Doug, "many years supply" means they will be pumping oil for years. It doesn't mean it's a significant dent in what the US uses or can solely supply the US for years. It's how you word it for spin. (Which is why I specific not just a time frame, but how much in that time range.) Like when they say it will only affect 2500 acres of land... that's just counting the physical footprint of the drills and well!

Of course, when dealing with oil drilling, there could be absolutely nothing up there, or the largest reserve in the world. Talk about how much oil there is is based purely on the geologists' speculation.

I would be less cynical about the subject if the proponents of exploration in ANWAR weren't the same people deadset against reducing usage. Whether it be a miniscule bump in gas mileage, supporting renewable fuel research or encouraging the consumption of local goods and foods, the folks that want to drill are the ones who stand to make money from selling oil. They don't give a hoot about reducing our dependance on foreign oil or any kind of oil, but it makes for a good soundbite on CNN.

Cheney himself said that he didn't think conservation could be a part of an energy policy. Meanwhile, Californians averted an energy crisis last summer by small conservation measures. What the legislators and government couldn't do, the citizens did. I thumb my nose at Cheney's mockery of conservation. (Meanwhile, the Bush ranch is very nearly a Texas model for energy efficiency. How's that for irony?)

With average US cars being sold with a LOWER gas mileage now than they did during the "oil crisis" of the 70's, I have sworn that I will not buy anything from any US automaker until there are significant improvements in the gas mileage of there overall the product line. But as long as automotive companies fight legislation to improve their technology, I'll give my money to overseas car makers who do make the effort.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in CA in 2012. Either US car companies will have to pull out of the CA market entirely (12% of their total sales), or once again CA environmental legislation will force big polluters to come into the modern era.