GOP Senator Called Out On China-Cuba Oil Myth -- By Fox News
Oh, dear. You know things have really gotten out of hand with the GOP myth that China is drilling for oil off American shores when a Republican Senator pushes it, only to be called out on it by a Fox News host.
The latest hawker of this tall tale: Senator Pete Domenici, who appeared on the Fox Business Network to promote offshore drilling. He repeated not one but two GOP myths: That China is drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and that Hurricane Katrina did not cause any oil spills:
But this is the funny part. The bogus China-Cuba oil myth is now so discredited that even Fox won't stand for it! As Think Progress noted, Fox Business host Elizabeth MacDonald repeatedly tried to correct Domenici, even as the Senator dug in and refused to concede he'd said something that's entirely fictional.
A fun footnote: Domenici announced his retirement long ago, and the seat is widely expected to go the Dems. So he doesn't really have any personal stake in pushing the myth -- leaving open the possibility that he actually believes it.
Is your bolo big enough, ass?
July 16, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am soooo sick of this whole off shore drilling bullshit. It is total bull. There is not enough oil to make any material difference in prices and the insignificant effect wouldn't occur until 2030 according to the king's own administration. WTF!
July 16, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I loved McCain's contention that offshore drilling didn't cause any oil spills after Katrina:
http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2008/06/mccainbush-oil-scheme-pure-deception.html
I really wish the Democrats would lay it out in plain terms, so we could put an end to this nonsense once and for all. They need to spell it out, "It will lower the price of oil by less than $2/barrel in 10-20 years, and that will have ZERO impact on the price of gas."
If Democrats did a better job fighting back against this it wouldn't be an issue anymore, because offshore drilling simply can't hold up to scrutiny.
July 16, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Domenici is having problems with aging and brain function. One might call it senility, and it's well documented in his case. That's the primary reason he's retiring, and I'm very surprised that his staff allowed (?) him to be interviewed.
There's nothing the matter with his bolo tie, and we should be as kind as possible to ol' Pete. There but for the grace of God, etc.
July 16, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Since Domenici's generally off my radar, I found it shocking to see how ... elderly...? ...fuzzy-minded....? he is. Lucky for him that he has a good pension, because he's going to need it.
What Domenici illustrates -- advancing dementia would be a hunch -- about the craven, outworn, depleted, useless GOP is profoundly appalling.
As for FauxNewz, at some point, it must be painful to work so many years for an education and a good job only to find that Rupert Murdock is your paymaster and you're a laughingstock to half the nation. Look at the ratings declines for Faux; only a whole lot more fact-based information has a hope in hell of saving that sad outfit. They're the media equivilent of Domenici, and frankly I hope whoever still works for them is putting aside money or sending out resumes.
July 16, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
... goes McSame.
July 16, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Before he fell under the spell of the neocons, and long before his illness, Domenici really was a moderate. Over the years he sponsored and passed a substantial body of environmental legislation. He also assisted when energy development threatened valuable resources. In one case that comes to mind, Domenici supplied the political muscle stop a strip mine from destroying numerous archaeological sites without proper study. He also insisted on protection of human burials in the area. While he was never a progressives dream, he was at least reasonably honest about his politics. The neocon nutbars changed all that.
July 16, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
2 words for pajama Pete: TERM LIMITS !!
Legislators that stay on and on waaay past their moments of effectiveness and poor health, need to be replaced with sharper minds and ability.
I mean, these folks wouldn't know an email from an email address. Evidence Ted Stevens who calls the internet a series of toobes. And who can blame them? Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, Bob Byrd, and the rest of them all from Jim Crow days and 60s demonstrations all over the front page. They Really should be retired spending their last days on their rocking chairs reading the dailies.
July 16, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Byrd may be in his dotage but his liberal mind still works pretty well. Don't lump him in with these fools who never could think straight even in their prime.
July 17, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
correction:
(And who can blame them? Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, Bob Byrd, and the rest of them all throwbacks from Jim Crow days and 60s demonstrations that used to be all over the front pages as actual news. Contrast today where the internet is the driving force of 'truth' -- at least for now.)
July 16, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Woops!
Threw up in my mouth.
