| 09.30.08|
Off My Rocker: Drilling Thoughts
The Front Porch has been temporarily re-located about four hundred miles to the east for a little R&R, which includes further testing of SPF 30 and 45 (I may be the only person for whom it works since my pasty fish-white legs look the same year-round, regardless of how much time at the pool or rounds of golf through the summer). For those with nefarious minds, the Long Beach Front Porch is being guarded by our faithful Cooper and friend George, a staunch NRA member and user until our return.
If Gov. Schwarzenegger is okay with drilling inside Long Beach Harbor, how come he is opposed to drilling ten miles off Long Beach Harbor, and the rest of the California coast? If the Long Beach Harbor extraction is expected to bring $20 million per year to the state, how much would our cash strapped and almost broke state make if more off shore drilling were allowed? Drill, Arnie, drill.
Great news that more oil will be extracted through the Long Beach Harbor with Schwarzenegger; if the law goes forward and actually allows Occidental Petroleum to drill more wells in the Wilmington Field it is estimated to bring in $130 million to the City. That is a big “if” because we all know that every “green” group from the Sierra Club to Heal the Bay to the Audobon Society will fight any expanded drilling in court for years.
“Brother I was recently laid off…” said the decently dressed man walking up to me at the gas station Saturday morning. I held up my hands and said, “I know where this is going Brother, I am a mortgage broker.” He replied, “Can I help you?” We both chuckled and wished each other well.
I am still not sure the effect that the RescueBailOut Plan will have in the Long Beach area since we do not have any major banks or lenders headquartered in the area, and while there are a significant numbers of foreclosures we have a lot less than many areas. On Friday when I emailed and posted my weekly rate and market update, I did opine on the number of people who are part of the bailout who never should have been homeowners to start with, you can read it by clicking here.
How do you think our government would work if candidates and elected officials wore uniforms like NASCAR drivers? Our politicians would have patches with the logos of their donors, the bigger the patch the bigger the donation. How would your reaction be to the bailout news conferences if when Sen. Dodd spoke he had huge patches from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
If the City of Long Beach is expected to bring in and additional $13 million per year from new oil production in the Harbor, what is the plan for the increased revenue? Pay down the infrastructure bond if it passes? Increase programs and expenses like what has happened to past revenue increases? Before the oil and profits start flowing I would like our city management and council to put together a plan for where the funds will be allocated.
Were you like me and thought “astroturfing” meant putting in fake grass? The blogosphere is full of increasing evidence the Obama campaign has been very actively astroturfing—do as I say not as I do, I guess.
Presidential Debates are for the squishy middle of the electorate. Anyone who has already decided to cast their vote for either McCain or Obama are not going to be dissuaded from their decision regardless of how well or poorly their candidate performs in a debate. Undecideds and independents, however, may be either dissuaded or persuaded depending on the performance of both candidates through all the debates.
A couple of neighbors, friends and a members of the local DNC invited me to come watch the debates with them Friday night. I told Leslie it was like when my USC buddies invited me to watch the Oklahoma-USC game with them; I felt I was there to be the token punching bag---I passed on both sets of invitations.
We had our customary movie and pizza night with the girls instead. The “Scooby Doo” movie was the choice, much more entertaining than the debates from the snippets I have seen and transcripts I have read.
Maybe the $13 million from the new oil drilling can be dedicated to building a new main branch for the library the first year, a new city hall the second year, and so forth with each year having the funds dedicated to one capital improvement project. This council can show some vision and foresight and put forth plans to improve our city beyond their terms in office. A bold move, one I sure would like to see them take.
We are off to ride horses through the desert. Yee-hahhh!
Have a great week!
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