Offshore drilling: Bush vs. Bush? "Oil may be thicker than blood"

[IDemo]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9557171/site/newsweek/

Oct. 10, 2005 issue - Amid worries over rising fuel costs, congressional Republicans are pressing for a vote as early as this week to roll back a moratorium on oil and gas exploration off the nation's coasts. The move could prompt a showdown between President George W. Bush, whose administration is pressing for coastal oil exploration, and his brother Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who opposes offshore drilling in his state.

Last week the House Resources Committee approved legislation that would immediately lift a ban on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, other coastal waters and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Although the bill would let coastal states maintain a buffer zone for oil rigs, an amendment would allow natural-gas drilling to come within five miles of the Florida coast. Governor Bush opposes the bill for fear that it could "encourage drilling in protected areas." A senior administration official in Washington, who requested anonymity due to the delicate subject matter, tells NEWSWEEK, "It's something that we are reviewing." Neither Jeb Bush's office nor the White House would say if the governor had recently discussed the issue with the president. Yet some opponents of the plan worry that oil may be thicker than blood when it comes to the governor's clout. "The president is respectful of Jeb's position," says Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican who opposes offshore drilling. "But this is a nation of 50 states. You have to make the best decision for everybody, not just one state."

--- "Jeb, Ma says yur either fer us or yur fer the terriers!"

[SoCalDem]

1. Lame duck pres vs lame duck gov

enjoy the great big gobs of gooey stuff on your beaches, folks

[krkaufman]

2. Scenario... Jeb Bush pushes back and prevents off-shore drilling...

... making him look tough against the now-weakened and unfavorable W.... pushing Jeb up in the Rethug Pres candidate polls.

[wakeme2008]

3. I had a LTTE printed over this months ago

jeb is term limited and does not CARE if they drill off of Florida. So NOW he will not fight it IMHO.

[IDemo]

7. wakeme, can you post your LTTE here?

While I personally don't think Jeb will be the repub nominee in 2008, the history of the Bush dynasty would hint it's not entirely out of the question. But if he were to present a strong objection to George's drilling plan, despite having no Fla. political fall-out, he may crush his chances for the presidential nomination. And I doubt the cross-over votes from the Greens are going to help him overly in Nov. '08!

[Olney Blue]

4. More rigs, more hurricanes, more rigs, more hurricanes......

:banghead:

[freethought]

5. Jeb is thinking tourism

Anyone that goes to the Florida Keys, or any other part of Florida does not want to stare out at oil rigs. Even if they are 5 miles or more out. Anyone wanna guess as to how much revenue per year Florida brings in terms of tourist dollars? I thought that Jeb and his older brother had an understanding. Apparantly not! Maybe this is King George's way of telling his younger brother,and Mommy and Daddy's favorite, to "Bite ME!"

[rodeodance]

6. the real issue is how the Repugs are pushing their agenda in the wake

of Katrinia!!!!!!--jeb bush is a side issue!