Mark my words...this election is going to be about who has the better energy plan.

[dkf]

McCain may have ideas we hate, but at least we can see his framework, which is screw the environment, we are going to drill offshore and use nuclear power.

I listen to Obama's plan, but I really have no clue how it will work, beyond him not wanting to screw up the environment. He's going to tax oil companies up the wazoo to invest in renewables. How does that work? Is he buying solar panels for everyone? Or funding entities that will put up windmills? Is the Government going to own this stuff? Or are we just funding research? I really don't understand what the hell he is trying to say.

To me, it sounds more like lets get revenge on the oil companies and use the money to do whatever. And I don't feel like he is conveying any kind of vision that I can understand the mechanics of and what the result will be.

Obama has got to put together something that we can make sense of. To me, he is losing this battle.

[HereSince1628]

1. We'll see, I bet a year ago it would be about the economy

Of course energy concern is currently an economic issue.

I thought the chickens coming home to roost from NAFTA and WTO would be big issues, I even thought Obama understood American sentiments about asymmetrical trade agreements. Silly me.

[Mr. Blonde]

2. I agree

McCain's ideas really have very little effect in the near term either. Four years for nuclear and around 10 for bringing new oil fields online. However, they sound better to most people. At least they aren't just throwing more money at things that may or may not happen. We know oil and nuclear work.

Obama needs to come up with a workable plan to lower energy costs. Also one that sounds good in sound bites. It sucks that things have to be reduced to that level, but that is what the country wants these days. News and complex plans in easily digestable nuggets.

[dems_rightnow]

4. As energy gets more expensive and scarce

The American people will become more and more accepting of nuclear energy as a policy. The French get most of their electricity from nuclear plants, and it's popular there.

[1Hippiechick]

3. Sure the Repukes are for offshore drilling, and to Hell w/alternate energy or global warming!

Head-in-the-sand short-sighted idiots!


:banghead:

[dkf]

5. I think Obama is being short sighted here.

I don't get that he understands the scope of the problem in what it will take to supply the US with energy.

I just read his plan, and it sounds like he is setting targets and expecting everyone else to figure out how to do it. I'm sorry, but that doesn't make me feel very confident about the plan. Setting targets feels too pie in the sky for me.

And the emphasis feels like it is not in supply, but in keeping things clean.

I dunno. I don't feel much confidence in this plan.

[sendero]

6. Mark my words...

.. in the face of this particular crisis, Americans are going to trend towards drilling, drilling and more drilling.

If Obama runs on "no drilling" plank, it is going to hurt him a lot.

[dkf]

7. That is why he has to be very very specific when he points to and sells a post oil economy.

And since we are running low on oil, we need to explain to the American people the necessity of transitioning. I don't see that from anyone yet.

Thinking we can drill our way out of this is tricking everyone into the fairy tale that we can depend on oil for eternity.

[sendero]

14. I agree with you...

... that we cannot drill our war way out of this. But trust me on this, that is not a message that can be sold to the idiots in this country.

Americans are used to having a quick fix. A decade from now, they will realize that it's not going to work, but for now people are clamoring for a solution and drilling SOUNDS GOOD.

I know Obama is smart, he'll handle this.

[geckosfeet]

16. I agree on both points. Murca wants a quickie. Obama will deal.

Democratic Underground Obama 08 Fundraising Page

[HousePainter]

8. I hope Obama returns to the theme of conservation

Something he often spoke about early in the Primary season
The most effective short term energy policy is conservation.
Changing lightbulbs, using mass transit,getting gas-guzzlers off the road, not over-cooling or overheating homes 24/7 when the people living there are only home for a small portion of that time, carpooling, telecommuting,organizing errands to make the fewest trips, etc.
This works into his themes of accountability and the "YES WE CAN" idea of teamwork.

The other item that needs to be addressed more forcefully is the role of energy resource futures speculation in the rise of prices.
The so called "Enron loophole". Obama should be tying this into the overall pattern of "financial oversight gone missing" and the War for Oil in Iraq.

