Kerry's Goal of Independence From Middle East Oil Divides Advisers

NY Times ^ | 8/7/04 | Neela Banerjee

[Always Right]

I thought Kerry's idea of two yugos in every garage was brilliant

[Keith in Iowa]

I don't think we could ever totally free ourselves of the need for foreign oil, but we certainly could, and should reduce our dependence on it. Bio-diesel is one place to start.

[Betaille]

improving fuel efficiency is an underrated concept, but what the saudi ambassador said is right(for a change)... every candidate since nixon has made this promise... and nobody has ever even worked toward making it a reality.

[GSlob]

Will Theresa and Hillary teach everyone how to fly brooms?

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Everyone just wants a four cylinder Toyota Prius, right?

The quickest way to stop our dependence on foreign oil is to drill more. The Dumborats won't let us.

Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that we can turn off the spigots from the Middle East, where we get approximately 20% of our oil now. We don't have enough oil to fulfill our own domestic needs. There is only so much oil we can take from Mexico, Canada, and Venuzuela to make up the difference.

Surely Kerry wouldn't want to have energy prices increase because he's too stubborn to get oil from the Middle East, or is he?

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

If we are serious about oil independence we need to open up some public lands for exploration, and cut back on some of the ridiculous environmental laws That make fuel more expensive.

[JPJones]

I don't think we could ever totally free ourselves of the need for foreign oil...

Agreed...but a Baghdad to Boston pipeline, and a "Free Gasoline day" on the anniversity of Saddam's capture, would go a long way in alleviating some of our dependence.

[bayourod]

" if you can't control demand, you will never have an energy policy." "

The government shouldn't try to suppress citizen's demands, it should instead facilitate increasing supply to meet those demands.

It's the difference between an expanding economy and a contracting one.

[the_Watchman]

Surely Kerry wouldn't want to have energy prices increase because he's too stubborn to get oil from the Middle East, or is he?

Don't kid yourself. Kerry's message is simply posturing. If he were elected, he would deal with OPEC just like everyone else.

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Don't kid yourself. Kerry's message is simply posturing. If he were elected, he would deal with OPEC just like everyone else.

Wait? Kerry lies? I am shocked. I thought only Bush lies. /sarcasm

[Fledermaus]

Same old ideas from same old stupid Democrats.

Here are the real solutions:

1) Drill...everywhere-screw the envirowackos.

2) Build 100 new nuclear plants, two per state.

3) Encourage and build the infrastructure for more usage of natural gas.

4) Quit taxing consumption of gasoline at such high levels since almost all states have huge surpluses in their transportation departments and most of them are so corrupt they'd make Al Capone blush.

5) Give up on solar, wind and other ridiculous power supplies. We've wasted billions of dollars over decades and haven't gotten one inch better in the technology while the increases in technology for coal, oil, nuclear, etc. have been monumental. But as is typical for idiot liberals, they hang on to discredited and proven false ideals while pooh-poohing new ideas.

6) Quit wasting billions on farm subsidies for ethanol. If anyone is willing to do the research they'll find the use of mixed fuel ethanol decreases engine efficiency to the point more usage increases the need to burn the oil part of the formula. Thus, the more you use ethanol the more oil based gasoline you use to get the same results. My father proved this years ago when he was a GM mechanical engineer. Of course, they may have improved the formula but I doubt it.

7) Simply tell the public, at no cost, that if they just keep their oil changed, tires at full pressure, the air filter clean, the fuel injectors clean, etc. they could realize many more miles per gallon. Simple preventative maintenance. But then again, the average American is too stupid to do any preventative maintenance of their own bodies and wait until something goes wrong and incur higher healthcare costs.

It's not rocket science.

[endthematrix]

"said one expert from the oil sector who advises the campaign and who, like other advisers, spoke on condition of anonymity."

Any guesses who this person is?

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

...some of whom contended that the country had not had a comprehensive energy policy since President Jimmy Carter.

Ah...

[NormsRevenge]

probably not a Halliburton fella, I reckun ;-)

[spokeshave]

"reads more like notes from a brainstorming session than a detailed blueprint for economic and social change. The ideas are diverse and often vague, in an effort to have as many people as possible sign on."

And those continuous flip-flops.

As for the Yugo.....

Make that a Trabank to go

Why do Trabank's have heated rear windows? ...to keep your hands warm when pushing.

How do you double the value of a Trabank?....Fill it up with petrol

[Dave Olson]

This is nonsense on stilts. Only a small portion (something like 17%) of oil we import comes from Saudi Arabia. Most of our imported oil comes from Mexico and Canada.

[endthematrix]

I agree 90% you are on the right track! Not so hot on the nuke plants. Would like to see something popular come out of corn byproducts. I'm from IL (the tyranny state) and we have coal and corn. Both good fuel. He have ComEd nuclear power too, but still pricey and way too many accident reports for my comfort.

[endthematrix]

Who knows, really? Strange bedfellows - the rich and politically connected are.

[finnman69]

Dennis Miller said it right tonight. When they make an electric or hybrid that looks like a Boxter, I'll buy one.