McCain Lies About Oil Drilling and the Media Yawns

I don't really see how there is any serious prospect for solving either our energy security problem or our climate problem if the traditional media doesn't do any policing whatsoever of statements by major politicians. Here is McCain yesterday:

"... it will be vital that we continue oil production at a high level including offshore drilling. Now, the briefings that I have had with the oil producers, there are some instances that within a matter of months, they could be getting additional oil."

Standing in front of a large California oil drill, in what appears to be filming of a new movie, There Will Be Lies, McCain went so far as to say:

But there's abundant resources in the view of the people who are in the business that could be exploited within a period of months. So offshore drilling is something we have to do.

Okay, I can understand why he believes whatever stuff the oil producers make up -- they are lining his pockets now. And I understand the three reasons that McCain would lie to the public:

1. His original "placebo" argument wasn't very compelling: "Even though it may take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves would have a psychological impact that I think is beneficial."


2. The truth is even less compelling: Ending the moratorium on coastal drilling holds no serious promise of reducing gasoline prices for US consumers even a single penny two decades from now according to Bush's own energy analysts (see "The cruel offshore-drilling hoax").


3. Since he has no actual plan for getting us out of the economic mess Bush got us into, McCain is now going so far as "framing his support for expanded offshore drilling and other energy proposals as economic stimulants in an effort to woo voters concerned about the floundering economy" (Greenwire 7/29, subs. req'd). Seriously!

But why does the media let a major party candidates get away with such disinformation? And it is disinformation. As a U.S. Energy Information Administration analyst told me earlier this month:




... the constraints on offshore drilling have little to do with the price of oil, but a lot to do with timing. Once the leases are available, it is a 5 to 10 years before you get to exploratory drilling. There is a tremendous shortage of drilling rigs and manpower. Plus, offshore drilling is so expensive, you don't want to make any mistakes. So you spend do a lot of seismic analysis to minimize your chances of a dry well.


And it is probably another five or more years from drilling your exploratory well to getting significant production from the area -- and that assumes you didn't dig a dry well. If you did, then you are probably going to be even more cautious. And all that assumes you have developed a pipeline infrastructure for delivering the oil. But the Atlantic Coast lacks such an infrastructure, so who knows how long it would take to get its oil?

On top of that, California won't allow drilling off its coast anytime soon. And Sen. Martinez won't allow drilling off Florida's coast anytime soon. And Big Oil has tens of billions of barrels of oil yet to find and retrieve from the Gulf of Mexico leases that were opened up two years ago.

So McCain's claim is spin wrapped in a lie wrapped in a hoax.

If there is no penalty in the public arena for lying, then we're just going to get more and more of it.

Comments

[pamelab52]

It's no surprise the press is yawning, especially the more liberal press like the Times. The disparity between McCain and Obama, in their minds, is ridiculous, so why deal such a killing blow this early on by reporting such outrageousness. That's why we need you. But they put Senator Stevens, Alaska (R) on the front page this a.m. with his oil scandal. Scandal is always more fun, especially republican scandal.

[cubalibre]

Well at least he is suggesting a proactive solution. Obama's solution is to say, get used to high oil prices and I will tax the oil companies more. How is that going to lower gas prices?

[irenebuitenkant]

From Irene Mark Buitenkant, Olympia, WA
Despite the fact that there are many democracies today, these governments have allowed one industry to hold the world hostage to it. In the eighteenth century social/economic justice demanded the head of Louis XVI. The Americans had a successful revolt against England. The nineteenth century produced many revolutions in Europe.The ninteen hundreds brought the downfall of the Russian Czar.In the twentieth century Castro shook off exploitive capitalism as did Chavez in Venezuela not long ago.. The only answer I find is that those in charge of "democrati­c"governme­nt have stock in the oil companies and think they are benefitting along with the CEO's of Exxon and other energy producers.

[MARTinNJ]

Nice work Joe!

[bayside]

We dont need foreign oil we have all of alaska....They have another agenda...

[SisterAnn]

We should take away the special priviledges of most reporters. The part where they can't be punished for telling the truth about the government and businesses. They aren't going to tell the truth, so why waste a good law?

[dondiegodelavega]

Is it a bad sign that all this lying and media irresponsibility doesn't even make me angry anymore? Just more of the same, I have officially become numb...

[booksnmore4you]

Why? Dangit, its because its work and that costs money. It is much more profitable to simply be fed stuff and regurgitate it.

[woodguru]

There's a little hidden motivation behind this "drill for more oil" kick, you don't think this administration would authorize drilling in protected areas without shelling out billions of dollars to pay for the exploration and developement do you?

There is money that goes with this we need to drill for more oil kick.

[Gatorgal]

Wrong about Florida - Senator Martinez and Gov. Crist on now pushing for the legislature to approve drilling off Florida. it is Senator Nelson who is opposed. If new refineries would be needed, I'm sure this repug governor would be willing to have one across from his condo in St. Pete Beach.

