Heads in the sand representatives

Can you help me a bit? How long does it take from the first weld to realization of refined fuel? Where would the rigs be fabricated? Where would the oil be refined? Where do the support boats sail from? Where are the taxes collected from all the above? How much $$/per barrel will be coming to Florida? How will this industry support Florida?

So doctor, would you prefer to have a trial attorney in the Florida House of Representatives to be against tort reform, loosen the criteria for expert witnesses, and remove the PIP payments to doctors first in automobile accidents. You are being a pawn in believing the rhetoric about our fine representative.

I gotta be honest I do not know, but right now I know there are large reserves of oil and natural gas 10 to 50 miles off our coast and there is no exploration at this time. Our House of Representatives is trying to get the ball rolling early on to make sure that IF the feds open up drilling in that range that they are ready to represent the citizens of Florida in a way that expands our tax base. I would guess that port of Panama City and the rail line to the port would be involved in the process. I understand refineries to be expensive and ugly so I would guess these would remain in TX where their coastline lacks any real beauty. I can be done in a minimally invasive manner, but I guess some folks would rather stick their heads in the sand.

I gotta be honest I do not know, but right now I know there are large reserves of oil and natural gas 10 to 50 miles off our coast and there is no exploration at this time. Our House of Representatives is trying to get the ball rolling early on to make sure that IF the feds open up drilling in that range that they are ready to represent the citizens of Florida in a way that expands our tax base. I would guess that port of Panama City and the rail line to the port would be involved in the process. I understand refineries to be expensive and ugly so I would guess these would remain in TX where their coastline lacks any real beauty. I can be done in a minimally invasive manner, but I guess some folks would rather stick their heads in the sand.

You are obviously willing to believe oil industry propaganda over less biased sources of information. The bill Ms. Coley voted for would have allowed drilling from 3-10 miles off the coast. The industry makes reference to underwater platforms to reassure us of minimum impact--but there are no waters in the 3-10 mile zone with with sufficient depth (as off the coast of Africa) to use submersible platforms. The industry also assures us that platforms can be as small as one acre and only 220 feet high -- so they would be clearly visible from the shore.

The bill Ms. Coley vote for also would have allowed the BCC to lease for oil drilling between the shore and the three mile limit. Additionally, it would have given the oilmen easements to the shore and across the beaches.

The gulf coasts of Texas and Louisiana were not always ugly. I'd encourage you to look at some of the works of Fonville Winans to develop an appreciation of what Louisiana and Texas lost to the oil industry. There aren't a lot of Obagi and Botox consuming patients in Port Fourchon, doctor. While I always respect someone willing vote against their own self-interest, I don't understand why someone would vote against the interests of the whole community.

I can be done in a minimally invasive manner, but I guess some folks would rather stick their heads in the sand.

Unfortunately, I do think the Hands Across the Sand crowd and those alike will lead to a backing off of this issue. Maybe I am wrong, but when $6 a gallon gas comes, I think everyone will wish we had begun some exploration and drilling years earlier.

Mistype or Freudian slip?



Ah yes the lie that is cheaper gas. Here's a list of states:

Texas
Louisiana
Georgia
Florida

Now, guess which one doesn't have any drilling whatsoever and also enjoys the lowest gas prices of the four. If you guessed Georgia you're right.

Very witty...

No one is arguing that lack of drilling is causing FL gas prices to be higher. Drilling could lead to better state revenues...

Wow, and to think I thought this was a political forum where we could openly discuss candidates and issues. I don't think it is in our interests to have another trial attorney as a candidate, but you are free to have a different opinion.

...they are ready to represent the citizens of Florida in a way that expands our tax base.

I am hearing you and I think your points are good. We are just in different camps on the sides of this debate. I can tell you I have not read any oil industry propaganda, but tend to read conservative leaning magazines online. I will be the first to admit my info is biased and I hope you will agree to admit the same. I personally believe that we would not allow development that impeded our military or our tourism. I do think we have to consider the possibility of offshore drilling and believe we have the technology to do it in an environmentally responsible way.

