Ron wrote on Aug 1, 2006 6:51 AM:50 miles offshore, you won't even see it. and 100 miles offshore, gives time to round up the oil slick, before it hits the beach. And what about these 30 protestors, or the Surfrider foundation, or the Sierra Club? I'm wondering, how do these people get to work everyday? In fact, I'm willing to bet there are some in this crowd who still drive a 1960-something Volkswagen, with all the bumper stickers on them. You know, Save the Whales, and Wage Peace.... that kind of stuff. Probably drove to this protest in one. Just an aside, according to California DMV, any car made prior to 1964 does not have to be smogged. Just a thought.

Robert24 wrote on Aug 1, 2006 7:48 AM:Hmmmm, held hostage by the Middle East for our supply of oil or getting it here? Can't drill in the ocean and can't drill in Alaska. Saying Exxon will profit is foolish; they will profit (gouge us) anyway. I got an idea; how 'bout all of those against getting our oil here at home spend there time coming up with a solution to get us off of our dependance on foreign oil and then protest getting it locally. What are your solutions, other than just saying "Save our Coast line?".

Jim wrote on Aug 1, 2006 8:41 AM:30 people aren’t enough for a good party much less a rally. It appears this group has zero support for their efforts.

Kenbone wrote on Aug 1, 2006 9:28 AM:Yes, the rigs would be too far away to be seen, and the liklikhood of a spillage actually reaching our shores remote. I wonder how many of these liberals drove to this "rally" or how many took alternative transportation? Let's tap our resources, here and in Alaska! (It's the city council's fault.)

Linda wrote on Aug 1, 2006 11:26 AM:It is a sad commentary that division keeps humanity from creating and stretching toward a sustainable future. Shouldn't all of us be enviornmentalists? We all live and eat off this planet. We are all responsible for keeping "our nest" clean and viable. Is it wise to risk (earthquakes, spills, bombs!) drilling off our coast for an unsustainable resource that is harming our planet with war, greed and pollution? Sure we need fuel but can we not commit to finding another solution? Can we not stop a habit that is killing us? Even if drilling is out of sight, out of mind: it is still there! Unsustainable, polluting and keeping humanity lulled into nonaction - nonevolution. America!! We should be leading the way into a bright clean future with advanced new technology instead of creating wars and sucking the planet unsustainably for an old technology that is killing us! Please no oil drilling off our coast!

Robert wrote on Aug 1, 2006 11:32 AM:Bravo Mr. Bilbray and Mr. Hunter for your votes for putting this decision in local hands rather and the federal govenment. It seems the liberals dont trust the state and state to protect our shores they would rather leave it to Washington. As China is now getting ready to drill for Cuba off the Florida coast its clear that this bill is to let gulf states beat Cuba to the oil... which is exactly what they should do. Of course California can protect California if the Sierra Club get the hell out of the way.

Common Sense wrote on Aug 1, 2006 11:48 AM:100 miles is not far enough ... or is it? There should be some real science/study to determine the ocean waters flow throughout the region. Then we'd know just what areas are "safe" to do this. Better yet, remove the "behind closed door" deals in the current presidency, and mandate alternative energy research, as well as public transportation that is functional for the region. If I could get to work by public transportation, at a reasonable travel time, I'd invest in that future, and invest less in drilling off our shores. It only takes one good spill to ruin your beach ... and tourism and profits, as well as the quality of life in San Diego.

Karen wrote on Aug 1, 2006 12:05 PM:Drilling for more oil off our coasts is only a short term solution, with potentially devastating consequnces to our coastal environment. I am very dissappointed that my congressional representative, Bilbray, does not comprehend this. The time to wean ourselves from fossil fuels is now, and our government needs to take the lead on this matter. The first prioirity should be setting higher mileage standards for new cars. There are a multitude of potential alternatives to oil, and the movie "An Incovenient Truth" is very enlightening on this matter. It's time to face the fact that gas prices will continue to rise regardless of new drilling off our coasts or not. Let's not sacrifice our irreplacable coastal environment to protract our oil addiction.

Why is NCT is only posting support for oil? wrote on Aug 1, 2006 12:09 PM:Why are you not posting the blog comments against oil rigs?

