BUSH CONSIDERING ADDRESS TO APPEAL FOR GAS CONSERVATION

[TornadoTN]

Breaking across some news sources, Matt Drudge for one...

Posted from Drudge:



BUSH CONSIDERS ADDRESS TO NATION; CALL FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION
Wed Aug 31 2005 10:20:34 ET

President Bush is considering an address to the nation asking citizens to conserve energy, a top White House source says.

Bush ordered the release of oil from federal petroleum reserves to help refiners affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Bush returned to Washington on Wednesday to oversee the federal response to the historic disaster. He plans to coordinate federal efforts, across more than a dozen agencies, to assist hurricane victims.

"Still undecided is whether or not to call for a nationwide effort to reduce energy consumption during this emergency," a top Bush source explains. "It is seriously being considered."

A second White House source says there are no plans for the president to address the country on gas.

Developing...

[Roland99]

1. His new Energy Plan didn't cover this??

[hnsez]

2. I wish my fellow DU'ers would stop reading my mind

its distracting

[Roland99]

7. .

:tinfoilhat:


that tends to help.



;)

[hnsez]

24. lol

:+

[MidwestTransplant]

14. Tax breaks for oil companies? No those were in there.

Oh you mean supply disruptions.....nah that's not in there.

Remember what Dick Cheney said: "we will not conserve our way out of an energy crisis."

I saw a Hummer driving down the street in Chicago yesterday. Started laughing.

[silvermachine]

17. But, but, but, Unca Dick said....

<<<The vice-president, Dick Cheney, who heads a taskforce set up by President George Bush to look into the US energy crisis, dismissed on Monday night the idea of "conserving or rationing" as 1970s-era solutions to the US's energy shortages.

In a speech in Toronto, Mr Cheney said that "conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy".>>>

Shouldn't * be blaming it all on us? Or is this another manufactured energy crisis/shortage designed to benefit his pals in the oil industry.

<<<One of Enron's first acts on behalf of the present Bush administration was the manipulation of the California energy grid, which essentially blackmailed the state. California is a Democratic stronghold and "hotbed of liberal dissent" that opposed the installation of George W. Bush in the White House. California's once burgeoning economy was derailed, and its damaged Democratic political leadership was sent scrambling into months of damage control. So emasculated were the Democrats that they were unable to oppose Bush on the rest of his extreme right wing agenda. This delighted Bush and Cheney, who (on Ken Lay's advice) not only refused to assist, but also blamed California for "its own failures" and blocked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commision (FERC) from intervening. Enron made a fortune.>>>

http://www.zmag.org/content/Economy/ChinEnron1.cfm

[Roland99]

30. Of course Halliburton Dick would say that. He needs to make money

somehow.

[sabra]

3. Just say NO to Drudge!

[TornadoTN]

10. Let me say that

I hate Drudge, but I originally heard it here on a local radio show and wanted something to link it to.

So in the end, Drudge was my best option...sadly enough.

[opihimoimoi]

4. Was that a trial balloon???? "Considering it?" Whqat is this guy? DUH?

[Gunit_Sangh]

5. Ya mean

* is actually going to ask 'mericans to SACRIFICE! Lord still my racing heart

</sarcasm>

[Arkana]

6. This'll go over REAL well with the crowd that drives the guzzlers.

:eyes:

[etherealtruth]

11. Hey if you can afford a Hummer or even a Navigator ...

would $4 a gallon effect you at all?

[TornadoTN]

15. In theory you are right, BUT

They don't like to sacrifice and something like this would call for sacrifice on behalf of all Americans.

Unless of course, Bush makes the conservation only for those who drive fuel efficient care. That kind of logic personifies the Bush admin.

[silvermachine]

21. Around where I live....

...which is NoVa/D.C. area, living beyond one's means in pursuit of material oneupmanship is a fine art. So, perhaps it will have some effect.

[etherealtruth]

28. Lived there in the 1990's ...

... in my specific example you are right (r/t northern Va)

My greater point was that many of those that are more affluent will not have any incentive to conserve (the moral one is often ignored) ... mandatory conservation in the form of rationing would be fair and would actually make a difference ...

How far would 15 gallons of gas get you in a hummer ... it takes me pretty far in my 5-speed.

[silvermachine]

37. Gotcha and agree...

...N/T.

[tridim]

16. Buy Hummers for the massive tax breaks, but conserve gas

What an oxymoran. Even the super-patriots are going to start hating Bush in the next few weeks as gas hits $4.00 yet everyone still has to drive to work. This isn't Europe, white republicans don't ride busses.

[buddysmellgood]

32. They are excluded. The conservation is for everyone else. A big part of

me says bring it on. We need a shortage so people will understand that we need to switch to something else. Electric vehicles are a completely viable option.

