"Best energy president in decades: President Obama"-US has gone from importing 2/3 to less than 50%

[Pirate Smile]

Well, I'm sure this will be an interesting thread but I'd recommend people bookmark the article to use to counter the blizzard of lies the Republicans will and are throwing at the Obama Administration on this topic.

Obama deserves credit for strong growth in energy industry

As Republican presidential candidates like Gov. Rick Perry tout their energy plans, they would do well to study our best energy president in decades: President Obama.
Advocates for the U.S. energy industry routinely say they wish President Obama would pursue pro-growth energy policies. Well, he has been, and not just for the likes of fallen green giants like Solyndra. Under Obama, the traditional U.S. energy sector is flourishing. The domestic energy sector is experiencing its largest growth since the halcyon days of the 1950s and 1960s. As importantly, we're growing in the right directions.

For the first time in decades, we are seeing sustained increases in U.S. oil production and decreases in oil consumption, which means imports are dropping.
U.S. domestic oil production is up an incredible 14 percent since Obama took office. A few years ago we imported nearly two-thirds of our petroleum products. Today we import less than half. The reduction in imports means tens of billions of dollars now stay in our own economy.

-snip-
Meanwhile he has pushed for efficiency and conservation, using executive orders to achieve higher fuel economy standards on more rapid time lines. He doubled energy research investments, filling the innovation pipelines with new devices and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Despite the tired refrain that reducing energy consumption is bad for the energy sector, the energy industry has flourished. Profits are hitting record highs. Rig counts are up. "Help Wanted" signs are posted, with employment growing, and new jobs being created in the traditional sectors such as oil and gas along with the newest parts of the energy industry, like wind.
Production is flourishing in a way we haven't seen in several decades - and the way we produce, move and use that energy is getting cleaner, too.

-snip-
Increasing production with one hand while reducing consumption with the other - this is the kind of leadership the U.S. has long needed in energy.
In light of all the bad news about partisan debt fights, maybe we can all celebrate the good news that U.S. energy policy - against all odds - is finally reaping significant rewards for all of us. Our Energy President deserves a fair share of the credit.

http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Obama-deserves-credit-for-strong-growth-in-energy-2241647.php

[Pab Sungenis]

1. First steps

but not enough. He's put us on the right track, but needs to be more aggressive.

[great white snark]

2. Give him more Liberals in the Senate.

Big change comes with new laws...he can only do so much with Executive Orders.

But, even baby steps are still steps.

[ClassWarrior]

20. I intend to spend most of my campaign time this season electing a progressive Senator.

NGU.

[frazzled]

7. You know, every time someone makes this argument ...

(the argument that says, in effect, "not enough") ... I have to ask myself, WTF are you comparing this to?

Let's be clear: no other president in history has taken as many steps as this one to reduce oil consumption and promote alternative energy sources. Yet that fact is turned around into a deficiency by stating that it's not enough. I'm simply tired of this lame non-sequitur. No one in the past and no real, living politician in the present has achieved as much in this area. So please, stop with the "baby step, not enough" comments. It's ridiculous. Your argument is simply not enough.

Say, "that's really great, even though there is much more to be done." But stop with the not enough bullshit.

[dsc]

8. Jimmy Carter

I think it can be argued he did quite a lot.

[Pirate Smile]

9. Democrats always playing down & diminishing the real accomplishments of this Administration plays

into the Republican talking point that it is a "failure".

We need to stop providing counterproductive and unnecessary assists to the Republicans.

Frequently, when people on DU want to post a positive thread or make a compliment of some sort to the President or the Administration, they couch it in "While I'm not happy with everything the President has done but..." or some other version of that same sentiment. NOT NECESSARY. We need to stop always accompanying compliments with negativity.

It is actually OK to promote the positive.

Then people complain about how bad the Democrats are at messaging. If you think that then don't add to the problem. Especially now when the message has been very good and clear regarding JOBS.

This energy story is very positive regarding jobs and foreign policy and conservation AND it needs to be pushed and framed that way - because that is not the current storyline being sold to the American people by both the Republicans and the media.

I'd love to see some ads on this issue.

[Pab Sungenis]

15. It's not a failure.

It's a first step. Treating it like it was the answer to everything would be the failure.

[Number23]

17. "It is actually OK to promote the positive."

Well said, Pirate Smile. And Lord knows we'll all seen and made note of the ones incapable of doing so.

