CNN

NOBAMA 08.

He tried to make america more suffered by higher taxes, higher gas, cost of life ZOOM UP... look at past two years that D has been control the congress, now look at it.... Before that, gas only nearby 2 dollars, now 4 dollars?!?!?!? who fault is that? it is D....

NOBAMA!

Drilling for oil within the US isn't going to lower gas prices. Oil prices are set by buyers around the world. This is just another stupid idea by the brainless neocons! Let's face it, it is time to look for other sources of energy that are sustainable for the long term. Neocons are like drunks trying to get off alcohol by hanging at a bar.

Most Americans don't live on the California coast and have seen what drilling can do to WHERE YOU LIVE. Alternative energy- not more oil!!!

McBush and McSame are using oil as an election gimmick. Note that Bush is an oil man. Now that he is leaving office, he wants to drill more oil and pocket the money. And McCain is falling into this trap because he is desperate to win an election. We cannot drill ourselves out of oil and the gains cannot be felt by the end of this year. It's going to take 10 years to see results. If Bush & McCain are serious about immediate relief, why not release some oil from the strategic oil reserve that America has been storing for so many years. These Republicans are much ado about nothing. It took Bush 71/2 years in the White House to start looking for a solution. And some naive people are buying this crap. Go figure!

Most of you are missing the point about increasing domestic supply. There are two issues:
1) Drill now so that oil doesn't cost $1,000 per barrel in 5 years. You are only looking at TODAY – think about the future!
2) Make sure $100+ oil doesn't go to countries who hate us.

People like Pelosi and Reid and Obama are going to keep us dependent on every other country and we will never be oil independent. We are setting our selves up to be taken over and somone else will be using our resources. It is called National Security, not power play and control between bull headed power hungery control freaks. They have no clue or idea what is is to get us back as an independent America.
At nearly 70 yrs old I don't have 50 yrs to live to see if OBAMA and FLUFFY PELOSI ideas work. How many of you do??

Here's your choices:

Drill and increase the world supply...which simple economics tells you will lower costs(just the possibility of doing so lowered the cost) or we could follow the democrat's plan which is, well, um....nothing...there is no democrat plan. Oh wait....they do have a plan....raise taxes!

Why aren't we using the leases that we already have approved????This is PANDERING on the backs of Americans

The Republican Party under the rule of George Bush and Dick Cheney will say anything to get the American people to believe that opening enviromentally sensitive land will bring down gas prices.

The real plan is to get as much land freed up for the big oil companies before George Bush and Dick Cheney leave office.

So what this poll is saying is that we have a bunch of naive Americans willing to believe the lies coming from the Republcan party. Haven't they fooled us enough? How much more of beating can we take?

This should be a three pronged attack on the price of oil and speculation; better legislation, releasing 5% of the 97% full oil reserves and a leader that can ask Americans to stay home for one day to create an additional surplus. The last the Bush Administration would never do because he’s and oil man. McCain would never do because he’s in bed with the oil man. For those that remember it worked under the Clinton administration very well.

$4.59? Where the heck is that at? Right now it's more like $3.60.

Who is going to pay for off-shore drilling? We are. It is expensive.
Do you really believe that what oil comes from this is all coming to the U.S.? NO! It will be sold to the highest bidders. Just like it is today. Will the price come down? NO! Where will the oil be refined? In the U.S.? No! It will be refined where it is now in Mexico or Canada. This adds to the price even more! Are there wells inland that have been deliberately capped? Yes! Are there acres and acres of land already leased where there has not been drilling? Yes! Are we a nation of gullible car junkies? Yes we are. Would I sell out my country or the planet for a 20 cent savings on gas? Hell no!
In 5 years alternative energy sources will be readily available. The oceans will be polluted. For what? The status quo sucks. We need to look past tomorrow. There is no gain without pain folks.
Obama/Biden

no bama Are you as stupid as you sound? How do you figure drilling will help you today? You won't see the first drop of it in 10 years so what is the difference between that and the energy the scientists will produce in 10 to 15 yrs. You must be 1 of the 2/3 of the idiots in your country.

most of us Americans are stupid and care only abut having enough gas to get to wal mart... drilling is not the answer.. inexpensive hybrid cars made here in america is the answer

Most American's support expanding oil exploration and the democrat leadership in Congress is going on vacation.

Do we really want the poster boy for this 'Congress' running the country?

The smart Americans are voting NO! on Obama.

THE PEOPLE WHO WANT MORE OIL DRILLING REALLY DONT KNOW ALL THE FACTS. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE MISLEAD THE PUBLIC FOR SO LONG SO HOW CAN WE TRUST THEM.

DONT TRUST WHAT THE REPUBS TELL YOU...

OBAMA .08

Then most Americans are fools and suckers.

It is not in the best interest of the oil companies to drill off-shore. It is in the best interest of the oil companies to hoard as much land area where they are allowed to drill. To increase their potential inventories of oil, while everyone runs out.

Whether or not they actually drill off-shore is another issue. In light of the fact they are hoarding millions of under utilized acres right now speaks volumes.

Here we go again before Pres Bush leaves the office Repulicans want to go away more land leases (belonging to all American) to these oil companies to say thank you for raising the oil prices while making record profits. Voters wake up why don's these oil companies drill on the existing land leases. Another looting of American resources by cronies.

Pretty soon we're going to be Mole People.
We're going to have to move underground
because we are successfully killing this
planet. We'll have to dig vast, underground
cities because the surface isn't going to be
safe anymore due to all the drilling and
pollution.

Mole People! MOLE PEOPLE!

Its becoming more evident most Americans are morons that think what they are told to think by the media. Both right and left, repubs and dems. Yeah of course the majority want driling now that we're in crisis because they are gullible or dumb enough to fall for a supposed quick fix. Just like the stupid people that can't and never could afford the homes now foreclosed. Just like the clueless that elected W to a second term. Just like those that think Obama is the great hope and those that think every problem is caused by the opposing political party. Our entire government is raping us and most continue to play into their hands. UGH! NO WONDER AMERICA IS F'd. I think it might be time to vote out every incumbent at every level.

Anyone with a shred of intelligence knows the only long term solution is alternative energy. Its possible if we fund research and develpoment instead of subsidizing big oil. Of course, Ted Stevens might need another addition to his house from his buddy ,the oil exec. But as many of his colleagues said, " He's as honest and updstanding as anyone I know" WHAT??? Looks like our so called leaders are just as dumb as the average American.

Yes and most American's voted for George Bush. They just cannot quit making big mistakes!

Unfortunately, most Americans are wrong about this. It's just like how most Americans were wrong when we were going into Iraq, and now we realize it was a pretty lame idea. Oil companies have used their influence to make the energy crisis all about drilling instead of making it about alternative energy. We need alternative energy now, not in 10 years when the world's starting to run out of oil and everywhere is starting to look like China, all smoggy and gross. We can't have people start dying from Air pollution, that's just not an option. We have to invest in solar, wind, and some types of biodeisel.

*************

We need a campaign of ads from our top economists out there educating people about the true benefactors of off-shore drilling, how much it will actually impact or gas prices and how off-shore drilling does not solve our dependence on oil.

*************

Oh, and we can build the refineries in Crawford, Texas and Sedona, Arizona, right adjacent to Bush's and McCain's properties.

Drill more, drill more, got to DRILL MORE!!! Nevermind the FACT that there are over 67 THOUSAND ACRES that the oil companies have leased from the American Government to drill on that HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED. (I bet that 90% of those who want us to drill are the same people who have no clue in just how many vacant grids there are in the Gulf that is NOT BEING USED). Let's just drill all around the U.S. in fact, lets start to drill in every state in the Union, this way we are sure to get every last precious drop out of the ground. Who cares about what damage this will cause, just as long as we can fill up our gas guzzlers, that IS the most important thing.

BTW, who gets the oil that is piped down through the Alaska Pipe Line?

Anyone?? Anyone??

Where are these polls conducted, and who makes up
the control group, and what number of Americans are
being polled?

Polls are stupid. I can ask 3 people if they're for offshore
drilling, and if 2 of them say yes, than does that mean I
can say that "twp-thirds of Americans are for offshore
drilling?"

