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.
In almost the same breath, they propose both the socialist AND the free-market solutions!
Is ANYone in this Administration awake?
And some people who are rock ribbed conservatives who never joined the wishy washy GOP are sick of the lack of perspective. Acting like Bush is just another clinton says more about those hurling the accusation than it does Bush. Its beyond infantile.
That was the most accurate analysis of what is going on that I've seen in a long time.
"The President placed a big emphasis on hydrogen fuel cells in a SOTU speech a couple years ago. Any progress on that front, or was that just a passing fad?"
Last year it was "addiction to oil."
His lack of action has helped allow the carbon marketeers get their dirty hands on the issue.
If it wasn't for the Minutemen making a ruckus, Bush wouldn't have bothered to pay lip service to "border security," he would have continued to ignore, or undermine "border security," at every opportunity.
Many of us have been involved in several posts today that border on extreme hostility towards conservatism and Ronald Reagan. A very frustrating day all around. The idea that manmade global warming is more a proven fact, then just the rants of the envirowacko leftwing, is something I do not agree with. Kinda way out there, in the twilight zone.
As for dependence on foreign oil, Mr. President, be less solicitous of your Saudi bosses.
There is a great deal of oil in Alaska--use an executive order and access it.
There is oil off Florida--I believe your brother objects to accessing that--while Hugo and Castro have no qualms.
Paging any grown up in Washington, pick up the white courtesy phone.
What a disappointment !
Understood.
Meanwhile California continues to freeze...
Yes, and exploration has been expanded there. It is even alluded to in the article
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
he's not another clinton.
He's another bush.
Unfortunately for the conservative wing of the GOP, he was sold as another reagan in the 2000 Primaries.
Amen for the first three items on your Bush accomplishment list as well as Alito and Roberts. However, the rest is a farce.
Improved border security? Surely you jest. In a post 9-11 world 5 million more illegals have entered our country. 19 terrorists conducted 9-11. How many terrorist cells entered among those 5 million?
Bush is certainly better than Gore and Kerry and I would vote for him again over the democrats. But let's face it. He's a spent force. After the midterm debacle, instead of acting like Churchill, he's pulling a Clinton and is spinelessly triangulating against the conservative base.
The socialists are foaming at the mouth so bad they can't add anymore. Well math was never their strong suit.
The WOT is the only thing he's stood firm on against the RATS. He's caved on everything else, I'm wondering who is GWB that I voted for TWICE????
Seriously, that is your argument? OH, I guess he can't hire experts and scientists in this field so he would have some facts to use against the global warming argument!
But he's waiting for more conclusive proof.
And for now he's not proposing much. Smart man.
Dirtboy didn't twist words--he made clear what you obfuscated. Of course conservatives will bash him for doing essentially nothing (I think you admitted it) but increasing size, regulatatory power, and spending of government. Of course he will be, and should be, bashed.
Get this straight: no one in government, including the President, any President, including Reagan, increases the strength of the economy.
The economy is strengthened by you and me and millions of others in the private sector. Government only produces secondary goods and not one scintilla of wealth.
The only 2 things politicians can do are (1) muck up the economy with regulations or taxes or lack of a legal framework that prevents force or fraud and (2) reduce those regulations and taxes so that you and I can strengthen the economy.
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