Fuck!!! A friend just emailed that Cheney's energy bill has passed.

[Just Me]

I'm freakin'. Is it true?

I am just in total STUN right now. Please tell me this isn't true.

[R. A. Fuqua]

1. don't leave me hanging

explain what is going on. Which bill is Cheney's?

I thought ANWAR was as bad as things could get--is there even more bad news?

[Lone Pawn]

5. No second "A" in ANWR, by the way.

Just being pedantic. Sorry.

[R. A. Fuqua]

14. I'm just careless--sorry.

I don't always reread what I type--and I type quickly.

[Just Me]

23. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with your post.

More often than not, UNSOLICITED "ADVICE",...is really oppressive criticism.

Just thought I'd share a common human reality/experience.

[Just Me]

7. Oh,...it's worse than merely the ANWR drilling. I just cannot even begin

to identify how this bill threatens not only our environment, our economy, our people, our national security, our foreign policy,...

DAMNIT!!! I am just so wiggin' right now,...I am in a "stun-n-freeze" mode. My head is whizzin'.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Oh boy

This is just the worst. :cry: I weep. I'm just speechless.

[R. A. Fuqua]

29. as a card-carrying environmentalist

(it is even what my degrees are in--and the field that I work in to earn my living), I am hanging my head in shame for how bad things have gotten.

I appreciate the people here at DU--who actually CARE about protecting the world we live in. (just me--I am very glad to make your acquaintance--please consider me a friend)

Friends, please don't give up, keep on fighting the good fight.

[Swamp Rat]

30. Peace brother!

You are a hero in my book!

Long live the trees!!!

[R. A. Fuqua]

31. back at you! n/t

[whistle]

2. I believe so, $3.50 per gallon gas at the pump prices this summer

[Just Me]

3. HOUSE PASSES ENERGY BILL!!! Found it on NPR!!!

Here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4612381

The House has approved a massive energy bill that includes a controversial provision for oil drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Reserve. Democrats pledge to filibuster that piece when the bill reaches Senate, and other aspects of the bill could lead to clashes.


Damnit!!!! :grr:

[Melynn]

16. The Senate Democrats are going to filibuster this bill?????

That makes me wonder. Maybe the reason BushCo wants to do way with the filibuster rule is so that this law can passed. Maybe the judge thing is just a ruse to divert attention away from this bill. Also, high gas prices could be a ploy by BushCo to pump up public opinion for the energy bill. Yes, now recent events are starting to make sense.

[Just Me]

28. Makes the whole "nuke" push,...even more impactful, huh.

Tyrants are KILLING our country, our people,....everything that we've ever embraced as Americans.

This slice in human history,...is a very horrific one.

[medeak]

33. WHAT DEMS VOTED FOR IT?

The legislation passed by a vote of 249-183, with 208 Republicans and 41 Democrats voting in favor of the legislation.

[Bluebear]

4. But marriage will be between one man and one woman and a culture of life!

What suckers we have collectively become.

[driver8]

18. That man looks like pure evil...

Pure evil and greed. Not to mention that he is a f*cking asshole.

I cannot believe that his energy bill is going through. When is this country going to catch a break from these greedy, war mongering, capitalistic, dick heads??

Crooked, crooked, crooked...

[rockedthevoteinMA]

6. Yeah it did...

they said on the news tonight that the bill passed the house, and now it's on to the senate. The three things I heard that were detailed in the brief clip were:
Tax breaks for oil companies,
Drilling in ANWR
And legal protection for the oil/nuclear companies, so they couldn't be sued for damage to the environment.

:wtf: :mad: :banghead: Not exactly sure wtf any of that has to do with helping to lower gas prices, or finding alternatives. But that's what we get with the gas men isn't it.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Isn't it

this for Iraq? I remember Malloy talking about this earlier this year in Iraq's constiution. They can't sue oil companies (like if someone gets hurt etc). *sigh* This is just so disgusting.

[Just Me]

17. It's *puke* a TOTAL CORPORACRAT coordination that perfects,...

,...a tyranny previously imposed only upon weak countries (which was/is already horrifying),...and now imposes corporate tyranny on Americans, too.

