48 Responses to:
AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

# 1. 7/17/12 12:25 AM by dave
All good arguments, but you forgot one thing; in New York, the power and money that comes with taxes. Sure, we can get lots of natural gas produced relatively cheaply, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be cheap to purchase. Look at electricity; in our region of New York, we produce electricity by clean coal (for now, until that ass in the White House closes it down for good), nuclear and hydro, yet we have the most expensive electricity in the country. While I strongly support fracking (they can start in my back yard!), I don't think it will make our energy costs drop much at all, sadly.

# 2. 7/17/12 12:29 AM by Jodi - Wayne County East
Employ baby employ.

Drill baby drill.

Frack baby frack.

Then burn baby burn.

# 3. 7/17/12 1:49 AM by Abner D

"But there’s a problem ... Liberals. Liberals, who hate America ..."

Not to mention, mom, apple pie, Old Glory, the Constitution, God, United States Marines, the 2nd Amendment, and US Navy Seals.

You sliced the sweet potato pie squarely down the center with this one, Bob. Way to go.

Definitely 'Two Thumbs Up!'

# 4. 7/17/12 1:53 AM by hunter - e. bethany, ny
Bob, you can bet if there is a pipeline involved, a "field" as a source, or a processing plant, then foreign money will eventually be behind (reaping the profits)of North American shale. Check to see who recently bought into a large share of the Keystone deposits in Canada. Here is a clue: The country's name starts with a "C".

# 5. 7/17/12 2:17 AM by Abner D

By chance you missed it last week ...

Our beloved JL took a break from his popular, 'White People Are The Oppressors' theme and blasted a 'Republicans Are Evil White People' hanging curve into the upper decks of the blatantly inaccurate, overtly racist\socialist rag we call, The Democrat and Chronicle.

If you haven't already done so, please thank JL by canceling your subscription.

# 6. 7/17/12 4:10 AM
It should be legal, but everything is not a liberal conspiracy. Just need to be careful, like not damaging Skaneatles Lake where we get our water for Syracuse.

# 7. 7/17/12 4:41 AM by Cal - Rochester, NY
Bob,

I believe that God has truly blessed America, as in our song, GOD BLESS AMERICA. The liberals are trying to take out God, starting in our schools. But I`m happy to report that the liberals are starting to lose, including Obama. God is still ALIVE and well! I`m happy to report that there is, a new non-poluting way, to frack more natural gas than ever! That is using propane instead of water! It is being done right now, without any waste by-products, by a large corporation just across the border in Coudersport, Pa! We, God fearing Conservatives, just can not lose when we have God on our side!

# 8. 7/17/12 6:29 AM by Bill - Rochester NY
I don't mind your comments about fuel. But liberals hate America? You said it several times and in several different ways. I know there are some nutballs out there who actually believe that crap, but I never thought you were one of them. This isn't about politics; this is about mental health. Yours.

Editor's Note: and the fact liberals hate america, its values and its heritage.

# 9. 7/17/12 6:36 AM by Grand Scheme
Gee, I remember reading somewhere that the NYS Thruway would be infinitely self sustaining.

And also the Social Security system.

But we DID have to build 50,000 "Strategically deterrent nuclear missiles and the complex to maintain them in a readily usable mode."

But we didn't anticipate millions of welfare babies and a handful of self-righteous socialist scientists working against us on those deals.

Surplus uranium was supposed to be used as fuel in nuclear power plants providing cheap, abundant power - forever!

Wuh hoppened folks?

I think I have a clue...

# 10. 7/17/12 6:56 AM by Liberty Tom - Rochester, NY
Remember Bob...we're the Soviet Union of the 60's. We (the common folk) will lack energy and heat. We'll have to take it when we can get it. The "Lords of The Revolution" will do just fine. They'll have their heat, energy, cooling. That's the authoritarian Marxist model. All men are created equal, but some are more equal than others. And the vast majority of sheep will nod approvingly.

# 11. 7/17/12 7:00 AM by Poplar Beach
I don't think all liberals hate America Bob, though many certainly do; many others are just misinformed idealists.

That said fracking, if done properly is safe, but for the liberal it is not safe enough, because they don't see the big picture. They don't see how expensive and unreliable solar and wind are and since we can not store nearly enough energy, we are screwed when the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow, so we can not live without fossil fuel, or nuclear energy, now, or in the near future.

On global warming, it is a natural phenomenon, that has happened before. Yes, the natural cycle may have been sped up by man, but if we quit using all fossil fuels right now, it would not stop, or even slow significantly. There may be cause for alarm, but there is not a damn thing man can do about it.

I have many liberal friends, they are nice people, but they think all problems can be solved with more money, more programs, bigger more idealist government. Realist look at history, h-ll, they can look at Europe right now and they see that global warming and fracking are far less dangerous than the tax and spend national debt cycle that will kill us (the USA) long before mother nature will!

