Bill Nelson: I'll Filibuster A Climate Bill That Allows Offshore Drilling

[cal04]

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/bill-nelson-ill-filibuster-a-climate-bill-that-allows-offshore-drilling.php?ref=fpi

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said this morning that he won't support a climate bill that calls for offshore drilling -- particularly off the coast of his state.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) staked out a similar position.

"If I have to do a filibuster...I will do so," Nelson said.


Drilling expansion dead in US Congress -Sen Nelson
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0410727720100504?type=marketsNews


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/04/florida-senator-obama-drilling-plan-dead-on-arrival/?fbid=uKKzBbg7zlQ

[WeDidIt]

1. Good

Too bad it takes a disaster for politician's to wake up.

[Parker CA]

2. Better late than never. Hopefully others will follow suit.

[joeybee12]

3. Abos-freakin'-lutely! KNR

[el_bryanto]

4. Yes - it's two big corporate entities taking on each other

The Tourism Industry vs. the Oil Industry. Who will win?

Bryant

[Uncle Joe]

14. It's not just tourism, the fishing/shrimping industry will be severely damaged

by this growing catastrophe.

And depending on whether and how long it takes them to stop this toxic gusher, the environmental damage will exponentially echo beyond tourism and fishing/shrimping to the general economy, real estate values could take a hit as well, which of course will further aggravate the financial sector.

[lpbk2713]

5. Maybe some of Grayson's gumption is rubbing off on him.

WTG Bill. :thumbsup:

[Glassunion]

6. Good, we can continue to rely on foreign oil. Saudi oil is better for the environment and...

The Bush's pockets.

It sux no matter how I look at it. On one hand we have an environmental disaster, on the other we have a reliance on a product from a country that hates us and "Arbusto Energy"

[zipplewrath]

7. False dichotomy

Drilling for more oil anywhere only delays the need to switch to alternative means of energy production. The British cut down most of the trees in England and Ireland before they figured out they needed a new energy source. (Try to find Sherwood forrest today).

[joeybee12]

9. Absolutely...sustainable, renewable energy is the way to go...

...cut the addiction.

[zipplewrath]

10. And we have a moment to seize here

The coal mine disasters, the oil spill, and the approval of the Cape Cod wind farm all line up rather nicely to make a large, transformational push for a major shift in our energy policy.

Instead, we've got senators threatening fillibusters, a president calling for a long term study of the problem, and lawyers running around threatening lawsuits. i.e. business as usual.

[Glassunion]

11. Not really a false dichotomy. Those are the solutions currently available.

Personally I would rather use renewable energy, however it seems we move at the speed of smell when dealing with energy issues.

My condo association is moving towards a solar farm, I can't wait.

[zipplewrath]

16. Well, the new drilling wouldn't bring oil on line for years

So I'm not sure that qualifies as "currently available". As such, it seems odd to suggest that supporting new exploration is somehow more "available" than a concerted move towards other generation technologies.

[Glassunion]

18. At our current speed of government what do you think would happen first?

Oil drill online and producing or an alternative source producing an equal amount of energy?

Shameful, but I think the oil drill would be up and running faster. I don't want it that way, but there needs to be a lot done in Washington before we can have good, clean energy.

[zipplewrath]

21. Actually, the pace is about the same

It can take a decade or more to get new wells into production. That's about the time line we're talking about, unless of course they believe they'll have more oil on the way.....

[elocs]

8. Only 12% of our oil comes from the Middle East.

http://www.sustainer.org/dhm_archive/index.php?display_article=vn355energyfactsed

Amount of U.S. oil consumption that comes from the Middle East: 2 mbd -- 12 percent, only three percent from Iraq and Kuwait. The rest of our imported oil comes from places like Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, Nigeria, Algeria, Ecuador, and England.

Wherever it comes from, it's time to withdraw from the oil addiction.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Saudi oil is better for the environment on two levels.

1. Their oil is drilled from the desert, and an uncontrolled gusher there is easier to repair and directly less damaging to the food supply, even animals know not to poop in their own homes.

2. If Saudi oil is more expensive, that will increase the motivation; emotional and financial for switching over to sustainable, renewable sources.

Of course the burning of any oil will damage the environment via global warming climate change.

[Veruca Salt]

12. Damn skippy! K&R

[Dappleganger]

13. Great! Call his office or email him in support.

FL Senator Bill Nelson (D):

Washington, D.C. Office
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


This one needs a lot of encouragement to BE a Democrat!

[CatWoman]

17. OMG

I agree with Bill Nelson????

[amborin]

19. K&R

[JCMach1]

20. First time my Senator has done something laudable in awhile

Thank you Sen. Nelson.