Posted on 07/24/2008 3:48:43 PM PDT by kellynla
Liberals have done a U-turn on conservative billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens.
Formerly reviled for funding the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" campaign against Sen. John Kerry, he's now adored by the Left — unfortunately, for trying to gaslight the rest of us on energy policy.
This column recently spotlighted Pickens' proposed plan to get America off foreign oil by substituting wind-generated electricity for natural gas-generated electricity and then using the natural gas to replace gasoline.
Already having addressed the proposal's flaws — and Pickens' plan to profit at taxpayer expense from it — let's consider how Pickens' marketing shades the truth.
On his Web site and in TV commercials, Pickens tries to frighten Americans about being "addicted to foreign oil."
"In 1970, we imported 24 percent of our oil. Today, it's nearly 70 percent and growing," he intones.
Aside from the fact that the Department of Energy (DOE) puts the import figure at a more moderate 58 percent, Pickens gives the impression that imported oil is scary because it all comes from the unstable Mideast.
His TV commercials feature images of American soldiers fighting in Iraq and he likens the annual $700 billion cost of foreign oil to "four times the annual cost of the Iraq war."
But hold the phone. Only 16 percent of our imported oil comes from the Persian Gulf — barely up from 13.6 percent in 1973, according to the DOE. Imports from OPEC countries are actually down — from 47.8 percent in 1973 to 44.5 percent in 2007.
Contrary to Pickens' assertion that oil imports are growing, the DOE expects oil imports to decrease by 10 percent by 2030.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
bump to that.
Good post. Is #3 supposed to be coal to diesel?
He’s looking for government(you tax dollars & mine) funding to build transmission lines for his windmills.
What has oil done to our economy the last five years?
Pickens’ proposed plan to get America off foreign oil by substituting wind-generated electricity
++++++++++++++++++++
guess where Picken’s money is being invested heavily. Three guesses only please
Looser article from and idiot reporter. Maybe we should read his plan and not get the watered down MSM spoon fed garbage version.
This wind project is not too far from where I live. Before the Wind project was installed we had frequent power outages. This “Wind Ranch” was built at first by private money then sold to Edison’s partners.
http://www.edison.com/pressroom/pr.asp?id=6696
“The 161-megawatt Wildorado project is the largest wind energy facility in the Texas panhandle region and the largest in EMG’s current portfolio of 14 wind projects in five states. It will provide enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 48,000 homes.”
They may not look too good but in the center of the US the wind does blow! T Boones project calls for large corridors of Electric lines going east and west to the major urban areas. Wind generators from Texas to North Dakota. Take the Natural Gas fed power plants off line and then convert as many vehicles to run on natural gas as possible.
I don’t know but when an Oilman tells me that we can’t drill our way out of this mess I listen.
‘...When questioned by FNC I believe he also said he’s in favor on domestic drilling. Everything to end our dependence on foreign oil....’
He did say this. AND, recently on, I believe, Fox & Friends, Pickens was asked....who will you vote for? Without hesitation, he said John McCain.
how does one get taken out of context in ones own commercial?
Enabled us to enjoy the best of everything the civilized western world has ever known?
Lets not get twisted...Pickens WANTS YOUR TAX DOLLARS to build transmission lines for his windmills.
And there is enough energy in America for HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
And we don’t need Picken’s windmills & Gore’s carbon offsets to get there. LMAO
T Boone appears to be something that NEITHER of these two politically bankrupt major parties have, he appears to be a leader with an energy plan. Boys like Barry and Juan have been stinking up the Senate awhile, and if either had something significant on energy to play they would have played it by now. Barry GOT NO ideas about anything, and the boy Juan seems more interested in campaign reform and AMNESTY, I cannot criticize T Boone for filling a political vaccuum created by these two out of touch political parties.
T.Boones own ads show the problem with wind power. The windmills don’t work well. In a typicqal farm as many as 10 to 12% are down and not producing.
The panorama in the commercial shows non turning wind mills. In addition to not being very efficient, there is an added penatly for just plain ol not working.
And how PREDICTABLE was that? IMO, the guy's a pirate.
BTW, anyone advocating 'gubermint' control of anything, including your healthcare (let's please avoid that, according to my health-care-professional wife, who has worked in commonwealth healthcare disasters - i.e., socialist SOP areas), and your retirement (a near fatal OOPS, courtesy of your parents, who voted Democrat) has their head (or heads) up their @ss (or @sses). And that opinion is based on almost 30 years of federal employment. FWIW, 'your mileage may vary,' etc...
You REALLY do NOT want to know what I know about the federal gubermint...
I listend to Pickens on MSNBC yesterday...they asked him about drilling in Anwar, off the coasts, shale oil, and he said yes to all of the them, the more supply the better...he’s got a good plan...magritte
You’ll fall for about anything won’t ya? Any smoothtalker will get you everytime.
“how does one get taken out of context in ones own commercial?”
Lets see... by you?
Pickens is an American patriot. I take him at his word that he fears the money leaving the country into the hands of America haters of the Jihad persuasion.
Texas set aside 10 billion to build transmission lines accross the state. Private Companies can build wind Ranches where needed.
We are getting it done while You just whine.
Oil is dead. Just ask the Democrats. If you don’t get them on board with major drilling operations soon then it’s all over in 10 years. The Barnett Shale play in North Texas has a 5000 well backlog alone. Tax rebates for investors are needed so they can take the risks of drilling. You think Oil just pops up where you set a rig down...
Guess he has to piggyback onto El Rushbo to get any attention for his scams.
Leni
That is what I was thinking. For about 100 years IIRC.
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