Oil Spill Silences Once-Raucous 'Drill, Baby, Drill' Camp

[Cali_Democrat]

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/04/30/30greenwire-oil-spill-silences-once-raucous-drill-baby-dri-28151.html

By MIKE SORAGHAN of Greenwire
Published: April 30, 2010

"Drill, baby, drill" is now, "Hush, baby, hush."

The Republican battle cry that crystallized the growing popularity of offshore drilling has dropped from view since the Deepwater Horizon rig sank last week and the well it drilled started shooting crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

As Democratic opponents of the oil industry stepped up their attacks and demands for a sharp turn away from drilling, Republican leaders in Congress have slipped out of rapid-response mode and are generally holding their tongues.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has issued at least 11 broadsides at Democrats since the rig sank in 5,000 feet of water. Most dealt with financial regulatory reform. None addressed the rig explosion or spill. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has focused on jobs and health care in the nearly 20 statements he has issued in the past week without a word about the spill or loss of life, though at his on-camera news conference this week, reporters did not ask him about it.

<snip>

Even as criticism of the Obama administration's response has started to surface, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who rarely misses an opportunity to castigate the administration, has said nary a word.

The Republicans' decision to duck in the face of criticism could prove worrisome to its allies in the petroleum industry, who before the spill had gained significant political momentum in Washington for their drive to open up new areas for production.

Read more at link...http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/04/30/30greenwire-oil-spill-silences-once-raucous-drill-baby-dri-28151.html

[jeanpalmer]

1. If there's any good to come out of this

it will be to force all the pro-offshore drilling fanatics and other supporters to come to grips with the massive damage to our environment that their position has caused. They won't be able to spin it anymore, because the reality is right there on the beaches. So yes, we won't hear "drill baby drill" again with regard to offshore drilling. Thank God.

A position of no offshore drilling could have been a big political winner for Democrats, but that possibility was forfeited a few weeks ago.

[Kablooie]

2. Only for a couple of days. Kristol came out supporting more and closer drilling today.

[rasputin1952]

3. They are waiting for a "Luntz" moment...

x(

Right now, offshore drilling is a third rail...give them time. What we should be doing is hammering BP & Deepwater Horizon to pay for the cleanup and fixing the problem. Not one taxpayer dime should go unrepaid. How much do you want to bet, the taxpayer will get stiffed again...:(

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. They'll justify "Drill, Baby, Drill" by condemning the Obama administration

for not "acting fast enough." They will assert that it is his fault, not BP's, and that the accident has nothing to do with offshore drilling in theory.

Sadly, the liberals--Maher, Arianna--opened their mouths against Obama, so Limbaugh and Co. will view that as a opportunity to go after Obama using their criticisms as leverage.

[rasputin1952]

6. PO had nothing to do with this, and any snae individual knows this...

which is why Chubs decided to blather on, (a "plot"...:eyes:.

Maher and Huffington looked ridiculous...but Limbaugh was just insane.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. I hope you're right. It's not just Limpballs. It was on most of the talk shows on Sunday.

Even the so-called "liberal" newspaper of record, New York Times, had a headline that dubbed the oil spill as "Obama's Katrina."

[Supersedeas]

8. logic makes no difference to these 'people' -- greedy lil' gas guzzlers want that Petro

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. You got it. And that's what worries me because the greed as seaped into

the consciousness of the American mind. Corporate greed doesn't seem to bother Americans as much as illegal immigration and minorities on "welfare". I'll never understand it.

[boppers]

10. BP will pay for up to 75 million of liability (plus cleanup costs)

Guess who pays the rest.

Go ahead, guess.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-04/bp-ceo-hayward-says-spill-costs-to-exceed-75-million-cap.html
http://kansascity.injuryboard.com/toxic-substances/bp-gulf-oil-spill-liability-capped-at-only-75-million.aspx?googleid=280944

[Supersedeas]

4. the drill baby drill crowd will soon play the sabotage card