Unfortunately, I do think the Hands Across the Sand crowd and those alike will lead to a backing off of this issue. Maybe I am wrong, but when $6 a gallon gas comes, I think everyone will wish we had begun some exploration and drilling years earlier.

Based on you inability to answer any of my questions above, could you focus on the one you mention? How will Florida's tax base be expanded? Panama City cannot handle any oil industry, imo.

Yes it is, but other than stating that he's a trial lawyer and that he plans on passing laws making it easier for trial lawyers in the state without any proof you aren't adding to the discussion. I have heard Mr. Pleat speak on several occasions and not once has he stated any intention of the accusations you are making.

Further if I follow your logic then I'm to assume that Rep. Coley will be introducing legislation that will shut down private schools since she was previously a public school teacher?

To listen to talk radio, to watch TV pundits, to read a newspaper's online message board, is to realize that increasingly, we are a people estranged from critical thinking, divorced from logic, alienated from even objective truth. We admit no ideas that do not confirm us, hear no voices that do not echo us, sift out all information that does not validate what we wish to believe.

I submit that any people thus handicapped sow the seeds of their own decline; they respond to the world as they wish it were rather to the world as it is. That's the story of the Iraq War.

But objective reality does not change because you refuse to accept it. The fact that you refuse to acknowledge a wall does not change the fact that it's a wall.

And you shouldn't have to hit it to find that out.

Much like pro-drill candidates probably won't highlight that as part of their resume, it is not particularly popular to highlight a pro-trial bar record. The lions share of his donations are from trial attorneys, so using your logic on Ms. Coley he is much more in the pocket for trial attorneys than he is for drilling.

Thank you for getting me fired up to support Ms. Coley, I am going to be doubling my donation to her and will for now say goodbye. My next politics post will wait until Nov. when I can gloat over the fresh defeat of Mr. Pleat and the seating of House Majority leader John Boehner. You guys can keep telling yourselves that every one else agrees with you or is stupid. Lets see how that works out for you.

David Pleat is a one issue candidate, running solely on being against offshore oil drilling in any way, shape, or form. He is distorting his opponents record who has stated that she is open to studying the effects of offshore oil drilling and might support it if it could be done in an environmentally friendly way. If you don't believe me, then head to her campaign website at marticoley.com where she pledges to preserve our environment.

David Pleat is not much more than a ambulance-chasing attorney who has harmed business in South Walton much more than he has helped. Not suprisingly, he is a Democrat with most of his funding coming from the trial attorneys. If you want yet another attorney in your legislature who is openly anti-business during this horrible recession, then by all means vote for David Pleat.

On a bipartisan note, I am really excited to see the President's stated commitment to nuclear energy. I would love to see 50 more nuclear reactors scattered about less populous regions of the country over the next 20 years. Despite the environmentalists distortions of the dangers of nuclear power, science prevails and we can make as clean a source of energy as we currently can mass produce. Sorry, we just aren't there with wind or solar. It took this energy crunch to open up nuclear as an option, think of all the cheap energy this nation missed out on in the last 40 years due to nuclear alarmists.

If science is prevailing over the dangers of nuclear power, why do you propose 50 reactors be located in less populous regions? the "NIMBY" position destroys credibility in the safety of nuclear power.

I am under the impression that available data shows that drilling in Florida will not lower our gas prices. It is also my understanding that accidents which cause oil spills happen everywhere even with new technology. My understanding is that states that have allowed for drilling haven't seen anywhere near the revenues that Florida has been promised- and their beaches have TAR BALLS. If I was an elected official with a vote I would start with these points. If they can't be refuted then what is the point of doing anymore research before I cast what is obviously the right vote for Florida.

The majority of our oil does not come from the Middle East.

In order, the top 5 are Canada (20%), Saudi Arabia (12% and the only ME source), Mexico (11%), Nigeria (9.5%), and Venezuela (8%).

You don't cure an addiction by finding a new source to feed your fix. And oil leases owned by Norway and sublet to China will NOT be flowing directly into Florida SUV tanks. :roll: