15,000 Miles or 15 City Blocks?
ShareThisFebruary 23, 2010· 104 Comments
Energy secretary jet-sets to the Middle East to “discuss a range of energy issues, including energy security.”
We ask: Could as much, if not more, have been accomplished by walking 15 blocks to the Interior Dept.?
Washington, DC – Today marks day two of Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s four-day, three-country tour through the Middle East “to strengthen and expand U.S. relationships across the region” and to “discuss a range of energy issues, including energy security and the importance of investing in a broad portfolio of energy technologies as part of the global economic recovery.”
This trip comes nearly one year after Secretary Chu was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and in the wake of countless statements from the Obama Administration on the urgent need to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. It should also be noted that while the energy secretary is in the Middle East, the Obama Administration is busy here at home locking up job-creating domestic oil, oil shale and natural gas resources on taxpayer-owned land.
Most economists, independent experts and, in particular, our chief economic competitor, China, recognize that energy markets are global in nature. However, reducing our foreign energy dependence has become a rallying cry for some who favor top-down federal mandates to promote expensive and unreliable energy sources. These heavily taxpayer-subsidized forms of energy – such as wind and solar – are not transportation fuels, and simply cannot be used to drive our nation’s manufacturing base.
If the Obama Administration’s goal is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, it is certainly attainable; however, it will only become a reality if this government implements policies that encourage increased domestic production of homegrown resources. The U.S. has the capability and technological know-how to achieve this goal. But to do so, policymakers must demonstrate a commitment to commonsense, pro-job, pro-American energy policies, which have been noticeably absent in Washington for the past 30 years.
Visiting our allies in the Middle East to discuss energy security is important. But this administration’s efforts to demonize domestic energy production, add layers of bureaucratic red-tape, and impose enormous, burdensome tax hikes on the very resources that serve as the foundation for economic growth and prosperity will only cause our nation’s long-term energy security to weaken.
One has to wonder if the Energy Secretary could accomplish more if he were to “discuss a range of energy issues, including energy security” with his colleague, Interior Secretary Salazar. At a minimum, by walking the 15 blocks to the Department of the Interior, he could have saved energy– the kind derived entirely from oil.
NOTE: According to a Energy Dept. press release, Secretary Chu will travel to the energy rich nations of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the Emirate Abu Dhabi. The estimated distance of this trip is roughly 15,363 miles. However, a distance to the Interior Department is at most 15 city blocks.
For additional information, please contact Patrick Creighton, 202-621-2947, or Laura Henderson, 202-621-2951.
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February 24th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
a trip to the Interior Department to encourged true stimulation of domestic
resources is much more profitable than a trip to an unstable inescure part of the world
February 24th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Like cattle we are being led down the road….
to where though a lush green pasture or the slaughter house
Do we need to try and re invent the wheel–we have resources that will give us barganing power and bridge shortages real or imagined.
Time to open eyes and get real
February 24th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
this needs to be stopped now!!!!
February 24th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
The energy dept. once again proves it is useless and as big a waste of capitol as there is.(except for all the other govm’t agency’s)
February 24th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
What next? Can’t wait for November, then 2012!
February 24th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Obviously this administration is not interested in reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Rather, they want to eliminate our use of hydrocarbon fuels altogether, on the incredibly arrogant assumption that they know best, and that they can magically conjure up the technology to make solar energy economical. Clearly they think that innovation comes from federal subsidies, rather than free market incentives. If alternative energy sources were viable, we would already be using them. But apparently we have to destroy the entire economy just to prove these narcissistic intellectuals wrong.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
No one in this administration or Congress “gets it”. We are sitting on the greatest reserves of energy in the world and we are not allowed to develop it because we want to be “green” and use solar and wind. What a joke! We could be energy independent in a few years and build several nuclear plants creating jobs and instead, they want to Cap & Tax and keep importing energy. These people should all resign.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I think all travel by gov’t employees should be cut in half. Let foreign dignitaries come here on their own dime. The Arab nations have lots of oil and money. We have been subsidizing them for too long by buying their oil. Go domestic. Sincerely, Liz Schnepp
February 24th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Drill here, drill now.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
It’s unclear to me if the President is destroying domestic production by design or ignorance. In any case, the result is the same. I’m afraid we have allowed the worst enemies of our economy attack us from within and not without.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I do not understand moderation.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
It is obvious that Obama does not care about the American people. He is only interested in his own notorious image and wants to be the new Messiah. He wants to be known as the man that had changed the world, and at any cost. I believe that he is very dangerous and will destroy the lives of our children. He has no accomplishes in his first year, except to make many of his fiends millionaires. He has not created anything of help the job industry, except to own the American industry, such as G M, Chrysler and the banking industry. If he is not stopped he will DESTROY America and it will become a third world country. I cannot offer any good that he has accomplished. The few good things that appeared were the hiring of the Bush Administration, whom had the intelligence to keep us free from terror. Al
February 24th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Dear Elizabeth, they don’t need us. Their market is huge and favors the supplier. We go hat in hand to these despotic countries because at present that is our foreign policy.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
They are all so “in your face arrogant”; they could care less about what the American people want.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Hey, come on, it’s only a little side trip. Maybe the guy really wants to show the FAr eastern people how to do it right, like not drilling or not developing the resources you have, it sounds like because we have no plan, maybe we want to steal someone elses? This whole administrion is out of control and we are litterally tripping over dollar bills trying to save pennies. And we thought it was bad during the Carter years?
