Demanding more oil drilling is simply easier than doing the responsible thing: promoting the research and development of alternative energy and power supplies. One alternative is cannabis, the oil from the cannabis plant can be used for many of the same purposes we now petro-chemicals for. Certainly not all alternatives are created equal but how will we know without funding the research?

Has anybody else noticed how much the word "estimate" flies around in the drilling debate?  Nobody really knows how much oil there is available to the US, or even exactly where it is.

We do know, however, where the sun shines, where the wind blows, where water flows, where the earth warms, where plants grow, and how to use all these things for increasing domestic energy production.

I watched some of Cheney's speech, and it made me so mad I could barely keep from screaming.  He and the whole administration are hypocrites, saying they want to fight the "addiction to oil" and "fight climate change", but kicking and screaming to keep things the same.

Boehner and the Republicans have been looking for a new slogan lately, and I've got one for them: "Status quo's the way to go!"

I love how you attribute the following to Cheney, but fail to back it up:

Vice President Cheney yesterday called for a substantial increase in domestic drilling for oil and other natural resources, including in environmentally sensitive areas, saying that only increased production -- and not new technology -- will satisfy the nation's demand for energy.

Talk about misquoting...he said nothing of the sort.

To ignore the fact that Cuba is 90 miles off our shores and is working with China to drill with 60 miles of Florida is akin to sticking your head in the sand.  It's happening--a simple Google search will show you that the New York Times reported on this back in May.

Further exploration of oil along with research into renewable energy is the answer to today's energy crisis.  Saudi Arabia and others like them are laughing at how stupid Americans are for allowing prices to sky rocket while they cling to the thought they can save the world by not drilling in Alaska and the Gulf.  While you are rich enough to not feel the pinch you're furthering the plight of poor American's who can hardly feed their famalies let alone pay more to foreign countries for the gas they need to get to work.

Regading the Cheney quote:  He did not say that increased oil production was the ONLY way to satisfy hte nation's demand for energy.