Showing posts with label ANWR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ANWR. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Craig Williams: Drill ANWR Now!

I'm sending the material below over the next day to many people in Pennsylvania, both "sides" of the state. I'm going to make this a sustained effort through September (and probably longer). Many people came to the state either for Kerry or Bush in 2004, and I believe there will be many more this year. I believe McCain could draw even in PA as early as the first or second week of September.

Note: On my HillarySupportersforMccain site, I have an essay entitled, "Why The Democratic Party Doesn't Exist Anymore." I hope you'll visit.

Bulletin: from mid-August until election day (Nov. 4), there will be MANY people from out-of-state (and out of your district) coming to battleground states to campaign for John McCain. Among the key states are PA, OH, and VA. There will be an urgent need for housing and food for the people that will be visiting your area. If you can't provide housing (or a "free" meal), perhaps you can help defer a portion of the costs of people's staying over at the local version of the Red Roof Inn. The people who are coming could just be the ones who make the difference between John McCain's winning the state -- and his not doing so. If you can provide assistance of any kind to the visitors, please let me know at: TalkTop65@aol.com. I know some of the people who will be coming to PA (as well as OH and VA), and they're terrific human beings. I'm sure we'll be able to familiarize them with other important races taking place in PA, VA, and OH. In my home state, we'll show them that indeed "You have a friend in Pennsylvania."


Craig Williams is the Republican candidate for the office of U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He is a former federal prosecutor, Marine combat veteran, and former active duty Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. For more information on Craig and his campaign, visit http://www.craigwilliamsforcongress.com/.


My First-Hand Observations of ANWR

By Craig Williams

With gas prices at as much as $4 per gallon local residents are feeling the impact in other aspects of our daily lives. As a result of high gas prices, the cost of food and other consumer goods is more expensive, police and fire stations are cutting back on patrols and volunteers, and schools are decreasing the areas where they will provide busing this fall. Everything in our daily lives is tied to energy.

Increasing our domestic oil production, specifically in the Arctic tundra of Alaska will help address the current energy crisis. I recently traveled to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to determine first-hand if we could responsibly drill for oil and natural gas in a limited area of the refuge. I came away from my experience firmly convinced that we should begin exploration of the coastal plain of ANWR immediately.

We send $700 billion each year to foreign countries for oil. Those countries, many of which are openly hostile to our democratic way of life, provide 67 percent of our oil needs and have enormous control over our economy. Taking immediate control of our own energy needs is a matter of national and economic security. We need to reduce – and eventually eliminate – our dependence on foreign oil as we bridge our way to the next generation of renewable energy. Drilling in ANWR will not fix our current energy crisis, but it will help.

During my trip, we flew the entire length of ANWR and large portions of the reserve are truly beautiful with rolling mountains, rivers, and fields of wild flowers. But the area proposed for drilling is on the other side of the Brooks Mountain Range. It is a flat and barren tundra. There are no trees and I saw no teeming wildlife. And this was summer. Winter on the North Slope lasts 8-9 months when the coastal plain is covered in ice and snow and temperatures reach 30 degrees below zero.

I spoke with community leaders in the small Eskimo village of Kaktovik – located within ANWR itself. Those leaders overwhelmingly support drilling in ANWR. This is a subsistence community that lives off of the land and they insist that any drilling on their tundra must be done responsibly. They believe that it can.

I also compared the 1970s oil technology in Prudhoe Bay to some of the latest technology at a facility called Alpine. The footprint of the facilities has shrunk dramatically. A drilling site that once required as much as 140 acres can now be compressed into as little as 5 acres. Today’s facilities are also largely self-sustained, requiring no permanent supply roads across the vast tundra. This new technology, including the drastically compressed footprint, would be used in ANWR. The local natives insist on it, and it is the right thing to do.

