Top Fed Official: 'It's Going To Take Several Years' Before Jobs Return

Top Fed Official: 'It's Going To Take Several Years' Before Jobs Return

Lets keep thinking them happy thoughts.
Better still, let's make that statement false by December.

"Presently, a record 87,897,000 Americans are not in the labor force."

That condition can be easily corrected in less than 6 weeks.
Open the wells, grab the rigs and start punching holes where the oil is.
Start laying pipe and re-opening and upfitting refineries.
Get the tankers fired up and tell the shiiteheads in the ME to go pound sand, the price of a barrel of oil is now the same as a bushel of corn or wheat.

HANSON: Drilling is a win, win choice for U.S. - Washington Times

HANSON: Drilling is a win, win choice for U.S. - Washington Times

When the summer driving season starts soon, and tension heats up about Iran, gas may reach $5 a gallon. Nothing bothers voters more than paying an extra $20 or $30 every time they fill up. In times like these, they soon might prefer even an oilman in the White House to an ideologue whose opposition to new oil development seems more religious than empirically based.

All presidents, of course, usually get the blame when the price of gas skyrockets and praise when it plummets, just like they own a bad or good economy, or a successful or failed war.

Presidents can affect gas prices, at least in the long term, by exercising budgetary discipline resulting in a currency that buys more oil per dollar, by approving or rejecting federal oil leases, and by adding or curbing regulations that affect oil exploration and development. In all of these cases, Mr. Obama has supported policies that contribute to higher gas prices.

Stuff You May Have Missed

Because the VLWM won't report it. Doesn't suit their agenda of disinformation and outright lies.

The Old Democrat Party: FDR Expanded US Domestic Oil Production

The "Drill, baby, drill!" mantra of the 2008 Republican National Convention was cynically answered by Barack Obama supporters at the Democratic Convention with: “You can't drill your way out of the problem.”

To address what President Obama called the worst worldwide crisis in living memory, the President promised hundreds of thousands of new green jobs if America abandoned its reliance on oil and gas, which he contemptuously refers to as the “fuel of the past”.

During President Obama’s term in office he will have escalated the federal debt by $6.4 trillion, 31.6 times the $202.6 billion debt the Franklin Roosevelt Administration issued to deal with the greatest worldwide crisis of all time, defeating Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. But unlike Obama, FDR achieved victory by expanding domestic oil and gas production and delivery.

In spite of the Obama Administration, a rag tag assortment of small “wildcat” oil and gas entrepreneurs have proven that America has over 100 years’ supply of natural gas and over 50 years’ supply of oil. With Obama’s green initiatives in tatters, his new strategy seems to be taking credit for drill, baby, drill achievements, but remains fearful of the political consequences to build the pipelines to pump, baby, pump all that oil and gas to markets.

With war looming, FDR appointed Harold Ickes, former Secretary of the Interior, to select 72 leaders of America's oil industry to serve on the Petroleum Industry War Council. Ickes would later describe in his book, Fightin Oil: “as one of the great coincidences of history”, the first meeting of the PIWC was scheduled for Monday December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Within weeks, the PIWC had mobilized America’s 1,500 oil companies, great and small, to work amicably with the government to win the war. With full involvement of the oil industry, America began massive drilling and quickly developed the technical capabilities to refine huge quantities of gasoline, including the 100-octane grade needed for aircraft.

To get energy supplies from Texas to the East Coast refiners to fuel Atlantic supply convoys, the industry in one year built the two largest diameter pipelines in the history of the world, the Big Inch and the Little Big Inch. During the war, U.S. oil companies delivered 6 billion out of a total of 7 billion barrels of oil consumed by the Allies. The Army-Navy Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote a letter to the PIWC in 1945 stating that “at no time did the Services lack for oil in the proper quantities, in the proper kinds and at the proper places.” Field-Marshall Von Rundstedt, commander of Germany’s Western Front, attributed Germany’s defeat to three factors involving oil: (1) Allied bombing (2) Allied naval bombardments; and (3) Germany's gasoline deficiency.

For three years the Obama Administration energy policy focused on pouring $60 billion into alternative energy; while limiting U.S. drilling off the Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and federal lands in the Rockies. Due to these policies, the average price per gallon of gas just hit an all-time-high for this time of year at $3.84 a gallon.