Its stupid to believe that drilling off the coast would bring down prices. If congress and Bush allowed the oil companies to drill the speculators will still speculate. Speculator know that they have at least 7yrs left before 1 drop of oil gets pumped out. The REPUBLICANS want us to believe its the democrates fault. They seem to forget that they controled the HOUSE, SENATE, AND WHITE HOUSE for 6 yrs. They also seem to forget that the oil companies don't even have to sell the oil in America. They can pump as much as they want and send it to China like they already do. The American public won't see a drop of any new oil production. If you want something to happen choose a democrate.

CORRECTION

McCain received over $900,000 from oil company this year alone. Politico.com re: lobbyist money

Just open up another vein...we are addicts! I love how the American people think..not in the long term of course. What should have been dealt with twenty years ago or more, America's problem with addiction to fossil fuels and people want more offshore drilling. Unbelievable and like others, I am not well off and have to pay for gas like everybody else but I am willing to make a change instead of just going back for more. It's pathetic!

I AM NOT SURPRISED BY THIS POLL. MOST AMERICANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN DRILL EVERYWHERE BUT IT WILL TAKE YEARS BEFORE THE OIL REACHES US!

I am disappointed that the media and CNN have not done a special report on drilling so that you can educate people!

McCain knows, as I do, that it will take years to affect the price of oil!

ALSO, LOOK HOW THE PRICE HAS DROPPED WITHOUT DRILLING IN OUR FRAGILE OCEANS.......... SIMPLY BE WE, THE PEOPLE, CONSERVING!

IF THERE IS SO MUCH OIL ON OUR COASTS, DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE OIL COMPANIES WITH ALL THEIR POWER WOULD HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR DRILLING ON OUR COASTS LONG AGO????????????????????????????????????????????????

SEEMS SUSPICIOUS TO ME. THIS IS BIG TIME PANDERING BY THE GOP & MCCAIN.......... BUT NO ONE 'SEES' .......SCARY!

Use up all the forieghn oil we can...then see how well OPEC does selling sand! More drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a broken dam!

NOT THIS AMERCIAN!

Oh but king obama has said that he is not in favor of offshore oil drilling. He knows best whats good for the country because he has a lifetime of service and reaching out for bipartisan solutions-NOT

" NOT THIS TIME" –NOT FAlling in LINE.
Country over Party
MC Cain 2008
Hillary 2012

This may be necessary as part of a COMPREHENSIVE energy plan, that in the long term moves us as close to being completely off oil as possible in the next 20 years and coal and nuclear in the next 50 years. Conservation, efficiency, technology, and renewable sources are the keys to our energy future.

Question #1: If offshore drilling rigs are perfectly safe from storms as people were saying two weeks ago, why were energy traders holding their breath when Hurricane Dolly swept through the gulf last week?

Question #2: How much should we charge oil companies for the oil they extract from public lands? How about $25 less than the spot price of oil? Otherwise we are providing windfall profits to oil companies at the expense of the American taxpayer, sometimes referred to as corporate welfare. Increased supply will still bring prices down and the charge would go down accordingly.

There are other ways to help the economy, but there's only one environment. If you guys want to screw it up, kiss it goodbye.

@Wecanseerightthruobama–Unfounded talking points? Do you have any evidence to suggest that all of the point made here are unfounded. Do you have some secret info to suggest that the oil drilled won't be used across the world? Or that oil companies actually are drilling on land they already have access to? I don't think so. Those are facts, not talking points.

Drilling offshore won't make a difference in the short term, but, in the long run we won't have to kiss the saudies butts to keep our country running and I'm all for that. Its about time we start looking ahead to do what is best for OUR country rather then doing for other countries who want nothing to do with us, If they reject our help, let them fend for themselves,
When will you people in Washington learn that most of the American people are tired of going without so we can send billions to countries that turn around and use the money we send to buy guns to shoot at us with. all of America knows that , you people in Washington seem to be the only ones who don't.
You better start caring about our country or come election time we will put people in office with or without experience who want the job. Obamas run for the presidency should be a wake up call to all of you senators and congressmen that the people are fed up with the status quo.

The CNN polls are highly inaccurate. I've seen 8-9 point swings in polling results from day to day. So to say that your polls are truly representative of the American people is highly suspect.

Many Americans shoot from the hip, they are followers. This is why Bush got elected twice, and why McCain is where he is right now in the polls. Americans are voting for like minded individuals to tell them what to do, and what to think.

Offshore drilling is not going to help or solve the problem right now! It will years from now.. But thats years from now! People need to understand that..

MOST AMERICAN VOTED FOR BUSH.... TWICE!!!! CLEARLY MOST AMERICANS ARE STUPID AND CAN'T BE TRUSTED TO MAKE EDUCATED DECISIONS

Let me be blunt: If you were opposed to drilling offshore and in ANWR when gas was $2.00/gal, there is NO principled reason to support it when gas is $4.00/gal, $5.00/gal, or even higher.

Look, I despise paying $75 for a tank of gas as much as (or, given my long commute, probably more than) the next guy, and I'm certainly not rolling in the dough. But the reasons why offshore and ANWR drilling are BAD IDEAS haven't changed. Gas prices ebb and flow, and are mostly up due to a current, probably brief, speculative bubble. But extraction of oil from offshore fields and ANWR will do IRREVERSIBLE damage: and I'm not talking just about the namby-pamby, "elitist", tree-hugging concerns like, oh, plant and wildlife health and the "purity" of nature.... I'm talking about increased pollution, degradation of fisheries and tourism, INEVITABLE oil spills fouling our waters (sorry, McCain, no such thing as "safe" new drilling technologies).

Plus, the problem we have right now isn't just that our oil comes from abroad, its that we are so dependant on oil regardless of the source. We are no better than addicts, and we are poisoning ourselves in the process. All of our energy investments at this point should focus on developing efficient and practical electric cars, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, filling our electric grid (that will charge those cars) with electrons from renewable, non-warming, non-polluting sources like solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric.

And, lastly, the example of the oil companies' laziness in pursuing oil drilling on the MILLIONS of acres already authorized shows that (a) oil won't be flowing from offshore and ANWR drills for DECADES, at best, and (b) it probably still isn't economically viable, anyways.

Folks,

There is a big sucking machine that is grabbing googles of oil from the market. It is called the Iraqi war. Are all these tanks, HVs, vihecles, and military airplanes running on sand? It seems to me that one way to lower the American demand for oil is STOP THE WAR IN IRAQ.

Nope! Let's just expand the war in Iraq and blame it all on Barack Obama. Why not? That's the McCain answer for our oil problems.

Get a grip, especially you neo-morons who like to drink any type of short-term kool-aid that corporate America and the [R] are handing out. Let's see: the American public split on an important issue. When was the last time that happened? And what did we get?-–President George Bush.

If there is one thing that the American public has made clear over the last 8 years, it is that they are dreadfully incompetent at selecting the correct path forward. The same people who want drilling in new areas off the coast because they think it will affect gas prices now, tend to be the same people who will vote for McCain, who tend to be the same people who voted for Bush. These people are PROVEN idiots when it comes to chosing what's best for America - they think short-term, and they vote based on fear. And for these reasons I view these people as cowardly Americans. They are a shameful bunch, that repeatedly put at risk the very national experiment that our forefathers started and many people have since sacrificed for - one need only look at what has happened to our government and our nation over the past 8 years. These people are proud of their lapel pins, but they are empty of true patriotism. These people wave the constitution, but continually vote people into office that trample on it. These people glorify the current mess we are in as the correct way forward, and thus they have no intention of creating or supporting solutions to the real problems that plague or country.

Quite simply: a vote for a [R] this fall is a vote to continue this country's backslide into the Dark Ages.

People need to understand that drilling off the coast of California will not yield crude oil for consumption by automobiles, but will only provide materials for building roads and other places where crude oil is used. It will do nothing to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and it will do nothing to help those struggling to fill up their tanks. How about this: I have cut my gas costs in half through the magical thing known as "car-pooling."

