Democrats Denounce Bachman’s Call For Everglades Drilling; Where Are Republicans?
BY BUDDY NEVINS
The Democrats and environmental groups have lashed back at Michele Bachmann for saying it is alright to drill for oil and gas in the Everglades if it can be “done responsibly.”
That’s to be expected.
But where are the Republicans?
Even Florida’s GOP Legislature has repeatedly safeguarded the Everglades. Members have voted money for its preservation and to purchase land when times were good.
Some Republicans are among the most fervent supporters of environmental preservation.
Many Florida Republicans recognize that the Everglades is an enormous generator of tourist dollars. Visitors come from all over the world to see it.
In addition, the River of Grass is an incubator of fish which bolsters our billion dollar sport fishing industry.
Geologists say at best if at all, Florida would supply a minuscule amount of oil.
So it’s a no-brainer: Billions in economic benefit versus a few barrels of oil.
Doesn’t Bachman know it is fiscally prudent to keep the Everglades as pristine as possible?
Why should she know? She doesn’t know much about a lot of subjects. What she doesn’t know appears to be her main calling card.
She doesn’t exhibit common sense so why should she know about Florida’s dollars and cents issues? Maybe because she wants the votes of Floridians!
Below is a news release from Debbie Wasserman Schultz, wearing her Democratic National Committee chair hat, about the Bachman’s statement. A link to the Republican presidential candidate’s comment follows:
For Immediate Release
August 29, 2011
Contact: DNC Press (202) 286-7654
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Responds to Republicans’ Call to Drill for Oil in the Everglades
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann called for drilling in the Florida Everglades. In response, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:
“The Republican Party has deservedly earned a reputation for doing the bidding of and prioritizing Big Oil and the super-wealthy over working for students, seniors and middle class families. Michele Bachmann’s latest proposal to drill in the Florida Everglades is just another example of the Republican Party supporting policies that would only further enrich the special interests, while putting our environment and working families at risk.
“The Everglades isn’t just a national treasure and habitat for many endangered species, it’s also Florida’s main source of drinking and farming water, is a safeguard against flooding that threatens our state during hurricane season and is vitally important to our state’s tourism industry. Michele Bachmann and the rest of the Republican field may think that if we give Big Oil a few more give-aways and take a few risks, we can drill ourselves to energy independence. Well the Republicans couldn’t be more wrong; we need to make investments in innovation and research as well as the technologies of the future, to wean ourselves off of foreign oil and build a clean energy economy for future generations.
“From their support of repealing Wall Street reform to their irresponsible “drill first” plans, Republicans just want to double down on the failed policies of the last decade. We need to look forward and invest in the future, and we won’t get there with unthinkable, reckless and irresponsible Republican proposals like drilling for oil in the Everglades. As a Floridian, I can see that Michele Bachmann’s outrageous proposal to drill for oil and natural gas in the Everglades, demonstrates just how out of touch Republicans are with the needs of Floridians and all Americans.”
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Bachman’s comments are here.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
The news today said drilling for natural gas, not oil. I do not know if that makes a difference but don’t like idea either way. Leave the Everglades alone please.
FROM BUDDY: She apparently mentioned both.
August 29th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
How did someone like Bachmann become a frontrunner candidate? She should be an outer fringe candidate at best, someone like Dennis Kusinich is for the Democrats. I’m afraid Perry is the same way, and Romney is too chickens**t. I think we have a religious fundamentalist fused with ultra free-market/anti-any-tax wacko political party masquerading as a mainstream political voice. Is there anybody home in there, GOPer’s, to call your 911 for help?
August 29th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
“Crazy Eyes” Bachmann definitely indicated both oil and gas drilling, confirmed from several reliable sources. Is everyone missing the fact that she also stated that she wanted to get rid of the EPA? That among numerous other certifiably out of touch with reality ideas. How does this radical lunatic remain viable as a candidate for even being a dog catcher, much less someone with their finger on “the nuclear button”…
August 29th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Buddy, you gave the DNC’s spokes model ink, but you gave the Bachman quote neither ink nor substantive context. So how can we really know what she said and the full meaning of her message without one or the other of the two? Looks an attempt to sensationalize headlines rather than improving the electorate’s understanding. Just an idea.
FROM BUDDY: Actually, I have a link to Bachmann’s statement. Based on your good advice, I now make reference to the link in the story. Thanks.
August 29th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
The GOP has officially revived the “know nothing” party.