:cry:

This evil cabal is just so goddamned gross,...I just cannot say. The fact that they are imposing their greedy, fucked-up, evil WILL upon this country and this world is freakin' me out.

But,...I'll grab unto my belief that their evil will WAKE UP humanity,...I just have to believe their evil is a necessary ignition to advance humanity.

Damn!!!!

[graywarrior]

8. My already stressed out stomach just heaved

[brettdale]

13. To all greenpeace Hippies in the Area

Please go and protest,you will have the world's support.

This sucks, Alaska is too pretty to drill for oil, how the heck can they do this?

[Danmel]

9. Happy Earth Day!

:mad:

[tkmorris]

10. It only passed the House

The Senate hasn't debated it yet and it WILL face a tougher battle there.

I expect that the Senate will pass the Energy Bill but with some of it's more controversial portions omitted. The House will then sign off on it and that's what we'll have.

Of course the Senate Repubs could try to keep the bill intact but if they do they will likely face a Dem filibuster. I don't think they want to fight that battle right now. I almost hope I'm wrong, I've been itching for a fight, but that's the way I see it right now.

[DemBones DemBones]

15. That gives some hope, then. We all need to

stop talking about the new pope and concentrate on our own government's actions.

Tomorrow will be a good day to call your senators, even if you're stuck with Republicans, as I am. Maybe especially if you're stuck with GOP senators, to show them that there IS opposition to this bill.

My GOP congressman scheduled all his recent meetings with constituents in smaller towns, none in my medium-sized city, which has its share of Republicans but also a concentration of well-educated people, being home to several colleges and medical centers/ hospitals plus a growing population of immigrants from several countries. . . Perhaps he feared the questions he might get here?

[Just Me]

19. I agree!!! We HAVE to contact our "representatives", no matter what,...

,...their political affiliation!!! We HAVE to focus on demanding that Republicans, as well as Democrats, SERVE OUR BEST INTERESTS rather than the interest of a few corporateers!!!

I am just so,...PISSED that those who have clearly demonstrated their propensity to ABUSE their office and USE "the people" for their own self-interest are still PUSHING their self-serving agenda through,...AT THE SACRIFICE AND EXPENSE OF "THE PEOPLE" WHOM THESE FUCKERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING!!!!

I am just so freakin' pissed-off, right now,...so stunned that these ABUSERS are getting away with this burglary, this thievery, this betrayal!!! They are deceiving OUR PEOPLE and RIPPING THEM OFF,...IN PLAIN SIGHT!!!

,...unbelievable,....wow,....

[rockedthevoteinMA]

20. AP Summary Box on the Energy bill

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-energy-bill-summary-box,1,4241821.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

Summary Box: Energy Bill
AP Headlines
By The Associated Press
BILL PASSES: The House passed an energy bill by a vote of 249-183, sending the measure to the Senate.

INTENTIONS: The bill, intended to increase domestic energy production, includes $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for energy companies and $2 billion for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.

CONTROVERSY: The bill shields makers of the gasoline additive MTBE from lawsuits and would permit oil drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge

Edited to add:

Posted on Thu, Apr. 21, 2005

House approves broad energy bill

H. JOSEF HEBERT

Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The House approved a far-ranging energy bill Thursday that would open an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling and shield makers of a controversial gasoline additive from environmental lawsuits - both issues likely to meet strong opposition in the Senate.

The bill also would funnel more than $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to energy companies. Opponents of the legislation said it would do little to foster less energy use. A proposal to require higher fuel economy for cars was rejected.

The administration embraced the legislation, although a White House analysis expressed reservations about the size of the incentives to the oil and gas industries, especially a $2 billion subsidy for developing oil and gas in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

After passage, President Bush praised the bill as "an important step to secure our energy future and to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy." Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the measure was not perfect, but "we now have a bill, something to work with."
there's more:
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/11456020.htm

[tkmorris]

21. I almost forgot MTBE was in this bill

I was talking to someone last night on here about that stuff. The company that makes it, Fluor, just held a fundraiser for one of our favorite nutballs, Tom Delay. You think the two things might be related?
Nah, of course not.