What is the BEST cast scenario for offshore drilling? Answer: Enough oil to supply a year's worth of American consumption. Now, try and tell me that is worth the risk of polluting our coasts, killing wildlife, and being an all-round eyesore. I just love the idea of trash from the oil rigs washing up on my beaches. To change the analogy slightly, the oil provided would be like a drop in the barrel. It's one of these knee-jerk reactions that is not based on fact and logic, but rather based on the current "oil panic." We need ALTERNATIVE energies, not more drilling for oil. It's too bad that terrible, horrible, awful president Jimmy Carter couldn't do what he WANTED to do and invest heavily in alternative energies. He was dismissed, and look how that turned out. It's just too bad that big oil is driving this issue, and deceiving most Americans into believing this will alleviate our pain at the pump.

Thast cause most american's are dumb....

It's not so much that it will reduce gas it is the right of the states to have access to their own natural resources. They were banned for the wrong reasons. Now if they were banned in an effort to protect the private property of beachfront homeowners then maybe I could understand but they weren't. More states rights, less central government and everyone will benefit especially the local communities where jobs may be . Sounds like a plan to me.

Folks,

The offshore drilling issue is a false issue put forth by the Republican party to bamboozle easily fooled voters; the Republicans are always very good at exploiting voters' ignorance–and they may get away with it again. This is a false issue not only because opening up currently banned areas will not lower gas prices due to not be able to even come close to America's demand for oil, but because there are miles and miles of non-banned areas open for drilling right now that are not being drilled. Why should banned areas be opened for drilling when the non-banned areas are not even being drilled? And if the Republicans actually thought drilling would lower gas prices why didn't they press the oil companies (that support them all the time) to drill in the non-banned areas for the last 20 years? To score political points, McCain is arguing dishonestly that Obama and the Democrats are preventing drilling by not opening the banned areas when that is not the truth because the open areas could be drilled right now–and much to my pain Obama is allowing the issue to be framed that way. Obama should argue he is in favor of drilling–just in the non-banned areas and he should raise the questions I have noted above–forcefully.

Forget about more drilling for fossil fuels that could be the cause for major disaster and start using what we have the most of in this country..NATURAL GAS..even if drilling began it would not be for another 10 years before any of us sees any benefit from it, if ever, cause big oil will only just sell it to the rest of the world for a higher price. Big oil have always been in the Republican pockets (Chaney/Bush) and will be the same with McSurge.

Yuck... Texas doesn't have great shorelines. Yet, it's not from the oil industry. Not every coast line in the world is like the French Riviera.

Louisiana has terrible beaches, but it's not from big oil. It's from the silt flowing out of the Miss. River Delta.

Shows you how smart Americans are. Desperate, self-centered, uninformed and always unwillingly to sacrifice.

Drilling Caused The Problem!!!!

There's not enough Oil in the World to fuel all the Cars In the World!!!!!

Consumers can no longer afford Oil!!!!!!!

It's time for NEW FUEL!!!!!!!!
Bio Fuel, Hybrids, Electrics...... NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

We can't drill ourselves out of the same problem that has existed for decades!!!! Drilling NEAR SHORE, will POLUTE THE SHORES!!!!!!

Instead of letting American Companys drill in the Gulf now, why did Bush BANN them from drilling in Cuba 4 years ago!!!!!! If he had allowed it, we would have Oil from Cuba Today!!!!!! The problem would had been better Today!!!!! The Cold War is Over!!!!! Cuba is not a threat!!!!! We could had been drilling there 4 years ago, but Bush BANNED IT!!!!!!!

It's too late to start drilling new now, because the Oil wouldn't be here for years!!!!!! Bush created the Problem by not working with Oil Suppliers!!!!

Learn from the Past!!!! Learn from our mistakes!!!! Don't drill again, instead BUILD BETTER CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUILD BETTER CARS!!!!!!!!!!!
BUILD BETTER CARS!!!!!!!!!
BUILD BETTER CARS!!!!!!!!
BUILD BETTER CARS!!!!!

If we want New Oil Now, then get it from Cuba!!!!!!!!

Most Americans are stupid ... they gave us 8 years of George Bush ... case closed.

Big Oil can't or won't drill on the thousands of acres of leases they already have...they want more...IT'S NEVER ENOOUGH! Sorry, there are still a few parts of the earth you can't have! Sorry.

Oil companies are leasing millions of acres of land and AREN'T drilling on it. They are artificially lowering the supply of oil which increases the cost. This is the same thing that Enron was doing.

You know, if the oil companies had run out of area where they could drill and NEEDED the "ban" to lift, then we could have this conversation. But there are still huge areas left untapped by them. So, what, you want to give them MORE space ... not to drill in? Sure, why not?

Off course we are for domestic drilling. We cannot continue to rely on foreign sources of oil. We also need to open new refineries, construct nuclear power plants and seek alternative sources of fuel for America's automobiles. We need to stop thinking short term and prepare a better future for our children and grandchildren.

Well McCain have to spend his campaign money so how.

When most people are finding it difficult to pay gas, difficulty with their home bill, difficulty with their health care bill.

McCain have all the money to spend on negative ad against Obama. McCain have nothing really to say about Obama so he make things up.

Is McCain the next president you really need NOW? McCainflip flopper, the media cover Obama 75% percent than McCain, but all the coverages are negative news that McCain want them to cover.

All the mispeak, all the flip flops McCain have commited none appears on the news and if they do it doesn't last half a day.

When will the media be fair?

There you go again CNN – polling Big Oil.

Why don't you poll people from CA, FL, NC?

JUST WAIT
SEN. OBAMA WILL SOON HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADVISE US THAT HE AGREES WITH T BOONE WHO IS SAYING PRETTY MUCH WHAT MCCAIN IS SAYING BUT BECAUSE HE (OBAMA ) SAYS IT LOUDEST AT A TELEVISED PROBABLY CNN NEWS CONFERENCE HE WILL DEEM THAT THIS REVELATION IS HIS ALONE PLEASE HILLARY AND BILL START YOUR OWN PARTY IT'S TIME

The voice of the people are more important than Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and the power trip they're playing in Congress. The people are ALWAYS right.

Well 50% are wrong. Somebody needs to educate those 50% so they don't end up being mislead into voting for McCain.

I really don't care, if they drill or not; I don't!...........................

Time Magazine a few weeks back ran a very TINY little breakdown of why we won't see oil for 6-10 years if the ban were to be lifted.

And for some reason, the media (Cable, online, and printed press) does not want to report ANY of this to the public. (my guess is that this debate garners a lot of attention and attention equals ratings which equals $$$ which equals..well, you get the picture)

I will now do my best to recreate the breakdown.

Even if the ban were to be lifted tomorrow and Off-shore drilling were to be greenlighted, we will not see oil for 6-10 years because:

1-2 years – surveying possible oil drilling sites
1-2 years – testing the possible oil drilling sites to see if there will be any oil
1-2 years – once oil is found, rigs and drills need to be built
1-2 years – drilling begins

also, for some reason, nobody seems to understand that the few billion barrels that can come out of this offshore drilling will only supply American with oil for about ONE YEAR.

so we can trade 6-10 years of Research and Development and tax payers' dollars to drill for about 1 year's worth of oil.

That really doesn't sound like the most profitable return.

Republicans may not raise taxes,but they makeup for it in higher energy bills that go directly in to there offshore banks.

Why is nobody talking about the fact that drilling won't matter because of the companies? Republicans go around screaming that it will make things cheaper in 20-30 years, but no, it won't, ever. The companies drilling will do what's best for them. So we give them the right to destroy our shores to get more oil, and then they sell it to the highest bidder. Which right now is NOT America. The Chinese and Indian government's and their corporations are paying top dollar for their gas. Just because we let them drill in our country doesn't mean they'll sell it to us. They have a duty to their shareholders and not the American public.

when a man like T boone pickens say tthat it will not matter we can not drill our way out i would listen to him.to tell the truth i am not a pickens fan

I've always voted mostly Democrat, but I have voted for Republicans on occasion and have always considered myself open minded. The Republican reaction to high gas prices, however, and their incredibly transparent call for more oil drilling despite every expert on earth predicting it wouldn't help for at least 10 years, has completely turned me off. McCain has no shot at my vote now. I'm not completely against drilling, but to focus on drilling and drilling only while ignoring the alternative forms of energy that will allow the US to lead the world for the rest of the century is absolutely criminal. I don't know how these Republicans can look themselves in the mirror, and I plan to do everything I can to make sure they don't have any say in the future of this country.

