Bush: U.S. must break oil addiction (SOTU excerpts released by WH)

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-01-31T220457Z_01_N30290443_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-SPEECH.xml

Bush: U.S. must break oil addiction

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush will describe the United States as "addicted to oil" in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday night and will urge the use of technology to reduce the dependence.

"America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world," Bush said, according to excerpts released by the White House. "The best way to break this addiction is through technology."

[blm]

1. HAHAH.... Bush's speechwriters cribbed off Kerry campaign speeches.

.

[KittyWampus]

4. I predicted thisGOP steals rhetoric & offers nothing substantial. Kerry

failed completely in putting this front and CENTER of his campaign.

This issue was never more than just an also mentioned.

[Lorien]

8. Yep, I stood through three Kerry rallies, and he only gave renewable

energy and the environment only passing references. Most of the time he talked about his time in Vietnam. x(

[blm]

25. He didn't talk about Vietnam ONCE at any of the rallies I went to

and spoke of the environment and renewable energy research as a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY.

It was Kerry who started saying that we need to set a goal for renewables the same way as Kennedy set a goal to go the moon many years ago.

I don't believe you could have been listening intently to his speech - I watched every rally that was on Cspan and never heard him only emphasize Vietnam.

Maybe you didn't notice that it was alternative fuels Kerry was talking about when he said that Americans can INVENT their way out of the problem instead of relying on Saudi Arabia.

Maybe BECAUSE he discussed it in terms of national security that caused you to not notice its inclusion.



This article seems to disagree with your view, as well:

Kerry Offers Plan for U.S. Energy Independence
By Thomas Ferraro  |  August 6, 2004

SMITHVILLE, Mo. (Reuters) - With crude oil prices at record highs, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Friday offered a 10-year, $30 billion proposal to move the nation toward energy independence.
In doing so, Kerry charged that President Bush, after nearly four years in office, has failed to confront the energy crunch that threatens the nation's economy, environment and security.

"We have to control our energy future," said Kerry. "No American in uniform should ever be held hostage to American dependence on oil in the Middle East."

About 60 percent of U.S. oil supplies are imported, with about one in four imported barrels coming from Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia.

Kerry promoted the proposal while he and running mate John Edwards campaigned together in America's agricultural and industrial heartland, which has been particularly hard hit with soaring fuel prices.

"We can and will do better," Kerry promised a gathering of about 150 farmers and community leaders at a Missouri farm near Kansas City.

"America will be safer and freer when the resources that fuel our economy are in our hands and when we develop new energy sources in our country," Kerry said.

Under Kerry's proposal, $5 billion would be provided for a research partnership between government, agriculture and industry into fuels made from agricultural waste.

There would be another $10 billion to transform the current generation of coal-fired utility plants into cleaner and more efficient facilities.

TAX CREDIT FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY

In addition, it would provide $10 billion to help automakers retool plants to build high-technology, fuel-efficient vehicles, and give consumers a tax credit of up to $5,000 to buy them.
It would also set twin goals to have, by 2020, 20 percent of the nation's motor fuel and electricity come from alternative sources such as solar, wind, ethanol and biodiesel fuel.

The Massachusetts senator has made energy independence a centerpiece of his White House bid and his proposal fleshed out earlier ones he has promoted during his long campaign.

The cost of the measure would be offset by reinstatement of a tax on polluters and the federal government paying lower energy costs, aides said.
>>>>>>>>>

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/08/06/kerry_offers_10_year_plan_for_us_energy_independence/

[FlaGranny]

27. People hear what they want to hear. n/t

[saigon68]

37. NOOCLEAR POWER--- Maybe the Iranians from Iran-Nam will help

us to get NOOCLEAR POWER

[Lorien]

47. I listen carefully. You are from Florida; tell me EXACTLY what YOU

heard at his rallies; did he say anything beyond "we need to develop renewable energy resources and get off foreign oil-it's a matter of National security" (pound podium with fist). I heard less than two minutes devoted to renewable energy (which got loud applause-that should have inspired more time on the issue)and 20 or more to topics like National security, health care, and especially Vietnam.Even the people around me were whispering about how they were getting tired of the Vietnam references; his experiences were inspiring to some, but I felt he relied far too heavily on it during his those rallies.

[FlaGranny]

70. Unfortunately, I

didn't get to go. I'm not physically up to standing for long periods of time - bad back. I read some and saw exerpts of some, so I'm not an expert on his rallies. But, it is true, people do have a tendency to hear what they want to hear. Conversely, if people do not hear enough of what they want to hear, it is unsatisfying. I wasn't really making a comment on what was actually said, but peoples' different reactions to the same thing. I guess I could have said all that in my post above. Sometimes I get lazy.

[Cha]

40. I was at the last

Kerry campaign rally in Manchester, NH on Nov 2, 2004 and he talked about renewable energy to a crowd of 15, 000! I never did get to see Kerry..the stage wasn't high enough for me :(

[Lorien]

45. Gee-I didn't even have to click on the post to know who posted it

by that headline. Don't call me a liar; I worked my ass of for that man and I help to ORGANIZE the very rallies I referred to. We all know that you are his #1 cheerleader on this board; you seek out any whiff of disappointment with your man, and then you go on the offense, defending him with a fervor that almost seems obsessive. Sorry blm, but I will never be a fan of Kerry-even though I worked for months on his campaign (because the alternative was far worse). I met the man several times, listened to what he had to say, spoke to him, shook his hand, sat through hour after hour of rallies to make certain the media saw our "support", but he only focused on health care and defense when he was here in Florida, and that simply didn't cut it.

[blm]

49. I cited the article that said energy was a FOCUS of the campaign and

THAT is your reply? An attack on me?

Why don't you stick to proper forum etiquette and reply to the post and the article cited?

And in answer to your jab at me, I will ask you - Why should people telling untruths and mischaracterizing Kerry get a pass from me when I know a wrong is being committed? Doesn't matter to me if the lie is coming from the right or the left - it's the TRUTH that never changes, no matter how boring it is to some.

[displacedtexan]

2. "Trust me. I'm an oil man. I'll jawbone the Saudis."

Just remember those words when * starts lying about renewable energy sources.

[cliss]

46. Yeah. Don't believe it.

The Drug Dealer says, "You're addicted to cocaine".

Junkie: "yes, it's true".

You need to do something about your addiction. Even though I'M making a killing off of your pathetic dependence on me.

Trust me when I say this to you.

=======================

Like I would believe anything this man says. Don't forget: Bush is an oil man. Cheney is an oil man. CondaLiar Rice was an executive at Chevron. So are LOTS of other people in this administration.

[InsultComicDog]

62. Bush saying we need to break our addiction to oil is like

the neighborhood drug dealer complaining that the kids on his block are a bunch of junkies.

[Nancy Waterman]

3. If he takes this issue from the Dems

iti s their own damn fault. They should have been screaming about this for years now. Bush has done nothing and most likely this is all talk again tonight with nothing behind it.

[Lorien]

7. The current batch of dems doesn't act, they wait for the GOP to

set forth an issue, then they react to it. This is why we need a unified message, and a person like Lakoff to get all our representatives on that message.

[depakid]

58. Of course they're going to coopt it

They've used their rhetoric to coopt just about every other issue that becomes topical. Thet're going to coopt the troop withdrawl too. And you're right- a lot of it is the Dems fault.

[Lorien]

5. Sounds like it came from the Onion

another case of "we condemn torture"? Sorry, but I don't believe that an entire cabal of oil men (and woman) honestly have any interest in breaking our oil dependency. They certainly don't want green renewable energy, because eventually it would become cheap-and he who controls the energy source controls the world.

Brilliant move, though-stole an issue that rightfully belongs to the Democrats.

[annabanana]

6. how funny is that!

Now let's see him and the rest of the oil cabal liquidate their holdings and put all those bucks in biofuel..retool Detroit to build us some corn oil engines..

Hows' about some REAL R&D bucks for the solar home heating industry..

here ya go:

[Brotherjohn]

9. So suddenly he's gonna be John Kerry... or, um... Al Gore?

Excuse me while I fall out of my chair laughing...






...
There, I'm back.

From 2004:
"Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has outlined a 10 year, $30 billion energy plan and said the proposal will "put America on the path to energy independence and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs at the same time." http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2303

From 2000:
"In his campaign, Gore advocated a program to gradually transition the U.S. away from oil-dependent energy policies." http://www.consortiumnews.com/2000/100300b.html

Shall we quote "Earth in the Balance"?

[Nay]

16. Really. What an asshole. He's continued the tax break for

Hummers, cut out the breaks for solar, hybrid cars, geothermal heat systems, etc., and we're supposed to believe he's a big fucking environmentalist now? Jesus. These idiot Repubs BOOED President Carter 30 years ago when he warned us of this same thing, and now we're supposed to think Dipshit McCokespoon just wants to do the right thing??
:puke:

If only the Dems would stand up and laugh uproariously at this farce.

[ninkasi]

36. I believe that both Gore and Kerry

should give speeches, and say that they are glad that Chimp has belatedly come to accept their proposals. With Gore as president, we could have been well on our way to energy independence; with Kerry, we could have started, at least.

