Topic: Election 2008
Gulf Coast Hurricanes, War, and the Importance of Alaska McCain's VP pick is exactly what this country needs. Palin has a proven record of cutting through the red tape to get us on the road to energy independence.by Natalie Schultz
(libertarian)
Monday, September 1, 2008
UPDATE: This was written before the RNC Convention; Hurrican Gustav may have been a flop, but Hurricane Ike is HUGE and already affecting both shipping and oil in the Gulf off Texas. The point is still relevant: We CANNOT rely on Gulf Coast oil for our domestic oil supply; these hurricanes get worse and worse every year. We must invest in alternative energy like wind, solar and hydro, but we still need to invest in domestic oil and natural gas. To argue otherwise is foolish and ignorant. Just look to Norway: Norway is a very "green" country, and they have a profitable domestic oil industry. We can, and we MUST take advantage of ALL our domestic energy supplies!
***
On the eve of the Republican National Convention, what looks likely to become the most powerful and destructive storm to hit this country in history, Hurricane Gustav, is making its way through the Gulf of Mexico. After the physical and personal disaster that we witnessed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, both the Federal and Gulf Coast State governments have taken a strong and proactive stance to evacuate and batten down the area. Even the oil companies closed down and evacuated their oil rigs to protect the workers there. This is the good news. The bad news is that no matter how well we prepare, the physical destruction can never be prevented by mere mortals, not even the government.
We all know that this is likely to cause oil prices to spike once again, as oil production is already shut down, and refineries are abandoned. We talk about energy independence, yet we refuse to acknowledge that we cannot rely on Gulf Coast oil alone. If these storms, which grow ever more powerful and devastating every year, do not prove to Congress that we desperately need to diversify our energy production to areas throughout our nation, I do not know what will.
Prices at the pump have already caused Americans to beg our government to do something, anything to solve our energy crisis. Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Speaker of the House, answered the American citizens by refusing to allow Congress to vote on an energy bill that would allow American oil companies to drill here, in America. The Republicans revolted, and Pelosi and her fellow Democrats responded by voting to go on vacation. Nancy then cut off the power in the halls of Congress, leaving the Republicans standing on the floor of Capital Hill, chanting in unison for a vote on drilling, in the dark with no air conditioning, and the feed to C-Span cut so that the American public could not witness her act of treason. When the media asked her why she refused to allow a vote, Nancy Pelosi responded "I'm saving the planet."
It's funny that we have all these "Tree Huggers" in Washington DC claiming to be environmentalists driving around in their gas-guzzling SUVs and flying around in their tax-payer funded private jets claiming to be "saving the planet." Often, these Democrats claim to be defenders of ordinary working-class folks. They cry out when steel plants close up shop and move overseas, telling the displaced workers that they will replace those jobs and provide the workers with full healthcare benefits. What they fail to tell those workers is that it is often the high costs of over-regulation and high corporate taxes, the work of Democrats, that sent those jobs overseas in the first place. These same lawmakers, who live in the glass and concrete jungle of Washington DC, create laws protecting trees and forests that restrict many states, states nowhere near Washington DC, by limiting the ability of loggers to continue working. As if loggers hate trees! Ha! What kind of logic do Washington insiders have? Loggers love trees they wouldn't have jobs tomorrow if all the trees were cut down today. Never mind that many loggers spend their free time pursuing hobbies like hunting, fishing and hiking in the forests. Why would they desire to destroy the wilderness they love? Let us not overlook all the wildfires that spread throughout the West, often starting in forests that are overgrown because loggers are prevented from logging. Global warming and greenhouse gasses? Wildfires create a heck of a lot more greenhouse gasses than responsible logging does.
Logic? That's a concept that does not seem to apply in places like San Francisco and Chicago; after all, who cares about what the people who live in our wilderness states believe in? Those people who live in Northern New England, the Midwest and Alaska are just "Bitter" working-class rural folks who "Cling to guns and religion."
