Why do Repubs. want to drill in ANWR, but not in Florida??

[killerbush]

First off, I know the reason why, Jebbie won't allow it, but this begs the question, with the American people so pissed off at high gas prices, why is it OK for the Republicans to play politics with gas, and why is it that Jebbie can get away ordering George to stay away from Florida.
The Republicans are so wired to start drilling holes in the arctic, but I have not heard one of them go up to George and demand that Jebbie stand aside and start drilling off the coast of Florida. This is the height of damned hypocrisy. Is Bush such a wimp that he won't even sit down with bro. and tell him the facts?? If this country is in crisis with gas prices, like most people think it is, then all alternatives should be put on the table, and that includes drilling off the coast of Florida. But apparently, here's another issues that the Republicans will talk a good game, but are sorely lacking in testicular fortitude to do anything about.

[eleny]

1. Jebby doesn't need the black eye from the fight

[rzemanfl]

2. They all have beach condos here. n/t

[Vincardog]

3. PSSSSt

Don't tell anyone but there are a LOT of Retired New York rich Repuks living in Florida.

They like their low wage illegal landscapers and house keepers, and they like their ocean views.

[simonm]

4. true

Don't forget all the foreigners buying valuable real estate. I've noticed many from UK purchasing homes here.

[Minnesota Libra]

5. SIMPLE.....Florida is Jebby country. nt

[sam sarrha]

6. it will set president for the rest of the National Parks

[SeaBob]

7. ANWR

Cuz it hasn't been spoiled yet. It's like a virgin waiting to be raped and they have sex on their pea sized brains

[guinivere]

8. Jebby is one reason, the other is that Florida has tons of

wealthy retired repugs. They don't want all that oil machinery crap spoiling the view or blocking yacht traffic.

[havocmom]

9. Yeah. In FL, the oil companies have to fight developers

and probably the companies who insure those posh buildings they make. Those industries also have money with which to purchase policy. To drill on fed land in a wilderness, they only have to deal with We The People and since they have paid off our reps in government...

[killerbush]

10. utter hypocrisy

[gratuitous]

11. Like any criminal, they prefer to operate out of public view

Who sees ANWR? No one. Well, no one that matters at least. Charlie Slaney and his Gwich'en brothers and sisters can go hang for all the Republicans care. But Florida? You wanna spoil Shaq's view of the ocean? Or Mr. Huizenga's? Or Mr. Steinbrenner's? Or the thousands of other oligarchs who prefer to operate out of the public eye while they plunder the common weal? I don't think so, Scooter.

[Orangepeel]

12. don't most Alaskan officials support drilling?

I don't know. I have the idea that the AK senators do.

The Florida delegation -- both democrats and republicans -- has generally presented a united front against drilling. Of course, that's because the majority of Floridians are strongly against it.

Alaska has an oil-based economy doesn't it? I have the idea that Alaskans get some individual benefits from oil revenues, but it's only a vague idea. My guess is that Floridians wouldn't see much personal benefit from drilling in the gulf, but that Alaskans would get something out drilling in ANWR.

[Jacobin]

13. But they have no problem defiling

Louisiana's coastline, destroying her wetlands, leaving her more vulnerable to hurricane storm surges.

Its always pissed me off. Florida has enormous natural gas deposits, proven by test drilling off the Panhandle coast. And, there would be no rigs visible from the coast.

They don't want the blue collar workers. They only want effete fucks driving BMers

[hatrack]

14. But they DO want to dril in Florida

Republican Rep. Ted Poe's proposals are in line with the agenda in Congress to put a lid on gas prices, which some analysts have estimated could reach an average of $3.50 or more per gallon this summer.

"I have filed legislation to expand domestic off-shore drilling to all our coasts, even the sacred shores of Florida and California," Poe stated in a release.

The United States imported 4.9 billion barrels of crude last year, according to the U.S. Energy Department. "We cannot continue to be held hostage by third-world countries," Poe, of Humble, stated in a release.

"The best way to do that is to lessen our dependence on them by expanding our domestic drilling."

http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16533910&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512589&rfi=6

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Twenty-two of Florida's 25 U.S. House members sent a pair of letters to Interior Secretary Gale Norton on Monday opposing the agency's plan to open a large area in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and natural gas drilling about 100 miles south of the Panhandle.

A Florida delegation letter signed by 21 representatives expressed strong opposition to the proposal because it would have "severe implications on Florida's economy and environment" by increasing the risk of pollution to the state's beaches. "Our economy is built upon the thousands of jobs that are created by visitors who vacation on our beautiful beaches," the Floridians wrote. "Environmental damage resulting from an oil spill or any other mishap associated with offshore drilling could be devastating to our economy."

Another Florida congressman, Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, sent a separate letter opposing the proposal, which would most affect his Panhandle district. Miller wrote that drilling also could harm military training and weapons testing in and over the gulf by Air Force and Navy bases in the Panhandle.

Miller said in the letter and an interview that the Minerals Management Service's plan would harm efforts by some Florida lawmakers, including himself, to reach a compromise for limited offshore drilling in exchange for long-term protection. "They are continuing to try to do an end around on the Florida delegation," Miller said. "I am not pleased."


EDIT

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=45162

[Raster]

15. So they can funnel more government dollars and tax breaks to the

oil companies AND the rethuglican Alaskan power structure.

[jerry611]

16. If we don't drill the Gulf,,,China will

China already owns the Panama Canal. So they are obviously very interested in the oil off the Florida coast.

If we don't drill it, the Chinese will.

[madfloridian]

17. Matter of time...they want the natural gas in the eastern gulf.

They'll get, too. I have heard Florida is powerless to stop them.

http://theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060430/NEWS/604300439/1039

Producers Covet Gulf's Natural Gas

By Cory Reiss
Ledger Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- "An exasperated Rep. John Peterson of Pennsylvania waved his arms last week while pleading for Floridians to understand why drilling for natural gas is not a threat to their beaches.

It's not like drilling for oil, the Republican said at a news conference outside the Capitol. And if the public is in an uproar over gasoline prices, he said, wait until they get air conditioning bills this summer or lose their jobs because natural gas prices are killing businesses.

"Natural gas shouldn't even be an argument," he said.

The headlines these days are about $3-a-gallon gasoline. But Republicans and some pro-drilling Democrats are using the uproar to press for drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico -- where supporters say the main enticement has been an abundance of natural gas, not oil."