In Barrow, Alaska, I spoke with officials from North Slope Borough. All were overwhelmingly in favor of responsible drilling in ANWR. They also derided the Democrats “use it or lose it” stance. They noted that although the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska has recoverable oil, companies are unable to drill there because environmentalists have kept the leases locked up in litigation for the past 10 years. They also pointed out it would require a 250 mile pipeline to reach the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and that the Army Corps of Engineers will not permit the companies to build a pipeline over a major river. In addition, the Bureau of Land Management will not issue the construction permits to begin drilling. They correctly saw “use it or lose it” as a political charade designed to deflect attention from the inaction by Congress on this issue.

ANWR is not the answer to our energy needs, but it is the best first-step. The area being proposed for drilling makes up less than one half of one percent of the coastal plain of ANWR – an area that is a barren, frozen tundra 8 to 9 months of the year. Modern technology will also allow us to reduce the size of any new drilling operation and minimize impacts on the environment. In addition, I heard from local leaders who overwhelmingly support drilling in ANWR – and these are people who live there and know the terrain better than any Pennsylvanian could ever hope to.

We can recover critical oil and natural gas from ANWR in well under the 10 years that Democrats tell us it will take. Now we have to convince the Democrats in Congress . . . or vote them out. They are the only thing standing between us and economic relief and independence. It is time to take control of our own country. Our future security demands it.


Tomorrow, I'll write about the congressional race in PA's 7th district between Craig Williams and Joe Sestak. How does Sestak feel about the above issues? He basically sides with Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama in thinking that the energy situation is just fine as it is. A shameful stand.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

DEMOCRATS CAUSED HIGH GAS PRICES

Democrats caused high gas prices -- period. Barack Obama now has a pathetic commercial playing in Pennsylvania and elsewhere claiming that it would take 7 years for drilling offshore and in ANWR to generate increased domestic oil supplies.

I have news for the windbag Obama: if a Democratic President (Bill Clinton) hadn't vetoed legislation providing for ANWR drilling, we would have that oil -- and refined gasoline -- right now. Obama likes to mislead the public -- and so do the Democratic representatives and Senators whose solution to high gas prices is to do nothing.

I'm asking people like Melissa Hart, Tom Manion, Toni Gilhooley, Craig Williams, Marina Kats, and Lou Barletta to put up billboards on every highway in their district. In Melissa's District, they'll say: "Like High Gas Prices? Blame Jason Altmire. Vote Melissa Hart!"

I hope every candidate mentioned in this paragraph does something similar. The Democrats caused high gas prices for reasons that are incomprehensible, and their solution is to let them go higher -- much higher. They are short on ideas and long on rhetoric.

Please support the GOP candidates mentioned above by clicking on their names and making a small donation. I have -- and will again.

The American prople are getting extremely nervous: they realize that the Democrats' solution -- which is to do nothing -- could end up destroying our economy. If gas prices continue to rise, which people like Obama and his supporters think is a good thing, it could bring this country to its knees. Obama and congressional buddies call it "conservation". Sane people call it devastation.

No candidate is exploiting this issue more effectively than Melissa Hart, running against Jason Altimire in the 4th congressional district (where I happen to live). Altmire, who vote metronomically against increased domestic oil production and refining capacity. The following is a release from Melissa's campaign; it should be a model for other GOP candidates in Pennsylvania and across the country.


PRICE OF GAS IS MORE THAN $4.00 FOR A MONTH AND COUNTING

When will Altmire act to ease the pain at the pump?


Cranberry Township, PA – Today marks one month since the national average for the price of a gallon of gas hit $4.00. As Congress returns from its week-long vacation after a month of doing nothing to ease the pain at the pump the average price of gasoline has now reached an all-time high of $4.11 per gallon.

“I’m skeptical that any steps will be taken in this final congressional session before summer break that will help to reduce gas prices. Jason Altmire and his House leaders have yet to begin even talking about expanding American exploration or increasing American production capabilities. The topic of energy is not even on the Pelosi agenda this week. Priorities in Washington are completely out of sync with what Americans need,” stated Melissa Hart.

