It is clear the Democrats and some Republicans align themselves with the environmental lobby or fear it. I wonder exactly how much power do the Greens really have? Obviously they have handicapped our economy for years based upon overblown fears but have they also overblown their electoral power?

With $4 a gallon gas I expect their support to be waning and the politicians who genuinely care about our country should exercise some independence and vote for more energy from all sources. We can no longer be held hostage to the increasingly irrational demands of environmentalists. Some measure of common sense needs to be restored.

Yes we are refining gasoline here and sending it to Mexico. Missing in that equation though is the fact that it is the oil that we are refining to help them out with a temporary refinery capacity problem. One of theirs (near the border) was shut down for repairs. As a result, one of our refineries agreed to use their excess capacity to refine the gas they need. “Excess capacity” being the operative phrase.

The US refinery industry has plenty of spare capacity right now. Currently, at the peak of the refining season they are only running at 85% capacity. The problem is not now, nor has it ever been long term the fact that we have not/are not building refineries. Refinery capacity is added as needed. In fact since the beginning of the 80s we have closed 100s of refineries, all while increasing capacity.

Refinery capacity is a canard. It sounds good and can be problematic in the wake of a major natural disaster like Katrina, but those problems are temporary and the risk cannot be mitigated without increasing the cost of gasoline to pay for the capacity that will sit idle in case of such an emergency not to mention the infrastructure that needs to be built out to handle the extra volume of oil transportation to said locations.

Good for President Bush! That’s just what is needed now…offshore and ANWR drilling, and establishing new refineries. What I like most about this plan is the fact that we will not only have more oil available but we are decreasing our dependence on other countries which is something else we need to do if we hope to remain a world power and not run the risk of being thrown back into the Dark Ages. I think this should only be a beginning! I just heard a woman member of Congress say that more drilling will not provide short term relief for the price of gas. I disagree. If this plan is implemented immediately, I think the price of gas will immediately drop since there is now competition. We Americans KNOW that we need other energy sources and we know (or think) that we cannot continue to depend on huge amounts of oil indefinitely, but for NOW, we and other developed nations need oil to survive. Democratic members of Congress need to understand that the U.S. economy cannot continue to support it’s citizens with the price of gas continuing to rise. Truckers have got to be able to make a profit or they will stop delivering food and necessities to stores and even Democrats go to the grocery store. It’s that serious. Holding out oil from the public just to combat “global warming” (if that’s what they are attempting) is totally ridiculous. My theory is that the earth is cooled by the removing of oil but I’ve never heard any comments from scientists on that…and I probably never will but, in my opinion, “Global Warming” is NOT a proven fact, but a theory of some people who have had a fantastic marketing plan, selling the idea worldwide.

“…we’d be demanding seppuku.”

I love that - if only it were possible to get a petition going… ;?P

If you like darkest comedy, this is it - just watch the political theater over anything related to gas…

You go to buy a new suit or dress - do they refuse because you already own more than one? Does the dealer refuse your order for a new car because you really don’t need it? Bearing in mind the number of overweight people in the US, did mommy’s insisting you finish your vegetables 1st really help all that much?

So here I was thinking it was the height of ridiculous, that Congress people were claiming oil companies were sitting on viable reserves, so they didn’t deserve to be sold any more leases ["finish your vegetables"], and you come along with our exporting gas! I didn’t even have time to really exploit their absence of any sense, biz or otherwise, refusing to sell something at [according to their claims] zero risk. Why tax when they’ll hand over the money freely, and you don’t have to worry about them ever taking delivery… right?

Oh well, at least according to something I read on foxnews.com, at least some of us are traveling south of the border to buy it back, and taking advantage of those subsidies. And if things keep going the way they are, maybe it’ll be more profitable to smuggle than drugs or people?

Frankly, I need help today. I do not see how opening up offshore drilling or building new refineries will help today.

I am a Republican and a conservative, but, I am not blind. It seems that it is everyone’s fault but the oil companies. Are we supposed to believe that?

They say “We’re sorry but we can’t help the billions being forced into our pockets” Are we supposed to believe that?

Everyone seems to agree that oil is artificially high, but alas nothing can be done. Are we supposed to believe that?

If the president’s plan does not help us today, who does it help today?

(hint: the answer starts with “oil” and ends with “companies”)

John O.

Thanks for the information, I was not aware we were selling REFINED gasoline to Mexico (which has its own vast oil fields). That, of course, is absolutely ludicrous - but no doubt someone in power is making enough off the deal to not care whether it hurts the average American. Heaven forbid we build any new refinieries in this country, even though we should have started doing so 20 years ago.