Ah yes, here's that story:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1410545

[rockedthevoteinMA]

22. And from the article from philly.com

The MTBE gas additive issue brought the most dramatic moment as the House closed in on its final vote Thursday.

House Republican leaders had tried to prevent a floor vote on the issue. Democrats said GOP leaders wanted to shield not only MTBE manufacturers from lawsuits, but also lawmakers from having to vote on a matter involving drinking water contamination in communities in their districts.

Democrats forced a vote, arguing that the MTBE provision violates a 1995 law because it would saddle states and municipalities with huge expenses.
snip
"That was a surrogate vote on Tom DeLay," said Barton. The MTBE provision has been a top priority of DeLay, the majority leader who also has been under criticism from Democrats because of ethics issues. DeLay had insisted on the MTBE industry protection in the bill that passed the House but stalled in the Senate when Democrats launched a filibuster over MBTE in 2003.

The House bill would shield MTBE manufacturers, including large oil companies, from lawsuits claiming the companies knew all along it would cause water contamination so it is a defective product. At least 80 lawsuits involving MTBE have been filed.

Is MTBE a pesticide? Is the bugman that obsessed with making all toxic chemicals legal, and in abundant supply in our waterways? :grr:

[tkmorris]

25. MTBE is a gasoline additive

The problem with it is that even small amounts of it (I believe I read 20-40 PPM) render drinking water unpotable. Apparently it can leach into the water table from underground storage tanks or from more conventional spills and has shown up in the water systems of several area across the US.

Here's some stuff about it from the EPA. http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/water.htm

[Just Me]

26. Look, in B/W terms, this bill serves money and sacrifices ALL LIFE.

Seriously, this bill is ONLY about advancing PROFITS at the sacrifice of all our lives: environmentally, economically, in terms of national security, at the expense of "democracy", stealing individual "freedom" via an equal shot at life,...

I could go on and on.

This bill ties together a tyranny that wages its power against all humanity,...in coordination with its partners.

The whole fucking global fascist set-up is just,...WORSE THAN HITLER!!!! :grr:

This administration is worse than Hitler's regime,...by far worse than Hitler's reign.

I am just,...breathing. I know this will all work out,...for the best,...eventually. I just KNOW these fuckers HAVE to impose their evil to force humanity to further overcome and grow from its current pattern.

[SlowDownFast]

24. Mike Malloy talking about it right now.

on Air America.

[Just Me]

27. What's his take?

I am just so,...lost in,...err,...reality check and shock,...that,...

These evil MO-FOs are pulling an EHM (economic hitman) on their own people!!!

They are INTENTIONALLY STARVING HUMANITY for their own self-serving, corporate interests.

ISN'T THAT "EVIL"?

On edit: I say what they are doing is evil; it's just "EVIL", period.

[chlamor]

32. .

Will oil strike $380 a barrel by 2015?


By Adam Porter in Perpignan, France

Thursday 21 April 2005, 4:20 Makka Time, 1:20 GMT  

A report prepared by energy economists at the French investment bank Ixis-CIB has warned crude oil prices could touch $380 a barrel by 2015.

Analysts Patrick Artus and Moncef Kaabi said in the next 10 years demand for oil will outstrip supply by around 8 million barrels per day (mbpd).

"If one takes into account the level of previous oil shocks such as in the 1970's, we don't think a price level of $380 per barrel is out of the question," they said.

The analysts argued that the shortfall in energy needs would not be made up by alternatives as they were not developed as yet. "Thus the world will still need to rely upon traditional fossil fuels," their report said.



Growing demands

They also said existing new oilfield projects would not be enough to satisfy unprecedented growth in demand from developing economies, particularly China.


"We have taken into account every new oil discovery and potential source … as well as this we note the continuing situation of a fall in new field discoveries," the analysts said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/73CE8286-740C-482B-8150-DA57696BC02F.htm