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Pres Bush, Why did you WAIT 7 years to Release Ban on Offshore Drilling?

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Putting pressure on congressional Democrats to back more exploration for oil, President Bush on Monday lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling that his stood since his father was president.

But the move, by itself, will do nothing unless Congress acts as well.

There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by the first President Bush in 1990. The current president, trying to ease market tensions and boost supply, called last month for Congress to lift its prohibition before he did so himself.


Somebody should ask President Bush why he waited 7 years to do anything about that executive ban on offshore drilling.  He knew back in 2000 that we had an energy crisis.  Remember his demanding Congress to allow for drilling in ANWR?  You might also remember that until very recently, the Republican Party controlled the Congress since way back in 1996.

Why did they wait for over 12 years?  You guessed it -- Election Day is 3 months away and Americans are angry about gas prices!


Comments (3)

Would love to know what business investments Bush and Cheney have made in preparation for "making ends meet" after leaving office.

The other question is why are gas prices going up so high? Has there been some major change in the last few months that would limit supply or spike demand? No?

Let's face it; the oil companies are trying to get their hands on Alaska & offshore drilling but they can't get either one if American's think that everything is going OK in terms of Oil. So they start raising the prices and try to create enough frustration in the public that we start begging our leaders to do what not that long ago; nobody wanted. The oil companies know that they have just a few short months left of a guaranteed friendly White House so they are trying their best to get what they want now before the election.

Actually you are omitting or forgetting the obvious. The explorable offshore oil area was reduced by Republican President G. W. Bush.

Remember back in 2002 when Jeb Bush was running for re-election for Florida Governor? The Bush brothers, George & Jeb, teamed up and had the federal government (tax payers) actually buy back undeveloped tracks that were already being leased by the oil companies for a cool $235 million. That became known as the Florida Compromise. Of course this made Jeb a hero so the buy back amounted to nothing but a campaign contribution.

Remember, it is always just money and politics for the Republicans. Todays scam is no different. It's just another election ploy. The Republicans have had years of total control to allow development of off shore wells; also years to build new refineries. They have done neither.

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