For years I’ve known people who thought gas should be taxed at even higher rates than it is, in order to discourage its use and encourage “alternative” sources of energy. (Wasn’t that a Walter Mondale pledge in 1984?) Now that gas is much more expensive, I’ve asked those same people why they are now complaining about the higher price. After all, isn’t that what they wanted? Of course, they have no answer except to complain about the “windfall profits” of the oil companies. When I tell them the after-tax profitcs of the oil companies were less than 8 per cent in the first quarter of 2008, they complain, “Yeah, but they make billions!” Apparently they don’t realize that looking for oil, drilling for it, and refining it also takes billions. And they surely don’t realize that a profit of 8 per cent is in no way a “windfall.” (If we’re going to tax oil companies that earn over 5 or 6 per cent, then, to be fair, must we not tax ALL companies that earn more than that same percentage? Do that and you’ll destroy the American economy.)

Americans are incredibly naive if they think we can wean ourselves from oil in the near future. It will take decades, and even then happen only if we build more nuclear plants and make proper use of our vast coal reserves (which we’re unlikely to do). Windmills ain’t gonna do it, folks. And hydrogen for your Hollywood dream “clean car” comes from separating hydrogen from oxygen in water, which consumes VAST amounts of electricity. Your hydrogen car may run “clean,” but you’ll be offsetting that every night when you plug in the vehicle to get it re-charged from carbon-fueled power-generating plants! Duh!

Most Americans think petroleum is used to fuel our cars, trucks, and airliners - and nothing more. They have absolutely NO IDEA how much we rely on petroleum. I suggest the big oil companies fight the “windfall profits tax” with television commercials showing how many thousands of products are made with petroleum . End the list with an oil exective saying, “Put us out of business if you want, but are you prepared to do without all those products?”

And I am supposed to feel guilty about “not doing my part” because I haven’t traded in my car for a new hybrid? Excuse me, but where is the logic in saving perhaps $150 per month on reduced gas costs if it requires $600 per month in a car payment? Another duh! If everyone in the country bought a new hybrid, the money spent on the car payments would then no longer be available for what it would otherwise have been spent on - causing widespread unemployment in other industries! (Pardon my improper grammar in that sentence, but you get the point.)

We will rely on oil for decades to come. Learn to live with it. Drill for it here. Build more refineries. Build more nuclear plants (heck, even the French are smart enough to have done that). Don’t overburden progress with concerns over the habitat of some inconsequential insect or worm. And don’t buy into the “mankind-causes-global-warming” nonsense. If you want to return to the dark ages, move to Iraq or Afghanistan (and take Al Gore with you), but leave the rest of us alone.

I seriously thought this article was a joke, or that I had stumbled into ‘The Onion’ website. “so they can drive on up here to take the jobs American citizens would take if they could get them”. I know that there’s a line of white people around the corner trying to pick strawberries in 100 California sun for minimum wage (that’s sarcasm Tammy).

If you’re an American citizen, and you find yourself in life competing with illegals for work, it’s YOU that’s the problem.

If this were Japan, they would have committed sepuku out of a sense of honor and responsibility for having failed, in every way possible, the people that they were supposedly leading and speaking for. But this is America…politicians have neither honor nor any sense of personal or national responsibility. As far as drilling goes…yes, we need to pursue alternative energy as quickly as we can. But, that won’t happen over night. We live in a petroleum based world. That’s the reality that we have to live with for the forseeable future, which means DRILL!!!! The Republicans certainly have their negatives, but the Democrats are dedicated to nothing more than giving this country away to non-citizens while taking more and more away from its actual citizens. They will stop at nothing to oppose the Right, even if that comes at the cost of the country. Nobody is looking our for us, the American people. Nobody. The entire governmental body should be dismissed and rebuilt from the ground up. Both they, AND the America people need to remember something….they’re supposed to work for us. WE are supposed to be THEIR boss. People have been too busy getting rich to worry about the little things, like ensuring the survival of their country. Maybe people will finally start to pull their butts from their armchairs and televisions, turn off American Idol, and pay attention to what the hell their government has allowed to happen to them.

BRAVO!!

You got it right Tammy. The regular folks are getting hurt bad out here in the real world and the only solution Democrats can muster is lets complain to the WTO. A bunch of empty suits shovelin a whole lot of crap. We have been hearing this “no drilling” slogan for thirty years. Either solve the problem or get out of the way.

In my profession, there is a term we use to describe implementation of a solution without parallel use of the existing solution. It’s called TAKING THE PLUNGE. Most projects implemented in this manner fail. Hey, you pull the plug on the existing, proven solution and turn on the power on the new solution and hope that all works as expected.

