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Noriega, Conaway, Cornyn clash on oil drilling
by Bob Campbell
Midland Reporter-Telegram
Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful says Iraqi oil, wind, hydrogen and solar power better solutions
By Bob Campbell
Staff Writer
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Rick Noriega said Tuesday that America should not try "to drill our way out of this problem" of soaring gasoline prices but instead rely on Iraqi oil and alternative energy sources.
Speaking at Midland County Democratic Headquarters at 601 S. Main St., the Houston state representative said the crisis requires an effort like the nation made in the 1960s to land men on the moon.
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, and Noriega's Nov. 4 Republican opponent, Sen. John Cornyn, said they back drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and Outer Continental Shelf off California and Florida to boost the oil supply and control gas prices.
In a speech before taking questions, Noriega asked, "Why should we tap into what finite resources we have left versus using the enormous reserves we're sitting on in Iraq?
"We must have a bold vision and move toward energy independence. We can't rely on what Mr. Cornyn says -- that somehow we're going to drill our way out. To say that would lower fuel prices is disingenuous. We can't even get that oil for seven or eight years."
Noriega, a 50-year-old National Guard lieutenant colonel who served in Afghanistan, is against exploring new areas. "We are the No. 1 producers of wind and natural gas, and we have the ability in agri-business to grow things that don't affect the food supply," he told two dozen applauding Democrats at 10:30 a.m. after an Odessa stop.
"We should look at solar, hydrogen and a host of things because our national security depends on it. In World War II, our fathers and grandfathers rationed gas, collected aluminum and bought war bonds. Everybody made sacrifices because we were all in it together.
"Today Mr. Cornyn and the Bush administration have put it all on a credit card and we're $9 trillion in debt."
Conaway predicted from Washington that U.S. House Democrats will have to recant their initial response. "Once they go home next weekend and spend a week with real people, they'll get an earful of how poorly received their 'no new production' position is," he said.
"The statement that we can't drill our way out is silly on its face and they know it. It begs the question of what do we do in the next 10 years? They're tone deaf to the human cry across America about $4 gasoline."
Conaway said the need is clear with maxed out world oil production running one million barrels a day ahead of the 85 million barrel demand. He said new wells must be constantly drilled because average per well production falls by 5 percent annually.
Cornyn said he has opposed a windfall profits tax and repeatedly voted to explore ANWR, drill offshore, build new refineries, expand existing ones and develop nuclear energy, biofuels and geothermal, hydropower and bio-mass sources to lessen Mideast oil dependence.
"The Democrats are so anxious to keep their liberal elite power base happy that they will not even consider common sense ideas for more domestic energy production," Cornyn said. "If $4 gasoline doesn't faze them, I don't know what will."
On another issue, Noriega compared his experience as an infantry officer to setting national policy. "If you're off a couple of degrees in land navigation, you can recover after a short distance," he said.
"But if you're off course for six or eight years, it's almost impossible. On the battlefield, the No. 1 thing you can do to save lives is stop the bleeding. We have to stop the bleeding whether it's this energy crisis, the economy or the state of health care."
When asked if it could be detrimental to have the same last name as a one-time Panamanian dictator who trafficked in narcotics, Mañuel Noriega, the candidate said it is such a common surname that there should be no negligible confusion.
"I don't think today's generation of voters makes any connection with that individual who is now living the high life in public housing in Florida," Noriega said.
Drawing laughter, he quipped, "I suspect if we looked hard enough, we could find some serial killer named Cornyn. What someone's name is, how he parts his hair and what color tie he wears will not insure one more kid or help one more senior with the cost of meds."
Noriega conceded Cornyn has a much bigger campaign war chest than he, almost $9 million to Noriega's $400,000, but contended finances will not determine the outcome.
"Cornyn has all the special interest money, but we're going to show the grassroots support," he said. "This is a David and Goliath undertaking and I like David's chances. We'll fight extremely hard and have the resources to be competitive."
