Fight the SPIN on oil drilling

[LuckyTheDog]

Right-wing talk radio is repeating over and over two lies: 1) That unnamed "liberals Democrats" are 100% responsible for the ban on some off-shore oil drilling and 2) that such drilling would solve the problem of high gasoline prices.

We need to make sure everyone knows that drilling off the coast of Florida was strongly opposed by Gov. Jeb Bush and that Arnold Schwarzenegger has strongly opposed new drilling off the coast of California.

Below are a couple of links:

http://www.mindfully.org/Energy/Bush-to-Bush-No-Drill.htm
Gov. Jeb Bush has told his brother's new administration not to open up Florida's Gulf Coast to more offshore oil and gas drilling -- a message President Bush already has said he will heed.

The president advocates increased energy exploration in the United States, but he said in a pre-inauguration interview with The Associated Press that he would support governors who want drilling banned off their coastlines.

Gov. Bush's letter to the U.S. Interior Department opposes the sale of an oil and gas lease that could allow drilling on nearly 6 million acres in federal waters south of Alabama near the Florida line.

``These are leases that are close to Florida waters and I think it's appropriate for the Florida governor to represent Florida's interests in that regard,'' Bush said Thursday of his letter.

In an interview on Jan. 17, George W. Bush forecast ``a monumental battle'' over increased energy exploration but said it is essential.

Asked about the Florida situation, Bush replied: ``I am for offshore drilling, but there is as much visual pollution off of Florida, or off of coastlines, as well as potential pollution. ...

``So I am going to work with the governors and if they are for bans off their coast, I'll support them for bans off their coast,'' he said.

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http://gov.ca.gov/speech/2607/

So I believe very strongly that I’m doing everything I can. I’m opposed to any weakening of the ban of off-shore oil drilling. We want to protect California’s coast, that is the bottom line. And we do not want to make any changes. I think that for anyone to think that this will bring the gas prices down, I think, is making a big mistake, because that’s not the answer.

We need to invest in alternative fuels; that’s the answer. We need to look for new technologies; that’s the answer. Hydrogen Highway, for instance, what we’re doing in California here, building hydrogen fueling stations up and down our state. Those are the kinds of things, or supporting electric cars, hybrid cars, all of those kind of things are the answer to the problem.

And so I just wanted to lend my support to fight this bill that’s at the Senate debate, and all of this, and I will continue fighting. And the Sierra Club knows that, and the people of the Sierra Club know that I will be there to protect and do everything that I can to protect our coast.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Busting GOP lies needs to go to the Greatest Page! n/t

[TransitJohn]

2. Instead,

denizens of high population states on the coasts prefer that we drill the piss out of the Rocky Mountains. Just sayin'.

[underpants]

3. Hell yes

here you go- a timeline from just this week in one nice little package

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/120

[IDemo]

4. You left off part 2

2) that such drilling would solve the problem of high gasoline prices.

Expanded US drilling would have no immediate impact on gas prices (oil is a global commodity) and little future impacts, with the biggest fields on the planet in a state of decline.

[WhiteTara]

5. Faux was dutifully spewing the "China Lie"

this morning. Long segment. Bastards

[LuckyTheDog]

6. Post this info everywhere

And e-mail it to your friends.