Republicans get their wish, as ban on Off Shore Drilling is lifted.

[npk]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a month-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer.

Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., told reporters Tuesday that a provision continuing the moratorium will be dropped this year from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Congress recesses for the election.

Republicans have made lifting the ban a key campaign after gasoline prices spiked this summer and public opinion turned in favor of more drilling. President Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling in July.

Full text link: http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/23/news/economy/offshore_drilling.ap/index.htm?cnn=yes

[annabanana]

1. I watched the 'pubs right after that passed and they were royally ticked off.

Especially the ones that had stayed in Washington after Pelosi turned the lights out on them during the last recess. Apparently, no drilling will be allowed within the 10 mile limit (where, I gather, most of the oil it) ONe after the other, with charts and graphs they got up and bitched and moaned that the bill was meaningless...

So, that, coupled with the fact that the oil companies don't actually WANT to drill there in any hurry,... I don't feel all that bad.

[npk]

2. I didn't see that.

But I am not surprised. This is just so absurd that the republicans have banked their energy policy on "DRILL DRILL DRILL." Gawd they are so shortsighted.

[npk]

3. I didn't see that.

But I am not surprised. This is just so absurd that the republicans have banked their energy policy on "DRILL DRILL DRILL." Gawd they are so shortsighted.

[Chan790]

4. This is going to sound strange...

but as an environmentalist I'm thrilled.

Why? Because there is no way that any company could get a plan up to start drilling now anyways...even if one could, they would not because they'd risk having the ban reinstated by a Obama presidency in 120 days or so. So there will be no exploration or drilling for the time being. No matter what happens on Nov. 4th...we can pass a new ban after the election.

OTOH, you're McCain...explain your energy plan. You're going to lift the ban on offshore drilling you say? Didn't the Democrats just do that? What else you got senator McCain? Oh, you have "um."

[Historic NY]

5. okay wheres the oil?...wheres thegas ? Drill, drill it should be here now.