# 12. 7/17/12 7:05 AM by HJB - %$#@chester
Number 8 if you read carefully Bob is relating liberals to communists ("they lost the cold war once"). This is why he opines that liberals hate America, they are, in fact, communists; albeit sometimes thinly disguised.

That the most rabid liberals do hate America I don't disagree. I also believe they'd like to fundamentally change how America works and have been slowly chipping away at our individual freedoms. The next step they are already working on is punishing the rich for being rich. Because everyone must be financially equal, right? Guess what kind of idealogy that is. Give you a clue, it's not a democratic one.

That being said, if freedom is the most important thing, then let's get rid of drones in the sky, the patriot act, the ability to hold people indefinitely without charges, welfare, and the TSA. Let's face it, none of this is doing anything except holding people down and pissing them off. I don't know how you feel, but the America we live in today is not the same one I grew up in.

# 13. 7/17/12 7:18 AM by little john - Mt.Morris,N.Y.
A good column as food for thought. My question is this? If it is such a good idea, why weren't we doing it thirty years ago???

# 14. 7/17/12 7:21 AM by Larry - Virginia
Definitely correct! Although I wish we could, we can never get the power out of solar and wind that this country needs to live and prosper. Those can supplement but we need real fuel. Trucks will not be running with a windmill on top in the near future, or ever! I always want to ask a Greenie (as I call them) how they plan to heat their house and drive their car if they get their way on coal, oil, gas, and nuclear.

# 15. 7/17/12 7:22 AM by OldVietVet - Rochester, NY
I agree with #1,- fracking will not mean that we, the consumers,will necessarily benefit from a supposed abundance of gas or oil. And with low prices, why would a business concern choose to "frack baby frack?" New oil and gas exploration traditionally result from an economy of high prices providing incentives for investment in that industry. We have coal and Nuclear Power know-how to generate an overabundance of electricity. And yet coal fired plants are closing, and nuclear plants are decaying.And we pay high prices. Why? It aint all the fault of the rats in Washington, or the environmentalists. New York has declined in tandem with the big energy schemes centered around energy-from the St. Lawrence Seaway right up to the present day sales of RGE,Somerset, etc.If I were a farmer, or landowner on the Southern Tier,a beautifull area homesteaded and farmed by my ancestors,I'd tell the gas companies to screw off.

Editor's Note: i, on the other hand, whose family came to the southern tier right after the revolution, would happily sell them all the gas rights they wanted.

# 16. 7/17/12 7:28 AM by RC - Bloomington
Great Lonsberry Quote: God founded this country. And he gave us the resources we need to survive.

# 17. 7/17/12 7:32 AM by Leigh - Rochester, NY
#8- Yes. Liberals hate America.

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't cross the globe apologizing to every 3rd World country and petty dictator

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't be constantly trying to minimalize, marginalize and neutralize the Constitution

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't try to replace the word "Patriotism" with "Jingoism".

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't be trying their damnedest to cede sovereign power to the UN

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't be trying to turn every illegal immigrant into a registered Democrat

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't keep trying to rewrite our history books to make our brightest hours look like our darkest hours

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't constantly punish success and reward failure and dependence.

If they didn't hate America, they wouldn't systematically attack every foundation, principle and ideal this country was founded on.

Liberals hate America. They just don't have the balls to admit it, and they think everyone is too stupid to realize it.

# 18. 7/17/12 7:54 AM by Bart - Webster
Correct, Bob. Liberals are Luddites. They oppose progress in energy independence because it threatens their desire for control of the economy, the people and our country. And if they can't control America themselves they would rather let the UN do it (ie the Kyoto treaty). Anything to keep power from the people.

# 19. 7/17/12 8:04 AM
What sickens me most is that if this whole situation having to do with Ralph Lauren Olympic uniforms being made in China had not been brought to the attention of the American people, it would have just been swept under the road like everything else, including oil drilling etc. As we move forward to the Presidential election and those within the Congress, we are starting to hear about issues that should have been addressed years ago, why, because they fear not being voted back in. Made in America it once was, but no longer. Walmart, Sears, Target, Harbor Freight, Kohls, Apple, etc, etc. If its not made in America, there is only one reason, Greed!!!

# 20. 7/17/12 8:27 AM by GEORGE (THE OTHER ONE) - GANANOQUE ONTARIO CANADA
*

Let's hope that this fall all Americans tell liberals (democrats) to "FRACK OFF!"

# 21. 7/17/12 8:52 AM by Tom Bastian - Fairport, NY
This one issue, if properly presented can win the election for conservative minded Americans and bring us the independence and prosperity we can only imagine now. IF and only if it is properly presented. We can tell the Liberals, Socialists and Commies to go Frack Themselves.