July 16, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Given that he's still a Republican, I think that does give him some reason to push a GOP Talking Point, even a phony, discredited one. Whether he actually believes any of the GOP talking points is sort of beside the point.
July 16, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely. He's got no accountability left waiting for him, so he can be the dirtiest loyal-Bushie foot soldier he wants to be. That's what's being on that team means: you go shout your mouth off on Fox News, you make threatening phone calls to your local US Attorney, and then you fade into the limelight.
July 16, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I worked with big bad oil for 30 years, so I know something of what I speak- in partial defense of oily Pete Domenici, the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC)more than likely is indirectly drilling in the Gulf, as are many other foreign owned and foreign state oil companies. Partnerships and consortia in exploration and drilling opps in the Gulf are largely unfettered. If you have the $ to pay the royalties and bonuses, you can drill and take the oil where ever you want. Other foreigners are off TX and LA too- i.e. Shell, Maersk, BP, Repsol, Total...the list goes on and on. Oil makes strange tanker buddies.
I'm somewhat baffled as to why the Bush admin is pushing opening the offshore- there's not much there! I seismically mapped the the US East and West Coasts back in the 70s- outside of a small gas discovery off Baltimore in the late 70's there's nothing interesting to oil men on the Atlantic shelf. Offshore Santa Barbara, Chevron made some discoveries in the 70's, worth some money for somebody, but they are not in the same league as Prudhoe Bay or Saudi. HUmmm.. maybe the Offshore is code for ANWAR!!, you think?... the only plum on a rather barren tree.
July 16, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
As glad as I am that another Republican pushing the myth that Katrina spilled no oil got called on it, it's driving me nuts that no one will pick up on one of these Republicans being Norm Coleman. Remember Coleman anyone? The guy in a tight race with Al Franken? The guy we could beat over the head with this yet no one with a platform is doing it?! For crying out loud, he's ON AUDIO saying, "We had the worst natural disaster in the history of this country Katrina, and there wasn't a drop of oil spilled." Here are the links to the audio and the debunking by Think Progress:
http://www.ravensblog.net/archives/june2-08.php#coleman-full
July 16, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pushing off-shore oil drilling is an effort by Bush and the GOP to payoff the oil industry for all their campaign contributions, which is nothing but a quid pro quo in sheep's clothing. Their corruptions or so inherent, the obvious appearance of graft/bribery/payola is of no consequence to them. Bush Republicans selling their souls and country to the devil has become so commonplace, they don't even feel ashamed of their governmental and political prostitutions. In fact, they buy and sell themselves with a sanctimonious zeal that makes Judas' sins seem venial by comparison.
July 17, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Domenici and Senator Kennedy are both terminally ill. It goes without saying that video clips that clearly demonstrate symptoms of their conditions are in extremely poor taste. Domenici, his staff and family are living with the symptoms of early dementia. One does not have to be a neurologist to see evidence for same in the Fox video.
Your mid-twenties reporter who never discussed Senator D.'s dementia in the article went on to state:
A fun footnote: Domenici announced his retirement long ago, and the seat is widely expected to go the Dems. So he doesn't really have any personal stake in pushing the myth -- leaving open the possibility that he actually believes it.
I concede that probably both Josh and Eric were not aware of Senator D.'s medical condition. If they were they both are guilty of severely sophomoric and jejune judgment. However, the only other conclusion, ignorance, is also unforgivable. One would expect them to, in their position, to be aware of the basic bibliography of every senator especially those that they denigrate and mock. Mortality and illness were reasons for retirement long before Obama and the 2008 Democratic surge became a factor.
The Domenici family grieves for Senator Domenici no less than than the family of Senator Kennedy.
I hope TPM is mature enough to apologize for this lapse.
Pietr Hitzig
July 17, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obviously you just pulled this story.
Good idea
July 17, 2008 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
The issue isn't whether or not any Gulf oil will significantly impact our energy prices, or that they say China is the driller, but that in spite of constant debunking, Republicans steadfastly repeat the story to anyone who will listen to it. They have chosen to raise fear of China to an art form, much as they have done with all things Muslin and swarthy for these past 7 years.
July 17, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink