Crist backs McCain on offshore drilling

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2008/06/17/0617cristoil.html

By LARRY LIPMAN and DARA KAM

Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Florida's once-solid bipartisan opposition to drilling in the Gulf of Mexico shattered Tuesday when Gov. Charlie Crist reversed course and said the state may have to allow drilling to help lower gasoline prices.

Crist was among the Republicans expressing support for Sen. John McCain's call for lifting the federal moratorium along the Outer Continental Shelf and giving states a share of petroleum revenues as an incentive for them to allow oil and gas drilling off their coasts.

"We have to be sympathetic to the pocketbooks of the people of Florida and what they're paying at the pump for gas, and balance that with: Is there any way that our state might be able to contribute in terms of resources to have greater supply and therefore lower prices?" said Crist, who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate.

"If that's possible, through good technology or whatever it might be, I think an open-minded person understands that we ought to at least study it."

Democrats protested that allowing offshore drilling would not affect gasoline prices at the pump and could threaten the state's economy and ecology.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Pembroke Pines, called Crist's position "a 180-degree flip-flop."

"I don't understand Gov. Crist's flip-flop on this," she said. "The risk to our environment and to our economy - I mean the governor, of all people, should know better."

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Listen to the Drill, baby, drill!, chant in the background.


John McCain and Charlie Crist on Offshore Drilling in FL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ43780M2mU

...unlike SOME people.

Anything to get elected. Don't forget that fact.

Tourism is the top industry in Florida. If all the beaches are oil soaked and tourists/snowbirds/retirees don't come, people won't have jobs. so putting gas in their cars will matter?

Ya know, when he was in his *other* butt kissing mode trying to keep up with 5-plane Mccain.

were all in trouble, a CPA was telling me that he'd bet everyone would be thrilled to pay a little more for gasoline if it meant the statewide economy would do alot better.

I think he was right. The economy here is crap, but not as bad as in other states. I have friends who can't get their divorces going because they can't sell the house that has to be liquidated. They can't move to find a better job, their state salaries are frozen, few companies are hiring, etc.

Regarding Crist: It just goes to show that some politicians will say ANYTHING to promote their candidates and buddies. What a short-sighted thing to say.

ONLY thirty three are subject to the moratorium. All the rest will continue to pump oil without interuption.. what is the Big Deal? The thirty three that are subject are not even producing oil yet. They are only in the process of drilling...Republicans are experts on making mountains out of mole hills.

My understanding of this(And I might be wrong?), is that although they have drilled thousands of wells, after they drill them they have been capping them and moving on to drill another.

That was my understanding of the Deepwater Horizon. They weren't planning on taking any oil out of there yet. After hitting oil I believe the plan was to cap it and move to another location.

Kind of like we were building up a huge strategic reserve so when the next Republican president takes office and does something that will shut down the Straits of Hormuz we will have these reserves to rely on.

Don

it can be hooked up to the massive pipeline that runs between all the wells. Yes there are right around three thousand five hundred wells that atre delivering oil through that pipeline system at this moment. They will not be effected by the moratorium at all. Only the rigs that are in the process of actually drilling in water over a mile deep..which is thirty three rigs at the moment..

Some people on this forum think that 'facts' are optional.

Crist is against off-shore drilling NOW. That is what matters. I am far more interested in protecting THIS STATE from corporatists than arguing back and forth which team he plays for. At this time Crist has vetoed or come out against multiple corporatist and far-right wing bills and I will stand behind anyone who does this. I don't really give a shit WHY a politician does things only that they get it done. All politicians do things for 'political expediency', as most of them are type-A assholes who want attention. All I care about are RESULTS.