Posted on 01/22/2007 8:06:07 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
America must do more to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and combat global warming, President George W Bush will say in the State of the Union address early tomorrow.
Though he will stop short of calling for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, his speech is a watershed for an administration that has been sceptical about climate change. The annual speech assumes greater importance than some of Mr Bush's previous addresses since he has few remaining opportunities to set the national agenda before he becomes a lame duck president.
Though he will not leave office until January 2009, next year - including his last State of the Union address - will be eclipsed by the battle to find his successor.
Although Mr Bush will talk about Iraq, repeating his determination to put down the insurgency, for once his domestic policy proposals are more keenly awaited than his foreign policy vision.
"I'm going to talk about a bold initiative that really encourages America to become less dependent on oil," Mr Bush said in an interview with USA Today.
Mr Bush is expected to call for higher fuel-economy standards for new cars as well as for greater investment in alternative and renewable fuel supplies, such as ethanol-based alternatives to petrol.
White House aides previewing the speech also suggested that the president will urge Congress to pass measures that would reduce emissions from power stations. "The new technologies I'll be outlining will help us deal with the issue of 'greenhouse gases'," he said.
Though environmental campaigners have pressed the president to commit to a specific target for emissions reduction, Mr Bush maintains that "the way to solve the problem is to promote new technology".
The Bush administration believes that market forces will prove more efficient than government regulation.
The White House spokesman, Tony Snow, said: "Carrots work better than sticks."
Mr Bush is responding to Democratic pledges that Congress will act on global warming issues even if the White House does not make the matter a priority.
The Department of Energy's £600 million annual budget for renewable fuel and efficiency programmes has not increased in real terms since Mr Bush took office.
"The science of global warming and its impact is overwhelming," said Nancy Pelosi, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. "We want to work with President Bush. But we cannot afford to wait."
The administration has opened new areas of US territory to oil exploration, granting new licenses for oil prospecting in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska to increase domestic oil production. But imports still account for 60 per cent of US oil consumption - up from 53 per cent at the start of Mr Bush's presidency.
According to a new poll released by ABC News, 65 per cent of Americans disapprove of Mr Bush's performance - a figure second only to Richard Nixon among presidents since the Second World War.
And your suggestion should take precedence over emitting a few more "greenhouse" gasses into the air too.
"Global warming" has almost overtaken the left's highest position on their list of sacred cows, which of course holds that abortion is the right above all rights. They don't talk much about abortion anymore.
Nonsense. It's a derisive noun used to label an individual.
It's a namecall.
" Nonsense. It's a derisive noun used to label an individual."
Like I said, you lowered the bar, and it's informative that rather than respond to my relevent points about the article, you dodge and weave and spin.
What is responding to serious points with "**yawn!**" if not labeling me as "boring" and unworthy of response?
Ronald Reagan bashing happens every single day by a certain group of people on FR. It's their goal to tarnish Reagan's conservatism and his memory as being one of the greatest American presidents.
Their objective is to make weak conservatives like Mitt Romney and liberals like Rudy Giuliani appear as the best choices for the GOP to nominate in 2008. IMO, Romney is a big question mark, while Rudy is a joke. They also want to make sure that Bush43`s legacy doesn't take a serious and lasting hit around this forum. As President, Bush simply doesn't measure up to Reagan and the passing of time won't change that fact. Bush`s legacy revolves around a successful outcome in Iraq. For future generations of Americans I hope Bush gets things turned around in Iraq. Otherwise, if Iraq fails, Bush slips into the lower third of Presidential rankings.
Your seem to be supporting the envirowackos who believe in this global warming crap of which there is NO proof that humanity is causing it.
The temperature of this earth has been rising and falling since before man started walking here.
LOL. sorry bud. I don't read crap like the new American.
You do not know what you do not know. You illiterate and emotional reply to me is mere naivete and fear of disillusionment. All based on idealism and hope not on knowledge.
I've been there and been involved in the so-called "back rooms" with the real men who drive politics; The multi-millionaires, the coproate CEO's of Fortune 20 corporations and discussed strategy with key members of one of the most dominant political families of this generation (household names).
I've seen in person how a man comes to be President. I've also gone head to head against one of the largest political machines in the US senate. (gunshots into our HQ, shut-down counting machines for hand-counts by 5 emplaced insiders when things were going against, polls ordered kept open late, lots of stories...
In other areas I've participated in the lobbying, the marketing of laws. Most laws are not written by government officials, for instance, but by self-interested private organizations. etc etc
I've been involved in the fundraising, the connection with political action machines. There is a reason why there are over 5,000 PAC's spending billions of $$ directly or indirectly (yes, $B). They are not charities.