February 24th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
KEEP MARKING OFF THE DAYS UNTIL NOVEMBER 2010, THEN 2012. We can stop this usurper to the Presidency of the United States. He is all about other countries, especially the Middle east. Obama and his administration need to stop flying all over the world using up our taxpayer dollars and oil.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I think and firmly believe that Obama and his entire staff and cabinet along with Harry Reid, Nancy Peloise should be hung for TREASON
February 24th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
We Should be doing, not talking!
February 24th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Do you really think many of our elected and appointed political “Officials” really care what we think or want? They are all for entitlements and what is good financially for them.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
IS EVERYONE OF OBAMA’S APPOINTMENTS “OUT TO LUNCH”??? SOCIALIST? MARXIST? “ANTI-CAPITALIST”? THUGS AND THEIVES? “BRAIN-DEAD”?
OBAMA CHOSE A WRONG MILITANT ANTI AMERICAN PASTOR – “WRIGHT” – BEING BRAINWASHED, TERRORIST FRIENDS AND HATERS OF AMERICA – “AYERS”, AND FRADULENT THUGS – SDEU/ACORN AND COMMUNIST – VAN JONES BEFORE GETTING ELECTED – WHAT DID WE EXPECT FROM THIS KID WHEN HE WAS PUSHED INTO POWER… A SUPER PROGRESSIVE FAR LEFT LIBERAL OUT TO DESTROY AMERICA….
HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED IN ORDER TO IMPEACH OBAMA FOR TREASON AND ANTI-AMERICAN AND ANTI-CONSTITUIONALIST ACTIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR???? HE AND HIS THUGS AND PREVIOUS LAWS/BILLS NEED REVERSING IMMEDIATELY. LET HIM GO BE PRESIDENT OF THE CESSPOOL “UNITED NATIONS” – THEY WOULD WELCOME A SOCIALIST MUSLIM IN THAT CROWD. HE HASN’T EVEN RUN A 7-11 NEVERTHELESS CONTROL THE WHITEHOUSE. HE’S PATHETIC!!!!
WE NEED TO DRILL EVERYWHERE AND DRILL NOW!!! BUILD NUKE PLANTS NOW!!! STOP DEPENDENCY OF ENERGY FROM OUR ENEMIES.. GET PAID BACK FROM FREEING IRAQ BY GETTING VERY CHEAP OIL!!! MAKE IRAN A PARKING LOT AND SUPPORT THE IRANIAN PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT OVERTHROW, SO THEY CAN BE LESS A THREAT AND A FRIEND BY BEING A DEMOCRACY!!! THIS IS ALL VERY COMMMON SENSE STUFF…
DISAPPOINTED AMERICAN
DISABLED VETERAN
February 24th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
It’s all about them, their trips, their excesses and ultimately their stupidity. They will pay in the election cycle. http://www.goooh.com
February 24th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I am a Biologist/Ecologist living in California. This state is a clear example of what government regulation and taxation can do to an economy. Also, the influence of environmental interests groups on governing agencies can be detrimental to the economy as well. All of our elected officials need to put their own self interests aside and do what is right for this country. We have the technology to make use of these precious resources in a so called “Green” manner. There needs to be a commonsense balance between the economy and the environment.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
We have the resources we can use here if we access it and build nuclear plants and rebuild the energy grid! We do not neet middle east permission for energy.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Barak Obama has not done anything right since he was elected; I see no reason to expect him to change.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
The president lectures to America to “tighten our belts”, and this administration doesn’t have a clue how to stop spending tax dollars, by using common sense. His Czars, Michelle’s 20+ attendants are costing millions. Washington is so broken. How can an administration run a country without having any experience running anything? “Drill for American Oil” should be part of the Tea Party agenda.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
This administration does not give a tinkers damn about drilling for oil. We will see no improvement until we take the bulls by the horns and vote these people our of office. I feel, along with many others, they are out to destroy this country. It might be time for another Revolution.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
We have been endowed by the Almighty with sufficent enery resources (coal, natural gas, oil–both in our country and off shore) in the country. If we would use these resources we could wipe out the national debt, keep our money at home and export theses engery commodities, and be energy independent.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Obama should be forced from office. He is a traitor and can’t be trusted. Americans are tired of his lies and backroom deals. He will go down as the worst President in the history of America for his deceit and corruption. Of course we should be working close to home and get this country back on its feet. But it will never happen with Obama as President.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
The problem is they want free vacations and trips at the tax payer expense.