To all you who hate oil drilling, why don't you let the states decide? If YOU don't want drilling off your coasts (if you even have a coast) don't stop my state from doing it.

Republicans aren't calling for all states to HAVE to open their shores...but each state sure as hell should have the right to decide on what they do with their coasts. I live in Louisiana and the positives that oil and natural gas business brings to our state outwieghs the negatives 100 fold.

what about the oil spill in the mississippi last week that still has it closed down and has killed thousands of wildlife? Those that want off shore drilling don't live near the beach. Besides what about the 65 million acres the gas companies are currently leasing? Why don't they drill there?

Eric, you've reflected my thoughts exactly! Unfortunately, most Americans simply aren't fully aware of the devastating impact our addiction to oil has on our environment, wildlife, and health, and it's only going to make matters even worse if we do not act quickly! This is not simply a "liberal" notion as some would want us to believe. These are facts that are firmly grounded in science... anyone who has studied the subject of ecology would understand. If more of the country were to be made aware of how truly WRONG and immoral this decision would be, I am absolutely certain that they would be against it. Our time for transition to clean, sustainable, and renewable energy is long overdue, and it's the only sane choice if we hope for future generations to survive as we know it. Oil is a FINITE resource which means we have to wean off of it anyway... this is a simple point that many seem to miss.

The republican pillagers and looters still want more of your money,they dont care if your pockets are empty.

Possibly Tom, but it's not like there really is a shortage out there. Just like the late 70s, there is oil that can be produced, but the powers that be (cough Exxon Mobile, Texaco, BP, et al) are choosing to reduce supply to increase their profit margins.

oh yeah i forgot...the ERON LOOPHOLE (Google it before you fill up your tank) Phil Gramm's, McCain's good friend and advisor, baby...the Dems have tried to regulate speculators who maneuver through the ENRON LOOPHOLE but they are the majority by one ONE seat...so the repubs have blocked the Dems efforts, holding the American people hostage. the Dems are Majority by only ONE seat they have been fighting to release oil from the reserves but the repubs blocked that too...holding the American people hostage. the Dems are the majority by only ONE seat but that is not enough to stop repub filibusters. off shore drilling does not make sense...this are bad, gas is high but false solutions born from desperation lead only to catastrophe.

50% of Americans voted for Bush....TWICE! Of course, they want off-shore drilling. They're stupid.

SURE THEY DO BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT WE WILL BE PAYING FOR IT.............. LITERALLY

Some quick facts:

1. There is a higher percentage risk of spills when importing oil rather then drilling domestically.

2. Every 4 years due to natural seapage, oil the same amount as the exxon spill goes into the waters off the coast of California. Drilling actually works to alleviate this natural seapage.....just some science for the dems who choose to ignore it......

Adrian Veidt July 30th, 2008 11:38 am ET

Drilling for offshore oil is not a quick fix. It will take years to see the effects. It's not a solution, it's just something that LOOKS like a solution to someone who has never studied it.

So, OK we get the oil tomorrow, will that lower prices? NO. Why, because all oil is sold on basically one market. The price of oil is strongly determined by future price sales. Buyers try to predict what they need and make bids for oil at a future price for delivery. Speculators can influence the price by buying the futures (long and short sales). Supply does not directly affect prices. It takes a drastic change in oil supply for the futures to be affected the way that big oil wants you to believe. What all this expanded drilling will do is secure the profits of the big oil companies. Ask them why they have thousands of wells capped while they are still productive. The answer is that they can't get as big a profit from those wells. Ask them to release the wells to smaller companies and they will tell that they plan to use those capped wells in the future. Hey, the future is now. Stop asking for more before you have used what you already have.

Has American cornered the market on STUPIDITY??? I think so. If only they knew the real facts about giving the big oil company more offshore drilling rights instead of buying into the BULL that the Republican and McSurge who opposed it from that start, and then flip for political gain, they would be shocked.

WAKE UP AMERICA. MCSURGE IS A DISASTER WAITING LIKE BUSH

IT IS ONLY COMMON SENSE TO BRIDGE THE GAP TO THE FUTURE INDEPENDENCE FROM FOSSIL FUEL ON TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU KNOW. GAMBLING ON ALTERNITIVES WITHOUT A BACK UP CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO STEEL PRICES IF WE USE IT ALL FOR WIND TURBINES . CARS AND ANYTHING MADE WITH IT WILL BE OUT OF REACH FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. BIO FUELS IS ALREADY MAKING A DRASTIC CHANGE ON THE PRICE OF CEREALS ECT. IT IS EASY TO SAY WIND POWER, BIO FUEL, SOLAR ECT. BUT WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENSES OF THOSE ACTIONS. YOU NEED THE TRIED AND TRUE TILL WE CAN SORT OUT THE PROS AND CONS OF ALTERNATIVES. LIKE ALWAYS SEN. OBAMA MAKES HIS PRESENTATION WITHOUT A PROPER DEMONSTRATION SO IT IS JUST SIMPLY CONVERSATION. IS IT NOT

@ BR- Oil is traded on a world market. We cannot just say, we drilled it, it is ours. We drill it, it goes on a WORLD market and other countries can buy however much they want. People in this country may not see American oil for years.

Why not start drilling on-shore, in places where oil companies already have what they need to drill? And I'm not talking about the Arctic Wildlife Refuge – I'm talking about the palces that the oil companies have already secured yet are apparently ignoring. That would make more sense than doing it off-shore.

America wants the gas prices to drop, whatever it takes!!

Can't believe what I'm reading. America was built on oil not wind or solar. Everything runs on oil not wind. If not for the oil industry, we'd be another 3rd world country. Kicking the oil habit as you suggest would put our economy in a further decline. Is that what you want? Recessions and depressions are defined by a lack of growth in the economy. Artificially limiting the supply of oil, hurts our economy tremendously. Every dollar sent overseas for over-prices oil is a dollar not spend on american goods and services. Think about it! Why the heck wouldn't we use our own oil for the next 50 years. Think about technology 50 years ago and then think about what it might be like 50 years from now. Why starve ourselves. It makes no sense unless you want people to suffer along with our economy.

Getting our oil (we'll always need oil, not just for fuel...) domestically rather than from overseas is top priority.

National Security and trade deficits are just as important, if not more, than the price at the pump.

You want to end the so called 'oil wars'? We'd have little interest in the middle east if they weren't supplying 70% of our energy...

I'm convinced the dumbing down of America is in full bloom..That acid, heroin, and hippie juice really altered the baby boomers ability to think rationally. Drill more, for no effect.. Good grief!

and those who want offshore drilling are those dense enough to believe it's going to have an effect some time soon.

tap into the 200 BILLION barrels of reserve we have while we transition to alternative forms of energy. it's not rocket science.

Gas has skyrocketed the past 2 years. Pelosi made a promise when Dems took over house and senate that gas would fall. She is a liar, plain and simple.

Dems own things and look where gas is. You lose dems...

I do not have a problem with off shore drilling per se. My problem with the GOP argument is that the oil companies currently have millions of acres currently licensed for drilling but they are not tapping these areas. Instead they are seeking additional areas. If they believe the ol is more plentiful elsewhere, then release their current rights in exchnge for new ones. Otherwise, go where they have already been approved.

America cannot continue to import and expect sympathy from any government. We have oil. We need oil. How arogant to have not already drilled and at least held in reserve what we have. The oil shale in western states has been known as a resource since before World War ONE. We want. We need. Let's do in with the expertise that Americans can muster better than anyone.

No matter what we eventually end up with for alternative energy, widespread use is decades away. Meanwhile oil will continue to be a major energy source. We need to drill wherever we think there is hope of finding oil, in parallel with developing new energy sources. There is no 'one size fits all' answer. I am perplexed by Obama’s failure to see this, as well as his opposition to nuclear. France gets 80% of it’s electricity from nuclear, while the US gets less than 20%. New reactor designs are safe, and with reprocessing, the supply of uranium will last centuries. We can’t afford to rule anything out. We need oil, nuclear, coal, wind, solar, biofules, ocean thermal, tidal, etc. Anything that can generate a kilowatt of power needs to be brought online.

