Comments on: Bush's dim pitch for energy

CNET News.com's Charles Cooper says the president missed a golden opportunity when he visited Silicon Valley recently.

[strait5646]

disingenuous at best

Excellent point about a Manhattan Project for energy. If the president thinks so much of hydrogen as a replacement, why not mandate 60% of all filling stations in each state have at least 2 hydrogen pumps on line by 2010 or that state loses it's federal highway money? Nothing to stimulate production like bringing the infrastructure up to speed. But alas, all this 'good intentioined rhetoric' will probably fade away...right about the time the autumn leaves fall...

[strait5646]

disingenuous at best

Excellent point about a Manhattan Project for energy. If the president thinks so much of hydrogen as a replacement, why not mandate 60% of all filling stations in each state have at least 2 hydrogen pumps on line by 2010 or that state loses it's federal highway money? Nothing to stimulate production like bringing the infrastructure up to speed. But alas, all this 'good intentioned rhetoric' will probably fade away...right about the time the autumn leaves fall...

[svcleaves]

Energy Manhattan Project

Yes , we do need a major initiative for developing new energy resources. That must and will happen; but we should at the same time realize that the world's dependence on oil will be with us for another half century and that good relations with the oil producing areas of the world are essential.

[rpawliko]

Offer a Prize - make it a big one

How bout we offer:

- a $1 Billion prize for the business, group or individual that produces a vehicle that can seat four adults (at least Honda Civic size) and gets 150 miles per gallon of fuel - preferably bio-diesel, and when put into production would cost within the average price for similar vehicles (roughly $25,000).

- a $10 Billion for the business, group or individual that develops a vehicle that uses NO fossil fuels, and has a net zero pollution output. Again, it would have to seat four adults, and cost within the average price of similar vehicles.

Of course other requirements for safety and other vehicle standards would also have to be met.

Where to get the money? A tax to be shared among windfall profits for the oil companies, military suppliers and we little folks.

The size of the prize is to get people moving on actually solving the problem, instead of just talking about solving the problem, or making tiny, incremental steps (like moving from 24 to 27 mpg in CAFE standards).

Thinks its expensive?

Both prizes would cost less then three months of warfare in the Middle East, and no one has to do die trying.

[Bill Scott 122]

Missed Presidential Opportunities

What President Bush needed to say was something like this:

First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving
the goal, before the next decade is out, of making North
America energy independent. No single project in this period will
be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-
range economic security of our continent; and none will be so
difficult or expensive to accomplish. We propose to accelerate
the development of the appropriate technology. We propose to
develop alternate fuels, much different than any now being
developed...

If President Kennedy could lead us to putting a man on the
moon in the 60's, President Bush could/should lead us to energy
independence in the 2000's. If not, then some other president
will have to.

[frompittsburgh]

Missed Opportunities

too visionary and too many "big" words for our personable, but misguided president. Alas, the lobbyists have control of the Congress as well, so it will be unlikely that any meaningful reform or incentives that would harm the auto or oil industries will be passed.

I have a real time miles/gallon indicator as part of my dashboard display. It keeps me aware of how I am driving and the resulting cost. How much extra would that cost?

I like the cash award incentive that someone suggested...think SpaceOne and what was accomplished.

Ed

[coogrrr25]

What we need to do is...

Stop placing the ownership on the government as we so like to do. We need to bring these new technologies to bear ourselves.

1. It would go faster then anything the government could do.
2. We can push a tax relief or something to the companies that are doing this work and yes there is an alternative fuel tax credit already setup.
3. Waiting on the governement will add n to the inth time for something good to happen.
4. Embrace sunny areas pushing solar, windy areas pushing wind generators, and back it up with bio(corn) fuel everywhere.
5. Gas is reserved for all existing machines(car or whatever) and all new machines or cars are to be alternative fuel only.