# 22. 7/17/12 9:40 AM
Bob,

Once Dick Ide Pontiac closed across from Kodak Park, it was all over after that.

Editor's Note: i'm pretty sure that was piehler

# 23. 7/17/12 10:11 AM by Tom Dey - Springwater, NY
100% RIGHT ON, Bob. 30+ years ago Solar was all the rage; my job then to critique the myriad related patents. Many were fatally-flawed, violating the 2nd law of thermodynamics = perpetual motion machines. And wind is just too damned dilute and feeble. Nuclear fusion is a wet dream and always will be. We sit on the richest proven fossil fuel reserves on the planet and the libs refuse to let us tap our own. They're nuts and have champion Obama et al backing them up. They're not fiddling while Rome burns; they're too busy torching the place. How things got so insane is beyond all logic. When the new administration approves the pipeline, taps ANWR and costal reaerves, gets fraking...is the day our fuel prices will plummet to where they should be. November we throw the bums out and replace them with our patriots.

# 24. 7/17/12 10:12 AM
"But he said something interesting the other day. At a recent energy conference in Britain, Lord Browne – the former CEO of British Petroleum – said that America would be energy independent by 2030."

BP and the House of Lords must own a sizable interest in FRACKIN' America... LLOL is LLoyds of London, the biggest frackin banking hedge fund there is...

# 25. 7/17/12 10:27 AM by Harvey Ballwanger
There’s not only fracking. Some developing countries put their crap into cesspools and convert their waste into useful methane gas. They produce enough fuel to generate enough electricity it light up their villages and TVs. So, our sewage treatment plants should be used to produce methane for generating power. And since Americans have an obesity problem and eat far more than those in developing countries, it is my contention that we could generate more power per capita than they do.

# 26. 7/17/12 10:35 AM by John - SLC
Fracking liberals.

# 27. 7/17/12 10:37 AM by Matt Conway - Henrietta, NY
Stopped reading at "Liberals, who hate America".

Are there any liberals in the military? I would gather there are at least a few.

# 28. 7/17/12 10:43 AM by Old Ham - Great_Basin
My question is why on earth have we (the US) not completely embraced natural gas vehicles? Where are the car manufacturers? Where is the gas company promoting their product? Where are the governors of natural gas producing states? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Where I live, there is a small but growing NGV vehicle presence. There are a few stations, mostly run by the gas company. Honda builds a NGV Civic but they are only sold in California though there has been recent legislation loosening up EPA requirements for NGV conversions which are mostly dual-fuel.

Also, there has been new development in natural gas fuel cells, both for home electricity and electric vehicles.

http://evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1756

Once again, a no-brainer.

# 29. 7/17/12 11:23 AM
Everybody could use a good fracking now and then - even our nation.

# 30. 7/17/12 12:30 PM by Patrick - Syracuse
Bob, Here's an idea for your t-shirt line:

I'm a New Yorker, and I've got Gas

# 31. 7/17/12 12:46 PM by Matt - Rochester, NY
Blaming liberals for every single problem in America just takes away any credibility your argument has. You just sound whiny like the current GOP'ers. Nothing like playing the blame game instead of your Republican elected do-nothings! I am a liberal and I say FRACK away!!! I am all for it!

# 32. 7/17/12 12:49 PM by hc
Okay, so I confess almost-complete ignorance on this issue and only kept reading just to see how some of my fellow commentators were going to use the word "hydrofracking" in a sentence.

Yep, just as I predicted.

~xp

# 33. 7/17/12 1:07 PM by Bob Jr. - Utah
You should make some fracking t-shirts....

# 34. 7/17/12 1:57 PM by Poplar Beach
# 31, Matt, what is a liberal, your definition?

I am not kidding, please tell me 5 beliefs that best describe a liberal.

Maybe you are a libertarian and just don't know it?

# 35. 7/17/12 1:58 PM by Matt - Rochester NY
Wrong again. If hydrofracking was safe and didn't contaminate the water tables and aquifiers, every liberal would be in favor. Ironically, since Cuomo is apparently allowing it in Steuben County, that's kind of close to where you live, so you may get to experience this firsthand. I look forward to the column you write the first time you can light your faucet on fire. Remember, water is much more important than any energy source.

# 36. 7/17/12 3:01 PM by Chris
Liberals understand that there is the "right way" and the "best way" and they are rarely the same. The "right way" is: Love everyone, including your enemies. Everyone gets treated the same. Everyone shares equally. Everyone is responsible for everyone else. The Golden Rule. In other words, all the stuff Jesus said and did. That is the "right way". The "best way" produces the most wealth, power, etc. Liberals are not interested in that.

Since fracking pollutes, fracking is not right. It is best, but not right. It is better to be right and fail than to do what is best and be wrong.