I suggest that all democrats stop using oil. That will cut our comsumption in half and we wont need to drill.

Most people are cheeps, and dont even know what the heck is going on..
All they hear is lower prices, lover prices, tax holiday tax holiday.. Not understanding what the price will be later...
Like why we now have 1-4 bridges that should not even be used for traffic.. and we need 140 Billions to repair them so we can drive on them or replace them..

most americans dont know what they want. the tv gennereation can only think about 15 min into the future. and forgets the past as soon as it history.

One last scam by the Big Oil-funded Republicans. Off shore drilling will neither reduce our dependence on foreign oil NOR will it bring down gasoline prices any time before 2017. This is simply a cynical means convincing the American people to act against their own interest with claims that helping Big Oil will help the little guy.

Fortunately, its their last gasp....Big Oil won't hhave control of Washington after Bush/Cheney are gone.

If seems that oil companies have the ability to drill offshore for oil now. There are large areas available now. Before any other lands are opened up to oil companies, we should allow the oil companies to drill in the areas available to them now. We should FIRST see if they will drill for oil in an environmentally responsible way. Once you ruin the environment then if it will nearly impossible to clean up the mess. My message to oil companies is prove you can be responsible citizens first. If you can prove that, then more areas could become available to them in the future. Also, any environmental clean-up that needs to be done should be totally the responsibility of the oil companies. NO taxpayer money should be used to clean-up any oil spill or any other environmental disaster caused by offshore drilling.

Poll: Most Americans want offshore drilling.
Newsflash: Most Americans are idiots.

I think democratic party and their candidate out of touch with Americans
Bill Clinton is the only One from democratic party know the feelings of Americans
Hillary please comes back
Hillary 08 or Mc Cain 08

Why is it that no one ever asks this simple question about off shore drilling. What state that does not already have off shore drilling is in favor of off shore drilling off their own shore line? Why is it never reported that the people in coastal states are not as "IN favor" of off shore drilling as the people that live in states that do not have shores? Are the people in Washington using this a a wedge issue when they know that every state with a shore line, if given the opportunity to have off shore drilling, will say yes we want it, just not "in our backyard!"

America can thank Harry Reid, Pelosi, Obama, Kennedy, Rangle, Schumer, Clinton, and the rest of the democrats every time they fill their gas tank.

These people are hostage to special interest groups that prefer to REDUCE Americans standard of living than drill in areas where other countries (China, Cuba, etc.) are currently drilling.

This is the height of idiocy!

Americans should learn how to conserve. Try driving a car that gets over 30 miles/gallon for starters. You're all way overdue.

It is simply foolish and selfish to drive those huge gas guzzlers.

Or do you want to flood the coastlines with another oil spill? Remember Santa Barbara?

I don't get it. There will be no benefit for Americans other than more profit for oil companies. And then what happens when those leases stop producing?

We need a real solution to energy problems in our country. Our nation could fund reasearch on alternative energy instead of offering tax breaks to people that buy gas guzzling trucks (and do not need them, come on, you don't need an F350 to go to work for the county). We could have stopped mergers of oil companies that now openly conspire to toy with supply and demand in order to increase profits instead of choosing to "deregulate" the industry. But then that would take leadership, something which our country has lacked in this issue for a very long time and has been particualarly bad for the last 7 odd years.

Drilling is allowed off of the Texas coast and tarballs wash up on the beach. You can buy a special product that will get the tar off when you step in one, which you'll need because it won't wash off and it won't come out of your floorboard either.

Why aren't oil companies already drilling in areas they currently have access to? And what evidence does McCain have that we will see the benefits of offshore drilling in a matter of months.

Democrats symbol of hope. Republicans symbol of despair.
Obama '08

I suppose 2/3 of Americans also think that the best way to stop a crack cocaine addiction is to first use up all of the cocaine in your house. Throwing more money at oil is stupid. We need to devote all of our money (both public and private) to new sources of energy. If we were really serious about it, we could be successful in the time it would take to get the oil that is out there to the pump.

And from a purely practical standpoint, it makes more sense to do this, as we could then be an energy exporter, leasing the technology that WE control.

Maybe those folks who are in favor of offshore drilling should talk with the folks down in Louisiana.

Can't imagine the disasters awaiting communities close to our shores as Bush, Cheney, & McCain deregulate offshore drilling so their buddies can GET Ultra RICH QUICK before alternative fuels take hold.

Anybody who believes THEY (the Republicans) are pushing offshore drilling to help the average American is out of their mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OBAMA 08

IT WILL TAKE 10 YEARS BEFORE WE SEE ANY EFFECTS OF OFF SHORE DRILLING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, WE DEPEND ON OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHFRONT FOR REVENUE. WE CANT AFFORD A SPILL? WE JUST WENT THRU THREE VERY POWERFUL HURRICANES AND ARE STILL PUTTING THIS STATE BACK TOGETHER. ITS NOT THE SOLUTION, IN FLORIDA EVERY NEW HOME SHOULD BE BUILT SOLAR. BUT THEY ARE NOT. THIS GOVERNMENT BETTER GET OUT OF BED WITH BIG OIL, AND START USING THE ALTERNATIVE RESORCES WE ALREADY HAVE THE TECH FOR. VOTE THE BUMS OUT. DO NOTHING CONGRESS AND SENATE NEED TO BE VOTED OUT. TOO MANY FAVORS OWED THERE. AND OBAMA IS GOING TO OWE EVERYONE. VOTE FOR HILARY, SHES NOT INDEBTED TO ANYONE AT THIS POINT AND WILL DO WHAT IS NESS TO GET THINGS DONE.

68 million acres all ready leased to oil companies, that they are NOT utilizing! Mccain wants to put the oil drilled (in those 68 mill. acres and off shore) on the open market, selling it to China and India, so it will not affect our gas prices...only up the profits of the lobbyist working on his campaign. THERE WAS AN OIL SPILL JUST LAST WEEK. America we can not put a band aid on a severed arm...i am not tree hugger but i do believe that off shore drilling is wrong especially after the oil spill that we saw last week. John McCain was against it too until he stated getting so many "donations" from Big Oil

The way i see it, the price of oil per barrel has been set by the speculators more than it has demand. Just the decision of drilling in these new areas should drive down prices some. Also, it will take quite a number of years to develop ways to completely rid ourselves of the dependence of oil. I say it would be foolish not to drill and use the oil we have while amping up research into alternative energy sources......or we could always let the Chinese take all of OUR oil.....

Anyone convinced that offshore drilling is a good idea – stroll along the sunny beaches in Texas – but don't forget the industrial strength cleaner to get the muck off your body. Those in favor probably don't live near the shores and don't see the full consequence. Drilling offshore won't solve our problems – it won't even be a start to a solution. Anyone that says otherwise is flat out lying.

Just ask John McCain, about his $ 5 million dollars donation that he recieve from the big oil companies.

Just ask John McCain about he money he receive from AT&T the to pave the way for the Ma Bells to get back togather....

John McCain is just like George Bush and Dick Chaney however the media will not tell you the truth....

To quote Dick Cheney, "So?"

Drill off-shore and in ANWR.

How about just drilling in the millions of acres of offshore areas ALREADY LEASED?!? Right, they already have that and just need more...

There is nothing wrong with drilling off shore! It is time to start getting ourselves independent of foreign oil. The only way that we can do that is to obtain oil from within our own country.

The majority of the American public wants the drilling to start, and sooner the better! If we don't start drilling and continue to import our oil, we might as well just turn over our country to the mid eastern countries.

If there is significant oil to drill for offshore, where will we refine it? As T. Boone Pickens aptly points out there is no magic bullet. We need a comprehensive energy plan that doesn't just focus on the price of gasoline but focuses on our dependence upon foreign oil. No matter what the price of gasoline we need to end our dependence upon foreign oil. Just imagine if we had to depend upon foreign food sources instead of the abundant sources of food produced by American farmers and agribusiness.

Most Americans are dumb as a doorknob, it sounds good but no one actually does any research, if they did, they'd be against it.

Yeah, those are probably the same folks that elected GWBush – TWICE!

