McCain continues energy push during Golden State visit
BAKERSFIELD, CA– One week after he was forced to cancel an appearance on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, Sen. McCain successfully found his oil backdrop in California Monday to promote his energy plan.
“There is abundant (oil) resources in the view of the people who are in the business that could be exploited in a matter of months,” McCain said during a brief statement to reporters in front of an oil pumping unit in a field owned by the San Joaquin Facilities Management, Inc. “We all know that (the) comprehensive solution is wind, tide, solar–all of the things that all of us believe in but it also means offshore drilling and it also means nuclear power and it also means clean coal technology. In the mean time, as we develop all of these alternate sources of energy, it will be vital that we continue oil production at a high level–including offshore drilling.”
The Bakersfield area accounts for ten percent of U.S. domestic oil production according to the presumptive GOP nominee, who received a briefing from oil executives prior to speaking with reporters.
McCain, who did not take any questions, also continued his assault on Obama, who he has cast as “Dr. No” when it comes to energy policy.
“So Senator Obama opposes offshore drilling, he opposes reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, he opposes storage of spent nuclear fuel so he is the Dr. No of America’s energy future,” McCain said, adding that the Democrat “also opposes a gas tax holiday as a ‘gimmick.’”
During a conference call with reporters today, a McCain economic adviser also made the case that the GOPer’s long-term energy plan to expand drilling and expand the oil supply will actually lower oil prices in the short-term by providing an incentive for the industry to sell more oil now.
“If the price is going to be lower in the future because of more supply and less demand that price is going to come down in the future, that gives producers and others an incentive to sell more today rather than hoarding it, inventorying it, or failing to bring it out of the ground. And that’s an incentive that affects not just American firms but also the Middle East oil providers who look ahead and see policies coming into place which are going to affect the demand and supply over the long term, and we’ve already seen it in recent day as the price of oil has come down substantially,” said Martin Feldstein, a Harvard economics professor. “I think the key thing to understand, and to communicate to readers, is that policies that aim at the long term will have this favorable short term affect on prices.”
The Obama campaign returned fire on McCain arguing that the Republican is in the pocket of the oil industry.
“By handing out $4 billion in tax breaks to the biggest oil companies and proposing gimmicks like offshore drilling that won’t produce a drop of oil for seven years, Senator McCain’s energy plan fails to provide short-term relief to consumers or long-term independence from foreign oil,”said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan in a statement. “Barack Obama’s comprehensive solution to our energy crisis would force the oil companies to drill in the areas they’ve already leased, provide every American family with an immediate energy rebate and a middle-class tax cut worth $1,000, and invest $150 billion in renewable sources of energy that will create 5 million jobs and replace the oil we import from the Middle East by 2025.”
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Well Obama what do we do in 2025. Just let people lose jobs. Or maybe tax the employers. I am sure that they will keep hiring then NOT!!!!
This is a no brainer issue for the repubs…for the dems to have closed the door on MEANINGFULL solutions to this majorily important issue could be the election winner….here in one basket is a direct tie between paying the money our of EVERYONE’S pocket….not some tax that is substracted from your pay check…this is REAL MONEY….you see how much it costs to fill up that SUV!! Anyone with a brain would realize that solar, wind and thermal will not make the USA ever energy independent….that they have cut out nuke and drilling are major gifts to McCain who really needs to change his position on the artic anwar. All manner of pushes are necessary as noted by TB Pickens….but as he noted to the dems you must drill and go nuke….which they had said and continue to say NO, NO …NO!! The longer the dems just sit on their hands will be a golden goose to McCain and it seems they will sit for a long time. Their attitude to the American drivers…Obama only had a problem with how fast the price of gas went up…he was not against the true cost…..he like the rest of these greenicks want to have everyone pay more green at the pump. NOW THAT IS A LOSING POSITION!!! Next thing you may see are offered government rebates to buy car…the millions of gas guzzlers….too bad the auto makers were so far behind the power curve on this. The lack of drilling and the further motivation of oil speculators to be convinced that the USA is serious will hit the pockets of the union auto workers by plant shut down….the very group who have continued to support the dems for many years…sorry to say to them maybe they should convince YOUR DEM to allow anything to decrease oil prices and run off the speculators….it would help out ALL AMERICANS.
My Friend McCain, how can it be safe to drill off shore when you cant even go an visit ?? and what about the 2 oil spills in a week, one even being in CA ???
What about getting of oil ?? find an other fuel for cars, that we can make 100% at home ??
The democratic plan is to make the American people ‘hurt’ and ‘bleed’ as much as they can , in order to make their current empty promise of ‘change’ appear to be the only way to survive…
This is NO way to lead a nation, tell them!
Why is it, “we the people” hear not a word about government ‘cutting back’ belt tightening?
While the American people are losing jobs, paying $4 for a gallon of gas, and more for everything needed to live,
including food - what are the ‘city’ ’state’ and ‘federal’ governments doing?
NOTHING, because there is NO limit to them spending YOUR money…
We need to push all of our reserves Wind, Oil, Gas ,, rebates to home owners who install energy Solar Panel for home use,give rebates to home owner. We have oil on my property that is just sitting there. We have coal, Shale. I oppose sending all our money to countries that are not our allies.We can under the direction of John McCain turn this country around.___ A unified country standing
together.”"One for all and All for one”! WE NEED ACTION NOW!!!!!!!
That’s how this country was founded together ever man woman and child. Working towards one goal to establish a new life in the new world against all odds with the help of God and good health to do the job. We have the knowledge and resources to do this.
