RedState environmentalists

ah, RedState:

The study found that opening just .0001 % -- 2000 out of 20 million acres -- of ANWR could result in $111 - $173 billion in new taxes paid by oil companies to the Federal Treasury in corporate income taxes and royalties.

We'd have to agree with Pombo on this. "It's time to make this resource a cash cow for each and every American taxpayer", he says. "This production would create jobs, lower prices, grow the economy and make our country more secure."

"The only remaining question", he says, "Is why has this not been done already?"

Hmmh. Actually, the numbers are $61.7 - $173 billion in new revenue depending on how much crude is discovered and that's over the 30 year lifespan of the project, so more like $2 - $5.6 billion per year [link to PDF via RedState], peanuts for a $10 trillion economy. And remember the cost overruns for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline? Well, we're still going to foot the bill to attach the gushers in ANWR to that one...wonder how much that'll cost! It's not a reason not to do it, it's just demonstrating how idiotic Pombo and his supporters are when it comes to this issue. Somewhat like this statement in the comments:

We push drilling from a pro-environment angle: "Offshore rigs are an environmental answer to plug up the natural fissures leaking oil and destroying the ecosystem." You dont even have to call them rigs, they could be Cleanup Stations.

I'm sure the polar bears will appreciate all the cleaning up ExxonMobil plans on doing.