This is how I feel our government is treating the crisis we find ourselves in. I keep hearing about all of the new alternative energy solutions that are ‘on the horizon’ but few, if any are making a difference to me TODAY. Yet, we are told there is nothing to be done constructively to stabilize the energy issues we face today. As a nation, we’ve worked very hard to get to this point of crisis. For the last 30 years, Americans have allowed environmentalists to convince/sway our elected officials to put off limits areas of our nation in the name of protecting the environment. Nobody wants a large-scale Exxon-Valdeez situation. But, as I’ve read on the internet and media (I keep the Fox News website active on my ‘home’ computer throughout the day), the technology available in exploration and production of the dominant energy sources (oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear) has matured and SHOULD provide the necessary protections for the environment while allowing development of the energy.

There has been alot of ‘thrashing around’ by our government officials to find the ’smoking gun’.

What I think we as a nation need to do (the solution):

1. Reign in speculation in the oil markets to levels that are acceptable given the commodity. The limits imposed on oil futures trading are laughable and need improving.
2. Allow drilling in areas where it is blocked today and open the SPR for domestic refinement
3. Make available for consumer use, new, alternative/hybrid technologies that increase TODAY’s automobile efficiency NOW (retrofit kits). I keep reading all about the HHO systems that can improve a car’s efficiency. I’m all for a 20% overall improvement in fuel efficiency. My 2003 Chevy Silverado averages 21mpg on the highway. That would mean I could enjoy as much as 25+mpg on the highway in a 3-ton SUV… VERY COOL. Even better if the efficiency improvement is greater.
4. Make commercially available new automobile technology that relies less on petrol for energy
5. Make commercially available energy solutions for homes/business that use known alternatives to oil
6. Make commercially available new energy solutions (with meaningful $$$ incentives for use) for homes/business
7. Reduce our oil imports from OPEC as we increase domestic production and imports from the Western Hemisphere (excluding Venezuela and countries in ‘Hugo’s favor), then decrease domestic production as alternative energy solutions are brought on-line.

What I think we need to stop doing:

1. Making ‘Dubya’, Big Oil and OPEC the scapegoats. We are all to blame but we are all part of the solution.

Let’s get busy. There’s no time to lose.

Now this makes no sense at all. How come these big wheels in Government get to make all these decisions, most of which we rarely hear about!? The citizens of the US are supposed to be the Government! When are the people going to be able to vote on things like this and express OUR

Get this….In California, the U.S. border is banning U.S. vehicles from bringing back Mexican fuel in anything except your permanent gas tank. They are claiming that the Mexican fuel does not meet
California formulation standards and is therefore ‘illegal’…..what a crock……

I wonder how the mexican citizens are going to get a job in the states just because the gas is cheaper in mexico, cars with mexican plates and all, besides you have to get the social security card an speak some English. you are misinformed or acting in bad faith. Mexico doesn’t take the american gas, what happens it send the raw oil to be refined in the states, because its refineries can’t handle the volume but is mexican oil going back and forth and they subsidies because they think that’s the only way to keep the inflation low that of course is wrong but many countries do that look at the united states they subsidies the farmers and everybody is happy

As the author of one of the automatically generated “Possibly related posts,” I wish Ms. Bruce had done a little homework before she wrote. Or at least had someone in FOX Network’s research department at least fact check. PEMEX, the state owned Mexico oil company, does not “receive” gasoline from the U.S. It buys (at the same rate every other gasoline distributor pays) gasoline from Shell oil’s Deer Park Texas refinery, which is sold to us Mexican consumers at the subsidized rate we pay for Mexican refined gasoline. It’s an anomaly, and many of us Mexican taxpayers resent indirectly paying for U.S. gasoline.

As it is, Mexican oil is sold to the U.S. at below market rates (both because of the high sulpher content and as a result of a 1928 trade agreement), but there is no reason Mexico — the U.S.’s #1 or #2 [DEPENDING ON THE MONTH OF THE YEAR] oil supplier MUST sell oil to the U.S. At least one Mexican researcher has suggested concentrating on domestic oil consumption needs, and NOT selling abroad at all.

Congrats Tammy Bruce sure can spin a story.

Well first of all. Yes we do need to care about the environment. Republicans have a wonderful knack for saying “environmentalist” in the same disgusting tone they would say “terrorist”. Preventing massive amounts of C02 from spewing into the air by lowering the consumption of oil in this country is a good thing .yah know? Have you seen the air over Los Angeles? Dallas? Houston? (where I am) it is gross and in no way healthy.

