his promises and rhetoric to the contrary, never intended to stop it either. Now the country is drowning in debt coupled with Mr. Obama's "new normal" stagnant economy.
Be sure to tell your grandchildren thank you for all the debt they will be paying due to Obama's spending on crony socialism. I'm sure you will be proud to saddle them with it, right?
Keep Drillin and Frackin until we can't drill and frack no more! The oil companies will make billions selling this oil and gas overseas, while we continue to bow to Saudi Arabia!! Then in fifteen years when all of the lands and oceans are rich with oil, and our inland water sources are full of fracking chemicals, we can ask China if they'll sell us some electricity, and water to drink. Sounds like a great plan to me (if you're a CEO for Exxon)!
Yep, unless the NEW CO2 standards for coal emissions are removed, China will have all our coal and be producing our electricity! Romney will not EXPORT our great coal resource; WE WILL PRODUCE OUR OWN ELECTRICITY!! Don't you just love it???
Yeah, he must pop Ambien all day long because he is dreaming!
Yes. Drill Baby Drill! It's a winner politically since most of the country are not environmental wackos like you liberals. Go Mitt!!
Its a winner politically........but it doesnt solve the problem: We have 2% of the Worlds OIl to 'Drill Baby Drill' and we consume 22% of the Worlds supply. So Steve, how will Drill Baby drill (a) reduce our dependence on forign oil when ALL of it will be shipped out on the WOrld MArket and not the USA? and (b) how will drilling for an ever decreasing supply of oil bring down prices for consumers in the USA?
And why in the face of these facts, does it make sense to not seriopusly fund or develop new energy alternatives if Oil will be too expemnsive and in shorter supply? How id that a wining long term staregy? Hint: It isnt one.
Romney/Ryan desperate to change the conversation from Todd Akins, legitmate rape. In addition, where are those tax returns?
Interesting. Romney wants to talk issues. Real issues. May not like the plan but at least he is campaining on issues. All we hear from the Obama camp is interesting stuff like Romney closed a steel plant and it's his fault that an employee's wife died nine years later , oh yeh she had her own medial insurance.
What is Obama's plan to reduce unempolyment, gas prices, deficit? These are the issues facing the country but we're into name calling, very mature.
Mittens can dish it out, but can't take it. You really think this plan will have any affect on gas prices? You think he can make these oil companies keep this oil domestically? How will this help our deficit or our dependance on oil? All he is doing is bowing to those who are pumping millions into his campaign.
Obama has an energy policy and it's a whole lot more forward thinking and preparing for our future than to just let oil companies drill wherever they wish.
Well hesea, where are Romney's plans for to reduce unempolyment, gas prices, deficit? All I hear is trickle down theory , give the job creators more tax breaks' , pressure down wages to be globally 'competitive' , reduce work place safety, reduce benefits, remove environmental regulations, product dsafety regulations and drill baby drill which will not increase US supply NOR reduce gas prices.
And what debt reduction plan does Romney have? NOTHGING. He has a five-point bumper sticker. Big freaking deal. Where are the cuts? The elimiated tax deductions?
Romney and Ryan......Austerity for all and Trickle down for None
Romney and Rayn have been very forward that they don't agree with Akin and not to run, the entire GOP have been clear on this. Haven't been reading the news?
hesea - except that Ryans proposals have run exactly along the lines Akin talked - have you not followed what your candidates stand for?
Obama/Biden 2012
NOt to mention that 'Personhood ' abortion amendment the GOP Teaturds are trying to pass. If you dont want the attention, then dont propose constituitional amandments that align with Akin;s views that you say you 'reject'. The timing, well I cant help it if the House GOP are idiots (chuckle)
God, you GOPers just cant see when you are shooting yourselves in the foot with the womens vote....BTW, Obama now up on Romney 28 with the women's vote.
Republicans are problem solvers/ Dems dream up problems that may or may not exist to stew about. Dems are so easily offended that they spend most of their waking day searching for words/actions/things to be offended by. What a silly existence!
And republicans spend their day trying to come up with ways that make them seem like they know more about science than 95% of the worlds' scientists. They try to think of ways to limit the rights of others who are not like them because it makes them feel better about themselves. They also think of ways to maximize profits for millionaires and corporate heads because these are the people who line the Republicans' pockets. What a silly, ignorant and selfish existence!
