Energy problem: yes or no?

From Neal Boortz:

The two Florida senators have made a deal with the Bush administration. The only way they'll support the new energy bill would be if there is a ban on all drilling for oil and gas off the Florida coast. Americans have this image of offshore rigs as filthy, polluting environmental time bombs. They're wrong. This exemption makes no sense. Either we have an energy crisis, or we don't. If we take Florida out of the mix, then there's no energy crisis. Don't talk to me about automobile fuel efficiency and setting my thermostat to 78 in the summer as long as there are no rigs off the Florida coast.

Boortz is right. I mean, Sen. Martinez (Republican) supports drilling in ANWR and Prudhoe Bay in Alaska (as do I). Sen. Bill Nelson (Democrat) does not support drilling ANWR, despite the fact that it was established in 1960 for the sole purpose of oil and gas exploration! But I digress... (and no, this isn't an invitation to debate ANWR drilling...I'm going somewhere with all this)

So for Martinez, oil rigs aren't safe? Then why support drilling in ANWR, sir? What, it's OK to pollute Alaska or risk an environmental accident there...just not in Florida? Hey, the man's been in DC for six months and he's already figured out how to play to the homers! "Screw Alaska...just don't drill in FL!"

Look, I know Jeb's against it, too, and I respect Jeb deeply. But Boortz' point is a good one: if we have an energy crisis/problem, we use all sources we can; if we don't have a problem, then we don't need FL or AK or anywhere else. Just keep importing the oil from that unstable jihadist hellhole called the Middle East, and keep your head firmly planted in the sand!

I expect pandering to the enviromental Chicken Littles from Bill Nelson...but not from Mel Martinez.