All the expenses made with tax payer money should be documented and published weekly if not daily for all officials elected and appointed. We have no money left to spend yet they are spending without limit or consideration for the country or for the tax payer. The credit card should be withdrawn and all thier expenses paid from thier own private funds or they don’t do it. That includes the White House and its occupants!
Have any of you seen the the amounts Nancy Pelosi spends at our expense on airforce flights back and forth to California and the food and drink bills when she is on them. It is totally out of control and needs to stop!
As far as energy goes drill baby drill, do it here do it now get away from foreign dependence. Maybe if we did we could use these resouces as Middle Eastern countries to make are economy more solvent!
February 24th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Windfarms manufactured in Scandinavia or China are inefficent energy producers , noisey , kill birds and cost to much to maintain. Lets use the efficent energy sources from the past animal and plant life God gave us for modern civilization and not seek to counter what works shooting ourselves in the foot.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Absolutely…The saddest joke ever…
AND IT’S ON US ! Let it sink in.
Quietly… We go like sheep to slaughter.
Does anybody out there have any memory
Of the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
During the Carter Administration?
Anybody? Didn’t think so! Bottom line …
We’ve spent several hundred billion dollars In support of an agency …the reason For which no one remembers.
It was very simple .. And at the time everybody thought It very appropriate.
The ‘Department of Energy’ Was instituted on 8-04-1977 TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL. Hey, pretty efficient, huh?
AND NOW IT’S 2009, 32 YEARS LATER …AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS NECESSARY DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE!
THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY ‘WHAT WAS I THINKING?’
Ah, yes, good old bureaucracy… And NOW we are going to turn The Banking System, Health Care & The Auto Industry over to government ALL IN THE NAME OF CHANGE?
February 24th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
OBAMA IS LIVING PROOF THAT “TRAINING ON THE JOB” FOR THE HIGHTEST JOB IN THE
LAND IS NOT A GOOD THING AS EVIDENCED BY HIS TRACK RECORD. I THINK WE’LL
SEE A REVOLUTION IN THIS COUNTRY BEFORE WE GO BACK TO THE HORSE AND BUGGY
DAYS AND READING BY CANDLELIGHT. WE NEED TO START USING OUR OWN RESOURCES
ASAP TO KEEP COSTS DOWN AND TO CREATE JOBS. IT SEEMS TO ME HE DOESN’T
WANT TO CREATE JOBS. HE’D LIKE TO KEEP US HERDED LIKE CATTLE DEPENDENT
ON GOVT. FOR EVERYTHING. THAT MIGHT BE FINE FOR LAZY FOLKS, BUT CERTAINLY
NOT FOR ME AND MOST AMERICANS.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Looks like this administration is painting the national canvas with the broad brush of socialism. Sure wish this was November.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Problem is, why economize when government keeps paying the bills
with taxpayer dollars.
Most problems could be solved without a trip to another country.
As a widow and senior citizen I have learned how to cut back and
save on most everything, government should try it.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
When it comes to almost any policy including energy this administration is incompetent. I have more respect for the ladies of the night than I do (to name just two),President Obama and Atty Gen Holder
February 24th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
It is proof to me that our Administration has no plans of putting our people back to work. They have the resources right at their fingertips but refuse to do what is right for Americans.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Couldn’t agree more. But, do you really think anyone in the current administration even knows how to spell commonsense, much less possess some?
February 24th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
It must be nice to take all expense paid trips all around the world and to meet with powerful people,learn about different customs and lanuages, these politiians aren’t doing anything for us in washington, they may as well be out of the country
February 24th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Great article. These people make the Clinton’s look good.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I am not surprised that one offical after another finds some excuse to engraciate themselves and the administration to foreign regimes. This time for energy “security”. This is just another way to take the attention away from the fact that the administration is dead set against the development of our own oil, natural gas and nuclear resources. We should be devoting all our efforts to do as much on our own and then and only then our dependence on foreign sources will decrease. Further, we as a nation should be encouraging increasing our industrial output and therefore additional energy usage. Don’t use my tax dollars for the ridiculous and cost ineffective windmills unless they can be used to pump more oil or natural gas.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
It would make perfect sense to drill and show the Middle East and the World
that we are not dependent and our prices from them would stay low. But that
would show that we are a smart and powerful nation and is not the Far Lefts Ideology.As General Patton said in the film “America loves a Winner and will
not tolerate a Loser”.Hopefully America will not tolerate this administration much longer.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I heard on the radio this morning that Obama was to speak to business leaders today (it has probably happened by now)about jobs and the economy etc. And I chuckle to myself thinking “what the hell is he going to speak about to those folks?” He knows nothing of business! He knows nothing of market economies! He worships at the feet of collectivism, how could he possibly wrap his head around the notion that business exists to make those evil profits? I would wager a substantial sum that the guy didn’t even take Econ 101!