[Cosatjockomo]

LoL, press hasn't called the government for its lies since Watergate. I just check the study. If its a "scientific" study it's probably fairly done, if it's an industry study it's a lie 99% and when its a government study the results were determined before the study is undertaken. Any simple declaration of fact coming from the government is probably a lie or at the very least intentionally misleading because the government wants to have superior information from the general population. Knowledge is power so they don't provide accurate knowledge to the public.

[dkst]

Let's take a look at the dem lead congress. They want oil prices high so they can collect more taxes. Bush for all his issues has offered energy plans since 2001. Why won't the dem leadership do anything and help the citizens of the US? Drilling for oil here is the fastest way to lower the price. Oil prices are fixed on the future supply not the daily supply. Knowing that the US is going to become more independent
lowers the price.

Funny how Obama said he was surprised at how fast the prices went up, but not that they are high, he wants high energy costs.

You global/climate change or what ever you are calling it this week need to stop your scare tactics. Carbon is less then 1 % of global warming. Its like looking at a broken car and ignoring the engine, the transmit ion, and going straight to the wheels and ignoring 3 out of the 4 wheels and focusing on one thread on one screw.

[MetryJen]

Did you read the article at all, or are you just parroting talking points? I hate to be the one to break it to you, but expanding offshore drilling won't increase OUR supply, it will increase WORLD supply, and even then will be such a negligible amount in the face of Asian demand that it won't fix anything. And that's assuming they can even get it out of the ground in less than ten years, with platforms being few and far between (and even fewer refineries).

[applebutter]

I've noticed that a lot of people who identify themselves as republicans don't seem to read what they respond to. Sometimes I wonder if they read at all - or at least wonder what it is they read. I think that this is the reason why year after year, so many republicans vote against their own best interests. This year, it's: "no new taxes"... and they believe it, and express shock when McCain says "nothing's off the table." Hey, do republicans recall who said "read my lips, no new taxes" - and what happened next? Wake up and read, people. Think. Use sites like www.factcheck.org. Be willing to read something you don't agree with - it just might be truth. Follow statements to their sources. Insist on evidence. Question EVERYTHING. If not for the environment and the survival of future generations, but for your own pocketbook's sake.

Personal rant: ffs, people, don't make us bear the shame and devastation that another four years of Bush policy would bring.

[QuicksilverKW]

Drilling here is the fastest way to lower the price? Did you even read the article or did you just skim it fast before you posted? Prices that are fixed on the future supply do not mean hypothetical, if we even find the oil in 20 years, scenario.

Republicans have done absolutely nothing to make us independant of foreign oil and it is only an issue now because of the election. Republicans have done nothing proactive in making our cars more fuel efficient and have stopped legislation that would mandate that car companies do so. It benefits the wealthy - not middle America.

Global/climate change or whatever you are calling it this week??? That's a good one.

[woodguru]

What is up with delusions like drilling will lower the price of gas? Pull up any analysis done by anyone that uses any fact based resources and you will see that it doesn't matter how much we drill the price of oil will not be affected.

California is operating at least 40% more efficiently than the rest of the country, bring in the other states to comply with these proven levels and it reduces energy usage more than any build up of production ever can.

Bush has never gotten away from huge oil industry support and applying those funds to alternative energy. This isn't about being a tree hugging liberal, it's about seeing the cost and foreign dependency issues negated in proven ways.

[freeinquirer]

People like you sir, unfortunately are truly misguided and fnatically so. Such worn-out cliche' about the Democrats raising taxes fly in the face of your prophet Reagan' tax increase, his genius successor Bush with his going back on "READ MY LIPS" pledge followed by his raising taxes, your current genius Bush who inherited an incredible $186billion from a brilliant Democratic President and squandered it plus getting us into a phenominally unprecedented deficit of $3 Trillions. Are you guys here at all or are you just the kind of "LET THEM EAT CAKE" type? In this country we have as many as 440 some billionnares and 44 million people living below poverty level. Get with it and wake up!

[stryker]

McCain is in favor of selling oil found off of our shores and in Alaska on the open market. That means we would still be paying higher prices because we'd be buying back our own oil from foreign companies. When will repubs ever tell the truth?

[laocoon]

in regard to both industries, MSM and OIL, an important question is to what degree are there monopolistic factors at work. The right ignores the monopolistic tendencies in the real markets and therefore misses what will actually happen. Opening up for drilling will have little effect if a few companies effectively control the drilling. They will act in a monopolistic way and control supply to maximize profits. Giving the monopoly more control over resources will aggravate the problem. MSM is approaching a point where it is virtually a monopoly.

[Bladernr1001]

Some offshore wells will take up to 10 years to develop....but some others can be producing in a much shorter time than that.

I did not see any misstatements here.

[runnerin1]

He claimed he was told the drilling could produce in a matter of months. Did you not read the article?

