In Miami today Obama stated we cannot drill our way
 

out of the oil problem. He said we should expect that it cannot be solved overnight....ending with there is no silver bullet for this problem. All political rhetoric. Of course we all know it is a long term solution. So how about he tells us the initiatives he has gotten underway that in 'x' years will manifest in reducing our dependence on foreign oil. He like his predecessors has done absolutely nothing to generate an energy plan. Unlike his predecessors, he has in fact either slowed down or stopped attempts or plans that would result in lessening dependence on foreign oil.

I have said it before and I will say it again, Obama considers that if he talks about the problem he has addressed the problem.
A sure sign of lack of leadership. Leaders are accountable for making something they say/address/commit.....HAPPENS..

btk

He truly doesn't want anything to improve for the American people. Anyone who has read his book "Dreams of My Father", can only come away with the knowledge that he absolutely HATES this country and it's people.

Be careful of what you say on a public forum. These sites are monitored by the Federal Government on a routine basis. You may hear (or may not hear) black helicopters overhead late some night. Remember your posting about the Department of Homeland Security Directives. It may be truer than you had thought!

???

FACT: Obama first President to preside over growth of domestic oil production since Jimmy Carter.

Every President since Jimmy Carter has been saying we must end our reliance on foreign oil, yet none have really fixed the problem. It wont be a short term fix for a problem that has taken 40 plus years to get us where we are today. So instead of going ahead with a partial solution like the Keystone pipeline we say that will take too long to have an impact, so we don't do it. Instead we are now paying almost $4 per gallon and when there is lower demand we ship the stuff out of the country. Wonder if the pipeline was built would the refined product remain here or would it be loaded onto tankers and shipped to India and China?

Maybe we should consider adding a 50% tax on every gallon shipped out of the US. That might help the balance of trade and reduce our deficit.

Great idea Hancle. I've often wondered what would happen if the price the USA charges for wheat was elevated to match the price that we are asked to pay for oil...

There's a fundamental difference (well, a lot but I'm thinking of one in particular) between us and, say, our European brethren.

I was in Scotland last year. Beautiful country. While driving all around the country, I noticed a LOT of wind farms. Some were just one or two isolated turbines, other times I saw whole rows of them on some ridge lines. When we flew into Amsterdam for our connecting flight to/from Edinburgh, I saw a HUGE wind farm offshore.

Apparently, the difference is, in Scotland, wind turbines are seen as beautiful and a method to get cheaper electricity - and this from a country that exports North Sea oil all over the world. Here, they're "ugly" and some sort of socialist plot.

I disagree that the appearance has anything to do with it. If that were the case there would not be the thousands upon thousands of them in CA, AZ,WA and all the other locations that have them. It is 100% political.

The administration, this one like all the rest, keep telling us it is a long term fix. Many aspects of which could take as many as 10 years to realize benefits. The government established the DOE specifically to implement programs to free us from foreign oil. A complete separate building with thousands of workers spending trillions of dollars over the last 40 years accomplishing absolutely nothing.

Progress begins with having a plan. We do not. The oil producing countries are comfortable in their position with us because they know we will continue to pay homage to those in the oil business both foreign and domestic whose best interest is for business to continue as usual.

The USA could have an immediate impact, starting the day they announce it's intentions to reduce foreign supplied oil by 50%, specifically eliminating purchases from the middle east. Then state the steps to be taken i.e. increased drilling from X to Y, mandate wind farms in some manner effective by X/XX/XXX, eliminate V-8 and V-6 engines in vehicles beginning x/xx/xxxx and so on.

The day after the announcement there would be a differnt attitude in the world of energy suppliers. And yes, initially it will not all be good BUT we would be on our way to accomplishing what we said we needed to do over the past 40 years. Then as little as 10 years from now we would be in the position energy wise politicians have been banging their gums about and doing nothing.

It IS as simple as that!!

btk

My wife's commute is becoming painful at the pump again. The song and dance that the President is doing is not going to make the prices go down.

Considering oil prices ,et al. Oil is tied to the dollar. Obama has agreed with the FED's monetary policies. They have failed and will continue to do so. Secondly despite Obama's damaging policies oil energy and gas have expanded because of policies imposed by the Bush Admin. Obama has done nothing but sabotage those efforts with his green agenda. Wind and solar and electric autos attempts are failing. When the wind stops so does your energy. The VOLT's battery system doesn't live up to expectations and is adversely affected by the climate control system. And for you environmentalist wind turbines are killing birds by the thousands.

Succintly stated the energy companies despite Obama's adverse policy are managing to get supply to meet demand; albeit demand is down thanks again to Obama's monetary/fiscal policies.

But there we have the commander and chief boasting that he is creating energy and jobs in the same manner Jesus multiplied the fishes and turned water into wine...what a guy!

