Comments on: Wall Street Journal Further Outs McDonnell’s Drilling Nonsense

By: LittleDavid

LittleDavid — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:01:02 +0000

A Rasmussen poll released in December shows 68% of Americans support offshore drilling with only 20% opposed and the rest undecided.

The only reference I could find of Virginia citizens, only, being polled was released in July 2008 and showed 70% of Virginians in favor of off shore drilling. While this poll is at least a little dated, I will note that Rasmussen in its latest poll of all Americans stated the margins were virtually unchanged from those obtained just prior to the November 2008 elections.

By: eileen

eileen — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:22:33 +0000

When it comes to Virginia, it is a question of appropriateness. And I would argue that it is not at all prudent to drill off Virginia’s shores. Too much risk (spills, Navy/NASA conflicts, tourism, fishing, etc.) for too little gain.

By: LittleDavid

LittleDavid — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:03:39 +0000

While I voted for Deeds:

I am in favor of off shore oil drilling. Every drop of oil we get from off shore while we are consuming it reduces the amount of oil we need to import.

It is common sense that claims that drilling locally for local consumption is better for the global environment. Some experts claim that while there are risks from drilling, the real risks are from transportation.

I have only what I think of as fuel efficient vehicles in my driveway. I am wondering just where people like Eileen (fuel efficient VW) and David Campbell (fuel efficient Toyota) think that percentage of fuel they still pump in their vehicles comes from?

I am in favor of winding down on our dependence on fossil fuels. I am not in favor of demanding that every barrel of oil we consume must come from foreign sources in the mean time. It is both bad for the economy and bad for the global environment.

By: David Campbell

David Campbell — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:12:58 +0000

Either McDonnell is dumb as a stump, or…

He knows his plan will never happen. It is nothing but cynical political posturing for his right-wing supporters. When it fails (as it will), he can rail against the environmentalists and Democrats in Washington and blame them for Virginia’s lack of transportation funding. Now that sounds like a plan.

By: David Campbell

David Campbell — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:04:59 +0000

McDonnell’s plan is based on the following assumptions:
1. A Democratic-majority Congress and President Obama will allow the sale of offshore oil leases.
2. They will finalize a map favorable to Virginia.
3. They will develop a revenue-sharing arrangement with Virginia.
4. The Navy will reverse their opposition to offshore drilling (or move their training elsewhere).
5. The amount of oil and gas offshore Virginia is about the same as Louisiana and Nova Scotia.
6. The pumping, storage, and other infrastructure will be developed (where in Virginia Beach?).
7. No oil leaks will ever harm Virginia Beach tourism.
8. All this will happen within the next four years, during McDonnell’s one and only term of office, in plenty of time to fund our transportation needs.

Other than that, it’s a slam dunk!