According to the Washington Post, Capitol Briefing, July 7, 2008:

“The House has a considerably lighter week on tap, as the chamber will consider dozens of uncontroversial bills on the suspension calendar and will also take a measure requiring the preservation of White House e-mails and bills creating a new national historic trail in New York and a new section of ‘National Wild and Scenic Rivers’ in Massachusetts.”

Altmire continues to recite the Speaker Pelosi talking points about forcing companies to drill on 68 million acres they have leased where resources are lacking. He persists in promoting sham “use it or use it” legislation to end such leases as a way to increase domestic supply and make our country less dependent on foreign sources. This would do nothing and is in fact already law.”

Hart added, “Demanding that oil companies drill on the 68 million acres which do not contain significant resources is not a solution. It is simply a continuation of shameless political posturing. Congress must permit responsible drilling for oil and natural gas in the most promising areas – ANWR and the Outer Continental Shelf.”

Currently exploration is off limits on 97% or 1.7 billion acres of the United States Outer Continental Shelf and 94% or 658 million acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

“America needs more supply, we need more refining capabilities and we need it NOW. An overwhelming majority of the country supports expansion of domestic drilling. It’s time for Altmire to start listening to people that elected him, not his Washington DC leaders,” said Hart

According to a recent CNN/Opinion Research poll, 73% of Americans favor an expansion of offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in currently off-limits U.S. waters.

Altmire has said NO to responsible drilling in ANWR, NO to exploration off our coasts, NO to opening other federal lands, and NO to new refineries. The ‘no we can’t’ approach is the wrong mind-set for our Congressman. Increasing domestic supply and pursuing the best alternatives for our energy future should be a priority mission for America. When this country comes together and makes this a priority, it can be done quickly and safely.”

“Each day the Congress wastes is another day that families, farmers, charities and business owners will continue to struggle with their increasing bills. There is no end in sight for truckers, delivery businesses, airlines, etc. The big challenges are only beginning now for those who use oil to heat their homes.”

###


Alicia Collins
Campaign Manager
People With Hart
P: 724.779.4750
F: 724.779.4714
Email: alicia@peoplewithhart.com

Coming soon: columns on Craig William's superb run for Congress in PA's 7th District against Joe Sestak, a person who clearly care more about his Party than his country. Sestak is another favorite of Nancy Pelosi's and ane enemy of domestic energy production. I'll also write more about how people like Jason Altmire and Patrick Murphy stabbled candidate Hillary Clinton in the back -- in exchange for hefty campaign donations from Barack Obama. Also, I'll be writing soon about Marina Kats's run against a truly disgraceful woman, Allyson Schwartz.




Friday, June 20, 2008

GOP Candidates and Gasoline Prices

"This election will be won or lost at the gasoline pump." (Jack Kelly)

A candidate's best friend is the one that tells him or her the unvarnished truth. In that sense, national security writer Jack Kelly is John McCain's best friend. In the following column Kelly (a former Marine, former Special Forces soldider, and former Congressional candidate) Kelly criticizes John McCain for a lack of political shrewdness.

Kelly is telling McCain what he must do to win the election. If Sen. McCain does not do such things, he cannot win. (Kelly writes for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Toledo Blade.)

What relevance does this have to Republican challengers like Melissa Hart, Toni Gihooley, Marina Kats, Tom Manion, Bill Russell, and others -- inside and outside Pennsylvania? The suggestions Kelly makes are relevant to all candidates. They need to pin the rapid rises in gasoline prices -- most of which have taken place since the 2006 election -- on the Democrats. If Toni, Melissa, Marina, Tom, and Bill do the things Jack suggests -- and do them every day between now and Nov. 4 -- they have a good chance of winning.

