BlogHer - Two Candidates, One BlogHer Contributing Editor: A Michigan Homecoming - Comments

obamas energy dream

osaycanuthink — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:23:46 -0500

There is no possible way we can service a growing population through single minded devotion to alternative energy. The complete fiasco of corn based ethanol program is a prime example of alternatives gone insane. it is a failure and the stupid congress won't admit it and taxpayers have to subsidize it. It is fine to give more than the fourty billion already given in subsidies to alternatives but in the immortal words of Nancy Pelosi " we will see no benifet in the immediate future". maybe some jobs. but then we'll lose some in coal mining, oil production and refining, nuclear energy that already exist. We are completely dependant on foreign oil : a threat to national security. Our economy can be wrecked by petty dictators. We must pursue alternatives AND increase domestic production of oil , use clean coal, and nuclear. Obamas promise of 1,000 dollar rebates is ridiculous. Are we going to borrow money from the chinese, whon already own enough treasury bonds to ruin us, to pay it. Good Grief...If you think his plan is viable i think you moight be interested in a bridge i have for sale.

The Truth is more Elusive than u might think

medic81 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:11:19 -0500

I am not sure who I will vote for in this election as I don't see either candidate as a great choice currently but I do know a few things having worked in the mining chemicals industry for most of my life. First the US has approximately 12% of the worlds oil reserves which we are barely tapping. This figure is a USGS number from 2002 since the discovery of the massive oil shale deposits in ND the us is now believed, w/o counting unexplored off shore drilling opportunities to contain 31%. If you go so far as to count all Nafta countries it is over 50% Obama has yet again failed to dive even a little bit into the facts. I don't blame him I blame his speech writers. As for his statement about California. They have increased their energey consumption 15% from 1990 to 2006 and they more hydro carbons per capita than almost every other state in the union not something to aspire to. They do however consume on average 40% less electricity per houshold than other states how ever if u adjust for climate it is actually 2% more when heating and cooling costs are removed.

I do agree with the statement about absurd oil company profits but as soon as you start regulating things like that u get socialisim and there is not a single socialist country in the world with an income tax rate of less than 50% thanks but no thanks. As for wind power generation again a noble goal but to power all our homes cars etc. it is estimated we would have to cover almost a third of our land. I'm not interested. His energy policy ignores many things namely that a hybrid car does more damage to the environment due to the production requirements than a humer (yes it does get better gas mileage but what are the manufacturers producing to get that milage). His plan also ignores the cleanest technology we have that can produce energy on a large scale and he has said he will not endorse it. Nuclear. Lets dismantle nukes and use them to power our economy.

Since we are focusing on obama I will not work to point out the flaws in mccains energy plan I'll save that for another time. How ever I will point out that he said nothing new at least nothing new compared to 25 other experts 5 who work for mcCains election and 18 who work for private universities have been saying for more than 10 years. This country finally hit a wall in terms of oil and now we are all pissed. We can't be u wanted ur SUV and ur 4000 square ft home with vaulted ceilings now you have to pay for it. As to the comments about the truth Obama has lied to the american public on more than 100 occasions. Not made errors understand, he has blatently misrepresented himself. he did it twice in this speech, he did not spearhead any bills about epa mileage that was started by a democrat who lost his seat and left for the green party and 2 weeks before the vote when all the work was done the democrats tacked his name on it the same way that his name got on bills in his home state. I personally don't like mcCain I am too worried about the age thing. And Obama has an abysmal voting record in the senate (dc) and state senate (il) he voted present (pass) more times in his 2 years in office than the average senator votes in a decade. He makes supposed voting mistakes then when he is caught instead of changing his vote he voted present. I'm not a huge fan of either of them but at least McCain doesn't think he is the next kennedy and run around having secret meetings about things that he should not be meeting about before his presidency (NAFTA and Columbian nationals) He gave a speech to a group of germans who could have cared less what he was saying and were duped into listening by a free concert w/ 2 of germany's most popular musical groups. 200,000 people attended the free show and when obama was speaking they had turned the loudspeakers off so they couldn't even hear him in the crowd.