So do I say eliminate cars? charge $10.00 a gallon for gas? no I don’t and most Democrats don’t either. But conservation is the key to all our woes. We saw what happened in the 70’s gas doubled, there was rationing, and what did we do? Well from the mid 70’s to the mid 80’s oil consumption in the US dropped as people started conserving. Then we forgot how. We got wasteful and now instead of the 16 million barrels a day we used in 75 or the 15 million we used in 85 we use 21 million a day.

And as for the complaining about the 18 billion barrels of untapped black gold in the gulf of Mexico that everyone seems ticked at Congress for cause we can’t drill for it? well at our current consumption of 21 million barrels a day that 18 billion wouldn’t last 10 years with the way we waste.

American and Americans need to seriously wake up and realize oil will not be around forever. Conserve now!!

There are also companies exporting diesel to Europe….and getting a dollar a gallon tax credit from our screwed up government for doing so!

This is truly beyond belief. Congress will force us out of our cars, herd us all into high-rises in the inner cities, and turn off the heat and lights. We can all dine well on the cockroaches that infest the high-rises for the little bit longer that they allow us to continue breathing and giving off carbon dioxide. Meantime, the fat cats and poliiticians will buy carbon credits from the goracle and continue scheming on how to dismantle the country for more profits and bribes. Arrrgh!

WOW, it couldn’t have been said better. One thing though, Nancy and Harry are more to blame about these issues than Obama Bin Laden.

The hypocrisy of liberalism shows its wicked head time and time again. If they wish to throw us back to the dark ages and bamboo huts they should lead by example. However, the liberal leaders have very nice homes with running water heat and airconditioning. Doesn’t sound like a dark ages dweeling to me. Funny thing is they use more energy then most conservatives do. If you want to find the definition of liberalism look under the word hypocrisy.

Right on the money, stop the flow of our fuel to the MEXICANS! Finally someone that has a common sense idea!

Japan hell!! If it were up to me it would be required here!!

So, are we, or are not, addicted to oil? What has the Bush adm. since the time it
realized the country was addicted to oil? Or was it all talk, like “dead or alive?

The time will come when all those in power, in this country, will see what they have done to their children. Their children will end up paying because of their greed and ignorance. I feel that we the people may have to take back the country by force and then call into leadership a three person governance to try to fix everything that has become, to this day, so screwed up and broken in america.

I am just as guilty as the rest of us who stand idly by without jumping down our state leaders throats about what they are allowing.

Why am I not surprised that this administration would pull a stunt like this! Sending our gas to Mexico so that they can pay half the price that we here in the US are paying!!!! They’ve “given” away our jobs. They have taken money from our tax dollars to provide food stamps, welfare, healthcare, and even energy help to people who have NO BUSINESS BEING IN THE UNITED STATES!!!! They have broken the law by coming here ILLEGALLY and yet they continue to be REWARDED!!!! As for our college students, many college students rely on summer jobs to help their parents pay for their tuition and books. It’s quite obvious that many of these jobs WILL NOT be available to our college students, who are LEGAL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES! What happened to “No child left behind”????? I guess that only applies to the children of ILLEGAL ALIENS. How many Legal American college students will not be able to return to finish their college educations because they CAN’T GET a summer job to help offset the costs of college????? Thank you El Presidente Jorge Bush, and thank you US Congress for “flushing” the United States down the toilet!!!!!!!

Tammy Bruce,
Just read “Gas Shenanigans” Darn interesting. Thank you.
You are among the few who are worth reading.

Oh, Fox flagged a misspelling in this comment. Thank you too. I do not want to compliment someone, then look stupid.

Mrs. Bruce, with respect, are you actually calling for Carter/Nixon-style command and control of where private companies can sell their oil products? If PEMEX is dumb enough to pay a premium for its gas while taking a loss at the pump, let them. What’s the deal? Liberals may call for opening state-owned refineries because private companies can’t manage to, but I don’t hear them calling for taking away rights of private processors the way you seem to be. Please explain yourself.

I wasn’t aware of the sale of cheap gas to Mexico until you mentioned it on your show and thanks for bringing it the attention of the readers here.

Both Republicans and Democrats seem determined to keep us in what you have previously vividly and accurately called “The Lewinsky Position”. It makes it hard to stand your ground when you’re on your knees. Between now and November, no matter which liberal wins, we have to stand up, speak up and make sure our voices are heard when it comes to drilling here at home and closing the borders. Mexico should be taking care of Mexicans. The last I heard, they are NOT the 51st state.

We need to be able to drill in ANWAR and offshore……….Period. This is a no-brainer, and the ones opposing this are either ‘rich’ or not thinking clearly.