You wrong,Eric. American start to wake up. They see obama is fake.When McCain flew 37 combat mission, Obama was smoking pot and crack. No obama,Eric.

Offshore drilling is a bogus argument. Ca and Fl will never vote for it. Let's move on to a real suggestion for change.

This isn't a quick fix issue. We are dependant on oil and will be dependant for decades to come.
We do need to exploit our resources and drill for future needs.
It it's true that China is drilling outside the 50 mile limit of our shores, why shouldn't we drill closer?

Even if it does not bring down the cost of gas in the short term, it will be tremendous help in the long term in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and keep billions of our dollars in the US.
Thinking there is any kind of short term solution to ending the need for gasoline powered transportation is stupid. Currently, electric powered cars are only good for short commutes, than they need to switch over to gas. And most Americans can't afford to go out and by a new hybred car. It will be a long time before advances in technology and the average American's pocket book will make gasoline powered cars obsolete. And that does not even begin to touch the diesel powered trucks that transport allmost all products across America.
Offshore drilling is a must for the American economy and security, both long term and short.
Only brain dead Obama and the Democrates leading Congress don't seem to get it. We all know that 70% of the American people includes more than just Republicans.
GO McCAIN IN 08!!!!!

Polls never accurately portray peoples views. If the idiots at CNN had half a brain they would focus on states where off shore drilling could be a possibility. Here in Florida, I don't think people are willing to risk a robust money making tourist industry that depends on the keys and the beautiful aquatic life for income. I don't think people are wiling to risk loosing one of the largest coral reefs in the world to a potential oil spill. It's also important to note that coral helps protect Florida from the full brunt of hurricanes. Are we willing to loose those natural defenses for a potential discovery of oil, that isn't a sure bet? It doesn't surprise me that Americans want more energy, but why couldn't this country had been smart enough to actively pursue alternative forms a fuel that has left a country like Brazil much better off than the US. It's not too late to pursue other forms of energy now!

i am all for making the richest americans even richer through the american peoples resources. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most of us want a new Mercedes-Benz, but that doesnt mean we need it. The car we already have will do just fine. Just as they can finish using the land that is already available, and drill on that. Offshore rigs will hurt many states economies. Ruining views from beaches, etc.

Who are these 2/3 of American's that are polled???? I've never been polled for anything. The interesting thing about this poll is 49% say it won't reduce gas prices but yet favor off shore drilling. Hmmmm. I guess these are the same people that voted little bushie into office, not once, but twice. How stupid are we as American's. Sad to say, these same people will probably put McCain into office. That said, if you are happy with little bushie, you'll be even happier with McCain, more of the same.

Drilling WILL bring prices down. If the US sends the message, that we are drastically increasing oil production, then the world will know that a large amount of oil will be entering the market.

Once we increase domestic drilling, then we can actually move oil from the stategic oil reserves into the market.

Oil rigs serve as artificial reefs and fish flock to oil rigs, I know, I've worked offshore. People who think they hurt the ecosystem dont know what they are talking about. Oil rigs are somewhat of an eye sore, but you can put rigs over the horizon, so you wouldn't be able to see rigs from the beach. States should decide.

We also need wind, solar, and nuclear. But unless you have an electric car, then you can't use wind, solar and nuclear to power automobiles. THATS's why we need oil, so it can be converted to gas Using food for fuel drives up food prices and it's downright unethical.

I hope all of you read this and learn something.

God help America because with this level of ignorance I don't know what else to do but pray for our nation because people don't seem to get it.

We also want speculators stoned in the public square.

I'm a Dem and an Obama supporter. But I wouldn't mind us tapping into a few more of our own reserves.
My bigger concern is finding alternatives. Opening territory to drilling may have an effect on the speculators, which could drive down the price of oil on the global market. Eventually that oil will hit the market and help...but ultimately we are going to run out.
The only reason I support drilling at home is that when we find an alternative for fuel/power, we will still need oil for plastics, and we might as well use our own instead of someone elses.
Yeah, more drilling here is ok by me, but whats much much more important is that we find an alternative to the oil addiction.

Anyways, its not like opening up more territory to the oil companies will mean hundreds of new platforms out there. Probably just 1 or 2 nationwide. Oil prices are slipping back down, so the drive isn't there to invest more money now...they just want us to open it up. Once it's open, and the oil companies buy up the rights, we won't ever be able to take it back. They just want to have a claim to the property for future development.

So two thirds want drilling, and half of them don't know why.

Sounds like Americans.

Well this also proves most Americans are stupid. Are these the same people that believe Obama is a Muslim? Its just as bad as the gas tax thing; its not going to help, yet you still want it. Lord have mercy!

Recently watching C-Span House of Representative proceedings on the issue of drilling off our coasts demonstrates that the GOP (GREED OVER PRINCIPLE) is owned by the oil company robber barons.

The fact is that increased drilling will take 5 or more years to have any effect. Anyone who believes otherwise is either deluded or an idiot.

I'm with you, Sane John- I don't get how two thirds can support drilling, but only half think it will help. Keep it strong, congressional democrats! Explain your side to the American people- the only real fix for our energy crisis is to move to solar/wind energy that won't run out and doesn't destroy the environment to produce. Explain that while neither will help in the short term, alternative energy sources will help in the much longer run than just drilling for more oil.

MORE DRILLING ON THE 68 MILLION ACRES ALREADY LEASED TO OIL COMPANIES.

This whole thing is just a retirement plan for the 2 oilmen in White House.

But Obama does not want !

He has some special-interest to pursue long-road, he doesnt care, he thinks Americans are bitter.

Mr. Obama : you must have a foresight. In another 15 years, GAS/petrol may not be required to fuel automotives, for our scientists will deliver new energy source to power autos. So, why not use resources that can make American life simple and better TODAY.

You have rich and popular friends like Tony Rezko and Wright, we don't. So let us live with affordable resources that are available.

What if we do offshore drill and theres a spill into the ocean that would be a mess as well as expensive to clean what about the cost of equipment, refineries and it could take years for results.

This is an indication that most people aren't paying attention to political issues. Really, it makes no sense. The oil companies already have land that they aren't drilling on, but they want to lease more of it? Why not invest money into alternative forms of energy?

They want this because most Americans do not know that there are already billions of leased land that the oil companies are not drilling. If they are not drilling on the land that they have, why should they get more? Come on America, are we this stupid?

Drilling will not happen off the California coast no matter how many people outside of California want it. It will be voted down by the people of California and the governor.

These are the same people that think McCain would make a good president. This is starting to look like the movie Idiocracy.

Of course we do. Only smug elitists like Harry Reid and the cosmetially enhanced dragon lady think they know best.

Obama is not further ahead because he is not presidential material and people know it. I guess we are idiots if we do not want Obama according ot his supporters. Obama acts like a know it all (and does not know very much) and his supporters act like they know it all too. Sorry, but people with any brains at all do not think Obama walks on water, or can heal the world, blah blah blah. Like I said in my comment that you took out CNN – Obama is a "fraud". Obama is for "Obama"!!!!!!!!!

People want Off Shore dilling b/c they don't understand the problem, b/c Entrainment Companies like CNN, Fox, and MSNBC misinform people. Off shore drilling is not going to do anything to help gas prices in the next 7 years. A well thought out reaction would be much better instead of this Disaster Capitalism tactic.

For all of you lib idiots, what exactly is lifting the ban going to hurt? You feel we should use our strategic reserve to curb prices (which is for a real crisis). Lift the ban so the speculators can speculate that America will not put up with ridiculous prices. Lifting the offshore drilling ban won't hurt anyone except crybaby environuts and Obama. We are decades from a viable alternative, get real.

low-information voters are always the key to republicans success. Then those same low-information voters complain when they keep becoming poorer and poorer. Drilling will not help!!!!

2/3rds of this country have bought the oil industry's greedy lies. After what has been done to us over the past few years in the name of a "free market" while oil CEOs cash larger and larger checks you would think that we would learn.

But then again we did re-elect George W. Bush.

Sure in somebody else's backyard, not mine.

Most Americans want offshore drilling? Most Americans don't live near the shore.

Do this as STEP NUMBER ONE, imagine if you will, that if Bill Clinton didn't veto the bill to START the drilling, we would be USING THE OIL NOW!