These are simple things we can do as a people if we really care. The problem is we as a nation are fat and lazy. We want everyone else to do it for us and then complain about it and tear it down.

South Korea is about to eat our lunch and show us how in the "NEW" millenium you get stuff done. They will show us how a people get behind each other and then the government is told this is how we want things to be.

Where did we forget that we tell the government how its to be and as a large group we govern ourselves..

I will start a blog soon and I will allow anyone with intelligent comment to speak out. Thanks for reading my rant!

Coog

[daver208]

I dont mind

I dont mind criticism about Bush's stance on Energy Independence it was weak for lack of a better term. But statements like "After six years in office, Bush and his administration are finally waking up to the fact that U.S. dependence on oil is bad news. Until now, Washington has been content to let the oil companies drill more holes in the ground." are unworthy.

This has been a problem for the last FORTY years that hasn't succesfully been dealt with by ANY administration. The simple fact of the matter is that until the economics support it (like they do now) its far easier, read Politically Popular, with the masses to go with the status quo. Take a look at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/gas1.html

Look at averag gas prices from Bushe's first inaguration on. They started at around 1.50$ then dipped in late 2002 and early 2003 to around 1.25$ a gallon. It was only later they started climbing again. If you want to criticize weak policy please do so, but dont try blame this administration for the explosion in growth of china that we've known was coming.

[steed]

the right kind of thinking

Sometime ago, a week or more, I thought to myself somewhat the same thing. A Manhatten project for Energy Independance. This is not about taking any credit for more people need to think along the lines of what you wrote.
I did write to one of the people involved with adding batteries etc. to the Prius with the result of increasing it's mileage. I told the person it was good to see good old American know how in action. Despite people criticizing America both inside and outside of it's borders re Iraq etc. the ability of the country to be creative and inventive is one thing that needs to be tapped into before it is too late. This is not about doom and gloom but now is the time for action to be taken.
I feel sad when you quoted what George Bush (Jr) the president had to say. He is barely up to the job of inspiring America. It is sad He may be remembered for likely starting a war he may not be able to finish.
There is greatness in America. It needs people like yourself and others to stir the pot and bring it to the surface.
By the way I am a Canadian observer who has of late watched events in the world and wished that the America that put Man on the Moon would wake from it's slumber and get to work.You are missing the opportunities. Things are a changing in the world and America needs to meet the challenge or fall back towards 2nd rate nation status. I do not think that would be good for the world.

[Hep Cat]

DARPA Funding

Cooper wrote: "But I think Bush's mangled reference has to do
with government funded support for the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency that led to the creation of the
Internet."

Yes, but if Bush had claimed that funding DARPA led to
technology breakthroughs and tried to claim credit for that
funding, Declan MCCullagh would just have accused him of
pretending to "invent the Internet". (Of course, Bush just took
credit for inventing the iPod in the same manner, but you'll
never catch the access-starved press calling him on it.)

What? McCullagh did the same thing to Al Gore while writing for
Wired in 2000, and it cost Gore lots of votes in the 2000 election
- mostly because the tech-ignorant press (as well as those who
should have known better) couldn't stop repeating that Al Gore
"said he invented the Internet".

Why can't you be nearly as critical of the stuff Bush _doesn't_
say?

[gerhard_schroeder]

Charles Cooper is a known John Kerryist

Bush could have said anything and Charles Cooper would still be writing his screeds. During the run up to the 2004 election, Charles Cooper was all about the John Kerryism. So now, he's basically got sour grapes that his journalistic efforts to sway the electorate failed.

You can just imagine the whinyness in his voice ... show us your purple Geo Metro charles!

[spmc11]

Enough sophomoric comments

Mr. Schroeder, Why is it that some folks like you can not respond to any criticism of the Bush administration without lame name calling. I'm surprised you did not use the "L" word, "tax and spend Democrats", or other trite expressions like "We are not going to cut and run". How about focusing on the topic Charles was talking about.