Let me see if I got this right…we are demanding that we allow the oil companies to spend BILLIONS to drill offshore and in other areas of the US, pump the crude to the surface, refine it, JUST so they can sell it at a much lower cost while there seems to be no problem selling it at current prices????

Yeah, right, I’m sure any of their stockholders would approve that!!

If you want the price to come down, QUIT DRIVING unless you have to! I’m just as guilty as the rest of you and I can assure you that at some point I’m going to have to pat my Hush Puppies!!!

I’ll agree, our so-called representitives are SCREWING US and using OUR MONEY to do it…but as long as fools keep electing traitors back in office, you’ll keep getting what you deserve!

Maybe now you should look back and kick yourself in the ass for not considering Ron Paul!!

Let me see if I got this right…we are demanding that we allow the oil companies to spend BILLIONS to drill offshore and in other areas of the US, pump the crude to the surface, refine it, JUST so they can sell it at a much lower cost while there seems to be no problem selling it at current prices????

Yeah, right, I’m sure any of their stockholders would approve that!!

If you want the price to come down, QUIT DRIVING unless you have to! I’m just as guilty as the rest of you and I can assure you that at some point I’m going to have to pat my Hush Puppies!!!

I’ll agree, our so-called representitives are SCREWING US and using OUR MONEY to do it…but as long as fools keep electing traitors back in office, you’ll keep getting what you deserve!

Maybe now you should look back and kick yourself in the backside for not considering Ron Paul!!

Saw that the democrats wanted to nationalize oil refineries so they can see that they put out the right amount of gasoline. Wonder if this is the first step to a dictatorship?

I read something interesting today. Don’t know the truth of it, just as I’m skeptical of pretty much anything the Democrats or Republicans spin, but it’s an interesting tidbit nonetheless. For all the cry about opening up ANWR and more offshore sights for exploration, I read that the oil companies currently hold leases on sixty eight million acres of federal land, both onshore and offshore. This number supposedly represents approximately seventy five percent of the land that oil companies currently have leased for exploration.

It seems to me that oil companies wouldn’t lease land if they didn’t think there was oil to be found. Unless they did it solely to prevent some other oil company from leasing it. Or they get subsidies from the government for leaving the land “fallow” …

If it’s even remotely true that sixty eight million acres are available to the oil companies already, why in bloody hell do they need more?

True or false?

Marty

The Libs are hell bent to turn this country into another USSR. Nationalize medicine, oil industries, education…you name it. Next, the Libs will decide that private property must be nationalized. It’s beyond laughable, frankly, it scares the hell out of me. The Federal Govenment is a huge hole where money disapears. The Feds don’t do a very good job at anything excluding the military. What in God’s name do they think they are going to do with the oil industry?…..Ruin it…that’s what. Anything run by the Federal Government is doomed. I hope more Americans wake up, because one day the Libs will be telling you where you will work, live, what to eat, what to say to your children, where to worship, etc…..Wake the hell up!!!

The problem that nobody gets is there is plenty of oil in the markets, what is causing the problem is the futures market and speculators. The US Gov’t has been studying this for over 8 years. A good report to read is from 2006.

http://www.senate.gov/~levin/newsroom/supporting/2006/PSI.gasandoilspec.062606.pdf

Read this report.

It’s a bit annoying to see President Bush calling on Congress to re-open offshore drilling sites without revoking or striking down the executive order his father signed the halted offshore oil exploration. Call your congressmen and demand they stop playing games with our resources, our money our lives, and our future. This is not just the fault of the Dems, the Republicans are just as guilty of pandering to environmental pressures of the “green movement.”

For good or ill, I do buy into the notion that an out of control “environmental” lobby is in fact responsible for pressuring our elected officials at the state and national level into passing legislation that is at best hindering our economy, at worst destined to wreck it. What reasonable alternatives have been presented to our current petroleum based economy? None, not one of the alternatives is “ready for prime time, and won’t be for decades at least. Should we build more nuclear reactors - yes, should we build more refineries - yes, should we drill for oil both on and offshore - yes.

Should we place a “windfall profit” tax on the oil companies - NO! Why not? First, as soon as Congress gets that money in their hands it will be frittered away like they do with so much of our money, the last thing they need is more of it, do not listen to what they tell you the will do with it, look at what they do with our money they already have. Second, what idiot thinks that any additional tax levied by congress will not be passed on immediately to the consumer. Third, if we throw additional takes on them, what incentive is there for investing in more refineries, more exploration, and more drilling - none. It would be refreshing for our elected officials step out of the “magic kingdom” and see what life is like in the real world - get the hell out of Washington and see what a mess they’re making.

