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| Kerry Calls for U.S. Energy Independence |
| 2004-05-22 |
| He made a similar statement about three months ago and I have been waiting see if there will be a plan that produces some tangible effect. With the start of the summer driving season approaching and gasoline prices soaring, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said the United States should strive for energy independence. "There are two reasons why we cannot be asleep at the wheel during this current energy crisis," Kerry said in the weekly Democratic radio address. "First, soaring energy prices are putting our economy at risk and second, our dependence on Middle East oil is putting our national security at risk. But it doesn’t have to be this way." He is right on all three counts. In the short term, the Massachusetts senator said, the United States should divert oil being used to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (search) and bring it to market. The White House says, though, that would have only a negligible impact on pump prices. Kerry also said the country’s leaders should demand that Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing nations increase supply. Thats his plan? He said his long-term strategy as president would include investments in alternative fuels and new technologies that are more fuel-efficient. He said he would establish tax credits to help make fuel-efficient cars more affordable. At best these things will slow the rate at which things get worse. They will not solve it. "Our dependence on foreign oil is a problem we must solve together the only way we can — by inventing our way out of it," Kerry said. Sounds like his plan is to wait for someone to invent perpetual motion, or the greenie equivalent know as the Hydrogen economy. |
| Posted by:Phil B |
| #12 Kerry can start by grounding the "Flying Squirrel" Gulfstream V. I think it uses 4-500 gallons/hour. Think of how many hundreds (nay, thousands) of kids can be ferried to day care and midnight basketball for the cost of one trip. Do it for the children. Also, what do you think is the miles/gallon of his yacht. What is it's name, "Monkey Business II"? |
| Posted by: ed 2004-05-23 5:25:26 AM |
| #11 Kerry is a true limousine liberal elitist who hunts elitist dames loaded with dough, but could never win a beauty contest. Let's hope the normal general public sees through John-Forbes-Kerry and he suffers an even bigger election loss then the governor he served, 'tax happy' Michael 'Stanley' Dukakis. During presidential campaign of 1988, 'Duktaxis' had a 17-point lead, then he lost in nearly every state, carrying only 53% of Massachusetts' vote, his home state! America needs a repeat of the 1988 election for the sake of national and international security! |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-05-23 4:33:16 AM |
| #10 Kerry's such a prick. He'd call for everyone to eat shit 3 times a day (which is about what we'd get with him in the White House -shudder- ) if he thought it would get him elected. He knows that whatever he "proposes" as Prez would only apply to "all the little people out there in the dark" and not he and his rich friends. "Mr. Bandar, I'm ready for my close-up." |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-05-23 4:13:58 AM |
| #9 Tom, Heck a gallon of gas is far cheaper then a gallon of 'pure' water nowdays. Will Kerry-boy allow drilling in Alaska? Thought not. Once again he is just making statements with no plan. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-05-22 11:18:43 PM |
| #8 I'd love for us to be independent. But where are these "soaring energy prices"? The last time I looked (a few hours ago), a gallon of gasoline cost substantially less than a gallon of milk. My electric bills are about the same as last year, and natural gas is not at an all-time high. I believe that we will adjust appropriately when energy prices really soar, but so far Kerry is just chasing windmills. |
| Posted by: Tom 2004-05-22 9:24:51 PM |
| #7 This ranks with his pledge of "10 million new jobs." Wishin' and hopin' won't make it so. Nuclear's one option, but have we built a new plant since the '70s. Cheaderhead's on target with this one. I read recently about all the dollars we've thrown into fusion research, which would be the best solution, but are still decades away, at best estimates. Until someone comes up with a Star Trek-like magnetic containment bottle, it's a dead end. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4975 2004-05-22 9:21:55 PM |
| #6 Thats his plan? Yep: "Senator Kerry fully and deftly grasps the many nuances and complexities of the issues that meet at the intricate confluence of oil prices, our economy and relationships with oil-producing nations, including our friends the Saudis. Senator Kerry's bold, original and revolutionary energy policies will fling off the yokes of foreign oil dependence while strengthening the economy for the benefits of working families, and provide a safer environment for The ChildrenTM." /Do I get the NYT op-ed columnist slot yet? Judges? |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-05-22 8:37:57 PM |
| #5 In truth we do need to become energy independent. Its just that no body in office right now Left or Right, Democrat or Republican has the political will to back the one thecnology that could get us there the fastest. And that's nuclear. The new Pebble Bed reactors are much more attractive than the older Light Water Reactors. And if we were really serious about complete energy independence we'd be pushing fusion research more actively. Or even looking seriously at Space Based Solar Systems |
| Posted by: cheaderhead 2004-05-22 8:32:40 PM |
| #4 "With the start of the summer driving season approaching and gasoline prices soaring, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said the United States should strive for energy independence." It will be a frigid day in Hell, with pigs flying backwards lazily across fuschia skies, before I'll count on any Democrat to lead us to independence from foreign oil. And to think-- barely a year ago, I WAS a Democrat! |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-05-22 8:13:57 PM |
| #3 He just wants the greenie vote. Use the right words, and supposedly the dumb greenies just come flocking. Yeah, right- Kerry's a loser. |
| Posted by: Curious 2004-05-22 7:45:00 PM |
| #2 And I'm still calling for a pony. Same effect, but my odds are better - I can actually formulate a plan. To whip out a statement calling for diddley-do that, if seriously planned would probably span 20 years and cost a few trillion when all is said and done, is sooooo Donkish. This is election-year (un)sound-byte-me drivel. Bark on, Skeery. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-05-22 7:37:41 PM |
| #1 hmmm what about the wind farms off the Hyannisport coast? No can do? What about drilling in ANWAR and increasing refining capacity? No can do? What about heavily taxing gas and increasing foreign imports while shutting off the strategic reserve and cutting highway funding (except the Big Dig, of course)...oh, that's the plan? Riiiggghhhtt |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-22 7:31:06 PM |