Governing from the Center
 

It is very hard to get the center excited about stuff. The extremists have the passion because they are able to ignore opposing evidence. Obama may be making a good run at the center on the related issues of energy independence and climate change. Let's root for America on this one.

The proposal is intended to reduce dependence on oil imports, generate revenue from the sale of offshore leases and help win political support for comprehensive energy and climate legislation.

Times

Please don't post such outrageous ideas so early in the morning. I'm trying to drink my luke warm tea and eat my plain toast.

Soon you Socialists will force us all to live on tea and toast... bastards!

Most of the opinion articles I've read suggest a political strategy behind it. Energy independence is something that almost every American supports and this may put pressure on Republicans to work with Obama in terms of energy, putting them in a catch 22.

I also agree with it from an energy standpoint as long as nuclear and clean energies are being invested alongside it. This is a good short-term strategy but a horrible long-term strategy.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thega...ouncement.aspx

Let 'em drill "over there" not here. One fuck up here and the east coast is screwed. One fuck up "over there" and we have to hear about the seals and the birds. Valdez anyone?
And to hear that there is only a 2-3 year supply on the East Coast makes me wonder why this is happening at all ... other than politically.

We need more offshore rigs so Buster can go back to work. ;)

When China is making deals to drill 60 miles off our shore, it is time to make sure we drink our own milkshake. From the middle I am quite happy with Obama's move, the gent is on a roll.

Oh, Fucking God... :lol2:

An increase in energy independence is seldom a bad thing. Particularly politically. You never hear about the French fretting over energy supply, do you? They may well be on to something.

The perverse effect to watch out for is that with increased energy independence by increased generating capacity, it would simply mean that consumption would go up in proportion to added capacity, and importation of energy would change not one whit, unless perhaps to decline as a percentage of the entire amount available.

[tangled]That is a difficult thing to manage, but for a shaky economy cheap energy is generally a good thing. If you really want to create separation from the world market, foreign oil almost demands a Department of Defense surcharge, but I doubt anyone has the stomach for that. Decreased dependence would also makes China's fuel imports nominally cheaper, causing the worlds supplies to be burned in the dirtiest manner possible...[/web]

Nuke the whole planet from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Ewww. That makes me think of Ron Jeremy. :vomitblu:

<Snort> Damn this coffee is hot - especially when it went up my nose after reading that!

I suggest an alternative to my wall concept of a year or so ago.

Lets start building solar farms. For about $100 billion we could have a REAL good start at some energy independence.

Yes, but that would be good for walmart, and what's good for walmart, is good for the nation. :rolleyes:

Ummmm... when we start to say collectively, "Fuck China", we actually may make headway.