Arnold Slams McCain, Crist Support For Drilling
From the St. Pete Times:
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a guest appearance today at the Florida Climate Change Summit in Miami hosted by Governor Charlie Crist.
Arnold had lots of praise for Crist's leadership in Florida on tackling climate change.
But he issued a firm rebuke over political talk (by Senator John McCain and Crist) over offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. "Anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke," he said.
Schwarzenegger's press spokesman Aaron McLear called me a short while ago to stress that this comment was NOT directed at Crist or McCain, and instead was targeted specifically at the impact of offshore drilling on gas prices. "He was not referring to either one of them. Neither Crist nor McCain has said offshore drilling is going to immediately reduce gas prices," McLear said.
However, the California Governor remained firmly opposed to offshore drilling, McLear added. "He doesn't believe in offshore drilling. Her certainly doesn't agree with McCain and Crist on that."
It seems to me it was pretty clear that when McCain and Crist raised the offshore drilling issue last week, they both had gas prices in mind.
For the record, here's are Schwarzenegger's exact words today:
"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling, it goes on and on the list. But, anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."
He went on:
"If everyone in the country took the simple step of making sure they had correct air pressure in their tires, their gasoline costs would go down 4 percent. America’s oil consumption would drop by 800,000 barrels a day. That is twice the amount some experts have said we would get if we pumped all of our known offshore reserves."
- David Adams
Governator:
"Anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."
The gang that couldn't shoot straight - this is gonna get ugly by November
The gang that couldn't shoot straight - this is gonna get ugly by November
He better hope we drill, during the 70's one of the first things cut was private aviation. In fact, an interesting story of the last energy crisis (that's what they called it then) was FedEx, a struggling company that was barely able to convince the Carter Administration to give it permits for fuel to get them off the ground. Arnold may have to fly commercial. Do you know many gallons of jet fuel it takes just to lift those Paneri watches he wears?
Ethan, my old chum, whether it lowers prices now is irrelevent. Whether you have gas in a few years is the issue. There is no alternative to oil now. It will take years to develop whateveer "it" is. In the interim, do you want my 91 year old Aunt to ride a bike? If everyone had a hybrid car we'd still need gas. Everyone isn't going to have one any time soon. We can't shut down the economy and wait for someone to win the McCain prize for batteries. You have something better, bring it on. I don't believe in global warming, but I do believe in saving money, I'll use it. I predict to you we will see a progression towards something else. Cars can be made more productive. I just bought a 380 hp V8 big car that gets 32 mpg on the highway. How? 8 speed electronic transmission and a computer controlled fuel injection system. There's plenty we can do to make new cars get better milage. But, why should we fund the terrorists while we wait?
flyover, my dear chum, big oil wouldn't have the infrastructure to provide us the oil and gas we have today without our tax dollars, by way of subsidy, exemption, grant, loan or loophole. Take those away and toss them at alternative energy production (technology is already there) and conserve to reduce demand and just you watch the oil prices drop and the new energy flow. It's all about the money. And don't you feel too bad for those poor oil folks, they'll be pullin' out alternative technology patents and brushing them off toot suite! (or be facing lawsuits from shareholders) Even if they choose to flee (probably not a bad idea) they each have enough money to buy several smallish countries to hide in.
You may be surprised that I agree with you. I am a firm believer that the government should not support corporations, whether it be big oil or Al Gore's business interests. I disavow tax breaks whether they be TIF's for real estate or for big oil. Let the free market work. Regarding off shore drilling, I also support a program that would not "lease" these grounds, but allow companies to recover the cost of exploration and drilling with a reasonable profit with the balance going towards the development of new sources of power, nuclear and the next "it" whatever it is. I am for a Manhatten Project funded by the oil we have. All this talk about we don't have the infrastructure is bogus. With these prices that will happen fast unless the libs are allowed to continue blocking reasonable initiatives. I hate to mention how long it took to get to the moon, so please stop the talking points about it taking 30 years, nobody belieives that. At these prices, it will happen fast. And all that crap about wildlife in ANWR, I invite you to come out here to flyoverland where oil has been pumped on farms for a hundred years and the deer don't even notice it.