Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Deep Thought 14

I sent a letter to the Reverend Emmanuel Cleaver II informing him of my desire that offshore drilling be allowed.  Here is what his Eminence the Turd sent me in reply:  My remarks in italics.

 

Dear John:

 

           Thank you for contacting me regarding offshore drilling of oil and gas.  I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue. No you don’t, you are going to do whatever the party line is.

 

           As you may know, proposals in Congress have repeatedly promoted the exploration of oil and gas off our nation's coastlines. But you have always opposed them, so why even bring it up.  Recently the Administration announced that it supports the opening of areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for oil and gas development.  The President lifted the executive branch moratoria on the OCS imposed in 1990 by President H. W. Bush.  However, a Congressional ban on offshore drilling remains in place.  Many in Congress like me oppose lifting the offshore ban, arguing that there are still several million acres leased onshore and offshore by not yet used for production. . During the House subcommittee markup of the FY2009 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, an amendment to lift the offshore moratoria was defeated by a vote of 6-9.  Additionally, on June 26, 2008, the House defeated a H.R. 6251, the Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act.  This bill would have increased rental fees on non-producing oil and gas leases, shortened initial lease terms from ten to five years, and denied new federal leases to those not developing the leases they have. And you think this bill being defeated was a bad thing that I should shake my head at.

 

I believe drilling off our country's coasts is a short-sighted and potentially hazardous answer to high gas prices. So is touting science fiction solutions to the problem.  While I understand the need to gain access to more energy resources, (no you don’t) expanding drilling off our coasts is not a sensible or long-term solution. Wrong on both points. The potential energy gained from the petroleum accessed by offshore drilling is not minimal and does nothing (everything) to address our nation's energy crisis.  A growing demand for fuel and increased greenhouse gases (baloney) in the atmosphere can be lessened by real investments in alternative fuels (technology that has not been invented yet.)  Congress should do more to develop resources such as ethanol, electricity, biofuels and hydrogen to power personal vehicles. This is science fiction crap.  Wind and solar energy have already been proven to effectively heat and cool homes. No it hasn’t.  I hope the people in Fairbanks where it is dark for 3 months out of the year enjoy having no electricity.  These energy sources are clean, renewable and abundant, and horribly expensive that would do nothing but allow a holes like you to enjoy a certain standard of living, while the poor will become even more destitute. and I will use my position in Congress to encourage the investment in these resources.  If any future legislation comes before Congress proposing drilling for oil and gas offshore, I will oppose such measures because I am a giant douche, Americans deserve real solutions to our nation's energy crisis.

 

           Again, thank you for sharing your views with me.  Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I may be of further assistance.  Also, I encourage you to visit my website at http://www.house.gov/cleaver, where you can sign up for my electronic newsletter and receive updates on my latest activities as your Representative.

Sincerely

Emanuel Cleaver, II Supreme Turd

Member of Congress

 

 

 

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