Oil brokers sex scandal may affect drilling debate

[DogPoundPup]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON (AP) — A scandal involving sex, drugs and — uh, offshore oil drilling.

It's a strange mix, and it couldn't have come at a worse time for those in Congress pressing to expand oil and gas development off America's beaches while trying to stave off an election-year rush by Democrats to impose new taxes and royalties on the oil industry.

An Interior Department investigation describing a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by workers at the agency that issues offshore drilling leases and collects royalties hit lawmakers Wednesday just as they prepared for votes next week on expanding offshore drilling.

"On the eve of Congress starting this big debate you've got a horror story of mismanagement and misconduct in programs that are going to be a key part of the discussion," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in an interview, adding that it can't help but influence the debate.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-09-11-oil-scandal-drilling_N.htm

[WCGreen]

1. To salvage this, the oil lobby must be....

Master Debaters...

[jeff30997]

2. Lol...

Yesterday a DUer called this scandal "Lubrigate".:rofl:

[Greyskye]

12. Lubrigate?

:wow:


:rofl:

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. The "debate" at Interior apparently went something like this.

Drill here.

Fuck me first.

Okay. Drill now.

Gimme drugs.

Okay.

[daggahead]

4. Drill, Baby, Drill! n/t

[4lbs]

5. Soon to be the name of a new porno coming near you!

n/t

[tanyev]

7. Now we understand why they got so excited when they chanted those words.

[ladywnch]

6. I'm shocked, SHOCKED to find there's gambling going on here!!!! excuse me, Sir, here are your

winnings.

-Captain Reneau
Casablanca


seemed appropriate. :silly:

[daggahead]

13. I love that line from Casablanca! n/t

[yellowcanine]

8. That explains the "Drill Here" hardhats the Palin bots were wearing.

[Up2Late]

9. Well I should hope so, what a disgrace! Almost feels like the Knut/McCain fueled "Drill NOW"...

...script is meant to distract us or something, huh?

Naw, the Republic Party would NEVER do something like that, right? RIGHT?!?:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[not fooled]

10. 'puke appointees?

I wonder whether the miscreants/criminals were career bureaucrats or 'puke insider foxes appointed to give away the henhouse. Organized crime in action.

[ReadTomPaine]

11. There was never really debate about it in the first place, just more capitulation.

It should have never 'been on the table' to start. That issue was a knifing from the GOP the minute it was proposed and it should have been treated as such. No scandal required to stop it, just some leadership from the left for a change.

That said - I certainly hope it does derail the hostage negotiation that is this offshore drilling debacle.

[Crowman1979]

14. Bumping this one