McCain Makes Energy Promise Impossible To Keep

John McCain trooped out to another oil rig today, looking for a future Fortress of Solitude where he can spend his next gas tax holiday, in his Cone of Silence. Apparently, his proximity to international waters has a measurable effect on all that "Straight Talk" we hear so much about, because he continued his practice of offering up unkeepable promises:

MCCAIN: Our nation is sending $700 billion overseas every year to countries that don't like us very much. When I'm president that's going to stop. We're going to achieve energy independence, and we're going to do it by using every resource at our disposal to get the job done, including new offshore drilling.

But if there's one thing that's plainly clear, it's that oil importation is not going to stop during a potential McCain presidency through new offshore drilling. As the DNC points out, "it took 10 years from the date oil was discovered until the rig [McCain stood] on today produced a single drop of oil."

The nonpartisan Energy Information Association agrees:

The projections in the OCS access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030. Leasing would begin no sooner than 2012, and production would not be expected to start before 2017. Total domestic production of crude oil from 2012 through 2030 in the OCS access case is projected to be 1.6 percent higher than in the reference case, and 3 percent higher in 2030 alone, at 5.6 million barrels per day. For the lower 48 OCS, annual crude oil production in 2030 is projected to be 7 percent higher--2.4 million barrels per day in the OCS access case compared with 2.2 million barrels per day in the reference case (Figure 20). Because oil prices are determined on the international market, however, any impact on average wellhead prices is expected to be insignificant.

Comments

[mergina]

Gee, do you think it may be because he is already OWNED by oil companies and arms manufacturers.

[Nyla785]

Whoa...these McCain on oil rig scenes are reminiscent of George Bush in his many 'costumes.'
These visuals send the message that McCain is going to be pro-big oil all-day, every-day. Alternative energies will go nowhere.
The public is being manipulated again.
This is sooo Bushie.

[demfriend]

Stupid is as stupid does and stupid thinks. If people got less crazy and had a thought that was based on logic anything we do today to drill, drill, drill offshore is not going to impact us and it will instead cost us a whole lot because guess what folks? Those oil companies who will be getting any new off shore leases on a bargain will charge us up the whazzoo for the cost of the drilling. All of that money the oil companies made isn't going to pay for it as the bucks are already in the pockets that will keep it and the gifts of more oil leases offshore will just mean they have them but if they are true to form people they will do what they have done with the oil leases they already have...not a damn thing!! They lready have oil leases which have not been where they wanted to put the money so what makes anyone think if they are given almost free if not free new oil leases that there is a reason not to continue as they are making the bigger bucks than ever on our arses not theirs. Oh and by the way Mac didn't make it when he was schedualed before and although there was a storm there was also a thirteen plus mile oil slick there which for phote ops might have looked bad.....

[JessWonderin]

Gee, if McCain stops sending the money, can we still have their oil?

[Birdman]

John needs to stay current, he claims Obama was against drilling. Initially Obama was but later stated that regulated, limited, and controlled drilling should be allowed McCain just said he was against it. Question is whether we have drilling or not should we have a president that is this uninformed? Next thing you know McCain will be saying we need to drill in Yugoslavia of gasoline

[rcwblessed]

....or maybe Czechlosavakia!!! He still has trouble with that one! I agree, if he must continue to lie, at least stay current with the lies. Geeez, he disgusting!

[wm1066]

With off shore rigs evertime a storm comes along the Oil Companies will use that as an excuse to raise the price of oil.

[Brainz22]

just more pandering,we need to get away from oil,but he would rather try to find another vein,just like a fiend.

[Redrover666]

So, not being a "fiend" yourself, what have you been using in place of petroleum products?

[11907281]

a bike.

[johnthomascook]

McCain -- tax beraks for big oil. Did not pay taxes for 5 years on his vacation home.

[Redrover666]

Cool beans!

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi All,

It is the voters who decide, not us intellectual elite . . .(when I reflect, maybe I am not as intellectual as I might wish . . . oh well!)

Anyway . . . most voters like gas and few are found of lawyers (been divorced recently?)