[Bladernr1001]

Yes, and I believe that some wells could be brought up that quickly given what I have read recently.

[Silknspark]

Agree.
Choose your gallon:
a) One buck gallon domestic oil - go 20 miles.
b) Million dollar gallon Al Gore's super plus guessnall snake oil - crawl a half an inch.

[ATLiberal]

Really? Allow me to eductae you. From President Bush's own Energy Dept:


http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ongr.html

[Silknspark]

eductae?

[Levittown]

Lets face it. The AMERICAN OIL CARTEL has us over a barrel, no pun intended. Bush put us in the crapper to get his partners ( thats right ) into the Iraq oil spoils. The embassy (THE FORTRESS )was
constructed to include offices for the Cartel. We will be paying the piper for years in blood and money to cater to their needs. Iraq is starting to rebel against the deal and there will be much "he said, they
said " in the coming months and extend into the next administration.

[TadCF]

McCain isn't the only one who stretches the truth about this subject. Take Trent Lott, for example--as well as many other Republican, whether they're lobbyists or not--who are now famous for saying, "...not a drop of oil was spilled during hurricane Katrina".
According to The Guardian (September 16, 2005), "The oil pollution in the wake of Hurricane could be among the worst recorded in North America.... The US Coast Guard...said yesterday that more than 6.5 million gallons of crude oil had been spilt in at least seven major incidents." The Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 was 11 million gallons. MSNBC also had a similar report filed on the internet September 19, 2005.
So, your Republican friends might say, 'Well, that wasn't from the actual drilling site; the was from tankers, pipelines, and storage facilities; but not a drop from the actual drilling platforms.'
Well, as if that matters, a release on May 1, 2006 by the Minerals Management Services reported that "...of the hurricane (Katrina) related oil/conden­sate/chemi­cal spills in Federal offshore OCS waters...six spills of 1000 barrels or greater...and a total of 146 spills of 1 barrel or greater...37 of these were 50 barrels or greater..." I think to put this report in perspective with the previous article, you have to convert barrels to gallons. (mms.gov/o­oc/press/2­006/press0­501htm.)

[Quitcherbichin]

Do you walk or ride a bicycle for transportation? What are your solutions for our energy problems?

I am quite familiar with So. Louisiana. I defy you, or anyone else, to come down here and find any lasting environmental damage caused by oil spills related to Kartina or Rita.

[MetryJen]

Its Katrina, Mrs. Bush.

[SteveRuyle]

While McCain may change his stance with every dollar that drops in his coffers, the drilling debate at least has a simple solution. Allow them to drill, but modify the terms of the lease to say that every drop of oil, every cc of natural gas, every last product that comes from federal land, may only be sold in the USA. None of it can be sold overseas. This will ensure that we actually get the resources that are there, and that it is not merely an asset grab that we get nothing from.

It may or may not actually get us any oil, but it will at least keep them from turning the coastline into a tarball just so they can sell more oil to China.

[bdaved]

Leave that oil there for somebody more responsible to use. We can't be trusted with it.

[Harbinger08]

OK, that was my favorite comment on the page. LOL

[AshevilleVoice]

I am stupefied by the same thing myself! Why is McCain getting away with this??? Where is the scrutiny of the press???? CNN is starting to sound like one long Glen Beck hour.

[Silknspark]

Asheville Voice,
No worries. You can be cured of stupeflication, by going on www.GoodNeighborLaw.com.
There you'll find a ton of educational, verfied facts gathered and posted by a non-partisan/all volunteer bunch.

[TN60]

WHAT does the old fool McGripe not LIE about ? Has he uttered one sentence that is true?

Only stupid people believe that by drilling everywhere in the world, we are going to hit a gigantic gusher tomorrow and all our worries will be over !! The MSM gadflies go along with his insane mutterings, when every expert says it is false.

Not to mention.....that we are killing our planet with this toxic stuff.

Last year I flew to LA to help my son move to Maryland by driving one of his vehicles. I have just come home from a driving trip through PA....MASS­...upstate NY and every one of those freeways are choked with large trucks so thick that you have to watch them carefully. Yesterday I pulled into a rest stop in KY early in the morning. There must have been 100 rigs on both sides of the freeway rest stop.
They are burning thousands of gallons of gas and Deisel a day.

Someone better figure out how to put shipping on railways before we all die from global warming.

By the way, this last trip was the first vacation I had been on in one year, and I felt guilty for burning gas in my little car !!!

[Quitcherbichin]

"By the way, this last trip was the first vacation I had been on in one year, and I felt guilty for burning gas in my little car !!!"

A perfect example of the left wing loser mentality. Go ahead and self flagellate. Does someone have to hold your hand when you go potty?

I do like the fact that you actually understand that big rigs run on diesel. Any viable suggestions on what else they could run on?

[haircut]

perhaps they could run on the manly power of your republicanness.