The Republicans have been begging you lefties to do this in a controlled manner, also use coal, windfarms, nuclear energy, etc, etc but the Dr No's in the Democratic party have shot EVERYTHING down.

While we use these means, we can ALSO look into alternatives, a FULL PLATE OF IDEAS and NO MORE DR NO'S.

Have Democrats talked about alternatives, YES, but that is ALL they have done while Clinton and Al Freaken Gore was in office, ALL TALK and NO ACTION.

The TIME to act is NOW and this is a GOOD FIRST STEP.

Abby, whats unfortunate is that AL Gore has convinced you the the law of supply and demand does not work when you talk oil. Supply and demand works with everything from paper to steel to wood. If you don't beleive me then tell me why Pelosie want's to open the SPR.

McCain has said that it is up to the states to decide whether or not they want offshore drilling off their coasts. So if the people in the midwest and south want it but those states along the coasts don't, what then?

The national polls for offshore drilling seem to reflect the "national" mood. The only polls for this issue that really matter are the individual states that are directly affected with drilling on their shores. If these states object to the drilling, then that poses a potentially tricky and nasty fight for McCain and company to actually implement this agenda. In this case, I think the NIMBY voters in the states affected would be overwhelmingly against the drilling, which makes McCain's objective unlikely to be achieved with legislation.

I can't wait to see people driving around with " windmills " on top of their cars !!!

Take all those polled and exclude anyone that does NOT live in a coastal state.

Now what are the poll numbers?

ONLY THOSE LIVING IN COASTAL STATES WILL HAVE A VOTE!

INSTANT FIX...why is it so difficult for Most American's to understand what Off-Shore Drilling would entail. 1) Oil Spills (Louisanna?) 2) Earthquakes (California?) 3) Tourist Revenue (Florida?). When we learn to look beyond the 'Nose On Our Face'.

LONG RANGE EFFECT!!!!!!!!

If drilling started today, it would take years (4-6) before we would see any of the oil for our use today.

Developing alternative methods is faster and cheaper – and will never happen until the oil industry sets up companies to do just that!

And T. Boone Pickens?! Coincidentally he just happens to own 68% of the land that would be leased to the windmills for wind power. How much of an interest does he have in the compnaies that make the windmills and related parts? He has in interest, but he won't disclose how much.

Besides, isn't he due to sponsor the next "Swift Boaters" against Obama like he did against Kerry?!

"But Obama has said there is little evidence that drilling offshore would have any positive effect on American consumers and is instead pushing energy rebates."

'Rebates' = cash. Government cash comes from taxpayers. To raise extra cash for the rebates taxes have to be raised. And thats only a single issue – what about all of the other programs and cash expenditure promises to "change" things?

Change for the better? Get real!

Drilling for Oil in the gulf is a temporary fix. We have to come to the realization that oil isn't a renewable energy source. Why damage the ocean's ecosystem for something that isn't sustainable? Renewable energy research is the most sensible option. Most American's aren't known for their ability to reason, this coming from an American. Wake up America. We need to act now. Renewable Energy research, not more drilling.

I would have to respond with MOST AMERICANS ARE IDIOTS THEN! This will do nothing to aleviate gas prices for another 10-15 years. The answer is build some refineries and in the mean time research alternative energy forces. People that want to drill need to put the kool aid down and actually take a look at the issue. STOP RUINING MY COUNTRY

To all you liberal lefts... It takes a car company 5 years to develop the next model car and you all think we can have an alternative solution in less than 10? The new Honda Hydrogen car cost over $1,000,000 to produce and they are only making 100 of them for a hand full of people as a $600 per month lease. There are only a few hydrogen gas stations in the entire united states and it takes a electricity to convert H2O into Hydrogen which means we'll need more power plants.

Drilling will be a short term fix as well as get us off foreign oil until we can produce alternative technologies.

Why does the majority of americans say its time to drill oil and Nancy Pelosi seems to think she knows more than the american people and refuse to listen to us. I will be voting for McCain in Nov. and I have voted for our democratic congressman for several years. But this year i'm trying to put a Republican representative in congress for the 5t'h congressional district of Alabama. A vote for a Democrat is a vote for Nancy Pelosi and I'm tired of her and so is america that's the kind of change I want one that will listen to the american people

By the way–
CNN is not on the Repiblican side–
These polls -are both evenly distributed between Reps and Dems–
It's people like Al & Abby that have no clue–They are already drilling of our shores-
Cuba will be shortl also-
The reason you can't see the rigs is because they are far out–
Your beautiful shores can be maintained–
TOny

Oil prices are based off of Future Supply... not just present supply... obviously drilling more oil would increase the future supply and would lead oil prices lower, also it would help our trade deficit immensly,...

Oil has had a good run. It served it's purpose for a time, but at a cost. It's ruined our atmosphere with it's polution and hurt us all in record prices. This country need's to break free of the grasp of oil. More off-shore drilling will just continue the old way's. We need to move on and change our way of thinking. The future is alternative fuels.

why are the republicans talking about drilling now, they had 8 years to do it under the bush admistration they failed to do it, also there is a lot of places available for drilling, but no body seens to do it. This is a political game from republians. Why did Bush say at one time America is addicted to oil. Bush and the republicans have a lot to lose if we stop using Oil and use other methods most of the oil profit goes the the conservative rich republicans wake up America.

Was it only Republicans that were polled?

I guess a lot of families and businesses are linked to big oil. In that regard I'm not supised.

This is absolutely amazing. The republicans have managed to get another issue on the table through the mouthpiece of the meda. Why are we not hearing about the 68 million acres that these people currently lease but are not drilling on? Why are we not hearing more about the oil companies and their obscene profits? Why are we not hearing more about additional oil refineries not being built in the last 10 years? In response to typical white person who stated "the Chinese are drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, why don't we?" WE ARE. The conservative talking heads just like to leave that out when they are conditioning your brain.

Most American want offshore drilling
The poll also shows Americans are divided when it comes to the effect of offshore drilling. Just over 50 percent think it will reduce gas prices while 49 percent say it will not.

President Bush publicly scolded Democratic congressional leaders for not putting his proposal to expand domestic oil drilling, specifically on the outer continental shelf, to a vote

****.Why Now Mr Bush?*****

Drill here, drill now...drill in my backyard! No good can come out of needing 70% of our energy from foreign sources. This is urgent and needs an urgent solution. I like Mccain's plan...the man knows enough to know that we need to tackle an urgent problem with an agressive and urgent solution. Mccain is proposal the most comprehensive, rational and balance solution I've heard so far. He is proposing off shore drilling, nuclear power, clean coal, biofuels, solar, wind, electric cars and conservation. He is leaving no stones in turned noting that all progress made on each front will play a piece in building a bridge that will take this country from point A (energy dependency) to point B (energy independent).

This energy issue is very serious. At any given time...a decision or two from one or two countries can immobile american industries, transportation and military in a flash! No country can put itself in this position of vulnerability! We are at a cross road....no more talk, we need action, we need to get our butts off foreign energy ASAP!

CNN really has a lot of experts on oil drilling, ecology and energy posting comments on this board. Geez, I wish these 'experts' were doing something with their time rather than posting on message boards. Your 'expertise' is just being wasted here.

Or... is it that you're not really 'experts' and instead you're just spouting off the same unfounded talking points we've heard a million times already.

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

This should be a no brainer for two reasons. For one it would reduce our reliance on Middle East oil which will come back to bite us some day and over time it will lead to lower prices. Alot of people say this won't help for five or ten years and they may be right. All that really means is we should of done it five or ten years ago. Until the Congress decides to do whats right for the average person in this Country instead of political posturing they will never work together to solve this problem. This is the biggest problem we face I wonder when the two candidates will figure this out.

you have oil companies making record breaking profits.oil is already there where they are drilling. they just need to drill more , where they have rights to.the oil companies aren't even drilling enough where they can.the oil companies are holding on to land that thay could drill.
there is no guarantee the oil comapanies will even have the oil that they drill for provide it to us for cheaper rates now or later.

Obama 08

All Alternative energy sources are welcome: wind turbine, solar system, cars with fuel efficiency INCLUDING offshore oil drilling so we can be FREE from oil in Middle East!!!!!