We need to speak out, at every opportunity, to remind people that this is a position the Democrats have held for a number of years. Keep the emphasis on Chimp coming around to the Democratic point of view.

[Pirate Smile]

10. Will the Dems clap or just laugh and roll their eyes?

We actually agree with the statement but the messenger makes the comment ridiculous.

[Brotherjohn]

11. Someone should start looking right now to catch him plagiarizing Gore!

I'm serious.

Imagine this headline: "Bush caught plagiarizing Al Gore's 'Earth in the Balance' in State of the Union address".

Wouldn't that be rich?

[global1]

18. His Defense Would Be He Was Thinking This Before Gore Said....

it and Gore plagiarized him. And guess what? The *apologists and RW talking heads will parrot that and the 'Merikun people will call Gore a plagiarist.

[Brotherjohn]

31. To believe that, you'd have to believe "he was thinking..." (nt)

[Lorien]

48. I hope that the Dems come back with that very accusation. Al Gore had

it right all along, and the GOP is finally waking up to that truth now that their policies have lead us into a quagmire. They'd be wise to listen to the rest of what Gore has to say as well.

[paulk]

12. we could start by inventing a device that converts all the hot air

coming out of Bush's mouth into some kind of usable form.

[sam sarrha]

13. he prefers Cocaine/Jack D... .. let see what he suggests as an alternative

[global1]

14. Come On - Nobody Really Believes Him - He's Only Saying That To....

take the pressure off of the record reported profits of the oil companies for the last quarter. Case in point $10.71 billion in profits for Exxon. This is just another * lie to make it look like he is siding with the 'Merikun people. I understand that the oil execs from the companies were summoned up to Capitol Hill to be grilled by Congress. They decided that they had more important things to do - like gouge the 'Merikun people for the next quarter.

[Orsino]

17. Fascinating that he would put it in those terms...

...but I assume that this notion will soon vanish, as have all his other promises/visions.

[Zynx]

15. He ALWAYS gives lip service to this.

And then he throws about $400 million over five years(if it even gets there) that doesn't do anything.

[yurbud]

19. and he figures this out AFTER he invades country with 2nd biggest oil

reserves.

That's like a crack addict killing someone to get their money then deciding their addiction might be bad.

[RazzleDazzle]

24. Nah, he doesn't mean it. He's just putting you on.

OR, to the extent he really does mean it, it's only because there are corporations and corporate fat cats whose pockets he wants to line.

Trust me.

[yurbud]

44. I know. I was being sarcastic.

[RazzleDazzle]

72. There's a smilie for that

[saltpoint]

20. This is a major insult to environmentalists. Bush and Cheney

embody the oil corporation in the western world.

Consumption and Torture. Those should be the president's themes tonight; they're the topics he seems to know best.

[yurbud]

21. translation: military won't let me invade no more oil countries

[markam]

22. Thank God

He doesn't want me to conserve energy. That would definitely be unamerican.

[superconnected]

23. The biggest hypocrite in the world, speaks again.

[FlaGranny]

26. If it's like everything else, it will go like this:

"Gotta rid ourselves of that demon oil. Must fund technology." Next budget - cut technology funding, and call it the "Energy Technology Funding Program for the Future."

[pschoeb]

28. Like the GOP isn't addicted to Oil Money

and the record profits from oil companies that get shuffled right into GOP coffers

[Mithras61]

29. At least with this addiction he proposes a solution...

that isn't dependant on Religion. Not that I believe he plans to do a damn thing about our oil dependance (as many have pointed out, he's an oil man through & through), but maybe some other options will begin to make it to market despit ehim...

[EuroObserver]

30. Seen the writing on the wall?

...Still a bit late to compete with European and Asian technologies...

[Up2Late]

32. Oh that's a good one! And we will get those flying cars by 2008 too right?

What a Moraine. :rofl:

[Voltaire99]

64. Flying cars!

You've touched a sore point with me. I've wanted them since I was a boy.

And who knows? Had it not been for the American appetite for imperial slaughter... With the monies spent on Vietnam and Iraq and the Cold War, we might just have had them.

Not going to happen now, especially in a post-petrol economy.

[hatrack]

33. And we'll get there through . . . . . HYDROGEN!!!

Yes, that's the ticket!!!

:eyes:

[The_Casual_Observer]

34. And we will do this right after the men get back from Mars!

It's an insult when the know-nothing jr monkey head starts making claims about "technology".

[Odin2005]

35. His Oil buddies know the writting is on the wall.

Big Oil is planning to transform itself into Big Hydrogen and Big Biofuel so they can keep thier political clout.