[Pirate Smile]

19. It is OK to be a "cheerleader" for your side in an election year. That doesn't mean you are

brainless or a sycophant. It means you understand the alternative.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

21. I honestly wish I had a side in this election.

But I don't. Both parties are fucking me and my family. The Republicans just want to stroke a lot faster.

[Pab Sungenis]

14. I didn't say "baby steps."

I said "first steps" as in "more are to come."

And as for "not enough" these measures AREN'T enough. More needs to be done. And I'm confident it WILL be done.

But this is not something to pat one's back over. This is not a solution, it is a start. But it IS a start.

[bvar22]

29. You forgot JIMMY!

If Carter's initiatives had been followed,
we wouldn't be in this trouble today.

Reagan removed Carter's Solar Hot Water Heater from the roof of the White House on his Day One.
One of the things I have never forgiven Bill Clinton for was
Not Putting Them Right Back UP on HIS Day One.

Obama really could focus MORE on individual Conservation.
THAT is Step ONE in ANY sane Energy Policy,
and should be a BIG National Patriotic Marketing Program,
HIGHLIGHTED and Reinforced DAILY.

THIS should be a proud, ubiquitous symbol of America's Energy Policy for the 21st century:

THIS should be the PROUD NEW American Flag!

....but the Oil Industry, Big Coal, and the Atomic Energy Industry wouldn't like that.


You will know them by their WORKS.
Solidarity99!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[mopinko]

3. it doesn't mention the recession, so i would think that

should be accounted for. but read the whole thing. this is the houston chronicle, ferpetesake.

[Pirate Smile]

4. It is certainly contrary to the Republican & Energy Industry talking points.

[mopinko]

5. in houston, yet.

i don't know anything about the chronicle, but that was the part that hit me. houston.

[Pirate Smile]

6. It is so contrary to the entire meme the Republicans are pushing.

We need to push back on that - HARD.

[craigmatic]

10. Alot of the energy consumption decrease is due to people not haveing anywhere

to go everyday due to the bad economy.

[Vattel]

11. a little post hoc ergo proctor hoc here,

some outright nonsense there, and more offshore oil drilling adds up to a huge Obama success story.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

22. +1 googool n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. K & R

:kick:

[Scuba]

13. Twas reported last spring we were a net exporter of oil...

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1032134

[Pirate Smile]

16. kick

[demgrrrll]

18. Kick

[tex-wyo-dem]

23. Great article...I applaud Obama for his efforts...

Particularly with regards to conservation!

With regards to increased domestic production: One has to wonder, however, at what cost to our environment. I can tell you from first-hand experience that over the last 10 - 15 yrs my home state of Wyoming has been drilled like a homecoming queen on prom night with no end in sight. Beautiful, pristine mountain meadows are now littered with oil and gas wells, and it breaks my heart (the now famous seen from Gasland where the guy lights the water from his faucet on fire is in the areas of Wyoming I'm talking about). This was all started by the bushco/chainee regime with their fast-track leasing.

[Pirate Smile]

24. It looks like this widely circulated column may have pushed some media organizations to fact check

the GOP claims:

ABC

Energy Debate Heats up Amid 2012 Candidates: Fact Checking GOP Claims

With high gas prices that weigh down on an already weak economy, energy has become a crucial issue in the 2012 campaign debate.

Republican candidates have unanimously panned President Obama, saying he has not done enough to make the United States more energy independent.

...
But not all their claims align with numbers.

Leading contender Mitt Romney argues that the Obama administration has smothered the domestic energy sector.

“The first three years of the Obama administration have witnessed energy and environmental policies that have stifled the domestic energy sector,” Romney’s energy plan states.
While the GOP counterparts might agree with this assessment, the numbers are on the president’s side. Domestic energy production actually increased under the Obama administration, and in the first seven months of 2011 was more than 5 percent higher than during the same time period in 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Exports also jumped in the same cycle by about 50 percent. At the same time, imports have dropped, especially from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/energy-debate-heats-up-amid-2012-candidates-fact-checking-gop-claims/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Pirate Smile]

25. kick

[GSLevel9]

26. does the article mention that globally energy consumption is DOWN? nt

[Ikonoklast]

28. What does that have to do with increased U.S. production?

Not one damn thing.

Try harder with the right-wing talking points, you fool no one.

[FrenchieCat]

27. Wow! Excellent!