Exactly my point- that was way back in 1969. No major drilling problems since that time and technology has greatly reduced the likelihood of future spills.

Don’t listen to these Reich-wing radio talking heads….they say that increased drilling will lower prices, but they can’t guarantee it and they don’t have the data to back themselves up! They are pushing for oil drilling just like they pushed for the Iraq war in uncertain times…and look where that got us. The REAL answer is immediate conservation of energy, that will have a real effect on oil prices and thats what scares the pants off the Saudis, not the false case for drilling. How convenient that oil companies are pushing for drilling in banned sensitive environmental areas just when they can make a killing at current prices.

Hopefully, Americans don’t false for this propaganda a second time.

The old version of this game was not having any excess refining capacity, so taking one or two down for ‘cleaning’ or whatever, caused a spike in gas prices. They’ve been playing the public for years.

SPECULATION is driving the PRICES UP not SUPPLY

Congress should allow them to drill, then watch them back off the subject when the Florida (R) NIMBY’s start wailing about their pristine white beaches again.

Wayne A. Schneider Says:

Reuters reports that tomorrow, President Bush plans to give a boost to his presidential pick by making an “announcement” about energy and also calling “on Congress to pass legislation lifting a ban on offshore oil drilling.”

Why on Earth does he think a Congress controlled by the other party, a party which has long supported the ban on offshore drilling, would even consider introducing such legislation? If Congress knows what’s best for them, they’ll take up the impeachment bills on Cheney and Bush before they do this.

Wayne, I suspect Bush rather hopes Congres rebuffs him. It would provide grist for the RW talking point mill that they figure they can grind into more pounds of “democrat congress is blocking oil exploration”.

Its unbelievable how gullible and uninformed many Americans are, some of them are even in my family.

WASHINGTON — With his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, looking on, President Bush [2002] sealed a deal Wednesday to prevent further oil and gas drilling off the white sand beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast and in the cypress swamps near the Everglades.

The unexpected announcement would require the federal government to repurchase $235 million worth of oil and gas leasing rights in the Destin Dome area, about 25 miles south of Pensacola, and in three wildlife areas including Big Cypress National Preserve.

Furthermore 82% of the OCS IS open for drilling. When will people learn to look into whats being done before jumping on the emotional bandwagon thats being pulled around?

The GOP pushed to stop drilling in 2002 and now is wanting to start drilling..using some myth about China drilling off Cuba. Why, I dont hear any complainsts about China selling their goods at WallyMart. It takes oil to produce those cheap goods.

Well, dont know where you got that info, Saudi did increase their output after the Bush visit:

USA TODAY
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia announced a slight increase in oil output after a meeting between King Abdullah and President Bush on Friday, but the kingdom’s leaders said they are powerless to bring down rising gas prices.

The decision to raise oil output by modest 300,000 barrels a day went into effect on Saturday.

And they are increasing July output:

NEW YORK (Reuters June 13- Saudi Arabia plans to increase its oil output in July by some half-million barrels a day, a sign the country is growing concerned about the impact of high crude prices on the global economy, The New York Times reported.

Thats 800,000 barrels a day increase fastfordad.
As well, fuel demand in the use dropped 1.4% while fuel production increased 1.5%

The Cuba/China thing has been debunked and there is no drilling off the cost of Cuba.