DON'T BE A SHEEP JUST CAUSE OPRAH LIKES HIM DOSEN'T MEAN SHES RIGHT. MAKE UR OWN INFORMED DESCISION THE DATA IS OUT THERE JUST LOOK FOR IT.

I included the link to the National energy website and it is easy enough to find the USGS as well as anyother info u might want. Don't be upset if ur an obama fan I will be just a viscious to Mccain next time.

http://www.eia.doe.gov

Verification and Logic

GaryA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:35:38 -0500

To know what's a lie and what isn't, people need to verify facts from independent and unbiased sources. In my case, I also have the advantage of having worked in the Federal Government since the Carter Administration, so I've had personal experience with political appointees of both parties. What I can tell you from that experience is that Republicans are far more inclined to lie, bend the rules, break the law, and generally do anything to accomplish their agenda. I know I'll never convince diehard conservatives, but I know from my experience there is a major difference between the parties. It's also apparent in McCain's recent advertising that his campaign doesn't care about the truth -- all they care about is what "believable lies" they can peddle to the unwitting public in order to cut down Obama.

Obama is against drilling and any new nuclear plants

Rider — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:51:27 -0500

That's great, but Obama doesn't have any plans to drill. We need oil from our own territory to hold us over til these other technologies come online. I'm all for alternative energy, but its not going to come out of thin air like Obama, Reid and Pelosi want you to think. They are trying to drag us, kicking and screaming, into alternative energy, and they don't care how expensive gas gets in the meantime. Gas prices are what's hurting the average voter. Yes, it would take a few years for new drilling to produce oil, but the fact that it was going to come online in the future would cause oil prices to drop immediately, just as they did after Bush dropped the presidential ban. Oil prices are high because investors are speculating that oil is getting scarcer. The rest of the world, like Russia and China, is aggressively seeking new sources of oil, while we argue about it, making us the laughingstock of the world. Also, Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are against nuclear energy, and against clean coal technology. Solar and wind can't power the whole country. Neither candidate has said anything about reviving our outdated railroad system either. That would be another thing that could keep people off the road. Our railways have been falling apart for years, but neither McCain or Obama have any plans to fix them. And to top all this off, Obama is a Socialist, Marxist, and a Globalist who would drive this country to ruin as president. Its "We the People" who run this country, not the rest of the world.

Oh, and GaryA, what's the difference between cclawnj getting his info from the GOP lie machine and you getting yours from the Democrat lie machine?

Vote Libertarian!

I Would Agree, If....

GaryA — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:19:08 -0500

Gee, cclawnj, if I was getting my information from the GOP lie machine, I'd probably agree with your analysis. Check your facts, and get them from an unbiased source. Then tell us what you think.

Obama is the 21st Century Marie Antoinette

cclawnj — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:54:49 -0500

I can't believe you're faulting Obama's detractors for pointing out the cluelessness and callousness of Obama's shocking remark to the effect that consumers would "save just as much" by seeing to it that their tires are properly inflated and their cars regularly tuned up than if the price of gasoline were to return to pre-crisis levels. "Let them eat cake!" It's only his embarrassment over that shocking gaffe that has cause Obama to belatedly make a proposal for dealing with America's energy problems that amounts to a weak echo of McCain's own proposals, and amounts to "Me too, only not as much, and slower."You're going on the offensive because you know there's no defense for Obama's shockingly insensitive remark that sounds like a bad joke.I lived in Pontiac, Michigan -- a depressed town that sits cheek-by-jowl with one of America's richest communities -- for 20 years and believe me, the higher taxes and vastly increased spending Obama proposes are not the answer to Michigan's economic woes -- or anyone else's.Oh, and thanks for your suggestion that Michiganians are racist. With friends like you, who needs enemies?