If they don't, they will lose. It's just that simple. Jack's column follows:

JOURNAL PRESS SYNDICATE
545 West End Ave. (Suite 2C)
New York, N.Y. 10024-2713
Tel: (212) 580-8559
Email: ijbnyc@aol.com
[Note: If your local newspaper doesn't print Jack Kelly's syndicated column, please call them up today and ask them (nicely but firmly) to start doing so. If they continue not to, keep calling]

BY JACK KELLY

Barack Obama has the lead for the time being. But three sign posts point the way to a McCain landslide in November -- in the unlikely event the Arizona senator has the wit to heed them.What figures to be by far the most important issue this fall is the skyrocketing price of energy and its deleterious effect on the broader economy and national security.

Now that Sen. McCain has flip flopped on drilling off of our coasts, there is a substantial difference between him and Sen. Obama on the issue. Sen. McCain also supports building more nuclear power plants, which Sen. Obama opposes.

Opinion polls indicate a large majority now supports drilling for oil off our coasts and in Alaska. That majority is likely to expand and harden as gas prices rise this summer. But Sen. McCain can't fully capitalize politically on this change in public attitude unless he completes his flip flop, and consents to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Commentary editor John Podhoretz fears Sen. McCain's ego will prevent him from doing what is in his, and his country's interest:"So McCain 2 makes a big speech about offshore drilling and the need for it. Fine. But the message is muted and confused.

"Why? Because McCain 1 voted against oil exploration and field development in (ANWR) and McCain 2 doesn't want to look like a flip flopper by changing his stand on the matter...In acting out of a combination of holer-than-thou piety and political pique, McCain 1 has made it all but impossible for McCain 2 to run with this issue and go on the offensive with Obama on a matter of central concern to the American people."

I fear Mr. Podhoretz is correct. But few Americans would hold flip flopping against Sen. McCain, because they've flip flopped, too. Soccer moms were happy to genuflect to environmental pieties when gasoline was $2 a gallon. But now that they have to sell their firstborn to fill up their SUVs, their attitude has changed dramatically.

If Sen. McCain were to fly to ANWR and announce his change of heart there, the attendant publicity would make it clear to Americans the sharp difference between himself and Sen. Obama on the issue most important to their pocketbooks.

He supports letting Floridians and Californians decide whether there should be drilling off their coasts. Why shouldn't the same principle apply to Alaskans? A large majority favor drilling in ANWR.

The second sign post is Sen. Obama's clumsy embrace of a Sept. 10th attitude toward the war on terror. The law enforcement approach toward fighting it is precisely what led to Sept. 11, 2001.Fortunately, national security is the one issue Sen. McCain knows something about.

The danger for him here is that he'll overemphasize it. The fact that we're winning the war on terror makes most Americans less interested in it, and more focused on economic concerns. Voter anxiety about Sen. Obama's fitness to be commander in chief is a strong subsidiary issue. But this election will be won or lost at the gas pump.


The third sign post was illuminated by the flap over the receipt by the (now former) head of Barack Obama's vice presidential selection committee and two prominent U.S. senators of below market rate loans from Countrywide Finance, which Sen. Obama has charged is in large part responsible for the sub-prime mortgage crisis. One of those senators, Chris Dodd of Connecticut, is trying to push through Congress a bill that would, in effect, bail out Countrywide.

This glaring conflict of interest hasn't attracted much attention from the news media, because for most journalists, a scandal isn't really a scandal unless Republicans are involved. But it's an issue tailor made for Sen. McCain. He has often stupidly (see McCain-Feingold), but always ardently, fought pork barrel spending and corruption. Congress has its lowest approval rating in the history of polling.

Replacing the Washington way with the Chicago way is not an improvement. Sen. McCain is the best person to make that case, and Americans are in a mood to hear it.

The sign posts also indicate who Sen. McCain should choose for his running mate. No Republican can better make the case for drilling than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and no governor has fought harder against corruption, especially in her own party.

So go to ANWR, Sen. McCain. Embrace Sarah Palin there. You'll have to eat some crow. But crow doesn't taste so bad when it's served on the White House china.

Email: jkelly@post-gazette.com