Robert wrote on Aug 1, 2006 12:14 PM:By the way I think its getting clear that Mr. Busby has lost any national financial support for her race in November after the July 12th USA Survey poll showing her now 11% behind Bilbray and sliding, no wonder she is taking this race local. There is no other funding source available for "you dont need papers to vote..."

What about Hydrogen? wrote on Aug 1, 2006 12:18 PM:I saw a TV program, years ago, about using hydrogen fueled cars - the exhaust, which came out of the tailpipe, was water, which the demonstrator collected in a glass and drank - pure H20! This has to be absolutely the cleanest fuel there is - why hasn't there been more research into making it a safe, available fuel for our cars, home energy etc? Does anybody have ANY information on this?

My H2 Loves ANWR Oil wrote on Aug 1, 2006 12:40 PM:I am sick and tired of these environmental fascists. They love to chirp about SUV owners who are supporting terrorism by driving their gas guzzlers. Yet, they deny America the ability to become energy self sufficient through domestic drilling they. Why aren't they called the extremists who support Islamic terrorism? These elitist tree huggers say no to anything that would make us independent of the Arab oil cartels. They say no to domestic drilling in ANWR and off the coasts. They say no to nuclear power plants. They even say no to wind mill farms when they are proposed to be put within eye-sight of Ted Kennedy's Massachusetts beach home. Here's a better energy policy; build nuclear power plants, buidl more gas refineries, drill for domestic oil in ANWR and 50 miles off of the California and Florida coasts, oh, and no energy whatsoever for crybaby tree-hugging environmental marxists.

Get out of your SUV wrote on Aug 1, 2006 12:42 PM:The solution to foreign oil dependence is so simple. Get out of your 15mpg SUV and drive a 30+mpg vehicle. We would have plenty of oil just from US sources, no need to "persuade" foreign countries to increase oil production to keep oil prices in check, and no need to send our sons and daughters to die in the line of duty for lower oil prices. Plus - no oil rigs polluting our coast line. Its so simple. Just do it.

seen the damage wrote on Aug 1, 2006 2:00 PM:To Kenbrone, and any one else.... you can't see the rigs from Galveston Shores, but you sure as he__ can see the tar on your feet and clothes and shoes if you go to the beach. It spills all the time, and the shores are ruined. I grew up there, and it is sick. I don't know why it would even be an option. Is it really worth the risk? NO.

Robert24 wrote on Aug 1, 2006 2:11 PM:Linda and Karen, how about proposing solutions instead of just saying what a bad idea this is. Opinions are fine, but how about what you would propose to do to make our dependence on foreign oil less. I have to drive for a living, and I am being seriously impacted by the price of fuel, yet I can't stay home. And as for Get out of your SUV, perhaps you can drive a small economy car for your needs, but not all of us can. That is also a Band Aid response without any real merit. If you can't come up with a better solution, then you really haven't done anything to help the problem.

American-Irish Resident wrote on Aug 1, 2006 3:16 PM:When I was stationed in Scotland the gasoline prices were in the 7 dollar to 8 dollar per gallon range. I hope on a daily basis that we can reach that cost in San Diego County soon. The liberal enviro-wackos appear to think that the US oil companies should buy oil from King Fahd's middle-eastern oil fields and sell it to the US citizenry in the form of gasoline as if it cost 20 dollars per barrel. The oil companies are not working in dangerous operations to serve Americans welfare gasoline. The US oil companies and the US government have no control over oil pricing if we do not produce our own oil. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and every Africn and Asian leader want our cash and they are getting our cash.

Concerned wrote on Aug 1, 2006 3:45 PM:Drilling off our coasts is not acceptable. Not when there are alternatives to fossil fuel that we should be utilizing. Yes, hydrogen, corn, sugar cane, methane, wind, solar should all be implemented. The problem is Big Oil and Big Business won't let that happen. You'll find me on the right of most issues, but not this. I love our oceans and the environment is something that we have to preserve. Let's get the h... away from oil dependancy and fossil fuels. We have the technology, it's been there since WW II.