I heard a news report that the price of gasoline doesn't have much to do with supply and demand. Supplies are adequate; demand is down. The price of gas is largely determined by "speculative traders". The Wall Street greed at work.
The President really has little to do with gas prices. Of course the response will be the liberal media protecting the president and we can count on a series of links from wing-nut sources "proving" that all we have to do is "Drill Baby Drill" and, presto, problem solved. :doh:

We need less chattin and more wildcattin.

if we were energy independent there would be little need for speculating. The speculating is a function of knowing the existing logistics and predicting the results of pushing or pulling one economic lever or not. If the dependence were not there the speculators would look for another plum.

The only reason we are conducting business as usual in the energy arena is because of the influence wielded by the oil producers, the speculators, the oil industry lobbyists and special interest groups and the politicians who are in their pocket in one manner or another.

Why is it unreasonable to bring energy consumption technology into the 21st century and use our own resources rather than continue a method that ONLY benefits the middle men, speculators, lobbyists and politicians?

The answer is it is not unreasonable. It is just what we the sheeple allow to continue as we nod our heads and open our wallets. And it will stay that way until a lifestyle changing event eventually brings this country to it's knees for lack of energy. THEN remember it is not a short term fix as the incompetents in Washington continue to remind us.

Seeking alternatives does not = drill baby drill....yes it is one of the action items to begin tomorrow to send the message to the world.

btk

"drill baby drill"
Amen.

Americans are spoiled brats when it comes to their cars. We complain about the price of gas yet will do nothing to lesson our use. Any President who even mentions Americans sacrificing just a little will be villified and replaced. Thats why we do not and never have had an energy policy. We now have 2 other countries,India and China,who need oil and will pay for it. Finally,we all must realize that oil is a FINITE resourse,it will run out. So when someone says we cannot drill our way out they are right. To me the drill baby drillers are just showing how spoiled they are. And to whine about the cost of your commute and then blaming the President shows an absolute simplistic approach to a 40 year problem.

I'm not whining. I'm raising Hell.....to the deaf ears of the President that bows to Saudi Kings. The President that kissed them didn't listen either. My wife's 40mpg vehicle is about the best she can do. So drill now and in the mean time work on a solution.

the POTUS swore an oath to protect and provide. How well one or another does the job is a function of what is going on around him and the world at the time he is in office. On the subject of energy they ALL have in common the desire to not upset the oil producers, the lobbyists and special interest groups. They will ONLY provide band aids or rhetoric during times of unrest until the clamoring subsides and can return to the root of the problem....DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL!

It is a matter of time before either our monitary or energy practices will bring this country to a stand still.

The current administration(s) need only play the game sufficiently to try to not have the collapse happen on their watch. And like his predecessors that is precisely what Obama is doing....and we the sheeple are allowing...AGAIN/STILL!.

btk

Solyndra is a good start to an alternative source.

Solyndra had nothing to do with energy pursuit and all to do with the profit and political objectives of a very small group of people. Let's even give Obama the benefit of the doubt...he got taken. He was anxious to get a high visibility example of "doing the right thing for America" opportunity. It was just too bad he is surrounded by intellectuals and thinkers and lawyers and no business acumen in the entire gang. To sort out the return on investment capability of the enterprise.

Special interest with a political objective never equals a benefit for we the people. Solyndra's demise was in the workings of the company the day Obama was touring the plant being fed a line of BS or was it justification fodder....for him.

Every executive who was ever involved in trying to rescue or fix a broken company or plant or industry always hoped to get one that was as easy and as clear cut to solve as America's energy independence needs.

The first thing we used to do is get rid of the rhetorical executives that could not or would not do the job. In this case we would have to fire and get rid of all the political connections and get busy doing what needs to be done to solve a major need for America.

A piece of cake!!! (for real leadership).

btk

We've been denied the use of our God given resources by the liberal establishment for too many years now. I remember Bill Clinton discounting the value of ANWR because the benefits would be 10 years away even if he allowed the drilling and so it wouldn't fix his present problems concerning oil. That was 20 years ago, and the Democrat liberal establishment in league with the radical environmentalist and Earth First-er's have blocked energy acquisition at every turn. The latest being the Keystone Pipeline.

Maybe we should consider adding a 50% tax on every gallon shipped out of the US. That might help the balance of trade and reduce our deficit

Now THAT makes sense to me!!:duck: , but then, what do I know! It just seems to me that far too many of our own put the almighty buck ahead of what is best for our own nation. Sorry, probably overly simplistic, but that's how I feel.:wave:

The Katz has to agree with the Lion and the Bear!
Politician truly so short sighted that they aren't willing to begin now, even if the reward isn't for 10years?! This shows how out of touch with the common folk they really are. I am sure that most of us on the forum know the importance of making wise choices now that will affect us years down the road.

