Posted on 03/05/2008 12:58:31 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday that the United States has to "get off oil" to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and declared "it should be obvious" that high demand is creating painful gasoline prices.
Bush's assessment was at odds with that from the 13-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which said before he spoke that it would not put more oil on the global market because crude supplies are plentiful.
OPEC President Chakib Khelil told reporters in Vienna, Austria, that the problems in the U.S. economy were a key factor in the cartel's decision to hold off on any action.
"There is sufficient supply. There's plenty of oil there," he said.
In an address to the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, Bush said, "It should be obvious to you all that the demand is outstripping supply, which causes prices to go up."
During a Middle East trip in January, Bush urged OPEC to increase production and help ease soaring gasoline prices. Bush also said on Tuesday that it's a "mistake to have your biggest customers' economies slowing down as a result of higher energy prices."
The White House said it disagreed with OPEC's decision to rebuff that request, and that the oil-producing nations themselves could be hurt as well.
"OPEC should not be shortsighted about the economic impact of its production decisions," White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said.
Oil prices surged past $104 a barrel for the first time after the OPEC announcement. Gas prices are running over $3 a gallon, and some analysts expect prices to rise to near $4 a gallon as summer driving picks up.
Bush's speech was aimed at touting his administration's efforts to increase the use of renewable energy sources.
The president saluted those at the conference for their "commitment to renewable energy," then joked that his travel habits aren't the best contribution. "I probably didn't help today when I rode over in a 20-car motorcade," he said.
Democrats roundly criticized the president's record on energy policy.
"The Bush/Cheney administration has paid lip service to renewable energy and backed it up with inadequate and incremental funding support, favored old dirty and unsafe technologies, threatened vetoes of energy bills because they supported renewable energy incentives and mandates, and undermined the science of and the search for solutions to global warming," said a statement from Senate Democrats.
Bush also addressed the ongoing global talks to find a new agreement to fight climate change.
Many nations want firm — and big — greenhouse gas emission-reduction targets that are mandatory, but Bush has opposed that. He favors voluntary targets set by each country for itself and steep reliance on burgeoning energy efficient technologies to get there. Bush also insists that developing countries like China and India that are growing energy guzzlers be subject to any agreement.
In the face of criticism, Bush repeated those positions but declared: "The United States is serious about confronting climate change."
"America is in the lead when it comes to energy independence; we're in the lead when it comes to new technologies; we're in the lead when it comes to global climate change — and we'll stay that way," he said.
He repeated his calls for a clean technology fund to aid developing nations too poor too afford the kind of new technologies that can help them reduce emissions, and for the elimination of trade barriers on environmental technology.
Bush also defended the meetings the U.S. is hosting on a climate change agreement even as the broader United Nations-sponsored process goes forward.
"This is not in lieu of the U.N. process," he said. "It is to enable the U.N. process to become effective."
The president made clear that he considers his approach key to that.
"Should there be an international agreement? Yes, there should be, and we support it," Bush said. But, he added, "No country should get a free ride."
Start drilling now.
Lets drill, and lets also go Nuclear Big Time. With enough electricity, you can MAKE liquid fuels for cars.
What a goddam dumb thing to say!
Don't throw stones when you're living in a glass White House Tony. These idiots can't see beyond the end of their nose.
Yup, we’re gonna “get off oil”. With what? Using suggestions of politicians with no ability to do anything except lie? How about some journalists with their degree in applied lies from Columbia. Oh, maybe Dan Rather - a consumate idiot. Perhaps we could enlise the liberal arts faculty of Duke, or Harvard. I’m sure they’ve got good ideas (if one wants to imagine that the can have original ideas. Oh...maybe, just maybe, one could start listening to some real scientists and engineers (NOT the ones who actually think that climate change has something to do with humans) and get down to some serious research. Before we get there however, there is one word to whister into the ears of all scientifically illiterate libs...”nuclear”.
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Yeah, that's what I thought.
I hope Bush does better in retirement than Carter.
Domestic production of available in abundance resources in the Homeland.. stymied by an ecomovement that reigns thru tyranny, looks like a tucking of the tail between the legs, or maybe it’s just me. ;-)
Can’t build a nuke, can’t build a fence, can’t build this and that,, But everyone else can. Go figure.
It astounds me how ill informed are out leaders. It is absolutely disgusting how leaders in both parties are hell bent on destroying our way of life over the fraudulent AGW scam.
You are correct, we should be drilling -- everywhere. I truly despise our leaders rulers.
If we get off oil, how will liberals get around to their vacation homes, awards shows and parties?
We need to use our own resources. We have the oil and we were also the ones who developed nuclear power. Is it too simple to just do that? /s
“President Bush said Wednesday that the United States has to “get off oil”...”
I thought that Bush and Cheney were oilmen. At least, that’s what their resumes say. But then again...
On the backs of the bearers, like the Egyptian Pharaohs.
“The Bush/Cheney administration has paid lip service to renewable energy and backed it up with inadequate and incremental funding support, favored old dirty and unsafe technologies, threatened vetoes of energy bills because they supported renewable energy incentives and mandates, and undermined the science of and the search for solutions to global warming,” said a statement from Senate Democrats.
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It’s takes 2 to Tango, ya nut cases.
The lead Dems are all for new this and that yet also support coal when&where it is politically and financially convenient for them and their constituents..
I like oil!
Matter of fact, I like big cars w/V8s, tailfins, etc.
I don’t like small cars, w/lotsa bs gubmint required junk on ‘em w/buzzers, bells, whistles, belts, and—worst of all—dorrs that lock me in/out automatically! This has been bs since that first PCV device required by BigBroMoFo in 1963.
So, hang it in yer wall-locker, Jocko!
If this country ever gets a leader, God help you idiot SOBs
Semper BS!
Dick G
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Umm,, wellll,, me too.
As in the other thread the suggestions for energy investment are the usual. The costs are not mentioned. Need 500 nuke plants? Any idea what they cost?
Also, the blame can be laid at the feet of OPEC because of their cutback in production last year. It was after that cut that the current increase in prices started to escalate out of control.
Of course we can also blame Nigeria for the rebels causing problems over there, Venezuala for electing a communistic dictator who hates the US, Iran for their inflaming the current Middle East Crisis, Russia for their backing of Iran inflaming the current Middle East crisis,,,,,,
Heck, let's blame everyone!
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