Liberals don't care about results, they care about motive.

# 37. 7/17/12 4:46 PM by Mark - Greece
#27: Yep, there are liberals in the military. They are the ones going on rampages and shooting their comrades-in-arms, if you will.

# 38. 7/17/12 4:55 PM - Beautiful Canisteo Valley
Every county, hamlet, village, etc in this area has held referendums, town hall meetings,etc voting to stop the "evil frackers". I make occasional day trips to Wellsboro, PA because I think it is a friendly, beautiful village. Recently I talked to some people about their opinions of the gas drilling, I talked to business owners & employees, people at the movie theater, in the village park,land owners & other residents. All I heard was praise for the company involved in the gas drilling & their presence in the area. Not one complaint & this was strictly random. The Wellsboro of days gone by has been restored & citizens are happy & satisfied. Why aren't some of these folks interviewed & & invited into Steuben, Allegany & other counties to speak to the public.....why is it just nay-sayers?

# 39. 7/17/12 6:03 PM by John H - Rochester,ny
Im with you on this one Bob!! Trust me. However,, I do worry about the potential dumbass that comes to work hungover and spits some gogo juice into the ground, thereby leaking it into the water. I want hydrofracking like no other,,, We need this money up here in NYS!! We deserve it!! But if there are any risks to my families health or contamination to our soil,,, well,, I kinda have to ask myself. Is it really worth it.. I havent done much research, but I know PA is doing a heck of alot better than we are right now.

# 40. 7/18/12 3:37 AM by Biker Bob - Off Topic
Hey Bob, according to ABC News, more than 10 years after 911, commercial airplanes are sitting on the tarmac, unlocked {no locks at all} with no key required to start the engines, waiting for anyone with the know-how to jump in the pilots seat and fire up the engines and take off. Earth to Control Tower, do you have all your jets?

# 41. 7/18/12 7:25 AM by Matt - Rochester, NY
Hey Polar Beach---Maybe you're right!!!! I like the sound of that---Libertarian.

# 42. 7/18/12 11:47 AM by Jimmy the Greek
10-1 that Romney paid no taxes in 2009.

He released his 2010-2011 taxes and gave McCain his 2008 and below (23 years worth). 2009 is the problem year for him. After the financial crash of 2008 his accountants took losses for his 2009 return so that he paid zero taxes.

10-1 odds. Any takers?

# 43. 7/18/12 3:31 PM by Political Observer - Greece, NY
Off Topic,

Your closing comments on todays radio show expressed my feelings about these Comida tax breaks for private business exactly. I think its a done deal and I think the School District is on board. I find it hard to understand why an underperforming school district which is laying off teachers and cutting programs can give up tax revenue to a private business. The Mall people in their Armani Suits can claim that these five, yet unnamed, restaurants are going to bring the Mall in Greece up to the level of Eastview Mall are really reaching. Greece is a whole different ball game than Victor, Pittsford, Fairport, etc. The stores are far more upscale at Eastview. As far as I'm concerned the kids who live in the Greece School District will be thrown under the bus.

# 44. 7/19/12 6:04 AM by Rick C. - Windmillville,NY 14510
Every time I drive through Naples I look at the Windmills producing Electricity. I think we need more Windmills. FUMR FUBOB

# 45. 7/19/12 4:54 PM by Louise - Pleasant View, UT
I saw you walk by at the Hill Cumorah Pageant. You live in a beautiful part of the world. I am surprised at the shocking contrast of NY City and upstate NY. It almost feel like upstate NY is undiscovered. I could live there if I didn't love Utah so much.

# 46. 7/19/12 8:09 PM by Wil
ever heard of Nikola Telsa? You can't believe everything the gov or the oil industries tell you- free energy is available if the powers that think they be wanted humankind to have it

# 47. 7/21/12 5:30 PM by Mike Rosenhan - Kearns, UT
Since the libs already think we conservatives are Nazis, let's send them to the re-education camps that they want to send us to.

We have more natural gas in the Overthrust Belt (Utah, Wyoming, Colorado) than the Arabs oil sheiks ever hoped to have in their oil fields.

# 48. 2/20/13 12:43 PM by Luann Waden - Bristol, NY
To assume that because i do not want to take a chance on my well water supply disappearing because of the 1 to 5 million gallons of fresh water it takes to frack a well i am UN-American, or worse yet, a liberal just makes an ass out of you Bob. To assume that because i do not want to take a chance on my well water supply being polluted to the degree that i can't even use it for bathing just makes an ass out of you Bob. To assume that because i do not want to take a chance on my property and home becoming worthless because of a process that is highly questionable...well you know where i am going with this, right? If this process is the way to energy independence (which it is not) we should wait until it can be done safely. Or we could just start by doing it in your backyard not mine.

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