A more appropiate radio announcement would have been that he was going to LISTEN to business leaders today. We all need to pray very hard that he doesn’t luck out like old slick Willy did and get a Newt to rescue him come mid terms, or we’ll get 2 terms from BO
February 24th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
The Obama Administration has no intentions of helping the United States. One world government, bank and power to a handful is his only concern. Telling him to wake up to the American people will not work because he knows exactly what he is doing. He truly believes the American people are ignorant. Of course there are those knuckle heads who voted him in, but even they are recognizing that they made a huge mistake. America its time to take back what is rightfully ours and start voting Obama lovers and kiss asses out of office.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I am so frustrated with the utter incompetence of this administration. We really need to fire these guys at the first opportunity. The sooner the better.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Once again the Obama Administration fails to walk the talk.No creditability left in that Administration.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
It is time to impeach president Obama,he doesnt understand common sense and doesnt have the common sense to put hundreds of thousands of people to work right here in America by starting to immediatly drill for oil in the USA.This WOULD absolutley put thousands upon thousands of people back to work with good paying jobs.Doing this would also reduce our dependence on forgein oil—which if you look back about two years ago, it was forgein oil which went thru the roof and drove the cost of everything up.Oil is used in the majority of the items we use.Thus when plastic, rubber,gas etc.etc. went out of site people quit buying which started the trickle down of not building houses,not buying cars which lead to many suppliers going out of business which lead to no sales which lead to bankruptcy of a major automotive company.Take care of America and Americans FIRST!!! Forget forgein oil drill our own oil here NOW,bring our troops home and put them on OUR border to protect the USA first.It is time we stop being the answer for all these other countries take care of the USA first.Start the IMPEACHMENT PROCESS NOW.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Europe has been successfully and safely using nuclear power for electric generation for many years. They developed a model that works and then replicated it instead of everybody trying to ‘reinvent the wheel’ with their own design. The use of nuclear generation would free up enough oil and gas for fuel uses to offset our foreign imports. For us not to develop our own known resources is irrational and I believe the reasons we continue to import foreign oil and gas are politically motivated.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
The Dept of Energy was created over 30 years ago to get us off dependence on foreign oil. Considering that we are more dependent on foreign oil now than then, the department should be eliminated immediately … and there would be no Secretary of Energy to waste our tax dollars. And, there would be fewer bureaucrats standing in the way of exploiting American resources or of letting market forces provide the energy our country needs. The free market is the only way that producers are forced to survive by delivering goods and services that people need and want at prices they are willing to pay. Only government relieves companies of having to compete for success by satisfying customers.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Don #47 post: Great points. We as a nation must stop bowing to the pressure from the enviromental extremist groups and develop nuclear power. It is clean and safe. I’ve heard that some Euros (I think the French) have the technology to recycle their spent fuel rods and produce additional energy from them. I would guess that this process has a further benefit in that it reduces the amount of nuclear waste. Not sure but sounds logical.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I believe most of these comments can be summarized very easily.
“DRILL NOW AND IMPEACH NOW”
Let’s get it done America!
February 24th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
“only government relieves companies of having to compete for success by satisfying customers”…
And I’ll add: companies, due to survival instincts, therefore morph into entities that exist to satisfy government. We’ve just defined Cronie Capitalism; a bitter pill to say the least.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
This article is the absolute truth. The problem is that the writer only has a firm grasp of the obvious. I am afraid that most here are listening to someone preach to the quior. I am afraid that Bill Clinton turned that corner where he managed to get 40% or so of the voting public to pay little or no tax if they joined his camp. They no longer have a dog in the fight as far as taxes go so what do they care as long as they dress every increase as a tax on the rich (whatever number that is this week). The other 11% are the malcontents and beneficiaries of the liberal system. As this administration coined “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste”. If there is not a crisis for them to solve (viva la revolution) or there are many people making many dollars, there is no need for the nanny and the power we surrender to them. That is why we are not drilling. Our government regulates and tax and then points to anyone who is reasonably succesful (other than attorneys) as the villian. I fear that we here represent less than 40% of the vote and I don’t think we will get the entitlement minded people to change their mind any time soon. If we tapped our resources not only would we acheive energy independence and security by way of limiting our enemies coffers, but we could fund new energy and cut our deficit to other countries dramatically. Just seems too obvious to me. There has to be an agenda.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Why do we continually shoot ourselves in the foot on this? If we have our own vast recourses, we should use them. I don’t understand why we cannot bring the oil to our use and preserve the environment at the same time. Let’s get going. We could certainly benifit from the jobs related to drilling and building refineries.