Thanks, Mitt. It's "drill baby drill!", and America will be energy independent in 20 years! That was easy enough to say, wasn't it, you pompous, ignorant buffoon.
Energy independence is a myth, according to those most knowledgeable about the subject. No amount of new discoveries, or new energy sources, is going to satisfy America's insatiable appetite for cheap energy. There certainly IS plenty of oil left but it is going to be far more costly than before, and no other alternatives can match the versatility of petroleum. So basically, we are screwed because the country wouldn't listen to President Carter, or anyone else for that matter, and we must now lie in the bed we made.
I do not single out Mitt Romney for not having the courage to be honest. NO politician dares tell the country the truth.
Again, it is a myth and a falsehood to claim we can ever become energy independent. So says the most accomplished experts in the field. They are the ones I rely on for my own opinions.
Everything should move to solar, wind, nat gas, nuclear (fusion coming), renewable biofuels (like ethanol), maybe some clean coal (no old dirty coal tech), hydrogen, with leaving the oil for other uses like making plastics, chemicals, lubricants, solvents for the next few thousand generations - if we burn it all in 200 years we are dooming the future generations that need oil for these.
Peak power time 5:00 PM - 10:00PM - not much solar energy available when you need it. Same with wind power. It's not there 24/7. I read somewhere that even if you could install enough solar panels to provide America's energy, you couldn't maintain them fast enough to keep them operating. And do we want to take our food crops (ethanol) and divert them to energy production. If enough is diverted, what would be your food cost? I guess you can starve to get clean energy?
And do you think the next few THOUSAND GENERATIONS will still need fossil fuel for energy? I would like to think that technology would have progressed farther than that in a few thousand generatiosn. Probably be living on some undiscovered planet by then and using cosmic energy. LOL
Technology progressing? Don't you realize that YOU are preventing progress by denying taxpayer participation in developing new technology? Private industry won't participate until too late or not at all, usually because of the prohibitive cost to do the research and testing. Private industry jumps on the bandwagon after the idea has been fleshed out and proven to be marketable.
Would we have jet engines if govts had not developed it for war? What private industry would have developed nuclear power and would the govt done it had we not been in a race with Germany? What private industry would have forseen the need for the Interstate Highway system, which was developed to more easily move troops and supplies in case war ever came (comes?) to American soil?
What private industry would have built the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, or our Interstate Highway system? If govt had not backed the building of Nuclear Power Plants, would they have ever existed? Since Nuclear Power is usually one of the valued alternatives for energy production by rwnj's, I would think you'd be interested in who was responsible for its development in the first place. Did you think someone had a great idea, wrote it down, passed it around, and someone just started building it? Did you think it came free?
We have to invest in the future to have a future, or we will become a third world country left in the dust by those willing to invest in new ideas. They may not all work, and some of them will be expensive mistakes, but it has to be done.
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT
From the article above:
Welcome, Governer, to my state.
New Mexico has over 300 days of sunshine; more than the state of Florida! I was wondering why it is overcast and
cloudyrainy today!Here in New Mexico, you will find a diverse population of many cultures, including Native American, Hispanic, and Women. All of whom aren't going to vote for you.
Our proud 5 Electorial Votes are going to President Obama this election, but thanks for stopping by.
Be sure to get the EXTRA-Hot green chile Chicken Enchiladas before your board your plane home. It will make the last hour of your flight alot of fun.
Salud.
Okolehao - you didn't really post that ignorance, did you? Peak power time 5:00 PM - 10:00PM - not much solar energy available when you need it
As with ANY energy, the power produced during the high sun hours would be STORED!!! Now do you understand???? Many people with solar panels on their homes sell power BACK to the electric companies!!!
OMG - I truly believe you have to FAIL an intelligence test to become a Republican!
Obama/Biden 2012
The GOP's new slogan: "Promoting rape in and of America." Matthew Hulbert has a recent article in Forbes that argues that "energy independence" is a myth and our efforts are actually destabilizing to world politics. We are not captives to the Middle East, but many of our allies are. Pretending that we can ignore their needs and strategic interests while we pursue only ours could in the end put them in closer alliance with others and isolate the US. I won't even touch on the great Western states dream of recapturing federal lands. Those lands are held in trust for all of us - not to be sold to the highest bidder to squander now.
