Posted on 05/04/2008 4:24:50 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. -- President Bush on Friday defended his emphasis on ethanol to help the nation meet its energy needs even though increased production of the corn-based biofuel has been blamed for contributing to sharp increases in food prices.
"As you know, I'm a ethanol person," he said, explaining his belief that it can help reduce U.S. dependence on oil. "It makes sense for America to be growing energy."
--snip--
On the day the government announced the loss of 20,000 payroll jobs in April, Bush said he recognized the nation was in a difficult period, "but this economy is going to come on."
He also chastised Congress for blocking his initiatives, including a stalled free trade agreement with Colombia, his plan to open Alaska lands and coastal waters to oil and gas exploration, and his proposal to overhaul the government's mortgage program.
He also shifted into a reflective mien, saying to a worker in Dallas with whom he was conversing in a demonstration of a videoconferencing system: "Tell everybody down there, in about 10 months, I'm coming home."
With that end of his administration in sight, the president's remarks brought into focus the flaring issues he faces: the economy, energy costs and, now, food prices.
The president for several years has been promoting the use of ethanol -- which is largely made from corn -- to alleviate the nation's shortage of domestically produced energy.
Critics have focused on the new demand for corn as a factor in driving up food prices.
Bush acknowledged that ethanol has contributed to higher food prices, but said it was not the main reason. He also listed increased energy costs, which affect transportation and fertilizer prices; drought and other weather-related problems; and increased demand stemming from greater prosperity in once-poor nations. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Many FR posters are letting the MSM drive their thinking again. Read the articles, look for the quotes ("). I have been a critic of using corn for ethanol too, but the President long ago called for support for research to produce ethanol from non-food, i.e. waste sources, such as sawgrass, so that food sources would not be used and ethanol would be cheaper to produce.
Do you see the power the MSM has in your life? All of us fall victim to it. They leave out critical information and insert text without quotes in the middle of quoted information. Many MSM writers are graduates of left-wing universities and have been taught by left-wing professors (aka Vietnam era draft dodgers with student and teaching deferments). They hate Bush. They hate FREEPERS. They take their greatest pride in manipulating quotes, texts and photos in order to lead people to the the left-wing supported conclusion. This article mentioned critics of the use of corn for ethanol. Why didn't it mention the President's support for research into non-food ethanol sources? QUESTION MSM MATERIAL! Go to Whitehouse.gov and search the White House positions on topics.
Right, but he should pounce on this! Instead of saying "I'm a Ethanol person...", he should reiterate the need for drilling our own oil! Nail it on the dems! He is behaving like he is all hunky-dory with ethanol.
McCain wants to stop the traditional subsidies, but not the ethanol subsidy. My guess is that farmers would probably use the non-subsidized land to grow...corn for ethanol! (But it sounds good in a stump speech.)
McCain also opposes drilling in ANWR.
We are, uh, what's the word? Oh, yes: screwed.
I thought he quit drinking.
Good point re: the MSM.
The sad thing still is that the use of corn at this time when it is a hot commodity as a fuel has rippled across a number of other product areas, not sure how much foresight or lack thereof has contributed or how much the MSM can be blamed for that, but as you mention, you can get ethanol from a number of sources..
I would prefer to drill domestically and use good old crude myself until we do have real and viable low cost energy source that doesn’t need to be subsidized in perpetuity if at all.
Been living around it all my life and couldn’t imagine life without it.
Best place to grow plants for ethanol and solve the problem: Years ago, I toured the German countryside. There were acres upon acres upon acres of yellow flowers. Then, I was told those yellow flowering plants were “hops” for making beer. If Germans stopped making/drinking beer, those acres could be the answer to ethanol production. Surely Germans would give up beer, right?
Here’s hoping we can go back and mine all the landfills across this nation as the research you linked to comes into wide usage.. that ought keep a few lights on and vehicles moving down the roads for a few years.
So you’re saying we’re all gonna have to give up our cars?
Exactly!
"He also chastised Congress for blocking his initiatives, including a stalled free trade agreement with Colombia, his plan to open Alaska lands and coastal waters to oil and gas exploration, and his proposal to overhaul the government's mortgage program."
No, don’t have to give up cars. We’ll “pressure” Germany to give up beer and plant ethanol making plants and that will work since we’ve done so well to “pressure” Iran to stop nuclear enrichment.
"Food for thought"
"Fuel for thought"
I always do! Especially during election year.
It doesn’t matter. Bush is still an absolute MORON to be jumping on board the ethanol express just as everyone else is abandoning ship.
All the liberals I know are already blaming this fiasco on none other than Bush. The liberal propaganda is already being developed: The ethanol crisis is the fault of George Bush and conservative profiteers. And with Bush using the bully pulpit this way, everyone is going to swallow their story, hook, line, and sinker.
He’s making it easy for them. He is a nice guy, but he’s a political moron with a tin ear.
"As you know, I sniff airplane model glue for a hobby." If Bush had said that, would anyone see the difference?
“How many gallons of water does it take to produce one gallon of ethanol?”
1700
As with Social Security reform, he stepped up to the ANWR plate, took a swing and a miss, and said the hell with it. I guess it is more interesting to be "a wartime president" (BTW what ever happend to the "War Czar" he appointed? Never heard from him again.)
A blind man on a fast horse could tell we're being railroaded on ethanol, but yeah, Dubya has climbed on board--next stop, Kyoto. What a disappointment.
Ethanol is a great thing--in Brazil, where they have a gazillion tons of sugar and dirt cheap labor costs. IF W really was "an ethanol guy" he would arrange to drop the tariffs against foreign sugar and import it from Brazil. They're not going to need it for long because ironically, they also now have major oil deposits to develop--off shore in the Atlantic, where we would be too delicate and sensitive about the sea life to explore.
This little fact will be lost on most.
Nothing has been lost. It's just that those who have not lost the ability to observe and evaluate President Bush objectively are honest enough to acknowledge the "little fact" that his "pushes" were merely little pushes, gentle nudges at best...
There have been very few issues during Bush's term in office for which he has actually roused himself, become passionately engaged, made the attempt to take his case directly to the American people over the heads of his opponents and the media, and actually fought tooth and nail for what he claimed to believe.
And, unfortunately, with only a few exceptions such as tax cuts and the necessity for seeing through the Long War, the few things he has fought all-out for, e.g. amnesty for illegals, will prove to be monumentally disastrous for the country.
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