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 ...
In fact, supply was relatively flat from 2003-2007 and hadn’t increased until this year while demand has continued to increase over the years...
which is what I’ve been trying to relay to everyone but you are one of the few who has recognized it.
There is no reason to move on from oil to stop sending money to OPEC. We have enough domestic sources of oil to last 100 years or more. And that is only what we know about. And then there is about 400 years worth of coal.
Are you talking about the Carl Icahn question? The links go back to that...
Oh that question. I frankly didn’t care to look it up. Sorry. However, I’m all for reducing taxes and if they get a Fed subsidy that needs to go away so be it. I think somehow Texas would find a little more money ratted away in the state budget.
Just business, that's all...
#7 Coal. Out of style, but it still works and there’s lots of it. (and - hint - It’s a lot cheaper than natural gas for electric production.
I haven’t heard a thing from you to encourage me to support T. Boone Pickens’ plan. In fact you’re projecting just the stand offish attitude I suspect he has. Pickens isn’t owed anything so he can go fish.
I posted the link to his plan. I’m not trying to convince you to support it. I think it’s workable and thats about it.
Here’s another site:
http://www.ercot.com/
or:
http://www.ercot.com/news/press_releases/2008/nr04-02-08
or:
http://www.ercot.com/content/news/presentations/2008/ERCOT_Quick_Facts_May_2008.pdf
“...........Another journalist who doesn’t understand the term “swift boating”.........”
My thoughts too. The answer to headline is; NO! He’s lying to the American people.
If he were ‘Swift Boating’, he’d be telling the truth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.