I became Ex Democrat after Hillary suspended her campaign and I am so glad to be Independent because I could not stand the super arrogant delegates like Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean and above all, Obama!!!! These people are representatives for no one accept themselves!

Maybe if the corporate press was actually telling us about the CURRENT oil spill, we would be able to make a little more INFORMED decisoin.

Yeah, let's not drill geniuses. Let's keep sending $700 billion a year to foreign countries. No wonder you guys think the Messiah is great. Why not drill here, with our workers, and pay our companies for oil. Wow, I know that is tough to comprehend. Instead, let's ban McDonalds, because that will help with something. Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Where is it going to be refined?? How long until sufficient refinery capacity and who will want it in their backyard?

Even if the Congress lifts the ban, will the states want it? How long will this take to decide? What guarantee is there that the companies will actually drill as they are not drilling on the leases they have? How can all of this be in the matter of months? Why would oil companies reduce their profits?

When will CNN actually ask the hard questions?

Please Americans, do not vote Obama for President, He will be worse than any served president in the world.

The Devil you know is better than an angel you do not see/know.
Forewarned is forearmed.
John 08-16

Obama's comments about "little evidence" that drilling will have short term impacts equates to his comments that there has been no improvement in Iraq. The man closes his mind to truth and so many of you are foolishly grasping at every word like he is God. You are just wrong.

Why is no one talking about the environmental impact? Oil spills washing up on beaches...dead animals...millions of dollars in cleanup, funded by taxpayers....

WE DO NOT NEED MORE OIL.

We need to figure out how to use less. Hydrogen, solar, and wind power...require the oil companies to spend 30% of their profits on research into alternative forms of energy....AND...set up organizations to do the research with those funds (do not leave this to the oil companies) and have an oversight committee.

NO DRILLING. The people voting for this are the ones who don't live on the coast or where drilling will not affect them. What about those of us in the states with beautiful beaches? We don't want this. This is a BAD idea.

PS: Drilling for oil wouldn't have an impact at the pump for at LEAST 6 years. And by that time, we had BETTER have made major advanced in alternative energy sources.

It's about the oil stupid......

mcWAR is taking advantage of the desparate economic situation to pander to the voters.Any difference with Hitler?

Why isnt Barack Obama not opening up a huge lead on John McCain?

All the factors point to a very large Obama win but its not materializing.

I would really like you to come to

AmericaLives.wordpress.com

and post why you think this lead isn’t coming to past. Can anyone explain this ? Give it a shot

Don't know where these stats are coming from. I haven't met anyone yet who endorses more drilling!

With the disaster that the Republic party has become (think Midas touch in reverse),

and the man and candidate that the Democrats have elected (youthful, vigorous, running an uplifting campaign)...

for Obama to not be up by 20 is a sad commentary on the corporate media, but MORESO.... the people who are LOOKING for 'some' reason, ANY reason to NOT give this once-in-a-generation leader a shot.

and because this is America, "I" know what the reason is.. so do you.

Arrogance Again !!!
Forget what the people WANT–
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid know whats best–
That is exactly why the approval of Congree has NEVER been lower

we need to get off oil period because it is causing global warming if we start drilling we will lose our world to global warming and the affects of global warming is worst storms famine and drought.

Would offshore drilling be a short term or long term solution? That is the question.

I think the only people polled for this were Republicans!

I love the way CNN lumps us all into one category.

I suppose MOST AMERICANS also believe the lastest line from McCain. "I will NOT raise taxes."

Didn't Poppa Bush tell us the same thing and raised them within the first year.

Get some new material Johnny Boy, this line is as old as you are.

Because offshore drilling makes sense.

Besides, what solutions have the Dems/Libs offered to the solving the energy crisis? None. Energy rebates? Red tape is supposed to solve this problem? I don't think so.

That's because they are desperate and don't know any better... If we were going to drill why weren't we drill 8 years ago.

If Americans believe that drilling today is going to reduce gas prices within the next year.......they are dreamers. There is no shortage of oil, but there is a shortage of refineries. This is one crisis that America cannot drill itself out of....Alternative sources is what is needed.

You think this will help? First off, it will take years to create the infrastructure to make offshore drilling a reality. Then, who is going to pay the price? The oil companies or the consumer? Hmmm... let's see.
Second, how many more oil spills do we need (SF, New Orleans in the past 8 months) that not only tragically affect wildlife but also the economy (fishing, tourism)?
Offshore drilling is NOT a solution. It makes no sense. America has been successful because of innovation. Now is the time to make way for cleaner non-oil energy. It's the 21st century people. Time to wake up!

Anyone who says they'd be willing spend thousands or even hundreds of dallors to vacation on a beach staring at oil wells is either a liar or delusional. I also do not see anyone being willing to put their children into water that leaves an oil residue on their kids. I like to take beach vacations and would never pay to stare at oil wells on the horizon.

So states whose economies depend on tourism beware. You might not like the trade off.

Here's a idea, why don't the oil companies start drilling for oil on the 68 million acres they already hold the leases for? They know there's oil there, they are just controlling the supply to keep gas prices up. Did you see that BP set another record for profits?

That's because, if you don't know any better, it sounds good. "Most Americans" don't live near the shore line. "Most Americans" also elected George W. Bush.

Bush labled oil a national addiction, so how is it news that the addicts want to feed the monkey.

Let's just destroy everything. That way we can all die and look back saying, "at least we destroyed everything before we left."

This only proves that many Americans are absolute idiots and explains why Obama isn't further ahead. When you're fighting against ignorance of this magnitude, it's impossible to get ahead. Drilling more won't do a thing for prices. Those will only continue as world demand increases. But drilling will make us too complacent to get us off oil, which is the only thing that will help with costs. If we have the same timeframe and the same resources, why would we continue to waste both on a dying industry? We need to break our addiction, not make it worse. More drilling will only result in a wasted opportunity to do what we've needed to do all along and make the environment and our wallets the victims of our collective stupidity.

Well.......counting down to the moment where Obama says....."Well my I am against off shore drilling unless conditions on the ground warrant it"

Its good that he can use his same standard answer for all those tough, intriguing, and hard hitting questions he gets from the press!

It’s very unfortunate that this idea has been sold well by the republican machine. I want safe shores and waters for our kids to enjoy, for the fish and wildlife, to keep the ecosystem balanced. We should move away from our dependence on oil not spend more into oil infrastructure! We were given a relatively clean world and we have a responsibility to leave it that way for the next generations not completely abuse it!

Republicans voted against two bills last week to help lower gas prices. All because they couldn't add in their offshore drilling admentments. They will block and stall any energy bill unless they can get their offshore drilling. That is there strategy at the expense of the American consumer. Get as much land freed up for the oil companies before the Bush term is over even though the oil companies currently have over 80 million acres of federal land they won't even touch. They wouldn't be leasing this land if there wasn't oil under it. Republicans have no right to be talking smack about the other side. They would rather bow to the big oil and Wall Street coorporations than help out the hard working Americans.

What confuses me is the 20 percent or so who want offshore drilling but don't believe it will reduce oil prices. What's wrong with them?

More to the point, what's wrong with the "more then two thirds" of the country that think drilling for more oil will help? It's like giving more heroin to a junkie who really just needs to get clean. T Boone Pickens said it best, "we're not going to drill our way out of this problem".

I don't remember being polled. I am AGAINST it!

Do you mean most REPUBLICANS want it?????

Only because they dont know the truth. It is the wrong direction to go. It's like finding out your have lung cancer and then thinking if you smoke more cigarettes it will help

Off shore drilling is one thing we want....
We also want to eliminate restrictions/open private investment to creating hydrogen fuel filling stations (not under the control of the oil companies necessarily),

We also want creation of recharging stations along interstates and within cities and towns for user operable recharging stations for electric vehicles.

Drilling for offshore oil is not a quick fix. It will take years to see the effects. It's not a solution, it's just something that LOOKS like a solution to someone who has never studied it.

apparently, most Americans are idiots who don't live near or love a beautiful, clean ocean...why don't we drill for oil at the nascar tracks.....

The Chinese are drilling the Gulf of Mexico – why can't we?