Nuclear is good as well. Right now we need all approaches.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Having worked in the oil fields for over 50 years and understanding terms of saturation, secondary recovery and tertiary recovery,there is still a tremendous amount of oil saturation that can be recovered from known reservoirs.Also, with new technology such as 3-D seismic and directional drilling, the life of supposedly depleted reservoirs has been extended at least by a 3 fold increase.All of this recovery is miniscule in comparison to the reserves that are available through oil shale, unconventional reservoirs and offshore reservoirs that are being locked up by this administration.Understandably,it costs more to develop these reservoirs. However,the reserves are nearby and belong to the U.S. Obama needs to wake up his administration and listen to the real energy people of the U.S. that can and will make us independent of foreign oil.The worldwide rig count decreased in 2009 by almost 1200, all in N. America. How much job lost did this cause?.Wake up Obama,here is an opportunity to create real jobs!
February 24th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Impeach the phony fraud in an empty suit!
February 24th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
The problem is simple. Obama is controlled by a group that it is not wise to name. That group does not prophet from expanding domestic production. When this group is eliminated, all this will change including Obama.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Let’s use our vast domestic energy sources to create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Let’s do it NOW!
February 24th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I’M A SENIOR DISABLE CITIZEN REGISTER DEMOCRATE.
AND I BELEIVE WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE MEANS, TO STOP DEPENDING ON THEIR RESOURCES.
THERE AN OLD SAYING, “IF YOUR NOT WITH US YOUR AGANIST US”
IF YOU HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR AND HE DOESN’T HELP YOU, THAT DEFEADS THE REASON.
FIX YOUR HOME, FIRST!
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE EVEN “IMPEACHMENT”!
February 24th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Well, Obama did just give the green light for two nuclear energy plants to be built. I think that’s a good start. If we could only get him to drill!
February 24th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
No matter what our president does–it turns out to destroy our United States. No one walks in the government anymore–ride the jets and use up the fuel so they can import more. Time to get the brooms out of the closet and get to work—2010 for sure.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
It’s the waistful spending and illogical actions by current Administration that will, I hope and pray, result in a “revolution” this next November. In the meantime, the new movie http://www.GenerationZeroMovie.com/ helps us understand the need for manufacturing in this Country. I wonder if “drill here and drill now” might help accomplish that goal and put lots of folks back to work. We can take comfort in knowing that His peace transends all understanding; He cares and He knows our needs!
February 24th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
So many voices, and so little action. We all know ( or should ) that the sitting President is a liar, a cheat, and intent upon the destruction of this nation as the “land of the free…” He has surrounded himself with tax evaders, inept political hacks, and other questionable characters. His administration is rife with anti-American, anti-Constitution, anti-law of any kind usurpers. Obama himself does not respect the laws of the land and blatantly stands in defiance of the intent of our founding fathers. We are on the road to oblivion as a free nation and society if this man and his band of misfits are allowed to continue in office. To my mind, Obama has more than qualified as a candidate for impeachment.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
We need to DRILL HERE DRILL NOW , create jobs for Americans that are not attached to the Dept of Energy.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
What part of “Drill here, Drill now” do they not understand?
February 24th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
This is just another of his attempts to control all the essential industries in the United States. He was touted as the great savior by the media and his intention is to surround himself with those that will help him change all the laws for his benefit. That is to destroy our government and change it to a muslem society. Unless the American people wake up during the next three years, rid congress of the Pelosi’s, Reids, Franks and others, there is a possibility that could happen.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Nations can survive their fools, and even the ambitious, but they cannot survive TREASON from within. Cicero, 42 B.C.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
I think it is obvious that we need to develop all sources of energy available
in the United States including wind, solar, natural gas, oil, coal, and
alternative, including what is available off shore, and without tacking on
extra taxes on electrical lines that cross state lines (Minnesota) and coal
plants and other energy sources, just to discourage development or any other
poor reason, just to raise more taxes.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Chu is an idiot and an AGW propagandist. “Global warming” as caused by humans is nonsense, and his efforts to “reduce our dependence on foreign oil” are nonsense if we don’t drill here and now. He’s clearly a watermelon.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Why should anyone be surprised at the Leftist Socialists following their own agenda!
