No Permanent Majorities In America
Cartoony Politics in Canada
Being President 101
Failure To Blow Election Stuns Democratic Party Faithful Mourn End To Losing Tradition
Hope Is On The Way
The Future Is Upon Us
Illinois Outdoes Itself
Environmentalists Disregard Public Safety
There's Something About Harry
The White Collar Lament
What Good Can Come Of This?
Dummies
If The Shoe Fits Hurl It
Obama The Magic Negro-Gate
Sick Of The Doom And Gloom?
Crazy Like A Fox
Out With The Old
Remember The Empty Chairs At Holiday Tables
Who Are The Real Nazis?
The Gaza Rules
Harper's Weekly
The Mortgage Thieves Return
Bringing A Bit Of Fairness To The American Workplace
Bye-Bye 2008: Things I Want To Forget
The Fierce Urgency Of Now
How Many Government Workers Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb?
The Perils And Joys Of Self-Esteem
The Future Of Civilization
'Hunk' Obama Can Help Nation Fight Obesity Epidemic
Moral Clarity In Gaza
Obama's Tax Cuts Leave Logic Behind
Talking About Sex-Ed That Works
The Time Is Now
Et Al Ad Nauseam: 2008 And All That
The Generational Theft Act Of 2009
Pay Rod Gives Democrats Fits With Senate Choice
'Tis The Season To Be Jolly. Or At least Try
Gaza: The Dove'S War
Hamas Rockets Blew Away Gaza Opportunity
Season's Readings
Old Acquaintances
A Social Trauma For Obama: Youth Crime
Sensitivity And 'Gran Torino'
A Question For My Friend Alan Dershowitz
The Unsung Hero Of Obama'S Victory
Red Ink Did Me Good
Barack in Limbo
A Hard Year Ahead
Ask Not For Plum Political Appointments
Eric Holder And All Political Prisoners
Mideast Overshadows Obama's Prospects
A Clean Start
Year-End Odds And Ends
Team Obama Dabbles In Drama
The Gamble in Gaza -- Interview With Aaron David Miller
Cal Thomas-Bonus
A Respite From Reality
One Nation, One People-God Bless Us Everyone
Dr. Leavitt's Scary Diagnosis
Rich People Versus Politicians
Richardson's Exit And The Vetting Process



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Will Obama Opt For Pragmatism In Energy
Policy?
Morton Kondracke 11/27/2008
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President-elect Barack Obama is proving to be remarkably pragmatic and centrist as he tackles the global economic crisis. Big tests are yet to come on energy, however.

Will Obama tilt toward fossil-phobic environmentalists who heavily influence the Democratic Party, or do-it-all pragmatists like his apparent choice for White House national security adviser, retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones?

Jones' present job is chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy, which contends that offshore oil drilling, clean coal technology and nuclear power have to be part of America's energy policy.

On Oct. 20, Jones made it clear at a panel discussion I was part of that he regards energy policy as "an international security issue of the highest order," which suggests that he will make it part of his portfolio at the National Security Council.

He released a step-by-step "transition plan" for energy that included "aggressively" promoting energy efficiency and alternative fuel research, but also domestic oil and gas exploration and elimination of restrictions against nuclear power plants, new electric grids, and oil and gas pipelines.

Such ideas are anathema to many Democratic
"greens" -- including leaders in Congress -- who want to close down the carbon economy and base the country's energy future strictly on renewables such as wind, solar and geothermal power, plus conservation.

In particular, Jones has aroused the ire of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for backing disposal of the nation's nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

The power of the greens was also demonstrated by the toppling of Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the auto industry's longtime protector, as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

His replacement, Rep. Henry Waxman,, D-Calif., is a "green," and his coup was backed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

After behaving like a leftish liberal for much of his political career -- and becoming the darling of the left during the presidential campaign -- Obama so far is fulfilling his self-assessment that he's a pragmatist, willing to try "whatever works."

His economic appointments -- Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary, Lawrence Summers in the White House, Christina Romer at the Council of Economic Advisers and Peter Orszag at the Office of Management and Budget -- have sent reassuring signals to terrified financial markets.

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Posted By: Dave  on Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Two words: Peak Oil.

We don't have 20 years. We have much less time than that.

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