Now, when they look at their choices, they will see a man standing on an oil rig and they will see another giving big speeches . . . We live in a visual world . . . one will be perceived as a well spoken lawyer (and we know all the respect lawyers get) and the other will be perceived as a man driving to drill for more oil.

Effective . . . surely
Sufficient . . . who knows!
Right . . . is that even relevant?

Don't have that many friends, but my union acquaintances are all on the side of the guy drilling for oil.

The image is powerful and persistent . . . words alone won't make it go away.

[rcwblessed]

So you'd vote for someone taking advantage of a photo-op (and that's all it was; McCain was so upset that the first one had to be scrubbed, due to weather, during Obama's trip abroad), rather than a candidate with a brain? With reasoning like that, you should stay home and not vote at all!

[YunekFlava]

Oil is not the only thing off shore. How about those off shore bank accounts?

[Meggie]

Well, nobody is forcing him to explain! Is the US going to shut down until the US government can drill oil to keep and use here in the US? Or is McCain talking to idiots who don't think beyond what they're told? His quote sounds to me like he's going to turn socialist or communist as far as US oil production goes. That's the only way to accomplish what he's saying - no money to big oil that may redistribute the wealth to countries that "don't like us".

[nicholasclaxton]

Wow Shocking! A Rep making a promise they can't keep - now that's news!!!!

I recall a couple of them not many years ago promising $20/barrel oil!!!

[daveincolorado]

"it took 10 years from the date oil was discovered until the rig [McCain stood] on today produced a single drop of oil."

So, how long did it take to discover the oil where the rig was, and how long to build the rig? I wouldn't be suprised that the total time, from exploration to first drop, was closer to 15-20 years. And who is getting the oil coming out of the rig - probably not anyone in the US.

[Liberal2]

"......."it took 10 years from the date oil was discovered until the rig [McCain stood] on today produced a single drop of oil."......"

I don't know about that. It may have been 10 years, but there's no proof it *HAD* to take ten years. BTW, one reason the US is running out of domestic oil resources is that our oil companies were selling our oil to other countries. FDR's embargo on oil sales to Japan was one reason for Pearl Harbor.

[obamanation31]

McCain is a panderer. His energy policy is fake just like him.

[ilovemycat]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/19/bill-clinton-praises-mcca_n_119781.html

[MeanGreenMachine]

Its NOT about the oil.

Its about the OBSENE PROFITS!

[Redrover666]

9% is too much?

[LiberTLover]

If you honestly believe that big oil is only making 9% profit, I have this great bridge in Neverland for sale, going cheap. The oil companies show themselves paying almost 40% on their net profits but don't mention that they get deferred taxes so the tax rate is closer to 8%. Nor do they mention that the 'gross' profit that they are being taxed on is after they have excluded the billions in subsidies, and assigned market value to the almost free leases for land given them compliments of the taxpayers, and all of their other tax loophole deductions that they enjoy.
This is why the oil companies are so eager for more offshore drilling, it has nothing to do with lowering prices and McTallTales knows it, but wants their money.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS282890+31-Jul-2008+PRN20080731

[wolf58]

Just a few votes by McCain
12/13/2007 Energy Act of 2007 HR6 - No Vote
HR 6: An Act to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

07/26/2008 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding S 3186- No vote

06/10/2008 Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies S 3044- A bill to provide energy price relief and hold oil companies and other entities accountable for their actions with regard to high energy prices, and for other purposes. No Vote

10/26/2005 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment HR 3010-voted No

06/16/2005 Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Oil HR 6-voted No

04/25/2002 Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001 HR 4-voted No

So where does he stand? Can you tell by his voting record?

[blueshield]

Mc.Cain: In the past thirty years I've accomplished next to nothing for America's energy future, except to vote against programs which would have reduced her dependence on foreign oil. But now I'm ready, if elected President, to undertake vague and unspecified plans to accomplish the opposite of what I've been doing my entire political career. Don't pay attention. Just trust me. I'm a POW. I know these things.

[BiGnBulKY]

McCain: and, If I have to follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of Hell I will do it... I know How to do it... I dont know how to work a computer but i kknow how to find Osama Bin Laden....