Hang on a sec.

Do I see a conservative advocating the imposition of an EXPORT tax to stop a "job creator" (corporation) from doing their busienss as they see fit?

ME? Ya know, I've had it also with big corporations getting bailed out with my money. If taxing them in this manner keeps them out of my pocket, go for it! I may be conservative, but I'm not stupid. Not sure it should be as high as 50% tho. I also think that we should be trading a barrel of wheat for a barrel of oil closer to even up, I'm not that stupid either! Why is that Americans will give to other countries til it hurts, then turn around and attack one another for being greedy?! THAT IS STUPID!

I think god would want us to be good stewards of our resources. They are not finite when it comes to oil. If we rape the land our great, great, great, etc. grandkids will be living in the land of the "Road Warrior". :doh:

Good thoughts on the wheat for oil. Maybe we should start here.

Drought stricken, Iran buys US wheat for first time in 27 years

In Montreal we are paying 1.39 per litre (Today) which is roughly 5.25 per gallon, yet Montreal refinerys are selling gas to Eastern U.S. states who then sell it for far less than we pay? Will be glad to get to the U.S. in March for a month and take advantage of your cheaper gas?? Be thankful you have it pretty good.:wave:

I gotta agree with you DaleMN! :beer3:

Blah, blah, blah.............No one knows how to extract the oil from the ground with less environmental impact than the U.S., and no one else even tries.

There is evidence that the oil isn't even a finite resource but is renewable, as evidenced by the wells in Mexico and Uzbekistan that are refilling and refuse to run dry.

Peak Oil or Nonsense - Are Wells Refilling or Running Dry?

THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS: OIL WELLS THAT REFUSE TO RUN DRY

This is all against the environmentalist activist liberal national media and so it is never reported on.

Scientists have no idea how much oil there is. The facts are that there is more than anybody ever believed. There seems to be no end to Middle East oil and we were supposed to be seeing the end of it by now. They are in fact pumping more than ever.

All I hear from some of you is Solyndra,solyndra....I guess if something fails the first time lets give up on on it. Lets see with that attitude..I'll let you fill in the rest.

People are free to fail with their own ingenuity and financing. They should not be free to fail when I'm being forced to pay for it.

Stop being so free with the people's money. You can never get the government to do anything cheaper for you than you can do it yourself.

I distinctly remember all the same conversations about gas prices in July 2008 when gas hit $4.00 a gallon. Refresh my memory, who was the president then? Oh that's right, George W Bush.

Guess you and I will never know will we Richie? So to hell with those who might be around then huh? :doh:

I distinctly remember that when Obama assumed the Presidency gas prices were about $1.88 a gallon.

I'm sure you're giving Pres. Bush kudos for whatever action he took for gas to be at that level in time for Obama to assume office.

I know how impartial you are Jan, and you wouldn't begrudge Bush the credit for the falling gas prices.

But now gas is anywhere from $3.70 a gallon to over $5.00 a gallon in some locales. Now we've had no other President for you to blame in that time but Obama.

That kind of blows for you, doesn't it?

while hammering away about raping the earth and abuse of oil, please note the path to energy independence, via 21st century technology would have us marching away from oil. The pursuit of oil is ONLY a transition to bridge to far better and cleaner forms of energy production.

The only reason oil is still in the equation at all is because the politicians, paid by oil lobbyists and oil producers and speculators want it to be there.

Don't you even wonder why we are not doing the simple low/no cost things like limiting horse power? Or you want a big V8 or high power V6, slap a big ANNUAL premium on them payable when the registration is renewed. Also On vehicles over a certain weight, ditto the annual premium on big motors.

My 2012 middle sized SUV with a 4 cylinder eco technology goes as fast, weighs 2000 pounds less and gets more than double the mileage of my past suburbans.

Check out the size of vehicles and engines in Europe...smaller and less horse power....been doing it for years.

We are not even trying!!!!!!!!!!

btk

I do believe that we are to be good stewards of the earth. BUT Read this carefully..."they are NOT FINITE when it comes to oil" Finite means "with an end" Not finite would actually be INFINITE-Without END!

He said we should expect that it cannot be solved overnight ....

And he is 100% correct. What's your point? In the 2000 Republican Platform, Junior said we need to increase production - tell us what Junior did in 8 years ....

In his 8 years he put us in a war that bankrupted our country. And although it does not seem to matter to Right Wingers, lost thousands of Young souls.

Be careful. What caused the collapse of oil prices was the reduction in demand because of the world-wide recession aggravated when the credit markets collapsed as the credit-swaps went toxic.

In other words, if you REALLY want to give Bush credit for that, you could say he lowered oil prices by nearly plunging the entire planet into a depression (thereby reducing demand for oil).