When people think of our domestic oil production they automatically think of the Gulf Coast and Texas. When people think of where we could drill for oil, they think of Alaska. Then they say "No way!" I wonder if anyone ever asked Texans and Louisianans if they would like oil companies to drill down there. Oh wait, it was oil that pretty much put those states on the map. Mute point, I guess. So, what would happen if we asked the people who live in Alaska if oil companies can drill there? Wait, you mean no one ever asked Alaskans if we can drill there? Nope. Why? Good question! Perhaps the answer is that Alaskans have been asking us to allow the oil companies to drill there. Huh? What do you mean by the Alaskans have asked "us" to "allow" the oil companies to drill in Alaska? Well, apparently, the Federal government wrote some laws to prevent Alaska from controlling its own natural resources. Isn't that totally unconstitutional? What about State's Rights? EXACTLY! Apparently the lawmakers down in Washington DC assumed that Alaska was so far away that they had no reason to ask any Alaskans how they felt about anything. After all, Alaska can't be all that important; during the primary Barack Obama traveled to every single state, Puerto Rico and Guam, but NEVER visited Alaska! Well, maybe that's because nobody other than a few Eskimos live there? Actually, Alaska and Delaware, Joe Biden's state, have nearly the same population size. OK then, it must be that he did not want to have to cross the Canadian border to get there; he is such a staunch advocate of border control and national security, after all!
Americans are demanding that we drill here, drill now! Yes, we want to eventually get off oil completely, to have a future powered by green, renewable energy sources. But Americans are not stupid, we know that we cannot click our heels three times and magically be able to plug our cars into windmills and just go by tomorrow. Americans do not need to hear soaring rhetoric about "hope for the future;" Americans want a President who speaks the TRUTH and can PROVE to us that he or she has a record that gets things done.
No one questions that John McCain is experienced, or that he speaks the truth even if his own Party disagrees with him. The energy crisis we are facing today is at the heart of all of our problems. In the words of Ron Paul: As long as we keep borrowing money from China to pay our enemies for oil our entire economy and our national security will be at risk (note to Obama: it is called plagiarism to use someone else's words without crediting them; I guess honesty is not a quality that is high on your list of values, seeing how your running-mate is most famous for plagiarizing the words of a British politician when he ran for President).
There are very few politicians in Washington who have a real grasp of either economics or energy issues. Neither Obama, Biden, nor McCain do, that is for sure. The mark of a true leader is when he or she admits to his or her shortfalls and surrounds him/herself with those who are knowledgeable in those areas. Obama has a new ad out that quotes McCain admitting that he is not knowledgeable in economics. Hey, at least McCain is willing to admit the truth! Obama wants us to believe that he knows everything about everything and can solve all of the world's problems. I'd give him credit for eloquent rhetoric, but come on, he used the words of a libertarian-Republican who served our country in uniform and as a successful doctor and congressman for the past fourty years. If Obama cannot even convince the masses that he is ready to lead by using his own words and liberal convictions to back him up, I just do not know what there is to say about that. I'd love to have a look at Obama's bookshelves - one side filled with the works of Saul Alinsky and Karl Marx worn-out from many readings and notes of admiration scribbled in the margins, the other side filled with brand new copies of books written by Ron Paul, Friedman, maybe even Adam Smith (oh my!) all with nice catch phrases that would appeal to ordinary Americans highlighted. Do you think he would have been brave enough to buy Hayek and Rothbard as well? $300 million in donations sure can buy a lot of books! The largest collection though, I'm sure, is a reproduction of the Reagan Library itself gotta appeal to those Reagan Democrats, don't forget.
John McCain has proven that he is a leader by choosing a running-mate who complements him with a strong record of economic and energy excellence in her state. The state of Alaska is not only the largest state in the nation, but it is the most important state in the Union when it comes to domestic energy production. Sarah Palin, the most unlikely candidate for the Vice Presidency, is the ultimate maverick Washington outsider. She may have started out as an ordinary working-class hockey-mom in the PTA, but she rose through the ranks of Alaska government by taking on corrupt politicians in her own Republican Party.
