There are no red flags here. Other than the Red Flag of Communism that wants to attach private property.
Bingo. Well put.
Specter is just being true to form. After impersonating a Republican in the Alito process he has to immediately impersonate a Democrat.
Please note, I wish to avoid the term "Energy Policy." All this bullsheet about "Alternative Fuels," etc, is just that. It's 100 years out. Sure we should be researching, trying out, and planning, but we are going to run on oil until and beyond then. There is no oil shortage, and there won't be. First things first. Oil is first. Then worry about the alternatives.
(1). George, where's the tax incentive plan to increase refinery capacity and build new refineries? The number one oil problem in our country??? Lack of refining capacity. No new refineries since the 50s! And don't tap dance me about environmental wackos. That's a problem we can handle with communications. (Or brute force.)
(2). Where's the tax incentive plan to increase domestic oil production? Ditto on the wackos.
(3). Where's the agressive communication plan to tell the American people that more drilling is not an environmental hazard. If it were, no one would live in Beverly Hills, where oil has been pumped for one hundred years and is producing today! George, take on the wackos! NOW!
(4). Where's the agressive tax on gas guzzlers? Where's the aggressive overhaul of our inane emissions requirements? Hybrid cars are kewl, but they don't add up, perhaps never will. If you want to plug in your Honda or Prius, guess what? you have to engineer that yourself. In the meantime, if VW can build a small diesel car with great performance that delivers 50mpg, how come something like it isn't rewarded with tax incentives for our struggling auto guys here? Plus, it would make the wackos happy!
5. For example: my favorite new American car is the Chrysler Pacifica. Beautiful. If they had a diesel, or even a diesel hybrid (which would really be kewl) I would buy it in a heartbeat, particularly if it were subsidized like the Prius!
I love fast cars as much as the next guy. But is there any need for a Honda Civic to be capable of 120mph? If it could only manage 80 and got 15 more mpg, would that be a good thing? Somebody at the top ain't thinking. Why are cars built for 1/4 mile, stop-light to stoplight acceleration? I remember when my favorite sports car went 0-60 in a now pathetically slow 12.+ seconds, but was geared to cruise nicely at 80, at a quiet 2750 rpm and could deliver 35mpg at a steady 70. What the hell is wrong with that?
ps. I have heard that the secret plan is to begin the fleet conversion to diesel. Anyone know anything?