[dkf]

9. Well, I don't think your average citizen gives a rip about conserving energy until

it gets so expensive that he/she is forced to do it.

The hated "speculators" are the only things changing consumer behavior.

[geckosfeet]

10. It is still about the economy - and energy is big part of that. Key concepts for

energy of the future with one point of emphasis - renewable and clean when feasible.

1. Gasoline and petroleum products are here to stay. Too much infrastructure around them. Cost will be prohibitive so only those who have a real need will use it. Perhaps on a permit or licensing basis.
2. Regional solutions. For example - southwest, west, south can place emphasis on wind and solar. Northeast and northwest will be able to use wind and ocean tides, currents and geo-thermal.
3. Electric (solar) and hydrogen powered vehicles. Possibly ethanol. Reduce speed limits and re-organize urban landscapes.
4. Mass transit.

These are my thoughts - I have not heard anything specific from the Obama team. But the transition from oil to cleaner renewable forms of energy will be incremental, diverse and far reaching.

People tend to have a simplistic view of the discovery process - they want to hear "this is the answer!" but technology, science and engineering not to mention economics don't really work that way.

We need to be willing to change our habits and expectations. This is a difficult thing for most people in our culture.

I say we line up behind Obama and give him the benefit of the doubt. Instead of whining make suggestions. My guess is that ANY energy policy that he devises will in the long run be more sensible than what McBush comes up with.

Democratic Underground Obama 08 Fundraising Page

[dkf]

12. I don't think incremental is good enough.

We need to use our oil to transition our economy to renewables. If we wait too long, the scarcer oil will make it even harder. And I"m not talking about the price of oil, I'm talking about the availability of oil.

I've been reading about peak oil for years now, and in the beginning it scared the bejesus out of me. But I had faith that we could do this if only we had the proper leadership.

Now I'm scared because I love love love Obama, and I greatly admire his intelligence, yet I don't see that he gets it.

I still remember talking to Howard Dean when he was running for President and mentioning Peak Oil to him. He had no clue what I was talking about. That also scared me.

[dkf]

18. And energy IS the economy.

What do you have that wasn't produced without energy? Nothing.

[ErinBerin84]

11. MSNBC had someone from from the Oil Prices Information Services on earlier

extolling the virtues of offshore drilling, and how it is the best and most important policy chance under the sun (well, practically that's what he said) and how it will lower gas prices. No one from an opposing view talking about what a shitty idea offshore drilling is. So, is this how the MSM is going to frame this? McCain is the champion at the gas pumps? Puke.

[dkf]

13. I'm of the opinion that maybe we should save our own reserves for the future

anyway.

I like knowing we have something we can use when it gets really bad.

And I do think oil will get scarce enough that eventually, everyone will want to drill for it. Its just a matter of time.

[ErinBerin84]

15. haha, MSNBC also showed a prayer group in Ohio

who are praying at a gas station for lower prices. One guy said something like "Well, McCain and Obama aren't going to do anything about this, so we need to pray!"

[dkf]

17. Exactly...you might as well pray.

[Kahuna]

19. I agree with this 100% I sent out four letters last week to my gov,

rep., mayor and the Obama campaign saying the same thing. I offered some suggestions that would appeal to common people. Now if only at least ONE of them would actually read a letter from a constituent. :grr:

[Eagle_Eye]

20. The Republicans are going to lose, so they can say anything without actually having to deliver

They have a bunch of sound bites that the republican base wants to hear.

McCain says "More energy from drilling" and "More energy from nuclear reactors". These are the things the cave dwelling republicans think will save us while they turn a blind eye to the future of renewable energy sources.

Since McCain will never be President, he is writing checks that will never be cashed. The only hope the republicans have is to positions themselves for a run in 2012 by laying the ground work for 'demonstrating the failure of Democrats' to solve problems. The republicans are going to be surprised in four years by the success the Progressive - Liberal agenda is going to have once the republicans are removed from power.