I may be waxing nostalgic, but in 1972, I was paying $0.36 a gallon for high test gasoline for my '66 Mustang. My grandaddy used to bitch about the price because he paid $0.25 a gallon for his '54 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery. In 20 years, the price of a gallon of gasoline at the pump only increased $0.11.

In 20 days, the price of a gallon of gasoline at the pump has increased twice that.

Attendees Handpicked From Campiagn HQ

Obama: We Don‘t Have Enough Pipeline to Transport All the Oil We’re Producing

Refineries are shutting down because there isn't enough crude being produced to justify keeping them open.

Before a crowd in Cushing, OK, President Obama highlighted (lied about) his energy policy and touted his administration’s “approval” for a section of the Keystone XL pipeline that will connect oil fields in that state with refineries in the Gulf of Mexico, CSPAN reports.

The word “approval” is in quotation marks because, as critics point out, the president plays no role in the construction of the new pipeline. It doesn’t matter if he “approves” or not. Let us explain.

“President Obama claiming credit for speeding up the Keystone pipeline is like Al Gore saying he invented the Internet,” said Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK). “It is claiming credit where credit isn’t due.”

Sullivan explains the president only has the authority to block lines that run internationally. Therefore, because it doesn’t cross international borders, the so-called Cushing pipeline doesn’t require the president’s approval. In fact, as Sullivan notes, President Obama personally lobbied Congress to vote against the pipeline.

Now he’s taking credit?

I can't even begin to explain how this staged performance/campaign event mirrors the tactics used for centuries by despots and dictators. They think that if you keep saying something long enough, everyone will believe it. A truly humble and respectful individual would be embarassed to even appear in public after telling the lies that were told in this single appearence.

Petroleum producers plan presidential protest

Petroleum producers plan presidential protest

CUSHING, Okla. -- The President is scheduled to speak in Payne County this Thursday morning. It may be rural Oklahoma, but when it comes to pipelines, it's the Capitol. The President is expected to talk about energy, though many in that industry are not impressed. They are even planning to protest his visit, calling it a political ploy more than a genuine interest.
Mike Cantrell with the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance says, "For the last three years he's been anti-fossil fuels."Mickey Thompson, an energy industry expert and political analyst, says, "He calls our industry an industry of the past and they'd like us to go away."
The President is expected to mention his support for a pipeline running from Payne County to the gulf; it's the southern end of the “Keystone XL Pipeline.”
Industry experts say while his support for the southern end is welcome, it's not needed.

Oklahoma Shout-Out
A presidential stunt to make the uniformed think he gives a furry rat's butt about the price of gas at the pump. Hope those pipeline workers have their stuff wired tight for the protest. Secret Service will be all over the place.

Here's A Good Start If It's Done Right

Got this from GOPUSA in an email blast. At first glance, it looks like it will work just fine, if they install the pipeline right the first time. There are pipelines buried everywhere carrying refined petroleum products and natural gas and they work just fine. I know this project will keep a lot of welders and welding inspectors very busy, and yes, I'm self-serving. I like to work. I like earning a living.

I also know the enviro-wackjobs will be very busy trying to stop it. This project will twist their panties in a wad.

Here's the location map.
And here is the Google Earth satellite view.

View Larger Map

I'm sure they'll find some red-breasted tit-mouse kangaroo owl who only eats snail-darters and claim endangered species.

Here's the link to voice support for this project.

The Keystone XL pipeline would bring North American oil to refineries on the Gulf Coast here in the US.

That means more American jobs, lower energy costs (including lower prices at the pump), and a more stable, secure energy supply. But unless the Federal Government allows access to the vast resources at our fingertips, those jobs will go overseas - and America will stay just another international crisis away from gas prices reaching $4/gallon again, or soaring even higher.

An Overture or A Smokescreen?

Be very careful when the opposition seems to be giving you what you want, it usually means there is something being taken somewhere else.

Government set to unveil offshore drilling plan

The plan could pave the way for a significant new domestic source of energy, helping to reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports and boost supplies of natural gas used to displace coal in power plants as the country works to reduce emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.

Last month, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he wanted to release the updated drilling plan by the end of March.

