Schwarzenegger: McCain "Blowing Smoke" On Offshore Drilling

In a speech on climate change in Florida, the California governor diverged from his prepared remarks to blast supporters of offshore drilling.

America is so addicted to oil that it will take years to ween ourselves from it. To look for new ways to feed our addiction is not the answer. Anyone who tells you this would bring down gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke.

John McCain, who Schwarzenegger endorsed in January, recently became one of those people. He explained his sudden support for offshore drilling by arguing that it would be ""very helpful in the short term resolving our energy crisis." The Huffington Post couldn't find an expert who thought McCain's plan would actually provide short-term relif.

Comments

[mamacat]

Even though 99+% of the shorefront land is owned by the super rich, I still am against off shore drilling, as are most people in California. If the GOP thinks that letting States decide this issue is going to change anything, they are very wrong. Probably, they just want to make a lot of noise in the Heartland, without being forced to actually back up their rhetoric. There are already many, many drilling rigs offshore of California, and we do not want any more.

In today's world, it is still possible for a Republican to be a responsible governor. However, I suspect that if the Governator were to go onto the national stage, he would fall prey to the same forces of corruption as most of the other GOP politicians, Bush included.

[tompoe]

The news reports some 7700 leases held by the oil company. 20% are active. Bush opens 8.3 million acres, and now, McCain thinks we should open more acres in order to move forward? What. Are the oil companies stupid, and paying leases on millions of useless acres? I doubt it. This is all about absolute garbage, and McCain is the garbage man.

[GotRights]

"Are the oil companies stupid, and paying leases on millions of useless acres?"

Nope. They want to get the rest of the leases now, to consolidate their control of the resource now -- so as to maximize future prices.

[rooks]

Arnie, good one this one. Stay away from McBush's waddle.

[SaviourMachine]

I didn't vote for Ahnald but I'm pleased with his stance on energy here in CA.

That said,even though he's calling out McDrill,it's a shame he endorsed him.

[GreyFlcn]

The new study put out by the US Energy Information Administration, finds that OffShore drilling would have no significant long term impact. Quote: “Any impact on average wellhead prices (of oil, now through 2030,) is expected to be insignificant.”
http://theoildrum.com/node/4174

A separate EIA study finds that Alaska National Wildlife Reserve drilling would reduce the price of oil by only 2 to 4 cents per gallon by 2024.
http://climateprogress.org/2008/06/04/opening-anwr-cuts-gas-prices-two-cents-in-2025

Considering these minor price reductions could be wiped out by global oil markets next week, much less decades from now;
Why aren’t these studies being covered in this political discussion about oil drilling?

[lthuedk 1]

T2 Deja vu Gov. Thanks

[the964kid]

John McCain, remember when Arnold told you he'd support you in 2008??

He lieeddddddddddd.

[KillTheMessenger]

The Gubernator rules and McCain looks like someone whose party gets terminated. Hasta la vista, Baby!

[Bobrobert]

ROFLMAO

McDoodoo cannot get his endorsers to back his silly-nomics.

Poor baby.

Remember to vote all!~!!

:-)

PS ***4110 killed in Iraq war, 30,333 wounded in Iraq war***

[RobtBrock]

Even a dumb twit like Ahnold can figure this one out. McCain is in real trouble (fortunately).

[GuyFawkes]

I didn't vote for Arnold either time, but I admit he's growing on me. His liberal social policies is a good marriage with his moderate conservative fiscal policies.He's certainly more of an independent than a GOP. Too bad he'll be dragged out again at the RNC and to campaign for McDubya again in Ohio. He should be like Bloomberg and stay on the side lines.

[ErnestineBass]

It wouldn't surprise me if Ahnuuuld changed affiliations before November.

Can you imagine the Governator as a GREEN?

It would finally put a viable third party on the map.

[speakeasy]

Arnies secret??? He has a liberal/progressive wife who will disagree with him on a regular basis and then back up the debate with facts, as opposed to typical repubs who only surround themselves with sycophants. It is what I call a fear of knowledge and then never admitting when your wrong syndrome. My wife is a Realtor and she was fairly conservative because that what other Realtors were. I explained to her that progressives are business people too and that there is such a thing as making lots of money and doing the right thing for yourself, your community and the environment. The far left, as well as the far right can ruin it for everybody who is level minded...

[ronspri]

To hear the radicals on the right tell it all liberals are wealthy elitists....unless of course they are talking out of the other side of their mouth. Then they are all lazy welfare bums. Anybody who buys much of anything the logic free republican party yet...well, I have the elephant mans head for sale. I'll give you a great deal.

[ikology]

you know what else would help Arnie, to get rid of your Hummers! lol
kidding aside though, Arnold is proving to be a pretty okay guy as far as Republicans go

[schicklett3]

I love Arnold's straight forwardness - he tells it like it is. Too bad he dosen't switch to the Democratic Party. :)
Anyway, I knew John McCain wouldn't get anywhere with Arnold concerning the offshore drilling nonsense. Not all Republicans are for drilling - only the ones trying to make McCain look like a viable candidate (which he looks worse every day).

[gonavy]

Well, Arnold is right, drilling would have little impact on currect oil prices, aside from the psychological effect. But, in a matter of a few years it would have an impact on prices and more importantly it would decrease our dependence on forgein oil. This is by far the most important reason to start drilling. But we should not allow drilling without making a serious commitment to other sources of energy as well. There is no single answer to this problem.

[beastmode]

what is the oil company's incentive to drill though? they like the prices high. They already have 40 million acres that they don't use. Seems like they just want to hold the rights in reserve. Also the best case supply and price differential won't overcome the economic costs from pollution and loss of tourism revenue in most of the states we're talking about. It is still the states choice though, so that is a built in protection to that problem.

[MarcosElMalo]

New offshore drilling is far from the best way to decrease our dependence on foreign oil. If anything, it's liable to drag it out. We have better alternatives, some under development and others ready for prime time (and no, I'm not talking about the corn ethanol boondoggle). Top alternative is simple conservation.

Let's keep our oil reserves as reserves. Save 'em for a rainy day.

[DRaymond]

Bush has already opened up drilling in NPRA, an area estimated to have as much oil as ANWR. Yet how come prices have yet to come down? Opening up more reserves was supposed to do that right?