I found this at Jerome's diary above. Interesting, methinks.

http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6227

CA-46: Debbie Cook on Bush-McCain-Rohrabacher Offshore Drilling Lunacy

Democratic Congressional Candidate Debbie Cook's statement on proposals to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling:

"There has been a lot of talk in the last couple of days about lifting the ban on drilling for oil along the coast. Dana Rohrabacher, John McCain and today President Bush have joined in a chorus of "drill, drill, drill," as if that will solve our energy problems.

"Time is not on our side, and continuing to divert our attention away from the real problem is a disservice to our citizens and a failure of leadership.

"World oil production has been flat for three years. America's oil refineries are configured to refine light sweet crude and are currently operating at 88% capacity and paying a premium for this short supply. There is no point for the Middle East, the only region that may have spare capacity, to increase production of heavy sour crudes until new refineries are built or existing refineries have been modified.

"Three fourths of the world's oil and gas wells have already been drilled in North America. Our continent is so heavily explored that it looks like swiss cheese. Eighty percent of the oil available on the Outer Continental Shelf is already open to leasing and drilling. Will opening the remaining 20 percent make any difference when it takes 5-10 years to bring any new oil discoveries to market?

"Perhaps we should just call the President's bluff, sell off the leases and then get on with the real work ahead of us, leaving fossil fuels before they leave us.

"The world economy depends upon the flow of oil, not the oil that remains in the ground. The fact is, more than 50 nations are now past their peak in oil production: Mexico, Norway, UK, USA, Russia, perhaps even Saudi Arabia to name a few. If you use ExxonMobil's estimate for the decline rate from these existing wells (-6%), then from now until 2017, we need to find and develop 37 million barrels per day of additional crude production just to stay even with what we consume today. That assumes no growth in demand for oil. That is the equivalent of finding FOUR Saudi Arabias. Does anyone think we have overlooked resources of that size and quality?

"George Bush and Dana Rohrabacher's failure to understand the fundamental economics and geology of oil and gas production is matched only by their failures as leaders.

"The true solution to our energy problems starts with conservation efforts, and investment in alternative and sustainable energy sources, which will create new American industries and jobs and jumpstart the sluggish economy."

No chance for that woman to get elected. She just doesn’t have the requisite imbecility gene that allows one to tell the voters what they want to hear while ignoring the consequences. To bad.

for christmas, I'm going to ask santa not to get me any presents, but to make this woman the president of the US

Im there. No presents this year.

Don't underestimate me. I will give my opponent a run for his money and raise awareness in the process. Want to help? debbiecookforcongress.com

Following that link you had I found this:

oil companies have millions of acres of land with supposed oil deposits and untapped wells already under their control, but they're not rushing to drill or explore them. Why? Because tracts that show up as "untapped oil reserves" are more profitable if they remain untapped. They inflate the stock price, the result of which goes directly into the execs' wallets. And the corporations use them as an asset without having to actually see whether or not there is any oil in the deposits.

Is this true? Is this sort of data listed somewhere publicaly, so I just go look at it?

Also known as "the shell game" or "3 card monte."

I was thinking the same thing. Where is this 68 million acres of unexplored leased area and WHY?

Pete

Schwarzenegger Against Bush On Oil Drilling

"...Offshore oil drilling threatens America/s $60 billion coastal economy, and we certainly don't need to lift the moratoria to allow new leases when the oil companies hold 68 million acres of undeveloped leases," [Barbara]Boxer said.

I'm starting to get the feeling that it won't be too much longer before MS starts detailing a lot of what you guys and gals talk about here. Which is fine by me.

Regards, Matt B
Frustrated fence-sitter (though, think now there's a foot in the PO boat).

The true solution to our energy problems starts with conservation efforts, and investment in alternative and sustainable energy sources, which will create new American industries and jobs and jumpstart the sluggish economy."

Does anyone else believe we can find an alternative that doesn't already exist that will fill the void left by declining oil production?? I don't believe this statmement on it face value..