Infinite MonkeysJohn McCain has said he opposes oil exploration in Alaska's National Wildlife Reserve because he wouldn't want oil companies to drill in the "pristine widerness" of Alaska "any more than I would want them to drill in the Grand Canyon or the Everglades." It's a feeble analogy, divorced from facts, as Rich Lowry and Jonah Goldberg show. McCain's position is especially tough to accept in the era of $4.50-a-gallon gas.
But it looks like McCain is coming to his senses: "Sen. John McCain said Monday the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their coasts."
McCain is scheduled to deliver a speech Tuesday on energy policy. He would do well to abandon the tired environmental pieties of the '90s and embrace exploration. If McCain is really a maverick, he'll endorse drilling, and lots of it.
Posted by Ben at June 16, 2008 10:23 PMHe better come to his fool senses, and soon. Now, I don't know where it takes being a maverick to have basic common sense. It is an absolute no-brainer for him to call for drilling ASAP. And the rest of congress better get up off their duffs and do the right thing, or their asses will all be in the bag.
If Mc???? gets some action actually going on this, I might even think of supporting him. The more my money goes to gas, the less I have to contribute.
Posted by: john b at June 17, 2008 01:16 AMFunny you bring this up, Ben. I recall in a previous job at some newspaper somewhere that I advocated writing an editorial taking this exact position.
It was rejected by the boss as pointless and dangerous. Of course, gas was about $2 a gallon back then. Good to see McCain realizing the wisdom of that position now.
Of course, McCain's argument for this position — he seems to be relying on "federalism" — is a dodge. The federal government holds the leases to off-shore drilling, as well as drilling in ANWR. If it's OK to let the states decide whether to drill 50 miles off shore, why isn't it OK to let the states decide to drill on shore. Like, say, in ANWR. The people of Alaska want to drill there.
Posted by: Dr. Zaius at June 17, 2008 07:59 AMA side benefit of offshore drilling: Increased marine life! No, really. I'm not being sarcastic.
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at June 17, 2008 06:10 PM