Two industry sources said on Monday President Barack Obama was expected to give a speech about energy security on Wednesday, which could include his views on expansion of offshore drilling.

The Interior Department and White House declined comment on Monday on whether Obama would speak to the issue in a speech slated for mid-morning on Wednesday at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

The administration has been weighing the pros and cons of offshore drilling since it took office and put the brakes on a Bush-era proposal that called for drilling along the East Coast and off the coast of California.

For more than 20 years, drilling was banned in most offshore areas of the United States outside the Gulf of Mexico because of concerns spills could harm the environment.

Congress allowed the prohibition to expire in 2008 and former President George W. Bush lifted a drilling moratorium that year. Environmental groups and some lawmakers continue to raise concerns about the impact increased drilling would have on coastal areas.

But Obama, who wants Congress to move a stalled climate change bill, has sought to reach out to Republicans by signaling he is open to allowing offshore drilling, providing coastlines are protected.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the U.S. Atlantic coast waters may hold 37 trillion cubic feet of gas and nearly 4 billion barrels of oil, while the Pacific Coast has 10.5 billion barrels of oil and 18 trillion cubic feet of gas.

To put that in context, the United States imports about 2 billion barrels of oil a year from OPEC nations and is expected to import 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from all sources this year, according to the Energy Department.

The administration's plan is expected to spell out whether and when drilling will be allowed in 3 million acres off the Virginia coast.

The Bush administration had proposed leasing the Virginia tracts to energy companies and said the government would receive bids for the leases in November 2011.

However, a senior Interior official told an oil industry conference in January that drilling off Virginia's coast would definitely be delayed past the original 2011 leasing date.

The proposed Virginia lease area, located about 50 miles from shore, may hold 130 million barrels of oil and 1.14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The possible delay in drilling off Virginia's coast has been criticized by the state's new governor, Republican Bob McDonnell, and two U.S. senators eager for the state to tap into the jobs and royalties that come with exploration.

A spokeswoman for McDonnell said his office has not been told the updated drilling plan would be announced on Wednesday.

Repeal Corporate Taxes

This is a no-brainer.

Done in conjunction with offshore energy exploration, the revenues would be astronomical; companies would be flocking to set up; construction would sky-rocket; supporting industries would set up; the oil, coal and gas industry is the key to Virginia's budget issues.

Just think of the jobs that would be created. The increase in state income taxes. Hell, you could probably employ every able-bodied person in Newport News just in the support industry for the drill rigs and pipelines.

Another Good Example for Having Multiple Sources

Gustav has literally shut down the petroleum industry in the Gulf for the next three to four weeks, depending on how bad this thing really gets.

It may only affect it for a few days, but no doubt it is having an affect.

Suppose we had ANWR or the Babbin(?) Field in Montana online and pumping. Ain't no hurricaines in Montana or Alaska, that I know of. This wouldn't even have been a bump in the supply system. They fly all the workers from the Gulf to the north fields, and double production for the duration of the emergency.

I'm Not Going To Defend Ted Stevens

He is accused of having lied on a federal form and if he did, he needs to suffer the consequences, just like any of us; but this is the best example of the government creating conditions which restrict citizens from creating wealth and improving their own lives.

Alaska is the richest state in natural resources, (gold, oil, natural gas) and has the lowest population per square mile of any of the 50 states. I doubt that 1 in 10 residents are actually from Alsaka originally. I could be wrong, I'm doing this on the fly with no research, except watching the History Channel (Ice Road Truckers, etc)

The resources are hard to get to and the government has imposed environmental regulations which restrict the exploitation of these resources.

Had the government not imposed these regulations, the citizens of Alaska could be enjoying the benefits of jobs working the oil fields, pipelines and drill rigs, in addition to the support stucture, which require people to fill them, (you have to WANT to work in Alaska,) which increases the tax base, which fills the state tax coffers, which reduces the amount of money the federal government has to send back for improvements, which would have eliminated the need for Senator Stevens to make all those backroom deals, which would have negated the necessity of lying on a federal form.

Open ANWR, let the people of Alaska go to work supplying us with much needed domestic oil, which will decrease our imports of foreign oil. Its a win/win situation.

Will it happen? I don't know, but it sure needs to happen. Sooner than later.