[spmc11]

Enough sophomoric comments

Why is it that some folks can not respond to any criticism of the Bush administration without lame name calling. I'm surprised I did read comments like the "L" word, "tax and spend Democrats", or other trite expressions like "We are not going to cut and run". How about focusing on the topic Charles was talking about.

[gabbosgold]

"60 Minutes" - Tyler Drumheller

If you care to find out "why?" George W. Bush is in over his head, google or search the subject line. The interview with 60 minutes highlights on covering up drastic mistakes made by this administration. It's amazing what money can buy !

[WJD]

Bush Administration Energy Policy: C.Cooper

Perhaps a review of the Bush Administration actions affecting energy would be helpful.
1) The Administration was very aware that abundant petroleum has been absolutely vital to military power for the last century.
2) Saddam announced that Iraq was going to sell its oil in Euros rather than Dollars which would have removed the US from Petrodollar recycling leading to a major banking and economic crisis. It was felt he had to be stopped in such a way that would discourage others from doing the same. A decade of observation led to the assurance that Iraq had no serious capability to strike back.
3) A rise in oil prices, if moderate, would not seriously damage US military capability, and would, incidentally, lead to considerable profits in certain circles.

I believe the game plan has changed somewhat. I am not sure why this Administration is threatening Iran. Most observers believe that a US attack on Iran would make present US Near Eastern difficulties look small by comparison. Also, rumors are that the Administration is planning on allowing the Dollar to devalue, which will further increase the Dollar price of oil, virtually assuring the continuance of the 100% per two year price increase we have been seeing.
One possibility is that the game plan is to put in motion such a disaster that the Democrats will win in 2006 and be thrown out in 2008 as the disaster progresses.
What is clear, and a little ironic, is that the greenest part of the US economy under this Administration is the US military -- which is absolutely dependent on oil to be able to project power.

[volterwd]

I disagree

there is enough oil in NA to supply the american military for a long time... i dont think the american military needs cheap foreign oil... the american economy and lifestyle; however, does.

[Ipod Apple]

absolutely dependent on oil

http://www.analogstereo.com/vacuum/miele_dust_bags.htm

[Captain_Spock]

F_O_O_D - C_L_O_T_H_I_N_G - and - H_O_U_S_I_N_G - as - opposed - to...

... O_I_L! How will nations around the world *survive* without FOOD, CLOTHING and HOUSING even if they can afford all the *oil* in the world!!!

[Captain_Spock]

SO THEREFORE...

... a further "diversification" of the US *Economy* would be an excellent strategy for its long term survival in relation to any impact of oil on the world economy!

[stjones911]

Consistent

I have often found Cooper shallow and predictably contrarian when be comments about technology. I suppose it's no surprise that he exhibits similar characteristics when he bloviates about politics. Time to un-subscribe. 'Bye, Charlie; you won't be missed.

[ttether]

Facts Need to be Checked

I have observed that Bay Area reporting tends to be done without ever checking the facts.

The following statement:
"And yet compared with previous decades, DARPA's been starved by the government for the last six years. Mendel Rosenblum, a Stanford professor and founder of VMWare, says 2007 will be the first year he won't receive DARPA help for one of his projects. Jim Clark, who helped start Netscape and Silicon Graphics--hardly a screaming Trotskyite--has described the situation as grim and now urges people to tell their friends to vote for the Democrats."

is wrong on all counts.

First DARPA's budget has gone from less than $2B in 1999 to $3B in 2006--hardly a starvation diet.

Second it was Horwitz who said that and if you were to ask him now, he would admit that he was wrong--he didnt check his facts either.

Thanks

[Jon Skillings]

Fixed

The reference to Rosenblum and Horowitz has been corrected.

[alek_nedic]

vote for the Democrats

http://www.analogstereo.com/nissan_maxima_owners_manual.htm

[pentium4forever]

Internets

President think there's more than one internet?!