The girl in the window Three years ago detectives and a social worker arrived at a dilapidated house in Plant City and made a heartbreaking discovery: A tiny girl living in a dark closet.
Criss Angel escapes as Spyglass crumbles
Thousands on Clearwater Beach watch and wonder as Criss Angel escapes the Spyglass Resort just before the building is demolished in a series of explosions.
Best Super Bowl moment? To commemorate the Super Bowl's return to Tampa Bay next February, we chose 25 nominees for the most memorable play in the championship game's history.
The oily plunge that presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain and Gov. Charlie Crist took into the eastern Gulf of Mexico last week was not nearly so awkward, it turns out, as their attempts to swim back to shore. The waves of Florida offshore oil drilling politics are knocking them all over the place.
June 17, McCain: "We have proven oil reserves of at least 21-billion barrels in the United States. But a broad federal moratorium stands in the way of energy exploration and production. And I believe it is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions. … We must … assure affordable fuel for America by increasing domestic production."
June 16, Crist: "(Drilling) is the last thing in the world I'd like to do, but I also understand what people are paying at the pump, and I understand the drag it is on our economy."
June 16, McCain, asked how far offshore a state should be able to control: "I think that's a subject of negotiation and discussion. But right now, as you know, there's a moratorium, and those … moratoria have to be lifted."
Days pass. Tourism officials fret. Energy experts ridicule. Floridians complain. Environmentalists erupt.
June 25, Crist: "Only when we are able to do so far enough from Florida's coast, safe enough for our people, and clean enough for our beaches, should we even consider increasing our oil supply by drilling off Florida's shores."
June 26, McCain adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin, in the Tampa Tribune: McCain backs the 2006 law that bans drilling in the eastern Gulf. "If the people of Florida view that as something that should be off limits, it remains off limits."
(McCain, in 1985, opposing California lawmakers who wanted to limit oil drilling there: "This resource belongs to all Americans. It seems incredibly arrogant for the California delegation.")
Leave it to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to cut through the offshore oil turbulence. On Thursday, he kicked off a global climate summit with some plain talk:
"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling, it goes on and on the list. But anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."
And swimming in circles.
[Last modified: Jul 02, 2008 06:43 PM]
Comments on this article
by Joe
Jul 2, 2008 6:43 PM
it's time to get off oil. if we can go from no space program to putting a man on the moon in less that 10 years we can develop alt sources of energy. one of the major problems causing high gas prices is the weak dollar. that will correct itself.
by Angel
Jun 30, 2008 9:33 PM
Dril for oil, yes but donT hamper Eglin AFB Mission, too important for the readiness of Our armed forces
by ra
Jun 30, 2008 7:32 PM
Here's an idea, let's stop growing our own food and rely on another country to do it for us. Why not, we're doing it with oil.
by Billy
Jun 30, 2008 7:31 PM
I'll ride a scooter - SAVE THE BEACHES!!
by darryl
Jun 30, 2008 1:09 PM
ED drilling for oil isnt gonna lower gas prices any year.if we started drilling now and hit a well and in 10yrs gas hits 7or8dollars a gallon the price still wont come down it may hold at the current rate but it wont go down.
by darryl
Jun 30, 2008 1:08 PM
we americans have become very spoiled,and dependent on a substance that is just as bad as cigarettes.at this time we depend on it,and 4dollars a gallon is high,but if we look at what some of these other countries pay.its not so bad.be grateful.
by Sad
Jun 30, 2008 1:08 PM
When Gov. Schwarzenegger is term limited out of office, he is welcome to move here and take over for Gov. Charlie "Disappointment" McBushCrist.
by larry
Jun 30, 2008 1:08 PM
Memo to liberal Times editorialists:
You morons are the problem. You nothing to offer the debate.
by Sandra
Jun 30, 2008 12:59 PM
Destroyed beaches kills tourism forever; even after the energy crunch and economy recovers. Why not use some of the gas tax towards some sort of rebate to help citizens purchase more gas efficient cars?
by Garry
Jun 30, 2008 11:32 AM
We are NOT paying high prices because of not drilling. We are paying more because of MORE COMPITITION! All oil found will be more expensive to produce. Gas is going to be more expensive - get used to it. Car pool, take a bus, ride a bicycle.
by Tim
Jun 30, 2008 11:32 AM
I grew up in L.A. It was common to come home from Santa Monica Beach in the 60's with tar or oil spots all over us kids - my mom would scrub us with Tide when we got home. Leave Florida alone! It's the only warm water "blue" coast left in the U.S.
by Chris
Jun 30, 2008 11:30 AM
Only Republicans would look at an obscenely obese patient and say the cure is to find a new source for more food.
by greg
Jun 29, 2008 1:31 PM
who would have thought the voice of reason in the GOP would belong to arnold? the myth of the maverick mcsame is a great big lie
by Robert
Jun 29, 2008 1:27 PM
Oil drilling just MIGHT reduce tourism. But high gas prices have DEFINITELY reduced tourism. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.
by Dan
Jun 29, 2008 1:26 PM
The Texas Shore is the only acceptable distance for oil wells off the Florida Coast. With 200 days left to go, stand firm and end the dark ages of the OIL Cabinet, unlawful wars, breaches of our Bill of Rights and failure to protect the Constitution.
by Ned
Jun 29, 2008 1:24 PM
I do not believe that this is a decision that Gov. Crist would make alone ; legislative and citizen input would factor into the process , right ?
by Ed
Jun 29, 2008 1:22 PM
When gas hits $7.50 a gal. there will be drilling in the Gulf. This will lower gas in the future (5 yrs). Had we drilled in the 80's we would not have this problem now. We are in a hole and it will take time to get out.
by jimmy
Jun 29, 2008 1:20 PM
Only liberals are looking for a miracle cure or quick fixes. Drilling now will not change today's prices. Unfortunately the same is also true of money spent on public education: what we spend today on kids won't bear fruit for years--but we do it!
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