American-Irish Resident wrote on Aug 1, 2006 4:36 PM:Hi Concerned...how many vehicles do you drive that can run on 100% ethanol? Should oil companies pay to replace everybody's vehicle with an all-ethanol or an all-fuel cell vehicle? Who replaces all of the fuel depots that you have seen as a convenience in your life? Oil companies? Ehat will the impoverished people do for transportation? You want small methane car bombs on our streets? Who will install the methane fuel stations? Are oil companies responsible for that too? The power industry is drifting away from natural gas fired turbines as the price per megawatt-hour is excessive due to $6.50 per decatherm natural gas. Oil companies sell oil-based products and if you do not want to buy them then you should not purchase them. Chocolate companies sell chocolate and coffee companies sell coffee. If you do not want their product then refrain from being a customer. The oil companies are not part of a national governmental institution that owes anybody anything. Go buy your $2.50 eight oz cup of Starbucks coffee and consider purchasing a new fuel cell vehicle from Honda for $60 thousand. Why does my Microsoft Office software cost several hundred dollars when a CD costs one dollar? Bill Gates is the richest man on earth but the country their are only complaints directed at oil companies. It is 2006 folks and world-wide energy subsidies have come to an end. To Concerned....the US enviro-wackos have not allowed the US oil companies to build a refinery on our soil for 30 years so we import the refined products from King Fahd as well. Should the merchant marine employees transport gasoline thousands of miles to you as a gratuity and not accept a wage?

Chuckles wrote on Aug 1, 2006 4:45 PM:All the big oil companies, Exxon, Shell, Arco, etc., should give these naive protestors a big wet sloppy kiss on the lips for helping keep up the price of crude.

Elizabeth wrote on Aug 1, 2006 6:00 PM:Listen to sensible information and find out the facts. If most Americans simply drove move economical vehicles, we would not be dependent on foreign oil. Unfortunately, many Americans thing bigger is better and drive huge heavy vehicles (H2s) as commuter cars. They think they are cool, but they are really just keeping oil prices high and killing our earth. I hope their son, not mine, gets sent to Iran to fight for cheaper gas. Look up the reports, the largest usage of gas is personal vehicles. The most popular vehicles are/were Big Trucks. When the most popular vehicle becomes a Prius we won’t have an energy problem. Duke Jr. can’t understand and has to go! Plus then we don’t get polluting, coast line killing oil rigs!

TOOV wrote on Aug 1, 2006 6:32 PM:No oil drilling platforms off our coast. Spend the money on alternative fuels. We should have more flex fuel stations.

Oil Man wrote on Aug 1, 2006 8:08 PM:No refineries in the US since 1974, Import electricity from Mexico, Texas & Canada stringing power lines all over out national forest..The giverment hanging on the necks of business driving them overseas. These whackos turn around a DRIVE a car using gasoline to protest offshore drilling. What's wrong with this liberal picture?

Jean wrote on Jun 29, 2008 9:57 AM:The argument for resuming offshore drilling in the United States is totally misleading. Roughly three-quarters of the 90 million-plus acres of federal land being leased by the oil companies onshore and off are not being used to produce energy. That is 68 million acres altogether, among them potentially highly production leases in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. These leases should be exploited before the oil companies are allowed to get any more. Both McCain and the administration have not been honest with the American people. There are suspicions that the oil industry's main objective is to stockpile millions of additional acres of public land before the Bush administration leaves town.

matt wrote on Jul 9, 2008 3:44 PM:right now i'm living in the midwest so maybe i'm not completely capable of seeing where you all are coming from but please take a minute to realize what the rest of the contry is dealing with. not everyone can afford an economy car and more importantly it's usually hard to fit more than 5 people in anything that gets around 30 MPG. I'm not apposed to putting more reasearch into hybrids and feul cell technology but none of that is going to be affordable to middle class America for AT LEAST 10-15 years so right now we just need to ease the tension on consumers wallets by allowing drilling of our own shores. if an oil rig is more than 100 miles out no ones going to see it and the chances of an oil spill are statistically very slim. i also think we need to take America's oil industry further and build new, more energy efficient refineries. Because of the laws demacrats are passing it is almost impossible to build new refineries and we are useing refining processes that are around 50 years old.