[Arkana]

34. You're right, you know. To them, "someone else" will sacrifice

so they can drive their Hummers.

[Mizmoon]

8. Maybe I'll take public transportation to work

oh wait, there is no public transportation around here.

Never mind.

[rkc3]

33. Public Transportation - now that's funny.

I'd give my left nut to take a bus to work every day.

[etherealtruth]

9. "Still undecided is whether or not to call for a nationwide effort

...to reduce energy consumption during this emergency," a top Bush source explains.

As usual the chimp is a day late and a dollar short ...actually in his case several tears late and many billions short.

[Beausoir]

12. Better run that by Unka Dick first.

Didn't Cheney say that conservation was for wimps?

[cmd]

13. Hello? Anything in there, George?

What does it take to get through?

[texpatriot2004]

18. So, does that mean Rethugs have to leave their Hummers on E?

What about the SUV's and those gas guzzling suburbans, trucks, etc. Now will they change the CAFE standards? Now will people drive hybrids and cars that get more to the gallon? Or will the rich be the only ones who can go places?

[soleft]

19. Hope he's wearing a cardigan when he does it

[hatrack]

38. LOTS of mind-reading taking place on this thread today!

:hi:

[truth2power]

20. Too little, too late..

stupid, arrogant little a**wipe!!

I gotta get away from the computer today and go ride my bike or something. this insanity is gonna do me in!

[RedEarth]

22. Hmmmm...so this must mean tax breaks for SUV' s and Hummers

[dubyaD40web]

23. His poll numbers will be in the single digits soon!

[rocktivity]

25. THAT'S his solution--to "call for" Amercians to use less gas?

WE should have thought of that!!!


rocknation

[htuttle]

26. I think we are closer to having shortages than they're admitting

I know they are doing some localized rationing in the South right now, but I bet there has been more damage to the oil infrastructure than they are talking about.

They've reported about seven Gulf rigs adrift, but little news about the LOOP terminal. Articles found via google state that it's been closed for two days now.

Check this one out:

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000006&sid=a03V6JfmkZ.I&refer=home

The LOOP terminal usually handles about 1 million barrels of crude oil a day, or 11 percent of U.S. imports. It consists of mooring buoys, platforms and pipelines.

``We are encouraged by the initial damage assessment,'' Mark Bugg, scheduling manager at New Orleans-based Loop LLC, the port operator, said yesterday.

The port will not resume oil shipments until power is restored, Bugg said. Entergy Corp., which provides power for the pipeline system connecting the port to refineries, said it will take weeks to rebuild its electric delivery system in Louisiana, where 80 percent of its customers are without power.

``The LOOP is incredibly important right now,'' said John Kilduff, vice president of risk management at Fimat USA in New York. ``If it is not up soon there will be a spillover for refineries in the Midwest, which could run out of crude quickly. This could lead to gasoline shortages in the weeks ahead.''

If the LOOP terminal is down for weeks, we WILL run into serious shortages in the Continental US.

Here's another article about the problem actually refining the crude, even if the LOOP were open to deliveries:

Port Fourchon, Louisiana, the base for three-quarters of support services to the Gulf's deepwater oil and gas facilities and the land base for the offshore oil port, is shut because of the storm, Port Director Ted Falgout said in an interview.

``We have just got to the head of the port,'' Falgout said. ``We have yet to enter because there are several large vessels on the highway in the port itself.''

More than 600 offshore platforms are within 40 miles of Port Fourchon, according to the port's Web site.

``It's going to be extremely difficult to supply and repair platforms if the port is closed,'' Falgout said. ``The nearest alternative location for logistics is Venice, Louisiana, which was totally destroyed.''

Repairs to Gulf platforms and pipelines damaged by Hurricane Katrina will be delayed if the storm deposited silt in the port's channel, Falgout said.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000006&sid=aekrFQAUUnsw&refer=home

Yup, I'd say we are staring gas rationing in the face right now.

[TornadoTN]

29. Which leads me to ask

Why weren't we better prepared for this?

Since this is the oil president, why wasn't he more concerned about this? We all know he could give a shit less about the people, but logic would dictate that he would protect the precious asset of oil.

[Massacure]

27. Bush? Conservation? Bush? Conservation? Bush? Conservation?

Does that mean hell has frozen over?

[yellowcanine]

31. Oh that's rich George. NOW you are going to talk conservation?

Words fail me.

[maxsolomon]

35. this story should be 4 years old

the crisis is upon us. oil up the bike chain; you're gonna need it.

[K8-EEE]

36. $3 Gas = Forced Gas Conservation

It takes over $40 to fill up my little Saab station wagon...he doesn't really need to tell me not to go to the gas station too much as my bank account tells me that already.

[nonconformist]

39. Is the dipshit going to release the reserves

Or just tell us to buck up?