NYT: Bush May Well Sign Executive Order Repealing His Father's Ban on Offshore Drilling

[flpoljunkie]

June 18, 2008

Bush Will Seek to End Offshore Oil Drilling Ban

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

In Washington, the White House press secretary, Dana Perino, said Mr. Bush would urge Congress to “pass legislation lifting the Congressional ban on safe, environmentally friendly offshore oil drilling,” adding, “The president believes Congress shouldn’t waste any more time.”

Mr. Bush has long advocated opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to drilling, and in 2006 signed into law a bill that expanded exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. But the topic of coastal drilling has been an extremely sensitive one in the Bush family; Mr. Bush’s father, the first President Bush, signed an executive order in 1990 banning coastal oil exploration, and Mr. Bush’s brother Jeb was an outspoken opponent of offshore drilling when he was governor of Florida.

Now, though, President Bush is considering repealing his father’s order. Although Ms. Perino said Mr. Bush “is not taking any executive action” on Wednesday, two people outside the White House said such a move was under serious consideration, and a senior White House official did not dispute their account.

“This is a strong point of discussion inside the White House,” said Representative John E. Peterson, a Pennsylvania Republican who has been asking Mr. Bush for years to rescind his father’s action. Mr. Peterson is also leading an effort in Congress to repeal its ban.

<>The Congressional moratorium was first enacted in 1982, and has been renewed every year since. It prohibits oil and gas leasing on most of the outer continental shelf, 3 miles to 200 miles offshore. Since 1990, it has been supplemented by the first President Bush’s executive order, which directed the Interior Department not to conduct offshore leasing or preleasing activity in areas covered by the legislative ban until 2000. In 1998, President Bill Clinton extended the offshore leasing prohibition until 2012. One person familiar with the deliberations inside the White House said that Mr. Bush was briefed on Tuesday by his top aides, including Joshua B. Bolten, the chief of staff, and that the aides recommended lifting the executive order.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/washington/18drill.html?hp

[islandmkl]

1. Big Oil to Jr.:

"Get your ass in gear, dickhead. Time is running out!!"

[endarkenment]

2. BLAME AL GORE

and the game is on. Obama: this is their new wedge issue, they intend to capture the anger at the pump and blame it on the liberal tree hugging hippies lead by the Evil Al Gore. Counter offensive needed now!

[flpoljunkie]

4. Obama's response...

But Mr. Obama, campaigning in Michigan, swiftly pointed out that Mr. McCain had supported the moratorium during his 2000 presidential run. “His decision to completely change his position and tell a group of Houston oil executives exactly what they wanted to hear today was the same Washington politics that has prevented us from achieving energy independence for decades,” Mr. Obama said in a statement.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/washington/18drill.html?hp

[SwampG8r]

11. SNAP

[nomaco-10]

3. bush* is at his scariest right now...

he's a man with nothing to lose. He's got the lowest job approval of any president in recorded history and the legacy of worst president ever and that makes him dangerous. Offshore drilling, invading Iran, who knows what he'll do before he goes. It's worrying to say the least.

[MBS]

6. boy, you said it. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. He is getting even more delusional day by day.

Almost everyday we hear something new from him that confirms
this. I expect even more outrageous giveaways to the elite, signing orders
and dictatorial behavior.

[Botany]

5. they could try this:

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. The Democrats should use this to answer the Republicans

[4dsc]

9. And this will do what exactly??

I have to ask just how wind power is going to effect the oil crisis we will face later this decade??

[bdamomma]

10. again fratboy is being defiant to daddy