Obama and Oil

[DangerDave921]

For a number of reasons, not the least of which is the constant drumbeat of the MSM, I think oil is shaping up to be the primary issue this November. I don't think it's the war at all. It's oil. I think Obama needs to take a more "drill-friendly" approach in order to attract more of middle America. If McCain is seen as the friend of the common man because he wants to drill more and give a tax-break, then Obama is going to be in a tough spot. If he maintains that we should not drill more, he's going to have a hard time selling that to working folks.

Just my opinion, of course. But I also think we should drill more as a bridge to alternative fuels.

[Bok_Tukalo]

1. A compromise could be had

Unless it is just posturing.

[Kermitt Gribble]

2. Great idea...

Have our candidate sell the bs idea that more drilling will lower gas prices.:eyes:

I think he's doing fine by pointing out that the idea is bullshit.

[wmbrew0206]

4. That is assuming he can comminucate that to Joe Sixpack

I think most of the Joe Sixpack equate more drilling with lower gas prices.

Obama is going to have a hard time changing that association in the minds of Americans.

[DangerDave921]

6. agreed

In the eyes of most people, if you increase supply, you will lower costs. It's a very simple message to get across to people.

I'm not saying Obama is currently wrong; I'm saying he's going to have a tough time selling his argument if McCain is seen as the "common-sense" guy looking out for the average worker.

[wmbrew0206]

9. American seem to only be able to grasp bumper stick level messages

Hence the "Drill More = Lower Gas Prices" is going to be hard to get Americans to not believe.

[NYC_SKP]

3. His position on oil is fine, he just needs to EXPLAIN.

He needs to explain that oil lovers are trying to use this as an opportunity to open up protected offshore areas to drilling....

They need to exploit the leases they have and he needs to encourage more drilling on existing leases.

I'm fine with it if he say's "drill, drill, drill....let's step it up where drilling is approved".

:hi:

[nc4bo]

7. Too bad you can't hear me clapping........ita! nt

[Just-plain-Kathy]

5. Obama just has to get the point across that we have plenty...

...of land and off shore acreage designated for drilling already.

He should also get the point across that pass republican presidents signed on to the no drilling stance.

[grantcart]

8. there will be no off shore US drilling even if it was legal

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/brazil-discovers-new-offshore-oil.html


There have been huge discoveries - some in the last month of off shore fields in Brazil.

Brazil has ordered 75 rigs (they take years to build and cost $ 500,000,000) each.

If they changed the law tomorrow the United States would not be able to get its first rig until 2012, if then.

It would take 8-10 years to have any impact at all.



http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080619/NEWS/806190472



But even as oil trades at more than $135 a barrel -- up from $68 a year ago -- the world's existing drill-ships are booked solid for the next five years. Some oil companies have been forced to postpone exploration while waiting for a drilling rig, executives and analysts said.

Demand is so high that shipbuilders, the biggest of whom are in Asia, have raised prices since last year by as much as $100 million a vessel to about half a billion dollars.

"The crunch on rigs is everywhere," said Alberto Guimaraes, a senior executive at Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company that has discovered some of the most promising offshore oil but has been unable to get at it.

"Almost 100 percent of the oil companies are constrained in their investment program because there is no rig available," he said.

As a result, drilling costs for some of the newest deepwater rigs in the Gulf of Mexico -- the nation's top source of domestic oil and natural gas supplies -- have reached about $600,000 a day, compared with $150,000 a day in 2002.

These record prices have spurred a new wave of drill-ship construction.

This boom could lead to renewed offshore oil exploration that would eventually bring more supplies to the oil market, and push down prices.

Already, 16 new drill-ships are scheduled to be delivered to oil companies this year -- more than double the number delivered over the last six years combined.

In fact, 75 ultra-deepwater rigs should be delivered from 2008 to 2011, according to ODS-Petrodata, a firm that tracks drilling rigs.

[DangerDave921]

11. Good Info

You highlight some good points, one of which is that OTHER COUNTRIES are busily drilling for more and more oil, while we say no to expanded drilling. I just don't get that mentality.

Also, just because it may take 8-10 years doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. To play devil's advocate, should we not take steps to curb climate change because the effects won't be felt for years down the road?

[bullwinkle428]

10. Obama needs to make the point that oil from ANWR or wherever will not be "OUR OIL" -

it would go straight to the open market. I think many voters are woefully naive when it comes to the world commodity market...

[nc4bo]

12. Progressive Accountibilities new Big Oil ad is here!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x162946

Not a word was said throughout, didn't need it.