This early, i really can't

LYCEJ08 — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:53:24 -0500

This early, i really can't tell which i would side with, but
i am leaning towards obama. Furthermore, the GOP base is not even warming up to
mccain (of course, i could be wrong) and even though it's still early in the
game, this just proves to show how we see our candidates to-date. i know i will
get burned for this, but i think mccain is a warmonger. i get the impression
that he doesn't care to what happens to our troops in the middle east and the
other parts of the world. Can’t we just all get along? i think it is time for a
purification; i think it is time for a change; i think it is time for obama
time. Now that the candidates are set for the US Presidential Election, Barack
Obama and John McCain are beginning to set the tone for their campaign.i heard his speech in pollclash about the his plan in
the war in Iraq and compare it to Obama’s plan, for me i think Obama has a
better plan than McCain had, but it's just my opinion then you can see the
video in pollclash and try to see it for your self.

Toughing it out in Michigan.

a2lisa — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:49:42 -0500

I live in scenic southeast Michigan. My job was outsourced in January of this year. I have been jobhunting ever since. Luckily, I have been working steadily since early March as a temporary office worker at various assignments- for about half what I was making, and without health insurance. O health insurance, how I miss thee!

I'm bright, degreed, and have loads of professional experience. The sad truth is that there are just no damned jobs here. Period. That's why folks are leaving in droves. A friend of mine moved away not so long ago to Indiana. She's sent me glowing emails about how her husband has a great new job, the cost of living is lower, and how the school their daughter is going to this fall is fabulous. I'm not gonna lie. I'm jealous.

It's tempting to leave, but I've made my home here in Michigan. I've purchased a house. My fella is rooted here. I'm accustomed to the rhythm of the seasons. I love the lakes.

And besides, if everyone leaves...who's gonna help build this state up again?

Lisa, blogging at mittenmusings

I feel like I was there with you

Sarah Granger — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:07:29 -0500

Great post, Erin. You just described what it would have been like for me to be in Michigan with my husband's family, only it's my in-laws so I'm always the one tip-toeing around what I say. One of my husband's relatives there once told me she loved George W. Bush more than anyone in the world. She's since reportedly changed her tune. I just hope they're willing to open up and listen to the real policy meat vs. limiting their intake to spun slurs from the GOP machine.

It's so sad what's happening there, and it's been a long time coming after years of bad decisions by government and the auto industry. I can only hope Senator Obama has a chance to implement his plan. I would love to see the "greening" of Michigan, a beautiful state that in many places really is full of green (when not cloaked in slow). I guess there's talk of starting with - gasp - public transit, or at least reviving an old train line. I heard Governor Granholm has proposed a big focus on wind power as well which would add more jobs.

Obama should make his own tire gauges.

Liz Rizzo — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:46:40 -0500

Then we can send *him* $25 and show that we agree that small changes do make big differences. :)

Liz Rizzo

I blog at Everyday Goddess.

Two Candidates, One BlogHer Contributing Editor: A Michigan Homecoming

Erin Kotecki Vest — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:32:22 -0500

I don't know how else to write this, so I'm just going to be blunt.

It can be very depressing to hang out in metro-Detroit.

I've been back "home" visiting family for 48 hours now, and the stories of lay-offs and foreclosure and moves out-of-state are overwhelming.

In all honesty, downtown looks terrible. The suburbs are littered with for-sale signs.

My family and friends continue to keep on, keeping on.

At a family gathering on Sunday, the typical occurred.

We ate and the kids ran around.

The adults sitting around the patio talked about what the 'Big 3' needs to do, my Aunt got animated discussing how she doesn't like Senator Obama (she doesn't 'trust him'), another Uncle told a racist joke (no one laughed this time), and I very quietly listened.

While I attempted to be stealth and ninja like listening...my blackberry gave out a huge DING DING DING, and all eyes fell on me.

They know what I do at BlogHer, and had been careful choosing their words around me all day.

With a half dozen pairs of eyes on me, I looked down, and read aloud: "Sen Obama to Unveil His 'New Energy for America' Plan in Speech Monday. From Lansing. "

Everyone got quiet.

We ate desert and talked gradually picked up again.

Cynicism and cautious optimism abound.

"Lansing ...from Michigan. Could be risky. Could be brilliant," said one uncle.

