Oil Drilling Swap for Alternative Energy Cars

The so-called "gang of 10" (5 democrats, 5 republicans) came up with an $84 billion plan that swaps more oil drilling for converting most vehicles to alternative energy within 20 years. Interesting. It would give the oil companies an opportunity to change their game plan. 

I'm still learning about this, so I don't have much more to say right now. Here is a good story to read. More of a gesture on Obama's part? 

The left and the Hillaries have already flipped out, starting the flip flop argument against Obama and John McCain has welcomed Obama to the dark side, chalking up a win for himself. At least we've gotten off the race card issue. I'd much rather see them squabble about these kinds of things. But I realized today, other than a minority of people talking politics on the Internet, the general public is not paying much attention.

Here's what Obama says:

CNN: 

"I made a general point about the fact that we need to provide the American people some relief and that there has been constructive conversations between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on this issue," he said during a press conference in Cape Canaveral.

"What I will not do, and this has always been my position, is to support a plan that suggests this drilling is the answer to our energy problems," Obama added.

"If we've got a plan on the table that I think meets the goals that America has to set and there are some things in there that I don't like, then obviously that's something that I would consider because that's the nature of how we govern in a democracy."

The senator from Illinois has spoken out against offshore drilling since Sen. John McCain in June proposed striking down the federal moratorium banning offshore oil and gas drilling to help alleviate high gas prices. "

The RNC is having troubles getting at Obama on oil because McCain shifted his position on drilling:

The Republican National Committee wants to portray Sen. Barack Obama as a flip flopper because he has shifted his position on off-shore oil drilling from being against it absolutely to now being willing to permit drilling so long as certain conditions are met, for instance, it comes as part of a comprehensive drilling plan.

There only seems to be one problem with the RNC tack. Sen. John McCain also changed his mind about off-shore drilling going from anti to pro.

But that doesn't stop the RNC from trying. What Obama has opposed is the idea that drilling offshore would lower gas prices--total bulldinky-- which according to the polls, is what many Americans believe. 

Here is what the RNC uses against Obama: 

Just A Few Days Ago, Obama Called Offshore Drilling A "Scheme." Obama: "Now the latest scheme is well, we're going to drill offshore. Now, I want to be absolutely clear to everybody about this. If I thought that I could provide you some immediate relief on gas prices by drilling off the shores of California and New Jersey, I understand how desperate folks are. I met a guy who couldn't go on a job search that lost his job, couldn't go on a job search because of the high price of gas. Just couldn't fill up his tank. I met a teacher in South Dakota who loved her job as a teacher on an Indian reservation, she had to quit because the drive was too far, it was taking up too much of her paycheck. I know how bad people are hurting. So If I thought that by drilling offshore, we could solve our problem, I'd do it." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7/30/08)

Also, Obama will speak at the National Urban League today at 2 pm eastern time. It should be live streamed at cnn.com. I expect we will hear more on this.

McCain's Oil Rig Appearance Cancelled

Update: Perhaps the big event was cancelled due to the big oil spill.
McCain can't catch a break. Apparently, McCain was going to helicopter to an oil rig tomorrow to counter Obama's speech and make a pitch for oil companies (more drilling) but the event was cancelled due to bad weather. 

Politico: While Barack Obama is speaking about international affairs in Germany before thousands of fans tomorrow, John McCain will be talking about a pressing domestic issue with an equally striking if very different backdrop.

Weather permitting, McCain will helicopter from Louisiana to an oil rig in the Gulf Coast to make the case for expanded off-shore drilling, says a McCain aide.

Oil and Crack

This is a good analogy by NYT'sThomas Friedman: 

When a person is addicted to crack cocaine, his problem is not that the price of crack is going up. His problem is what that crack addiction is doing to his whole body. The cure is not cheaper crack, which would only perpetuate the addiction and all the problems it is creating. The cure is to break the addiction.

Ditto for us. Our cure is not cheaper gasoline, but a clean energy system. And the key to building that is to keep the price of gasoline and coal — our crack — higher, not lower, so consumers are moved to break their addiction to these dirty fuels and inventors are moved to create clean alternatives.

Unfortunately, I think the democrats have to offer Americans a short-term solution, in addition to a long-term solution, even though there may not be a short-term solution other than cutting back on driving and becoming more frugal in other areas. Many Americans are hurting and they want the fix.

Bush Admits Drilling Won't Lower Gas Prices

George Bush held a press conference this morning on our "It's a Wonderful Life" situation. 

Banking is sound, he said. Even though some people couldn't get all of their money out of IndyMac bank. Only up to $100,000 per account was FDIC insured. Anything over, too bad for you.

I hate criticizing the president. My mother taught me that was disrespectful so that little voice is still in my head but Americans got shafted with this president. He speaks without saying anything of substance.

Some of the questions: 

Why haven't you called on Americans to conserve?

"They're smart enough to figure out whether to drive less or not," he said. "They can balance their own checkbooks." 

Nice one. That's why we're a nation of spenders in debt. Americans on the credit card to prop up our consumer economy, alas tanking. 

On offshore oil drilling.

"Demand for oil has increased and supply has not kept up with that."

There are new technologies that won't damage the environment, he said. He admitted that drilling wouldn't lower gas prices for a long time but it would change the psychology of the market. 

Americans have to stop going for the easy fix. We need a president who has enough guts to sell us a solution.  

On another stimulus check? He said we needed to wait to see how this one does. 

He claimed success on the GI bill when he opposed it. 

On the economy.

"I'm not an economist. But I do believe we're growing," he said. Then he said "We're not growing the way we should." What the heck is someone supposed to make of that? 

Apparently, Bush chose to speak the same time as Obama. Now on to the next president. 

Congress Needs to Shut Bush Down on Drilling

George Bush is once again showing his incompetence and trying to make up for his lack of vision by drilling for oil in places that should not be drilled. Even republican Arnold Schwarzenegger says Bush-McCain are blowing smoke. Drilling offshore will NOT lower gas prices but many Americans have fallen for that bunk. 

CNN: Bush met with his senior economic advisers at the Energy Department to discuss soaring prices for gasoline and crude oil. Bush said one answer is to increase supply in this country by tapping "the vast potential" of crude oil reserves on offshore lands and in Alaska as well as in oil shale in the western part of the United States.

With gasoline prices above $4 a gallon, Bush and his Republican allies think American's reluctance to drill in pristine waters and lands is diminishing and that there is an opportunity for oil companies to move into areas that have been off limits.

"And yet the Democratic leaders of Congress have consistently blocked opening up these lands for exploration," the president said. He said that technology has changed dramatically and that oil can be recovered in a way that protects the environment.