Bush to Democrats: Lift ban on offshore drilling or risk losing the election

Congress returns next week after an August recess filled with political conventions and the sights and sounds of Republican rebels extolling the virtues of offshore oil drilling from a darkened House floor.

They're in town for a three-week session before adjourning to go back home to campaign. All 435 members of Congress and a third of the Senate are up for reelection Nov. 4.

With gas still pumping at around $4 a gallon, President Bush predicted today that if Democrats don't lift the ban on offshore oil drilling during the upcoming session, they will lose. In his weekly radio address, Bush said:

This Congress has earned a reputation as one of the least productive in history. Throughout this year, Democratic leaders have ignored the public's demand for relief from high energy prices. This is their final chance to take action before the November elections. If members of Congress do not support he American people at the gas pump, then they should not expect the American people to support them at the ballot box.

Bush also called on congressional leaders to expand access to oil shale -- "a domestic resource that could produce the equivalent of more than a century's worth of imports at current levels." And he urged tax credits for alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signaled that she would consider allowing limited expansion of offshore drilling as part of a comprehensive energy package. In the Democratic radio response, Rep. John Larson of Connecticut put it this way:

We will consider responsibly opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling while demanding that big oil companies use the leases they have already been issued or return them to the public.

And, like the White House, Democrats said they want alternatives. "We need to address our future energy needs with a federal renewable electricity standard consisting of alternative forms of energy, including natural gas, solar power, wind, biomass and geothermal power and fuel cells."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Ricardo Moraes / Associated Press

Comments

Hey Bush, America will wake up to your ugliness. If not, then, tell your people to rampage America, stuff their pockets and if someone says anything, tell them to vote for Republicans one more time. They will do it again. Miserable nation !!!!

[William Daviau]

The Republicans controlled the executive and legistlative branches of governement for 6 of the last 8 years. Bush Senior placed the ban on offshore drilling. Cheney went to Court to prevent America from knowing what the Bush Energy plan was and how it was derived seven years ago. Now it is all the Democrats fault that we have high gas prices?

[dmac]

transcanada...my neighbor just got a job!
thank you sarah palin

[kdc]

wait..dem congress for last two years...repugs filibustering on the floor...and the dems are the bad guys....not to mention solar incemtive have been up for renewal 12 times and killed by the repugs...

maybe the repugs should get out of the way of real reform

[Stephen A. Johnson]

This message is not surprise, Bush& Cheney are pressing the panic button again. Inflicting a message of fear and threat has worked on Mr. & Mrs. Potatoehead start wars, threaten gays, and oppress women for many years. Follow the money, which is the only GOD worshiped by Republicans.

[don]

tTHIS IS JUST LIKE ALL YOU LIBS START CHANGING THE ISSUE WHEN YOU CAN"T TAKE IT (,YOU ARE WRONG ) AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT TO DRILL GEORGE W BUSH WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREATTEST PRES WE HAVE EVER SEEN SORRY THAT HURTS BUT YOU DUG THE HOLE

[don]

TELL THE TRUTH LOS ANGELES STIMES ( COMMENTS ARE MODERATED )AND WILL NOT APPEAR IF YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND THIIS PRESIDENT NO WONDER YOU LOSING READERS ASK YOURSELF WILL I HAVE A JOB IF WE KEEP LOSING READERS?

[Erin]

Does Bush want the Democrats to win? I seriously doubt it. His arguement is specious as any similar argument from one party to another would be. He sounds more like a school yard bully. "If you don't [insert item], I'm going to beat you up!"
Of course, the wording belies a complete lack of understanding on the President's part. Drilling will not lower gasoline prices. Oil wouldnt make an impact for 10 years, most experts say.

[NOTaDumbocrat]

dumbocarts can only connect the dots if there are numbers associated, LA times, what a waste of paper

[Jason]

Have you noticed that the only people supporting Bush these days are the truly ignorant who cannot spell or complete a sentance?

I'm lookin' at you dumbocart. Hahaha. And Don appears to be typing with his elbows.

Yes, please do help us connect the dots. Oh, and if you could help us find those WMD you think are in Iraq, that would be great. That would make George W. Bush even more greater super duper herotastic than he even is today.

Slowly but surely, Americans are waking up to the marketing campaign against their own good that has been prepetrated by the Republican party for the last couple of wars now. They spend more than Democrats, waste more, protect your rights (not at all) and respect nothing that America stands for while proclaiming their great morals and honor.

Not one thinking Republican I know, life long voters who have supported them, is going to vote for Any Republican on this year's ballot. Nearly all of them are going to vote Obama and a few are staying home, embarassed and disillusioned.

All I can say is, it's a new century. It's time to update those old brains and pay attention to what is happening, realizing that, yes, they do lie. It's up to you to verify what they say and compare it to what they do. Maybe you'll actually get what you want for a change. Democrats appear disorganized because they are doing just that, holding their own accountable and refusing to march in lock step like mindless robots. Hail Democracy in action.

[Michael Ryerse]

Okay, so take the summer off while America works, pays high gas prices, then come back and say "Look, we want to drill too!". Right. After your 5 week vacation though. Thank you. I really believe you're for the people.