"He should do it here, they need it most here," said my Mom.

"I don't care what he says, I just don't like him," said an aunt.

So it was with great interest my mother, my aunt, and I watched the Senator speak from Lansing this morning.

As the Senator discussed his very detailed New Energy for American plan, touted by Climate Progress as "...easily the best energy plan ever put forward by a nominee of either party..." republicans were emailing me to let me know they were handing out tire gauges to mock Obama's reminders that keeping your tires properly inflated saves gas.

They were mocking a gas saving tip while sending this to my inbox:

"Today, I'm asking for your help in putting Senator Obama's "tire gauge" energy policy to the test. With an immediate donation of $25 or more, we will send you an "Obama Energy Plan" tire pressure gauge. Will simply inflating your tires reduce the financial burden of high gas prices on your wallet?

It's clear Senator Obama has no plan to address the energy challenges we face as a nation. He has said no to offshore drilling, no to expanding domestic drilling and no to nuclear energy. He has no plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil."- Rick Davis Campaign Manager, John McCain 2008.

I read this aloud to my Mom.

She threw her hands in the air, entirely disgusted. She was watching Senator Obama give detailed information, point-by-point, on a plan that not just reduces our dependence on foreign oil but rids of us reliance on Middle East oil on 10 years.

"Why do they do that?"

My Mom asked, still shaking her head over the McCain Campaign email.

For the record NASCAR and the US Department of Energy agree with Senator Obama on the whole tire gauge thing, and the GOP is trying to make a joke of this:

Sugar writes, "Oh gosh I know the Ozoids are writhing even as I write this! lmao I tell you, the McCain camp is making this fun for me again because it is such a joy to see an opponent who doesn't have the constraints that Hillary did, giving it to Obama raw. Hillary couldn't ream him like she should have because of that party unity bullshit, but the McCain camp doesn't have anything to lose...but the election...and they are going all out to ensure that they don't. I'm loving it. "

But if they'd like to know how their "joke" played with Michigan voters....jokes on them. I've got several here either not getting it or disgusted with the gimmick.

They don't want campaign gimmicks. They want jobs.

The tit-for-tat over who misspoke where over what isn't playing well with this crowd. Not unless those jokes can pay their mortgage.

Meanwhile, my Aunt (undecided who she is supporting) is listening closer than I thought she would.

I can tell.

My Mom let's out a 'WOW' at Obama saying his plan will create five million new green jobs. My Aunt raised an eyebrow and says "well that's good."

TankWoman writes, "I switched to CNN, and was pleasantly surprised by Obama's plan. Okay, I take that back, I was more than pleasantly surprised, I was excited and inspired by the ideas that Obama spoke about this morning in the birthplace of the auto industry. And though I know that this speech was tailor made for Michigan, and designed to strengthen his poll numbers, I believe that this energy plan is the only way forward for our nation, and that if Obama is serious and dedicated to these issues, we may have a solution not only to climate change, but to the ailing economy.

The things that we need to do to stall the oncoming danger of climate change, are the very things that Obama outlined in his speech. We must invest heavily in alternative energy, if we don't come up with the capital to take the risk out of these start-up industries, they will fail. We need investment tax credits for solar energy, and wind power, without them, there are major solar projects that will move to Europe, and the wind farms will not get built here, but move to Germany. Our auto industry is near bankruptcy, Ford and GM have reported the lowest sales in nearly 30 years."

She's right.

I'm here.

I'm seeing the factories empty and the friends and family members collecting unemployment. It's been happening for a long time now, and there needs to be a real solution in bringing back not just this state's economy, but the nation's.

Tomorrow Senator McCain comes to town to tour a Nuclear Plant. Fermi 2, to be exact.

The same plant I see every time I visit my hometown. I'll be watching and listening closely to compare the Senator from Arizona's ideas to the Senator from Illinois.

And after spending the day with my family excited about Obama's ambitious plan to provide real solutions to the people of Michigan-

Senator McCain had better show up with more than a tire gauge.

Erin Kotecki Vest also blogs at Queen of Spain blog