About a month or so ago * warned: "Americans are addicted to oil" ...

[fearthem]

Isn't it suspect that now, a month later, gas prices have skyrocketed, he gets to give speeches on alternative fuel sources, ethanol, hybrid cars, etc, etc, a reason to change the subject. Could this whole thing be a set up for him to regain status as a hero, as in America is in a another crisis ... giving * an opportunity to solve the problem, allowing him to come to the rescue, become the hero? It would not surprise me at all if higher gas prices were completely staged to allow * to regain the trust of the people.

[Taverner]

1. Well if * gets us off oil and fossil fuels

I will consider it the one good thing his administration did. Kind of like Nixon's trip to China.

Not holding my breath though

[Vickers]

2. And if prices drop because of his manipulations, the Dems in DC

had better call him on it.

[fearthem]

3. I believe it's a fake crisis ...

devised to, ultimately, win support for *. He's is bed with the oil barons, they are doing him a favor; either that or * has purchased stock in ethanol.

[madrchsod]

5. it is fake

world wide production ,drilling rates,and exploration-seismic crews are all at the highest level in 20 or more years. drilling in the usa is up at almost record levels since the last wave of oil exploration. canadians are drilling at record levels across their entire oil range. if the iraqi fields were on line world reserves would be at least 10 above demand. it`s fake alright but the price per gallon isn`t

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Call me nuts, insane, and loony if you want

but he's desperate to do whatever he can to increase his ratings. He only has a few months left to give it a shot and finish out his term with a majority support in Congress.

Fact is, the dirty little secret they're not talking about is that in 15 years or so we'll be a hydrogen based economy. The energy companies have been moving in this direction for a while now, but that's where it's going. It's not headline news, but the stories about hydrogen fuel cell technology are out there.

We (society) can't help but view these things in the immediate and short term future. It's negatively impacting our livelihood through out wallets, and we're not hearing messages of hope or a plan. They're not telling us the plan.

My take is that the ethanol and current highlighting of bio-fuels are part of the discussion because they are a transition to the hydrogen. The technology is further along with those. Can you imagine if the government announced we will be a hydrogen based economy by 2008? Think of the billions of cars that would need to be manufactured to replace our current supply; not to mention a have/have-not ability to purchase based on the free market.

Two years ago, BP and other energy companies were posting jobs on their sites that began with "As we move toward a hydrogen based economy". Now, we have...

http://www.energy.gov/news/3439.htm
April 6, 2006

DOE Announces $52.5 Million Solicitation for Basic Hydrogen Research Supporting President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative

DETROIT , MI - Secretary Bodman announced a three-year, $52.5 million solicitation to support new innovations in hydrogen technology. The solicitation, to be released later this month, supports President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative - which seeks to reduce dependence on foreign oil - and will support research to assist in overcoming the scientific challenges associated with the production, use and storage of hydrogen. Secretary Bodman made the announcement while speaking to the 2006 SAE World Congress today.

“This investment in basic research is designed to spur new innovation and breakthroughs that will help us build a hydrogen-based economy,” Secretary Bodman said. “Our automotive industry is undergoing change, and we hope that this funding will enable America to lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles that will be emissions-free and reduce our dependence on imported oil. I believe this will help us overcome technical barriers and bring hydrogen and fuel cell technology one step closer to the showroom.”
...

We're not ready for it, but we're moving to it. And it's going to be painful getting there.