There is absolutely no reason we should be paying the prices we are for gas and oil, we were told that when oil got above $44.00 a barrel that shale oil would be profitable again, and that we had huge reserves of it, so what happened? No one in the media wants to make a big deal about the China and other countries drilling 60 miles off the coast of Florida - if the Governor of Florida is so concerned about his beaches, what assurances does he have from Cuba and China that they will guarantee that no oil from those wells will reach their coast?

When Republicans last had a majority we bemoaned the fact that they spent our money like a bunch of drunken sailors, arguably a bit unusual for them, the Democrats have always had a reputation for that, and they are trying to live up to it with things like the latest version of a farm bill. Call Congress, call the Senate, tell them that you’re fed up!

Ms. Bruce;

I am a bit perplexed what the Mexican governments subsidy program has to do with this article. Seems like a play on emotions. I can do no more about Mexico’s subsidy program than I can about the earths path around the sun.

I do agree whole heartedly that we should not be selling gasoline to Mexico. The supply would certainly ease the price we pay at the pump and I am all for that. But I believe that the Mexican government likely pays a reasonably close facsimile to market prices. Frankly, I am not sure that ceasing sales to other governments wouldn’t encourage them to look elswhere for their goods. At least some of the trillions of dollars being exported are trickling back into our economy.

As far as the strategic oil reserve is concerned, the amount of oil placed into this reserve is a relative pittance, or so I have read elsewhere on Fox. But again, I am glad that this is happening as every little bit helps. Maybe they should reverse the flow as well.

Please don’t mistake my above comments. I am truely a filthy conservative capitalist pig. I wear that label proudly. I wish more people would call me that. I am no Liberal Whore. That I hope I am never refered to as.

I am slightly upset with you on one point though. Only the relatively recent changes made in Japanese society made seppuku into what people may know it as. It was and should be reserved for the samurai. Even in dishonor, this highest form of bringing honor back to ones self and family, was reserved for the honorable or previously honorable. Congress has rarely been, and this congress along with those of the last 3 decades or so, have never. I think that I would call for felo-de-se.

God Bless you and yours, Ms. Bruce.

Frank Pytel

As an independent, it appears to me that he Democratic Party is largely responsible for the current price of gas. In 1960 the U.S. was largely energy independent and the gas at the pump was provided mostly from American sources. Since that time the Democratic Party has consistently obstructed the expansion of our energy supply.
The Democratic Party has stood in the way of pumping the huge oil reserves that we own in Alaska, they have campaigned against off-shore drilling where we know we have oil and they have obstructed and prevented the building of refineries, the lack of which also drives up the cost of gas.
Ten years ago the Democratics resisted the pumping of Alaskan oil because it would hurt the habitat of animals in the region. Is a moose in Alaska more important than an American who can’t get to work because the price of gas is too high? The Democratic argument against drilling in Alaska was also that it would take ten years to see the oil. If they hadn’nt obstructed the extraction of oil then, we would be enjoying it now. Unbelievably, they are once again using that same ten year argument to prevent development of these resources.
They argue against off-shore drilling for environmental reasons and yet European nations, who are far more environmentally conscious than Americans, DO pump for off-shore oil. Britain and Norway have been doing it for decades.
Democrats obstruct the development of our huge coal resources for environmental reasons even though coal can be turned into gas and we have enough coal to make us energy independent.
Instead the Democrats have urged the use of alternative fuels such as Ethanol. The use of corn to produce Ethanol has resulted in the price of corn escalating rapidly since it is used in a variety of foods and for animal feed. In short, Ethanol has driven up the price of food.
They argue for electric cars, but electricity doesn’t fall from the sky it is produced by some form of energy-oil or coal.
They argue for wind power, although wind power could only ever fill a small part of our national need for power, then they prevent the construction of windmill farms because they don’t look very nice.
They argue that we should harness the power of the sun, even though that would take a massive reconstruction of everything you can think of which would result in your cost of your purchases spiraling and would probably take a century-not ten years-to achieve.
Democratic politicians also talk a lot about conservation which translated means that YOU get the kind of taxes on gas which Europeans endure with their $10 a gallon and they want YOU to drive a car about the size of a shoebox that only runs downhill while THEY drive to their conservation conferences in the latest Mercedes Benz.

Shame no one wants to learn how the gallon of gas that goes in their car comes to cost what it does.
Half are convinced it’s all president Bush’s fault, the other half are convinced the oil companies have rigged the prices, the other half is too dumb to know or want to know.
With China and India now competing big time for oil on thje market, of course it costs more with an unchanged supply.
If I have six beers, and four people want one, I can’t price them too high, or no one buys. If I have six beers and a dozen people want one, now the price goes up. Supply and demand.
So it goes.