Of course we have the natural assets and the ability to develop them, but it is politics
as usual with our Congress. Obama’s appointees are nothing but puppets in his
game plan which has been developed for a long time, including his election,
Follow the money trail!
February 24th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I agree with your article. Drill Here. Drill Now. Pursue commercial power generation applications from discoveries/inventions of Nicholai Tessla, do away with EPA unilateral rule making, etc. etc. etc.
Also, I think we of like mind should get actively involved with the helping the Republican party to develop a set of actions and policies that rejuvenate the econony, utilize our vast resources including human ingenuity, reframing the entire health care maze, and revamping our approach to our education system. We need to be “ready to roll” before the 2012 elections.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Please do not show my name. I think Mr. Obama and his chronies have gone just a bit too far in all the expenses they are forcing on the United States of America citizens. They need to be paying some of the bills instead of imposing higher taxes, etc. on the senior citizens and those who don’t have money to pay for necessary things they need. Bet they won’t take a pay cut. What about all the immigants they are allowing into the country and taking jobs away from Americans. What about Mr. Obama not being made to produce his birth certificate. Anyone else would have to produce it or be fired. Let’s fire him and all of Congress.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
We need to drill now. We need to restore the Glass Seagull act now.
Its the big banks driving up our energy prices. Just like today the Government reported a 3 million barrel build in crude, but the traders still bid the price up by $1.12 a barrel. Greed will destroy this country.
Wednesday Feb 24 Government Inventories.
Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending February 19, 2010
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 14.1 million barrels per day during the
week ending February 19, 335 thousand barrels per day above the previous week’s
average. Refineries operated at 81.2 percent of their operable capacity last
week. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 8.9 million barrels
per day. Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging 3.6 million
barrels per day.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged 19.1
million barrels per day, up by 1.3 percent compared to the similar period last
year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged 8.7 million
barrels per day, down by 0.3 percent from the same period last year.
Distillate fuel demand has averaged 3.7 million barrels per day over the last
four weeks, down by 6.8 percent from the same period last year. Jet fuel demand
is 1.9 percent lower over the last four weeks compared to the same four-week
period last year.
Wednesday Feb 24 Schaeffer’s Investment Research
Bernanke’s reassurance of low interest rates was also a boon for crude oil futures today. In addition, black gold was boosted by the latest inventories data, which showed a 1.3% increase in demand during the four weeks ended Feb. 19, compared to the same period a year ago. Furthermore, the Energy Information Administration said gasoline stockpiles unexpectedly dropped last week, though domestic oil inventories increased by more than expected. By the close, April-dated crude oil added $1.14, or 1.4%, to finish at $80 per barrel.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
This statement below is right from the Government Report. Now when you read it starts out with the Demand up 1.3%. How is this possible when gas is down 0.3%, Distillate fuel is down 6.8% and jet fuel is down 1.9%
“Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged 19.1
million barrels per day, up by 1.3 percent compared to the similar period last
year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged 8.7 million
barrels per day, down by 0.3 percent from the same period last year.
Distillate fuel demand has averaged 3.7 million barrels per day over the last
four weeks, down by 6.8 percent from the same period last year. Jet fuel demand
is 1.9 percent lower over the last four weeks compared to the same four-week
period last year.”
February 24th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
I will have two comments. We have enough oil resources to last America for over 2,000 years in the Bakken Formation in the Northwest and in the Rocky Mountain Shale. None of our politicians in Washington want to make us independent from foreign oil.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
The United States should produce 60% of it’s own oil. I think we could do this. Increased production in Alaska and offshore(US continental shelf). Much of the continental shelf has not been surveyed with current technology.It is against current regulation. Does this make any sense?
February 24th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Obviously this administration is not interested in reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Instead, they want to eliminate our use of hydrocarbon fuels altogether, on the incredibly arrogant (and totally incorrect) belief that they know best, and that they can magically conjure cost competitive wind and solar energy sources. What has really happened is that our tax dollars have gone to foreign countries for windmills… and we are left with an incomprehensible national debt.. our congress is full of snollygosters.. and it is a time for a nearly complete change of the guard… and for term limits..