Harley Chic - you have a very interesting information set. You know all about whwere the pipeline goes , but no knowledge about what oil goes where, or what the oil movement costs who, or even who gets the money for the pipeline. Really quite interesting.
The oil leaves the North east for Mexico. That decreases the pressure of overproduction in the North thus raising the prices in AMERICA. 30% of AMERICAN oil is exported. The pipeline is Canadian and the profits fo the sale of this oil is half Canadian because of the distrobution of ownership in the oil companies. We lose the oil, the taxes and we get the raise in prices. Lady, you're a mess. Worse, you're a pawn of Romney and Big Oil. Pathetic.
The energy issue should be discussed as one of National Security and not environmentalism. The extreme environmentalism we have today is a threat to our National Security. If we have so much energy sources here, whatever they may be (coal, oil, solar, wind, bio-fuels), then we should develop them so that we do not provide capital to foreign countries that use their energy resources to fund anti-American activities. Why are we funding foreign oil drilling while preventing our own oil drilling with environmental terrorism? You don't provide your enemies with bullets to shoot at you. I recently returned from China. Our guide says, "Chinese officials do not like to waste money like American officials". How true!
And there you have a fine example of the single focused nature of the GOP/TP thought process. The environment is also a national security issue. If we lose our ability to produce food because the soil and water supplies are contaminated, that means we import and are at the whims of any country willing to feed our appetite. Energy, food, and water independence from foreign interests are in our best interest.
Finally an Energy Plan that will put my Union Brothers back to work! Carpenters , Insulators, Boiler Makers , Sheet metal workers...All people in the Power Plant Industry. Use our Resources and labor to harvest them. If you are going to put money into oil, I am glad it is American Oil not our enemies in the Far East like the Dems and Tree Huggers want. Keep the money here unlike the stimulus money that supported jobs over Seas. This is a great day for the Middle Class!!!!
Amen. And lets keep our COAL in America. We must undo the latest EPA carbon dioxide reg. My diesel truck cannot even meet this standard!
mike-Pa - not a brain cell in your entire head!
Obama/Biden 2012
Really? What part of the plan pertains to you and your union brothers? Please explain as I'm pretty sure the repubs want you guys to disband and work for peanuts under deplorable working conditions, just like the Chinese.
You are a plant disguising yourself as a union guy.
I work out of Local 2 in Pittsburgh. I have worked in every local Power Plant since I was a young man. I tore asbestos off and put Mineral wool and Cal-sil back on. My GrandFather Started the Inulation Union in Pittsburgh. The Power Plants I have worked In....Bruce Mansfield,Shipping Port Nuclear Power Plant, Keystone, Connemaugh ,Homer City, Sammis. Yea I am a Plant .....a-hole. I lost my Job to this Piece of Sh#t President . When you put Air Restrictions in place ....It cost too much to to get the air to meet those new Restrictions....Plant Closes. The latest Plant to close is the Samis Plant ... Look it up Idiot. Yea hard to believe ...Hope and Change my ass!!!! Yea he changed my Job. Also FYI...The Democrat who ran for Govenor in Pa against our current Govenor Corbet started his Political Career in my parents Kitchen..... I am a very PISSED OFF Democrat!!!!!
The part I like about his plan is his reinvestment into Fossil Fuel(translation... Coal fired Power Plants) I tried to say that slow for you...did it work???????
mike,
After reading the comments here (I am a first time user) the only conclusion is all low-information voters must congregate at MSNBC. The MAC rules along with the Clean Air Act across state lines will devastate all energy plants; the only sector of the economy that performs without government subsidies. That's right cuz depletion and depreciation ARE NOT subsidies. Whereas, all Solar and Wind or 100% subsidized by our taxpayer dollars.
The reason for refinery closures in NE, exports and imports of crude, or crude by products are hysterically funny on these comments is proof positive of the lack of intelligence of the average poster.
Go Romney, let's keep the lights on..Crude, Gas, and Coal ...is the way to GO!!
Lack of intelligence might be someone who advocates only persuing energy that will one day be depleted. Though most reasonable people support us producing all energy sources to be as self sufficient as possible we prefer to do it without destroying the environment.
Checking your comments on Sammis power plant nothing shows it being shut down but if it has it's been under enforcement action since 1999. Clearly it wasn't Obama imposing pollution restrictions in 1999..0
W.H. Sammis Power Plant