PS_: Look how fast the spill was cleaned up on the Mississippi River. There again we have the resources to handle these kind of events.There is a subdivision in Sacramento all the houses are connected together with solar panels and they sell electricy back to utility co. ” check it out” ________________________
What would happen if there was a world war what ever. How would you fight a war if you were cut off from your supply of oil and could not resupply. What then?
big war Little war no oil, can not fight ,let alone survive.
D. Gaines
What about the tankers from South America doc in U S to get the $1.00 incentive per gallon they make $1000000.00 and leave port here for other ports etc. but the oil doesn’t stay here.
A COOL MILLION JUST TO DOCK HERE FOR THE REBATE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT
D GAINES
It’s simple–if you like expensive gas, vote for Obama. He thinks it’s great that we’re paying $4 or $5 a gallon for gas because it discourages consumption and encourages us to look at other fuels. Remember, he just doesn’t like the fact that the run up to high prices was so quick.
Obama–just not WRIGHT for America
Drill everywhere feasible - NOW!!!
McCain - taxes - flip flopper - enough said
It appears that Obama’s Energy Experts are Exxon, Chevron and Phillips Petrolium.
Drill now and ignore OPEC’s reaction later with a smile and a snicker.
The only reason why the oil price is coming down are that whom/what ever has caused such a rapid rise up is at least a little convinced that maybe it went too far and the backlash will likely cause the USA to now do things which will in the future become energy independent or at least have their own oil sources and not from the 3rd world…maybe the middle east persons did it to get paid back for the money/debt they just wrote-off on Iraq…$500 billion…do you really think they would just let it pass…could have easily cut back production decreased supply and cause speculation which fueled the sudden and rapid rise in oil cost per barrel. Now that they have their money they have opened production and speculation has dropped…just theory but this only PROVES THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE AN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE POLICY FAST WITH OUR OWN SOURSE DRILLING THEN THIS KIND OF MANIPULATION CAN HAPPEN AGAIN AND VERY SOON….WE HAVE HAD A WAKE UP CALL AND THE DEMS NEED TO WISE-UP NOW……..energy independence DOES NOT COME FROM SOLAR OR WIND……how simplistic does it have to be for Obama and the dems to understand that drilling and nuke need to start now!!!!! You can bet if Obama is elected you will see no thing targeted to make us independent since they…the dems..and Obama ………desire the USA to remain dependent thus part of the “global influence” and “community” like the rest of the world always under the thumb so we can not act independent on issue of vital importance and to cooperate with others….if not then we go thru this restrictive oil supply and america pays. Forced cooperation???? The USA can not allow this to occur…….just why are the dems SO, SO RESISTENT TO THIS INDEPENDENCE ISSUE…to me this is national security.
I agree Mr. Big. IN addition, I say that a barrel of OIL from the mddle east should be worth a bushel of wheat from America. One hundred dollars a barrel, 100 dollars a bushel. Bet the price of Mid east oil would plumit.
Joe
if i am forced to pay 4.00+ for fuel, so be it but i demand that as much as possible come from this country, NOT OPEC. every barrel from here is one less from them.
Sen McCain is CORRECT to support a lift on the ban to drill and it is a long time coming and I just hope not to late. The affect of years of the Federal Government closing down American recourses and outsoursing our Companies and Jobs has taken it’s toll on the American economy and the American tax paying citizens of this country.
If your going to BAN anthing try banning NAFTA! Lets (House/Senate) start thinking smart for America and stop selling out our greatest resourse “The American People”
The bottom line is energy is a national security concern and should not be taken lightly. The Democrats scream about our dependence on foreign oil but refuse to lift the ban here at home for domestic drilling. This is absolutely a ludicrous position to take. The american people support it and yet Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid refuse to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. It is no wonder that congress has an approval rating of 19%. People should voice their opinions in November at the polls. These obstructionists should be voted now.
Our problem is that we will continue having oil spills as long as we IMPORT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BY SHIP. Where do you think they come from? And if there was oil on the lands these oil companies have leases to they would drill for it and if they wanted the leases they would be drilling. As long as the Dems do not take the leases back they can keep saying the oil companies have them. They refuse to hear the hundreds of times oil companies tell them they have explored in these places and there IS NO OIL!! So we sit here and dry up what little we have and keep buying more and more from other countries when seven years ago President Bush tried to get oil drilling started here and the democrats made it clear the bill would never make it threw, now they are still blocking it. Seven flipping years ago and we would now have our own oil. Not only that but off shore drilling if done close to where they already have platforms would take months not years according to the oil companies but still they are blocked while China drills just off FL’s shores. Thanks congress. I will never vote another Democrat in for so much as dog catcher. They are bent on having things done their way or no way. A bunch of scare the people and blame the republicans for all our problems. The only way to get congress to drill here now it to start voting democrats out and teach them it is what WE THE PEOPLE WANT and not what they the democrats want.
How the dems…Obama…Pelosi…Reid…and the rest of the dems siding with them…..continue to think the energy INDEPENDENCE is NOT a national security issue is beyond me and most voters and citizens polled. What is it that they do not seem to get here….they are not without adequate intelligence to figure it out that America MUST BE energy independent….we as a nation can not be beholden to the 3rd world and other simply because we have more cars and have a stronger economy. JUST WHAT IS IT???? They surely realize it will take many years to convert to electric cars if ever….but they have this one dimensional view on energy independence that has NO LOGIC AT ALL. EVERY AMERICAN WITH A CAR SEES THE PRICE OF GAS and cringes when it rings up the price of the fill-up. They truely have their head in the sand on this and it is obvious THEY ARE PROTECTING OBAMA FROM VOTING AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT ON EXPANDED DRILLING OR NUKE POWER…Obama is against any drilling and expandsion of nuke power (for very lame reasons)….this political posturing is VERY OBVIOUS TO ALL….they really have their head in the sand on this issue.