Let the free market innovate, if alternative energy sources become viable, we will use them. In the meantime, DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW…
February 24th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Our Gov’t is a joke. 33 years ago Dept of Energy was formed to get us off of foreign energy, Where has this gotten us ? We have another Gov’t agency that is wasting Tax Payers money , 16, 000 employees and 100,000 contractors with a payroll of 25 Billion Dollars , and we are still depending onforeign oil from Counties that hate us, what ignorance has been going on for all of these years. Maybe one day We The People will get up off our assests and make our Government Accoutable for all of their Failures , but you can be sure that the Political Leaders off shore Bank Accounts are full.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I understand Obama, a Marxist Communist raised by and surrounded by the same slime. But the Democrat Congress, blindly following his destroy America agenda? Mind-boggling! Why, besides bribery, are so called true Americans spitting in the face of their electorate, rubber stamping and funding policies that will bankrupt us? Lemmings, one and all. Pure insanity. : (
February 24th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I think you are sticky your heads in your oil shale. Securing the oil fields of the middle east from falling into the wrong hands is an important component of an overall energy strategy. Shrinking energy reserves is not a problem unique to the United States. The solution will require the coordination of many different sources and types of energy and the cooperation of countries across the globe.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
We have a foreign born idiot in the White House. He is a narccismist to the fullest extreme. His only worry is that he won’t get what he wants for himself. The time is near for a French style revolution. A good start would be in the White House while the “secret” health care mettings are in session. It wouldn’t be long before We The People phrase started rattling some cages of our legislators!!
February 24th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
I completely agree. Utilizing the department of the interior would have been more resourceful.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
The Administration is blinded by its agenda to satisfy desires and dreams of grandeur for itself. The ideology of this president is to destroy all of the traditions and culture of our land; he has contempt for everything we know to be good about America. He has proved his contempt by apologizing for our great country at every turn and bow to other nations, rulers, and dictators. The energy of our land has been stifled, as well as the security of our borders, airports, and bases…basically every environment. This is due to partisan politics and an agenda that can only be detrimental to growth on all levels of living for the good citizens of our land. It is called wealth for the few elitists and damn the rest of us! Even the faith of our fathers has been denied, the Constitution desecrated publicly, and the flag made a forgotten symbol of past generations. God help us must be the prayer every moment of each day while this president reigns!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Jetting Here, Jetting There, What about lessening one’s carbon footprint??? What a joke Obama and his merry band of elites are, they fly everywhere while the Schlubs pay for their largesse. We need to remove them the sooner the better……
February 24th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I cannot believe on the lack of any direction for true energy independence. The corn ethanol plan has disappeared and rightly so. The nuclear power plants have no sponsors in this administration. We can’t drill for oil or use coal. Anyone with half a brain would be working on solutions while our economy is slow and world demand for oil is low so that when demand is high we will not be kicked in the gut when we finally come out of the financial problems. Instead the President spends all his time trying to sell a dead health care bill to the American citizens, who by the way, are much smarter than the politicians currently in power in Washington D.C.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
I can understand, to a degree, BO’s disdain for the American way of life, given his fragmented, fractured upbringing and subsequent attraction to the socialistic wing of societal mores. He was obviously a “lost” youth in search of a cause to believe in and one who subsequently was attracted to and sought the ultra liberal Marxist / Socialistic elements that he surrounded himself with and has tried to continue such relationships within even his cabinet appointments. It is questionable as to his motive for hiding discovery of certain basic facts about his background, but that will keep, for now.
What I find most bizarre is the fact that so many elected representatives have, despite their oath …”to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”…”so help me God” apparently means nothing to these people. How else could they be willing to destroy our nation financially by ignoring the availability of our own natural resources and spending far beyond what our economy can absorb by bailouts and entitlements that are unsustainable?
I’m for the USA, first and forever first. I feel we should invest in all fields of energy R&D while we continue to extract our own petro-chemical natural resources (oil, coal and natural gas). To do less would be imprudent and, in my opinion, anti-American, for mankind, in my opinion, is adding little to climate change. I advocate that we drill here and drill now for oil and natural gas and continue to develop the infra-structure to support the effort; that we continue to mine coal, oil shale, etc while we develop solar and wind technology, but most importantly, that we increase nuclear power plants and power generation starting yesterday!
To do less is decidedly un-American, in my opinion, but then, consider what our national leadership amounts to.
Time to establish term limits by law, in my opinion, but starting in the November 2010 election cycle.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
This is no supprise with all the gansters and tax cheats and hard left loons like polsi reed and all the rest socialist and commists that are in the cabinet that think we are dumb and need to be told what to do. I hope that someone or party stand up and let the CHOSEN ONE know that were are mad as hell and not to take it no more.lord deliver us from this massive helth bill. which would sink this nation. AND CAP AND TRADE BILL ALSO GO BY THE WAYSIDE
February 25th, 2010 at 7:19 am
Would you say there is “severe buyers’ remorse” going on in the country. I do not believe a word that comes out of this administration mouths, especially Barry Soetoro’s!!! Everyone needs to purchase the Bush t-shirt that reads…..”Do you miss me yet?” Oh, you betcha!!!