I don’t know why this is a story? Doesn’t Mexico sell oil to the US? So wouldn’t it seem fair we send Gasoline back to them? Many countries have gas subsidies, so what’s your point?

First, I am just shocked that we are sending our gas to Mexico and they are paying half the price there that we are here, what a slap in the face to us Americans. Where in the world are we as citizens on the list of importants to our own President? Oviously below Mexico. It’s like they don’t have a clue how so many Americans are suffering due to the price of gas. They are just not in touch with those of us, who in recent years have lost our jobs and are working for less wages, due to what the illegals will work for. Our elected have managed to make us an opressed people, who continue to suck us dry. We are set back three hundred years, as when we were under England’s rule. Furthermore Barack Obama wants us to cut back even more, while he and all the other elected continue to use energy like theres no tomorrow, what hypocrites they all are. Our elected got us in this economical mess we are in today because of their need for greed, and allowing special interest groups to stimulate their bank accounts. It’s like it’s imposible for them to do the right thing when it comes to money. Our elected are a weak bunch, who work for themselves and not for the betterment of America and it’s people. The very people we have elected to oversee our country and run it have run it in the ground. Both canidates running for President in november are just the same ol same ol. Both will hurt this country even more and be unable to bring us out of this opression.

I am so disgusted with Congress. Everything has gone to “crap” since politics became a profession……………. however, I do see a solution!

1) Let’s make lobbying illegal.

2) No incumbents. 6 years terms with 1/3 elections every 2 years.

Maybe this would get their attention.

items of interest
1.refineries selling diesel overseas for higher profit and our trucking industry in deep trouble.
2.refineries selling gas to mexico, they sell cheaper than us.
3.crude oil prices go up with futures increase instead of cost of current price of crude.
4.if we begin drilling for oil here and in alaska, it will come on line in 3 or 4 years and we don’t have the refining capacity to handle more.
5.Were is the Iraq oil going? it certainly not going to us which is spending billions in taxpayer money to support them, its going on the world market.
6.THE BIGGEST POINT is any pumped oil in alaska, off the coast of fl or ca on in the rockies will be put on the world market and not help us one bit.

Hello,

The discussions are endless about the oil crisis and the overall state of the economy. There is no supply problem or shortage of oil. I can go to the gas station and buy $1,000 worth of gas, along with the person behind me, and the next person, and so on. When the tanks are low, automatic sensors in the tanks will signal the distribution centers for another delivery, or the gas station will call for a delivery. Either way, another truck will arrive the next day. And so, there is no shortage in my view. The oil companies are using demand to take advantage of the consumers and reap record profits.

With all of the discussions, I have yet to hear a single word about the exportation of Alaska oil. If the government truly wishes to get involved, and help with the so-called oil crisis, the government can reverse the previous decision made by former President Clinton to allow the exportation of Alaska oil. When the Alaska pipeline was planned, conditions were established that prevented the oil from being exported in exchange for the drilling rights and pipeline construction. During the 90’s, the oil companies convinced former President Clinton to allow the oil to be exported. Now, most of the Alaska oil is sent to Asia with Japan getting the most, and at prices that are lower than the world market. I understand that times are tough around the world but I believe that each country should take whatever steps necessary to insure its own survival first, then share any excess with trading partners.

The latest discussion is how Florida Governor Charlie Crist has reversed his previous stance and is considering allowing offshore oil drilling. Some oil companies like Exxon do not want to drill because that would increase their expenses and they are making enough profit buying oversees. The oil companies that want to drill said it could be between 7-10 years before the wells are producing. Also, the oil companies cannot say exactly how we will benefit and how much we will save in the long term. They only want to open the door to an area that was previously off-limits. I doubt that the price of gas will be reduced at all. However, if the new wells will lower the price of gas from $4.00 to $2.00 then I say ok to drill. But, if the price will drop from $4.00 to $3.95 then I say no.

While the amount of Alaska oil is far less than the amount imported, it is still a lot more than what will be produced from offshore drilling. Stop exporting Alaska oil. No offshore drilling.

Thank you,

Tom Ferguson
Miami, FL

O, if only I could rule the world for just ten minutes. School curricula would mandate courses in economics and geology from grades K through 12. But we wouldn’t want anyone to learn anything, would we? Best to keep them stupid–more malleable that way.

The other alternative is to reduce our consumption. I don’t htink people believe this can be done but it can. One way to start is to use HAFC’s on all vehicles this will cut our fuel consumption by half. I have one on my car and have more than doubled my mileage. Start talking about it on your shows. Lt people know thay have an alternative. Google HAFC and check it out. Dutchmans enterprises offers a great alternative now that will neutralize the growing problem of oil greedy countries and companies. Let’s show them who is in control!