By Bob Campbell
Staff Writer
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Rick Noriega said Tuesday that America should not try "to drill our way out of this problem" of soaring gasoline prices but instead rely on Iraqi oil and alternative energy sources.
Speaking at Midland County Democratic Headquarters at 601 S. Main St., the Houston state representative said the crisis requires an effort like the nation made in the 1960s to land men on the moon.
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, and Noriega's Nov. 4 Republican opponent, Sen. John Cornyn, said they back drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and Outer Continental Shelf off California and Florida to boost the oil supply and control gas prices.
In a speech before taking questions, Noriega asked, "Why should we tap into what finite resources we have left versus using the enormous reserves we're sitting on in Iraq?
"We must have a bold vision and move toward energy independence. We can't rely on what Mr. Cornyn says -- that somehow we're going to drill our way out. To say that would lower fuel prices is disingenuous. We can't even get that oil for seven or eight years."
Noriega, a 50-year-old National Guard lieutenant colonel who served in Afghanistan, is against exploring new areas. "We are the No. 1 producers of wind and natural gas, and we have the ability in agri-business to grow things that don't affect the food supply," he told two dozen applauding Democrats at 10:30 a.m. after an Odessa stop.
"We should look at solar, hydrogen and a host of things because our national security depends on it. In World War II, our fathers and grandfathers rationed gas, collected aluminum and bought war bonds. Everybody made sacrifices because we were all in it together.
"Today Mr. Cornyn and the Bush administration have put it all on a credit card and we're $9 trillion in debt."
Conaway predicted from Washington that U.S. House Democrats will have to recant their initial response. "Once they go home next weekend and spend a week with real people, they'll get an earful of how poorly received their 'no new production' position is," he said.
"The statement that we can't drill our way out is silly on its face and they know it. It begs the question of what do we do in the next 10 years? They're tone deaf to the human cry across America about $4 gasoline."
Conaway said the need is clear with maxed out world oil production running one million barrels a day ahead of the 85 million barrel demand. He said new wells must be constantly drilled because average per well production falls by 5 percent annually.
Cornyn said he has opposed a windfall profits tax and repeatedly voted to explore ANWR, drill offshore, build new refineries, expand existing ones and develop nuclear energy, biofuels and geothermal, hydropower and bio-mass sources to lessen Mideast oil dependence.
"The Democrats are so anxious to keep their liberal elite power base happy that they will not even consider common sense ideas for more domestic energy production," Cornyn said. "If $4 gasoline doesn't faze them, I don't know what will."
On another issue, Noriega compared his experience as an infantry officer to setting national policy. "If you're off a couple of degrees in land navigation, you can recover after a short distance," he said.
"But if you're off course for six or eight years, it's almost impossible. On the battlefield, the No. 1 thing you can do to save lives is stop the bleeding. We have to stop the bleeding whether it's this energy crisis, the economy or the state of health care."
When asked if it could be detrimental to have the same last name as a one-time Panamanian dictator who trafficked in narcotics, Mañuel Noriega, the candidate said it is such a common surname that there should be no negligible confusion.
"I don't think today's generation of voters makes any connection with that individual who is now living the high life in public housing in Florida," Noriega said.
Drawing laughter, he quipped, "I suspect if we looked hard enough, we could find some serial killer named Cornyn. What someone's name is, how he parts his hair and what color tie he wears will not insure one more kid or help one more senior with the cost of meds."
Noriega conceded Cornyn has a much bigger campaign war chest than he, almost $9 million to Noriega's $400,000, but contended finances will not determine the outcome.
"Cornyn has all the special interest money, but we're going to show the grassroots support," he said. "This is a David and Goliath undertaking and I like David's chances. We'll fight extremely hard and have the resources to be competitive."
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Drwe wrote on Jun 25, 2008 10:27 PM:
http://slatecard.com/candidates/510 "