[TomClash]

38. Also in SOTU Address - Bush concedes 2000 Election and resigns

Says to American people "Take this job and shove it!"

[hippiechick]

39. Liar Liar Pants on Fire !!!

:rofl: I'll bet a million dollars lightning strikes that lying motherfucker down to the floor if he spews that sentence tonight. :rofl:

[Cha]

41. If there were instance Justice..that

would happen in a New York second!

[xxqqqzme]

42. well, if I remember correctly

it was JIMMY CARTER that started talking about this problem THIRTY years ago. I sincerely doubt bubble brain will have any thing new 2 offer except the usual tired rhetoric and platitudes.

[Megahurtz]

43. Tell THAT to Your Buddy Cheney!!!

:sarcasm:

[DoYouEverWonder]

50. The drug addict in chief

wants to talk about our addictions? Excuse me?

[wordpix]

51. * wants nukes and we've been down that road, there have been no new nukes

built since 1970 or so and for good reason.

Until the nuke addicts solve the problems of waste storage, transportation and security, I say,

NO NUKES

[tom22]

52. Actually it was Jimmy Carter circa 1978

who gave this speech. Declared the US would never import over 50% of its oil again. this si sad.

[buddysmellgood]

53. Why listen to the speech? Just reread Orwell.

[wordpix2]

54. haha, on Olbermann just now: * seen more than the Simpsons in past weeks

[EndElectoral]

55. This is a joke right? Oil is GW's biggest contributor. Now he gets it?

Where has he been?

[Jdubb32]

56. you give bush far too much credit,

he merely reads from the TelePrompter. It was most likely bush's brain A.K.A. Karl Rove that initiated this incredibly original idea.

[sushi]

57. Another good way

is to take the bus sometimes instead of driving one's car every time. Will * and his family set an example and travel by bus once or twice a week?

[pinniped]

59. This is the last time you'll be hearing this until his next...

lame duck speech.

* and his asshole buddies are addicted so much they start wars.

[WhiteTara]

60. remember when heartless said conservation would be a nice

personal choice, but the only thing in the world is to drill drill drill---now it's going to be nuke nuke nuke

[LynnTheDem]

61. FACT; US addiction to foreign oil INCREASED & INCREASING under bush.

And ya know ain't no "msm" gonna bother pointing that FACT out. Why, that would show what a STUPID MFing LIAR bush is. Can't have that.

Sixty-six percent of oil consumed in the United States comes from foreign sources, up from 58 percent in 2000. Americans now spend $200,000 a minute on foreign oil and more than $25 billion annually goes to Persian Gulf states for oil imports.

Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/pdf/pages/sec1_15.pdf

American Progress
http://www.americanprogress.org/atf/cf/%7bE9245FE4-9A2B-43C7-A521-5D6FF2E06E03%7d/ENERGYCHAPTER.pdf

BUSH ENERGY BILL WILL NOT REDUCE RELIANCE ON FOREIGN OIL:

The energy bill signed and supported by President Bush “rejected a Senate provision that required reduction of oil consumption by one million barrels per day by 2015.” Under the bill, “our need for imported oil will continue to grow for as long as models are able to project.”
-U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, 7/05
http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20050726164801-76366.pdf

[barb162]

63. He should have mentioned conservation, smaller vehicles

and higher tax on oil to force the use of smaller vehicles, but then again that's too simple. Start using the tax system that Europe uses and you will see conservation

[WinkyDink]

65. Well, "addiction" is something Bush knows about! HAHA!!

Ignorant fool, to use that term!

[Toots]

66. Don't Republicans consider addiction a serious crime.

One so serious in fact that it deserves going around the Constitution in order to find and punish addicts. "The No Knock Policy" is just one I am referring to. This is almost funny. The Oilmen Administration saying we need to not use oil is like the tobacco companies telling us not to smoke....

[boilinmad]

67. I love how.....

....all of us who have been concerned with conservation, and alternate sources of energy, have been regarded by the right wing conservatives as whacked out hippies.....Now that their benevolent leader has "discovered" that our lust for oil is a problem, he's a genius.......Energy from something other than oil, WHAT A CONCEPT....Thanks W!!!!!!!!!! You made Rick Santorum real proud today!!!!!!!!!

[Not_So_Right_Wing]

68. America is addicted to oil....

But bush is addicted to being an absolute idiot.

[noonwitch]

69. Didn't Jimmy Carter tell us that about 30 years ago?

Before Reagan decided that the energy crisis Nixon, Ford and Carter all prepared for was just a result of us not playing enough games in the Middle East?

[tanyev]

71. Hey, George! You gonna trim down that Presidential motorcade?

Switch to hybrids or SmartCars? Doubt it.