I've spent many years in international marketing and international lobbying as well. I've seen politics and corruption in several countries overseas. I know how foreign companies acquire US technology and come back to compete and displace US small, mid-size manufacturers...etc etc etc etc etc
I'm also a student of history, and if you knew your history you would know that EVERY government at some point in its evolution coalesces power among the very few. That is what our founders knew and sought to avoid. It is what has begun failing since the civil war, since the passage of the 13th, 17th amendments and many, many more laws that changed the flow of power (money )from the States to the Fed now from the Fed to the States. And also emasculated the power of the States and thus the people of their States.
Yet you cling to some childlike fanciful notions that our government is somehow protected from such natural forces.
Consider this, at any given election either party has mroe than enough cash and resources to pick off any senior member of the opposite party. I know of one man alone who personally has the cash to bring down a ted kennedy, or joe biden or trent Lott, etc etc...
The methods to do so are ruthless (look at Ross Perot for instance) but they are rarely used against members of the establishment.
Remember also that at each election time more power is at stake for control of the government than that over which most wars in the history of mankind have been fought.
So instead of fighting viciously and bloodying each other to the disgust of the American people, to be replaced by new blood, they have an agreement to share power (with minor oscillations) and put on a show for the people, while step by step solidifying their power to further remove it from the whims or anger of the American voter.
There is no real debate about agenda. Every el;ection time they only argue which party is BEST able to deliver social security, increased education spending or helathcare.
Any apparent "conservative" programs passed are meaningless in the long term, for the most part and are only done to the degree necessary to keep the base on board.
Wise up. it is not a conspiracy per se, it is natural sharing of power among very big hitters involved in political detente, and thus they may as well enjoy each others company.
political detente. stability of national economy. stability of global economy. pacification of the people (via social programs and redistirbution).
LOL. political ideas of the founders; values of christianity; idealism of naive Americans, has nothing to do with it. The Constitution is mostly just a roadbump regulating the speed of "progress".
I could write a book. And perhaps will some day.
please see my post 127
Great post. I have read many tales of this by some authors. This is the truth that people do not wish to believe and you tell it in an easy to understand way. Its not a pretty picture so it is not what people wish to believe. You do see it presents a very powerless feeling to people. A lot of folks who see this stance end up embracing religion. All that is left of hope.
we need to get rid of professional politicians in this country
Good post. I disagree with a lot of it but it really does a good job of presenting your experience and position.
I came to Christ 2 years ago, at age 43.
Well. it all sounds so machiavellian, those ivy league elites from both parties and big biz running everything thru backroom dealing.
Let's test that theory: RWR, the greatest President in our lifetimes. Born dirt poor with an alcoholic dad in middle America. Thru his own talent and vision, not the talent and vision of the elites, rises to become 2 term governor of California then, to the gasps of the GOP establishment and the horror of ALL the dems and elites, becomes the President. The entire dynamics of this country and the world shifted from 1981 to 1989.
Reagan never was part of any elite think tank, the cocktail set, or even the DC crowd after 8 years in office.
The exception you say? Slick Willy was a poor kid from Arkansas that elbowed his way into elitedom. Harry Truman was a self made man who rose to the top w/o even having a college degree. Coolidge, though a lawyer from a well to do family, was the antithesis, the Reagan of his time, of the elites. Hoover was a self made millionare from the humblest of roots. James Garfield and Abe Lincoln both were born in log cabins and had zero advantages in life other than their smarts. Grant as well, and a failed farmer to boot.
This story of ordinary Americans rising to the pinnacles of power outside the elite circles, and rejecting the elite circles once in power is as old as our country is. Think Jeff Sessions from modest beginnings to the University of Alabama to one of the most powerful Senators, bucking the elite orthodxy at every turn. Duncan Hunter, perhaps the most conservative candidate for the presidency for 2008 - combat vet and one guy who doesn't pull any punches - loathes liberalism and globalism. We all know Arnold's story.
Sorry, if the elites had total control, there would have been no victory in the cold war and we would not be in Iraq today.
LOL. What quanit little myths.
You have no idea who the cadre of movers-shakers were behind Reagan and Clinton.
You think they just popped up out of the neighborhood and said "hey guys i'm running for President! Who wants to give me millions??"
True, they were individuals without a family legacy, but they were the spokesmen for old, old money and legacies that supported them (actually the supporters pushed them to the front...they didn;t drag their senior supporters anywhere.)
Go find out what it takes to become governor, then get back to me. If you already have name recognition and can act (Clinton acts as well) then you may be lucky and become adoptyed by the movers and shakers.
BTW "backroom" has conspiratorial connations. it is not conspiratorial because it is not illegal. of course they meet, discuss strategy, make plans, set goals and objectives, solicit money...all in private with their movers-shakers.
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