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Looks like somebody has stopped drinking the Kool-Aid!
We’ve told you about the opportunistic energy con jobs being foisted on the public by snake oil salesmen. The “wind power and natural gas will save the world” con is pretty easy to figure out if you separate the emotion from the equation, and today’s editorial in the Oklahoman of all places shows there is hope. Take note of the line about how coal must be used in the national quest for energy.
The bottom line is: if the Oklahoman can figure out the con, anybody can!
Congress and America united when we suffered from an Arab Oil Embargo in 1973. Now we’re suffering from a Congressional Oil Embargo. This time, America is starting to unite on energy issues but Congress is not doing anything to solve the most urgent problem facing the country.
The Arab Oil Embargo only lasted six months. The Congressional Oil Embargo has lasted for decades and endures to this day.
Congress is now taking its summer six-week break, after months of doing nothing about energy prices (unless you count as action posturing and pretending). And recall that back in 1973, Congress passed legislation within six weeks of the Arab embargo.
A bipartisan group of ten senators, headed by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), claims they have a compromise proposal. But is it for real? One key Republican Senator privately said the group’s efforts were “fake negotiating. Read more…
The open letter to Pelosi as seen on the HotAir Blog
John Boehner’s office has started a live blog to keep up with the events today. Keep checking back during the day. Here are a couple of nuggets from today’s debate:
“The oil might not flow for a year or two, but the jobs will start immediately…Right now, this House is an obstacle, not a platform.” – Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)
By Ernest Istook
Environmentalists thought they had a lock on the current “progressive” Congress.
That lock is being pried open by public outrage about fuel and food prices – the consequence of wayward environmentalism run rampant.
Energy has become the biggest issue in America, and left-leaning politicians are either waking up to it or suffering a nightmare.
The repercussions are still in early stages as the ripple effect goes beyond the price of gasoline.
* Ethanol – the left’s favorite remedy (next to bicycling) – has literally come a cropper. The expansive mandate to substitute food for fuel has driven food prices up while doing little for clean air.
* Efforts to pin the blame elsewhere are not going well. Targeting oil speculators has found little traction. Blaming oil companies for not drilling on every current lease hasn’t worked, because people understand there’s not a gusher in every acre.
* Public opinion supports ending congressional bans on drilling where we know we can find oil and gas, offshore in particular. “Drill here, Drill now, Pay less” is a more popular slogan than “Not in my backyard.”
* Mass transit use is up, but that generates demand for more government spending. (Government subsidies pay for 75 percent of transit costs). Those who ride shift their transportation costs off onto taxpayers. Where will the billions come from to pay for this?
People want solutions, but many in Washington are focused on avoiding blame. Congress has dropped even below lawyers as the least-popular folks in America with 91 percent of Americans NOT approving of Congress’ work. Read more…
Related:
As we suspected, Coburn garnered support of omnibus on Monday. The question remains, will this force Democrats to face the drilling issue?
Politico, The Crypt Blog: Results of today’s vote
The Caucus: New York Times Political Blog doubts the drill.
Is it truly the coming age of energy independence, or just another corporate welfare con job promoted by billionaires seeking to become trillion-aires?
Texas consumers are just the latest to be targeted by the wind power merchants. Texans will be shelling out $4.9 billion dollars to transmit T. Boone Picken’s wind-farm electricity. With Picken’s massive wind energy public information campaign underway in Oklahoma, one would have to assume it’s just a matter of time before the Oklahoma’s rate payers are asked to pony up for wind power, which sounds good and feels good. But the jury is still out as to the long-term benefits, and a disturbing trend is developing with the emergence of crooks who are exploiting the emotional aspect of wind-power to rip off consumers. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating alleged “dirty tricks” in his state. From The Buffalo News:
The allegations include accusations that the companies improperly sought or obtained land-use agreements with public officials and the officials’ relatives and acquaintances; gave bribes and other improper benefits to public officials; and entered into anti-competitive agreements or practices.
“The use of wind power, like all renewable energy sources, should be encouraged to help clean our air and end our reliance on fossil fuels,” Cuomo said in a statement.
“However, public integrity remains a top priority of my office and if dirty tricks are used to facilitate even clean-energy projects, my office will put a stop to it.” Read more…
Right now, all signs point to some big news regarding wind power and Pickens coming soon. The Oklahoma native, who first gained fame as a corporate raider, has, like Al Gore, substantially altered his image to be seen as an ardent environmentalist. With today’s Texas news, we’ll keep watching this story carefully.
Related:
Dallas Morning News:
But Mr. Pickens doesn’t agree with all the Democrats’ energy priorities. Bills to limit speculation on energy prices are “wasting time” and ignore the cause of high prices – not enough oil, he said. “Go ahead and drill on the OCS,” said Mr. Pickens.
Rush Limbaugh: The Windmills of Rock Port, MO
Video: Rep. Frank Lucas Discusses Wind Energy on FOX News
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