McCain faces energy pushback during Santa Barbara trip (Faux News)

[jpak]

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/06/24/mccain-faces-energy-pushback-during-santa-barbara-trip/

SANTA BARBARA, CA - McCain’s energy initiatives faced some skepticism during his two-day trip to the birthplace of the modern environmental movement.

During a roundtable with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former CIA Director James Woolsey and two local environmental experts, McCain’s proposal to expand the use of nuclear power and offshore oil drilling came under attack from a fellow panelist.

“I don’t understand how it’s not compromising our environmental standards to propose a crash program to build more nuclear power plants when the industry has not complied with the federal law that requires there to be safe disposal for the radioactive waste,” said Michael Feeney, the executive director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. “There is no solution to that problem, and that’s a big stumbling block for me to a rapid expansion of nuclear energy.”

Feeney didn’t stop there, adding that he was also doubtful about offshore drilling. “It makes me nervous to think about those who are proposing to drain America’s off-shore oil and gas reserves as quickly as possible in the hopes of driving down the price of gasoline,” Feeney said “I think when you look at the good sources of information, were we to open up the California coast or the Alaska natural wildlife refuge to drilling, it would be twelve, 15 maybe 20 years before those resources came online and got to full production.”

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[ColonelTom]

1. Offshore drilling and nuclear power - the Olestra & fen-phen of energy policy

That's right folks - you don't have to change your lifestyle at all! And don't worry about the unpleasant side effects and the possibly disastrous impact of the remedies - a small price to pay for continued gluttony.

[progressivebydesign]

2. I would imagine the person who arranged for McCain to speak in Santa B will be fired.

I mean.. could you think of a WORSE place for McCain to talk his crap in? Yeah.. we folks on the central coast of Cali really LOVE those oil platforms. Please sir, can we have some more? Yes.. yes.. we can! Considering Santa Barbara has been punitively overcharged by the oil industry for decades for their staunch opposition to drilling there, I'd say the guy or gal who booked that gig will be chewed out by McCranky in the near future.