February 25th, 2010 at 8:51 am
after spending billions of dollars trying to get the economy started they could have spent money installing inferstructure to fuel our cars with natural gas which we have plenty of.our cars can be adapted to burn natural gas without to much trouble.they could have killed two birds with one stone but that would be to simple.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:05 am
F__K OBAMA
OOPS DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD
If we can’t use our own resources, where is this Independence going to come from?
I guess a Harvard degree is really useless after all.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Drill here– drill now—stay home
February 25th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I would like to think that this trip is really about energy conservation. But I believe instead it is just more of the same. President Obama: Stop this madness. Focus on developing the energy sources we have right here in the U.S. Say what you want, but you are taking steps that will bankrupt this country and will NOT solve the energy “crisis”. Develop what we have right here FIRST!
February 25th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
The only thing I can associate Obama and his handlers with is the THE SOUTH END OF A NORTH BOUND MULE.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Asking this administration is like hound dogs barking up the wrong
Tree!
Obama reminds me of the two mules we had in the barn when I was
fourteen. Dad told me to harness Pete and Tobe and plow the back
forty for planting corn. Pete was very sensitive when his ear was
touched and Tobe was blind in one eye and at times very uncooperative
when it came to work. This day was one of those days!
When it came to putting the bridle bit in his mouth he would keep
his jaws clamped shut. Finally, after repeatedly trying I climbed
up into the manger, to be on the same level—as I was a short boy.
but, it made no difference, he still wouldn’t accept the bridle. I
was growing more frustrated by the minute, when I noticed a piece of
2 X 4 about 14″ long. I got it in my grubby little hands and hit
him on the side of his ornery head!
He staggered backward and sat down on his rear end, then got up and
walked meekly back up to the manger, and as easy as eating my mom’s
apple dumplings, let me slip the bit into his mouth! Needless to
say, I was careful to not get behind him for the rest of that day.
Obama reminds me of that mule seventy years ago, he dreams up a pet
project—health care—and you can’t pry him loose from it “come
hell or high water!”
February 25th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
The first thing, our leaders need to wake up and reqlize, there is no Global Warming or Climate Change related to CO2 PEROD! The World temperature up or down is controlled by our Star, The SUN! America has the resources. Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Coal. Not to mention Nuclear. Let’s develope what we have!
February 25th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Just like all the other idiots in D.C. They can’t take the time to look
for solutions to the problems(energy)in their own backyard:they have to go
look in the world’s backyard and waste more taxpayers money doing so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 25th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I think its time we clean house and let congress know we are tired of being held hostage by opec. We have enough oil in north & south dakota to supply this country for the next 175 years. So come november let congress know we are unhappy with the job they’re are doing. After all, this is our country the “people”. Remember,they work for us.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Maybe Chu might start working on a national energy policy, providing a framework for development of our own natural resouces…
February 25th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
I’ve had onough. The man has spent close to 2 million dollars just to keep us from his past records-something is definitely wrong. We need to try him and his 60 for treason and execute all of NOW!! Guess we better get Pelosi and her gang in the House while we’re at it.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
We have had 25 years to reduce our oil dependence and increase output and produce the safest form, nuclear power.The only statement Pelosi can make is, “That will take 10 years or more to get oil out of the ground”. As in the movie, “stupid is as stupid does”
February 26th, 2010 at 7:53 am
[...] Energy secretary jet-sets to the Middle East to “discuss a range of energy issues, including energ… [...]
February 27th, 2010 at 5:20 am
it makes perfect sense to utilize our vast natural recourses, especially under the current circumstances. if the reason for not doing this is caused by environmental concerns, what difference does it make for the world as a whole where we get the recources?? if this is being done in the name of the environment, we are hypocrites by refusing to use our own recources, yet buying them from a foriegn county. if there truly is an evironmental impact, which i don’t think there is, it would be the same either way, right?
as long as we depend on oil, let’s get it here, there’s plenty of it and it would be cheaper and easier to obtain,it would produce more jobs, and the money spent on it would be spent within our country–not payed out to foriegn contries. i am just crazy or does this make perfect sense? if it does, then it should be clear who is actually crazy. either way, something has to be done. that’s my two cents.
February 28th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Drill here, drill now; refine here, refine now. Use nuclear. Nevada Test Site should have become a photovoltaic and wind farm the day after it was “closed.”
March 1st, 2010 at 10:00 am
This proves the need to get Normal American Taxpayers with common sense into our gov’t offices, and to have term limits to prevent them from contracting and spreading the Washington DC disease also.
June 20th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
[...] We ask: Could as much, if not more, have been accomplished by walking 15 blocks to the Interior Dept.? [...]