Not a Democrat, not a Republican, not an Independent but a very concerned American!!!!!!!

We export gasoline to Mexico in exchange for the crude oil they send us, 1,359,000 barrels of oil a day. Making them the 3rd largest importer of oil to America. bested only be Venezula at #2 with 1,453,000 and Canada our #1 supplier at 1,952,000. These are figures for the month of April, viewable on the Energy Information Associations website.

I think Mexico deserves the very limited supply of refined gasoline in exchange for the amount they send us, don’t you?

One little discussed alternative for oil recovery to tide us over while the “greener” alternatives come up to speed is oil shale. Canada is already getting significant amounts of their crude oil from their domestic oil shale.

The U.S. has a sea of oil locked in the “Green River” formation area of southern Wyoming and northern Colorado. The technology there is developed to the point that we do not need to bring shale rock to the surface to recover this oil. Several years back it was determined that a crude price of $60.00 per barrel would make this oil economically feasible to recover and get into the supply chain here in America.

The pilot project in Wyoming remains active and productive years after beginning recovery on a very small scale.

Congress does not include this land in areas where oil recovery is permissible. That needs to change. “We are looking at reserves far in excess of those held by Saudi Arabia,” was a comment by the manager of this site.

Speak for yourself, I and most of my friends demand seppuku :):):)……

To put it in a nutshell…this is a shot in the dark though…America needs to get back to taking care of America. I feel as though Congress has sold us out just so that they can pad their pockets not only with oil, but with everything else. The majority of what the United States imports now, are the same goods that were produced right here in the United States. And one more thing; I LIKE the way you think Doris!

OC We do get to vote on what we need or want, it,s called the “national election” ,it happens this November. If you think things should change then don’t vote in a democratic senate and house.
The people that inspire the democrats have been saying for years that the pice of oil should be at least on level with Europe. Somewhere around $4.00 a gallon. As long as the “crazies’ are in control there will be no relief.

I think this country is finished as a nation.Shame on us for alowing this to happen to the greatest nation in the free world.The middle class has disolved into the poor right where the rich and wealthy want us all to be.Beware Anarchy looms on the near horizon as all I hear is distrust of the government and frustration of how will I get by and how will I feed my family and heat my home this comeing winter?This is SERIOUS!!—————–Joel Smith East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

I have some sympathy for the greens. The memory of something like the Exxon Valdez does not fade quickly. And yet - much of what the greens have based their opposition on is ancient history. Technology advances in oil drilling, refining, nuclear etc. have made these technologies safer over the years. No one in the green party is even willing to have a dialogue let alone change their position.

Lets also recognize the spin various groups apply to all of this. Oil companies are attacked for windfall profits (pennies a gallon) while government (of all types) is given a free ride while taxing gas up to 50 cents a gallon. Those taxes far exceed the profit the oil companies get. Why not attack government taxes then? Oil from Alaska goes to Canada! Well, yeah - consider the COST of transportation of oil from Alaska to the US. It makes better economic sense to sell to Japan or Canada (less transport cost = lower price for oil) and buy refined product with the cash. Its not like we are just thumbing nose at the US - there are reasons for doing things the way they are done.

Ultimately - the Dems and Liberals have held too much sway in this and not the “chickens are coming home to roost” (thanks Rev Wright) and its time to face facts. We are SOL and very dependant on those who hate us. This is what modern liberalism brings us - what Obama wants to bring us (and even worse - he wants to do things that will make this much more expensive). These are the same clowns who want to nationalize oil despite the fact they can’t even keep the congress cafes running at break even…

Sending Gasoline to Mexico…

By Tammy Bruce
Radio talk show host/FOX News Political Contributor

President Bush read a statement today outlining the need and importance of offshore and ANWR drilling, and establishing new refineries.

This is great news and he was right……

[...] For that perfect “Behind the Looking Glass” feeling, here’s a bit of news the president didn’t mention: With a rising unemployment rate and college students entering the market for the summer and beyond, it’s not enough to keep our borders open so we can remain Mexico’s employment agency. We are now making sure Mexican citizens have plenty of cheap gasoline so they can drive on up here t… [...]

A better Idea!!!
It seems to me that the easiest way to stop the madness is to remove yourself from the problem.
There is a better way and it does not include any of the fingerpointers in goverment and big buisness. i for one am implementing their absence from my life anytime possible.
The answer begins with each and every one of us taking responsibility for our actions, not in waiting for an answer from big bro and or the cronies.
I am responsible for my energy independance no one else… stop throwing $ at the pig pens

One thing the US government can do right away is to subsidize the ailing do