ARLINGTON, Va. (Map, News) - Sen. John McCain said Monday the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their own coasts.

With gasoline prices rising and the United States chronically dependent on foreign oil, the Republican presidential contender said his proposal would "be very helpful in the short term resolving our energy crisis."




McCain's presidential rival, Sen. Barack Obama, opposes an end to the moratorium, a spokesman said. Hari Sevugan said McCain's "plan to simply drill our way out of our energy crisis is the same misguided approach backed by President Bush that has failed our families for too long and only serves to benefit the big oil companies."

The current drilling moratorium is a perennial cause for controversy, pitting those who favor additional exploration on the one hand against environmentalists on the other.

I tend to agree with Obama on this. I think sacrificing the environment for a quick fix is the wrong way to go.
They should have BEEN looking for a way to wean ourselves from our dependency on oil.
I see this as another distraction to keep them from doing so anytime soon.
Like its said, "No one wants to fix the leaky roof when its not raining."
The environment is non-replaceable and should not be sacrificed because of the politicians and oil companies past practices of procrastination.
If living with the current hardship is what it takes to get them climbing the ladder to fix the roof, then so be it! Let's just fix it right the first time so we dont have to keep coming back to the problem.

I still want my flying car. When am I gonna get it? They promised!

Why is this country beating a dead horse? We have the technology now so that petroleom is obsolite, its extemely expensive and distructive to the enviroment. We have the ability to change the world as we now it and yet he refuses to even attempt it. It sounds to me that its just another OUTDATED and Archaic message from John McCain

you feed my truck for me so I can go back to makeing a liveing and then we'll talk !

I'm not advocateing for either side but he said short term answer not long . what part of that did'nt you get ?

Local news tonight - Honda releasing hydrogen/electric vehicle. Lease only.

Where in the hell are the American auto makers?

We only think we are #1?

SO ure gonna destroy the the worlds oceans for a "Short Term" Fix? That sounds pretty retarded to me when theres plenty of cellulose just layin around all over the place, goin to waste

The President has the ability to open the National Oil Reserve. Bush has refused to to this.

I doubt that McCain will...but you that Obama will.

so the chinese are drilling 74 miles off our coast now do you trust them ? retarded is anyone nixing one thing and calling it good at the expense of all others give up your car grow your own food in your backyard , milk your own cows . don't wear clothes and don't ever shop for anything again then come talk to me !

Three mile island put an unfortunate end to nuclear expansion in this country. Do you know that TVA has just restarted a nuclear reactor that has been idle for over 20 years? France is 80% nuclear and the US only 20%. 34 new ones are in the works.

I believe it was the Valdez oil spill in Alaska that stopped oil exploration in this country. Now you have $4 gas and going much higher.

Why can't the US ever find the middle road? There has got to be a sane way to drill for the oil, protect the environment, and hold companies that have environmental accidents responsible.

Actually Chevrolet is leading the world in Hydrogen Powered Vehicles!

Im with you bro!

In my neck of the woods, more people are taking public transit (bus and light rail)!

I do so whenever I can.

And you save money you would otherwise be putting in the gas tank!

My gf rides the bus, and sometimes, the train.

She has never owned a car because she's always used public transit.

So we let them drill?
I heard tell in Miss, Islands will disappear, sucked down as oil is pumped out. There are species of Ocean life that are already struggling. What do you do just sacrifice them for 10 yrs supply of oil? Wipe their kind off the face of the earth for 10 yrs?

Right now the US imports about 50% of its crude oil. That means we need an alternative to replace 50% of our energy needs to become self-sufficient.
Big Trucks would be one of the hardest users of crude we have to replace. But, that still leaves other areas that we can replace crude with other means. Wind Power, hydrogen & electric personal vehicles, etc.
We need to fix the problem long term. Maybe permanently if we can, and in ways that later can be expanded to take over more of our crude oil needs!

One question I have, is even though we have researched electric engines (solar-powered) before, set up so that the energy is stored for future use, and you can plug the car in to charge it if absolutely neccesary, why arent wee seeing more of it? Solar-Power is the numebr one reusable energy source we have that we have no control or affect on, unlike oils and such.