Why Is McCain Still Against Drilling in ANWR and Montana? (M4GW)

By Elmer Beaureguard, June 17, 2008

In Arlington Virginia yesterday Senator McCain said the ban on offshore drilling should be lifted, and that it should be up to the individual states to determine if they should drill on their own coasts. I think this is a good move by McCain because now there is actually a difference between him and Obama. But I still have a lot of questions.

What about states like Montana and North Dakota which are sitting on the largest oil reserves in the world but aren't on a coast, why can't they drill for their oil?

Why doesn't McCain endorse the Republican proposal that Michelle Bachmann has endorsed the No More Excuses Act, is he afraid he'll look too Republican?

What about the Bakken Oil Formation which stretches across North Dakota and Montana?

Discovered over 50 years ago, the Bakken deposit--once impossible to extract--is now being hailed as the single largest oil find in US history. That's because, today, thanks to breakthrough drilling techniques like horizontal drilling, the Bakken's oil shales can be extracted relatively cheaply. When that happens, this light, sweet oil will cost Americans just $16 per barrel!

What about ANWR? Top ten reasons to support ANWR development.

The Coastal Plain of ANWR is America's best possibility for the discovery of another giant "Prudhoe Bay-sized" oil and gas discovery in North America. U.S. Department of Interior estimates range from 9 to 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

Plus, isn't offshore drilling supposed to be more "harmful" to the environment than drilling in the middle of the prairie, or in a frozen tundra?