August 29th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha ha …. this is the stupidest funniest shit I almost ever heard kinda like celabrate elvis being dead. Hahahaha….. This is what the gop offers up for a canadate along with the other idiot from texas. Hahahaha maybe they should gone with West and discovered rebirth in his case afterbirth. Maybe not funny to most but seriously I am laughing my ass off. I will try to be more politically correct after dying of laughter.
August 30th, 2011 at 6:51 am
Congressman Dave Rivera’s district encompasses much of the Everglades — what’s his position on this?
August 30th, 2011 at 6:55 am
None of you realize we already drill in the everglades. There is a producing well and several non producing wells
August 30th, 2011 at 8:37 am
Bachman said she would support drilling if the experts conclude that it is safe. As a native Floridian, third generation Floridian, I know that it is the right position. Watch China start drilling diagonal from Cuba without environmetal safeguards and see how wrong Wasserperson-Schultz is on this. Everyone wants to turn the A/C on but no one wants to get the fuel we need. It can be done in a safe and clean way. Bachman would be a great president but I think Perry will get the nomination.
August 30th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Why is it wrong to drill in the Everglades – or anywhere else as long as we do so with care for the envoronment? THAT is the correct context of what Bachmann said.
August 30th, 2011 at 9:06 am
The problem is the definition of “responsibly”, which is the word Bachmann used. Exxon’s idea of “responsibly” and others might differ. Bachmann’s idea of “responsibly” and many might differ. The word is vague. The best policy is to not do it at all.
August 30th, 2011 at 11:22 am
This reminds me of why I love everything about Libertarianism, except Libertarians.
Years ago, Clay Shaw ran against Klein and they had a debate in Coral Springs. The Libertarian candidate got the most applause over him wanting to get us out of Iraq.
As usual for Libertarians and Cheap AM radio Tea Partyers, if you let them talk enough, they go bat$hit crazy on you.
A question came up about the Everglades and our Libertarian candidate answered that he wants ZERO gummint involvement in the Everglades. His proposal is that we should sell it lock stock and barrel to private firms who will take care of it better than the Gummint since they have an interest in the property they now own.
You can guess how the audience reacted to that one.
Just let Bachman, Perry and cheap AM radio talk and talk till election day.
August 30th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
There has been oil drilling in the Everglades since the 1940s.
The Everglades drilling has produced millions of barrels of oil.
Not one drop has spilled in more than sixty years.
Bachmann should have said, “sure, we should CONTINUE drilling safely in the Everglades…”
FROM BUDDY:
The oil production is in Sunniland in Collier County. It is in a rural area, but it is farming country and not the Everglades, or so-called River of Grass. It is near the Big Cypress. The Everglades is miles to the east.
August 31st, 2011 at 8:14 am
Allen West calls Michele Bachmann’s support for Everglades oil drilling ‘incredible’ mistake
By Anthony Man August 30, 2011 06:29 PM
U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, a darling of the tea party movement, said his fellow tea partyer, presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, got it wrong by suggesting it might be OK to drill for oil in the Everglades.
“I think Michele Bachmann said something that was an incredible faux pas,” he said Tuesday at a town hall meeting in Palm Beach Gardens. “When I see her next week, I’ll straighten her out about that.”
Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman, is chairwoman of the House Tea Party Caucus. West is a member of the caucus.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Dear Buddy : You are wrong it is inside the Federal protected areas as a matter of fact they are asking for more areas to drill and the county has said yes absolutely yes! The mineral rights were kept by the Collier Family so they can do it…Go check Collier County just passed a oedinance to allow drilling alongside of I75 clsoe to dade County Line a oil pipeline is being built to a loading station near the Indian Gas Station on I75….In the Big Smokey Reserve go check the map it is a eye opener…..
September 5th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
By the way here is a copy of the map:
http://www.collierresources.com/Portals/CRC/pdf/Oill-Field-Map_05-2010_V2.pdf
Have a nice day an in closing the Canadians have been pumping oil 150 yards off the coast of Havana for the past 4 years that you and Sen Nelson have been wrong about that also……..its a canadian company from Ottawa b the way….
September 16th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
What most Floridians don’t even know is that under the guise of “environmentalism” we’ve injected millions of dollars worth of herbicides annually (think arsenic-containing herbicides)into the “River of Grass” for almost a quarter of a century–it’s a River of toxic soup as a result. When politicians get in bed with “science” (whether it’s to protect “wetlands” or anything else) question everything they advocate.