Sarah Palin has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined. She has dealt with budgets and vetoed an unconstitutional law she agreed with. Her record proves that she answers to the Constitution and the People, not her own beliefs. She has literally taken on corruption in her own Party and taken on Big Oil to make sure that Alaskans get the most benefit from oil production on the land thatbelongs to Alaskans. Shecut right through the red tape that has prevented Alaska from bringing more energy production online. In less than two years she did what no other Governor could do in 30 - she gave the largest domestic natural gas pipeline the go-ahead, and she did it by allowing two competing designs to compete for customers and theone that proves to be the more profitable version will be built. Sarah Palin knows more about energy production, not just the ins and outs (literally) of oil and natural gas, but about renewables like hydro, geothermal and wind as well, than the entire Democratic Party combined. Before she became governor she was Chairperson of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the oil industry on behalf of Alaska's residents and environment. She is a staunch watchdog, making sure that the pristine environment of Alaska and the safety of workers are not compromised by Big Oil's drive for profits. Her husband is a blue-collar union member, working as a "Sloper" separating oil from gas in the oil fields of Northern Alaska; he is also a Native Alaskan (aka: Eskimo), so protecting the environment is very important to their family as well as all Alaskans. She truly understands economics and is a stauch free-market capitalist, and she sees herself as the CEO of Alaska and her shareholders are the People of Alaska, and that is why she raised taxes on the oil companies drilling there - because according to Alaska's Constitution the land belongs to the people, and the oil companies are simply leasing that land from the people. She raised taxes on the oil companies just like a real estate investor would raise rates on rent to increase his or her profits. Sarah tookthat increase in revenue and put some of it aside in savings for when the oil revenues decrease in the future, she invested hundreds of millions into renewable energy sources for the future, and the rest was given directly back to Alaska residents in the form of dividends and finallyin an energy fund to help cover the increased cost of heating oil and gas. She also repealed the gasoline tax in Alaska for one year to lower the cost at the pump. That oil belongs to Alaskans (according to Alaska's State Constitution) and she cut through the corruption and red tapeto make sure that Alaskans earned the greatest return on their land. When it comes to war and foreign oil, Sarah said: "My son is 19 years old, just a kid,and his Striker Brigade is deploying to Iraq on Sept.11." Alaska is an energy rich state that she has been forcefully fighting to open up for domestic energy production. "I want to know that we are not there for oil, not when we have this energy supply right here in Alaska." Finally, she said it best, in fact she said it just like most Americanssay it when talking about the war: "We better not be at war over this, because, you know, I'm a mom, and my son is going over there, to Iraq, and I want to make sure that we have a plan there."
Sarah Palin has done more to increase domestic energy production in only two years as Governor of Alaska than Washington DC has done in 30 years. If Sarah can push through the largest private investment in American history the $40 Billion natural gas pipeline to the lower 48 states in less than two years, then just imagine what she can do in four years as Vice President. Obama called her an "Up-and-coming public servant." I agree. Sarah climbed up from an ordinary American mom, got rid of the corrupt politicians, achieved the highest state office possible and actually did her job she served the interests of the public. If that doesn't prove that she is ready to lead, that McCain made the right decision, and that together they can truly fix Washington, then I don't know what will.
Don't take my word on Sarah, listen to her in her own words. Maria Bartiromo interviewed Palin in Alaska a week before she got the VP nomination. That interview was quickly released by CNBC when the VP announcement was made. If Americans are to make an educated decision this election, they must watch that hour-long interview on energy and the economy. It was literally jaw-dropping. Sarah's breadth of knowledge on energy and economics was so intense, that she leaves no doubt that she knows what she is talking about, and it is high-time Washington actually listens to her and answers the demands of the American People.
Sarah Palin doesn't talk the talk she walks the walk!
The views expressed in this
article are those of Natalie Schultz only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Natalie Schultz is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
“she gave the largest domestic natural gas pipeline the go-ahead, and she did it by allowing two competing designs to compete for customers and the one that proves to be the more profitable version will be built."
Really?
First - FERC gives "the go ahead" to pipelines, not state Governors
Second - The Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) received 5 proposals, one passed the criteria and the Legislator voted to grant a license to a foreign company (TransCanada) to start the pre-work needed to design a pipeline and attempt to attract customers. The AGIA license will cost the Alaskan taxpayers up to $500 Million.
An alternative pipeline, privately funded by ConocoPhillips and BP, dubbed “The Denali Pipeline” is ahead of the TransCanada effort. The Denali pipeline is moving forward without taxpayer funds, working within the FERC regulatory framework.
Palin’s record is more like “right place –right time” A lot of people are working hard to make the Alaska gas pipeline a reality and couldn’t care less that Palin is packing her bags for D.C.
Palin looks good. She sounds good. But you are guilty of accepting the lying shadow show of the Neo-cons. GET THE FACTS not what you WANT to believe. During her mayoral administration in Wasilla , this “fiscal conservativeshe increased general government expenditures by over 33% and raised taxes on everything in sight ,including food food.
Tax cuts? Shre for large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.When she became mayork the city had no - zero, nada , zilch -- debt. She left office and had driven into debt to the tune of over $22 million.
So if it makes you feel good that she likes to kill animals and knows how to shoot a gun and so therefore must not be a 'tree hugger' or some other illogical assumption, remember this is a woman not only of any real governmental experience but with a record of BIG SPENDING, taxing, and more..
But, oh, she looks great , sounds great and, yep, kills moose and doesn't want polar bears protected.
Don't we deserve a little better in our VP? LOOK AT THE FACTS.
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