Lieberman Watch: Comes Out Strong for ANWR

[Lunar]

I'm not entirely sure what Lieberman is doing these days.  I used to think he was praying to be selected to be Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security in some Republican cabinet in 2012, that or be a lobbyist for some conservative-sympathizing group...but now he's picking issues like this and DADT to be the leading voice on.

Strange.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/85039-lieberman-anwr-drilling-a-deal-breaker-in-climate-effort

A climate bill cannot include drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, said Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.).

He said allowing ANWR drilling "would be a deal breaker."

“That is just not going to happen,” Lieberman told reporters in the Capitol on Thursday.

Republicans have long called for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Lieberman's  comments come a day after Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who is considered a swing vote in the climate debate, said she wanted ANWR drilling included in the discussions and suggested it could be the price of winning her support.

But Lieberman, who has championed efforts to keep ANWR permanently off-limits to drilling, said oil development in the Alaskan refuge won’t be in the mix.

“We are looking at a lot of things, we are bending to bring people in, but that one is a no-no,” he said.

Lieberman is trying to craft a compromise climate and energy plan with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

The plan that the Senate trio is crafting is expected to include several measures aimed at winning support from Republicans  and centrist Democrats, such as expanded offshore drilling and major new federal support for building nuclear power plants.

[King]

Maybe he's actually an independent.

Interesting.

[Lunar]

Maybe he's actually an independent.

Interesting.

It's pretty clear he fancies himself as such.  But in the most admirable usage of the word, I think his recent actions on healthcare where he campaigned on an issue he later promised to filibuster would indicate otherwise.

[perdedor]

Perhaps he has come to grips with the reality that his only 2012 options are retirement and being resoundingly voted out of the Senate by his constituents. Either he is thinking of running again or trying to mend the fence and retire with a good legacy (unlikely to happen).

[Lunar]

Perhaps he has come to grips with the reality that his only 2012 options are retirement and being resoundingly voted out of the Senate by his constituents. Either he is thinking of running again or trying to mend the fence and retire with a good legacy (unlikely to happen).

that  makes no sense.  Why would him "coming to grips" with electoral reality cause him to cease voting conservatively?

[perdedor]

Perhaps he has come to grips with the reality that his only 2012 options are retirement and being resoundingly voted out of the Senate by his constituents. Either he is thinking of running again or trying to mend the fence and retire with a good legacy (unlikely to happen).

that  makes no sense.  Why would him "coming to grips" with electoral reality cause him to cease voting conservatively?

As I said, he is either considering another run (which would imply he is trying to move to the left and mend the fence with the Democratic base) or he is trying to save his legacy.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

While Lieberman is quick to screw Democrats on a variety of issues, he was the critical 34th vote to block the flag burning amendment, so occasionally he's unpredictable.

[Zarn]

Why do people insist on not drilling barren parts of ANWR?

[Lief 🗽]

Why do people insist on not drilling barren parts of ANWR?

Because we don't think that animals should be murdered and untouched natural beauty destroyed for a few extra barrels of oil?

[Zarn]

Why do people insist on not drilling barren parts of ANWR?

Because we don't think that animals should be murdered and untouched natural beauty destroyed for a few extra barrels of oil?

I take it you don't know what barren menas.

[Lief 🗽]

Doesn't look barren to me.

[Zarn]

I said the barren part of ANWR. There is more than one area.

Why do people insist on being hacks?

[Conservative frontier]

Why do people insist on not drilling barren parts of ANWR?

Because we don't think that animals should be murdered and untouched natural beauty destroyed for a few extra barrels of oil?

Yet, you want to destroy the economy by saving a dumb and ugly snow owl and the forcing the government on everyone? I rather kill the environment.

[Lief 🗽]

I said the barren part of ANWR. There is more than one area.

Why do people insist on being hacks?

Those are pictures of area 1002, the area that ANWR drilling would happen in.

[© tweed]

non-environmental argument to use against ANWR drilling is that it it stupid to burn through such a reserve in peacetime.

[Sbane]

Why do people insist on not drilling barren parts of ANWR?

Because we don't think that animals should be murdered and untouched natural beauty destroyed for a few extra barrels of oil?

Animals will be murdered?

[Sbane]

non-environmental argument to use against ANWR drilling is that it it stupid to burn through such a reserve in peacetime.

Now this is a good argument against ANWR drilling. The same reason I oppose drilling off the California coast. There is just no hurry to get that oil now. Let's wait till oil gets consistently above $100-150 a barrel.

Also can someone explain to me why drilling in certain parts of the reserve destroy all the natural beauty and especially how it would kill animals (in enough numbers to impact the ecosystem which is all that really matters and not some individual animal)? Today's technology allows a small number of drills to extract oil from a much larger area. And there is no evidence that the Caribou is going to be afraid of this infrastructure and will avoid the area. It's not like there are going to be a bunch of people barbecuing in the middle of the ing tundra.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How about that Sarah Palin supports ANWR drilling? It's a good rule of thumb to assume that Palin is always wrong.

[Sbane]

How about that Sarah Palin supports ANWR drilling? It's a good rule of thumb to assume that Palin is always wrong.

.....even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Good for Lieberman. 

Even Norm Coleman had the sense to oppose drilling in ANWR lest he face the wrath of his constituents.

[Torie]

non-environmental argument to use against ANWR drilling is that it it stupid to burn through such a reserve in peacetime.

Now this is a good argument against ANWR drilling. The same reason I oppose drilling off the California coast. There is just no hurry to get that oil now. Let's wait till oil gets consistently above $100-150 a barrel.

Also can someone explain to me why drilling in certain parts of the reserve destroy all the natural beauty and especially how it would kill animals (in enough numbers to impact the ecosystem which is all that really matters and not some individual animal)? Today's technology allows a small number of drills to extract oil from a much larger area. And there is no evidence that the Caribou is going to be afraid of this infrastructure and will avoid the area. It's not like there are going to be a bunch of people barbecuing in the middle of the ing tundra.

I agree. Drill and cap, and hold the oil as a reserve for later.  Yes it will be expensive, but worth it.

[Bo]

While Lieberman is quick to screw Democrats on a variety of issues, he was the critical 34th vote to block the flag burning amendment, so occasionally he's unpredictable.

That Amendment should have passed.