Offshore Drilling is not the Solution

This morning, President Bush laid out his argument that we should lift the ban on offshore drilling. He will argue that this will assist in making our nation energy independent, and help alleviate the pressure at the gas pumps. Obviously, as this is the Bush administration, neither will likely happen.

First off, opening offshore drilling won't mean that oil will be available immediately. It takes time and considerable investment to set up the offshore oil platforms. It is unlikely any appreciable amount of oil would be obtained until around the next Presidential election. Although that might be nice to have four or five years from now, it does little to solve the current issue.

Second, it wouldn't be a viable long term strategy. If we sucked the shelf dry of the oil we could reach (without it rising to some ungodly level like $500/barrel), it still would only supply us for a few years. After that we would still be looking towards more expensive and more risky ventures, or look into nasty "solutions" such as oil shale.

I know that the argument goes that we should drill offshore (and in Anwar) as a short term solution, while we work on alternative fuel solutions. However, I've yet to see Bush, Cheney, McCain, and his oil business cronies put forth a plan for a true alternative fuel plan. The way this administration has run itself, and their buddies have run their companies, requires me to take a "show me" attitude.

We have a moment here, a point where we can rise above the mediocrity of years past. Why not call for a Apollo Program to solve our energy issue? It would be good for our economy, great for our environment, and gives the boomers a shot at leaving one true legacy before they head off to snowbird country.

Sure alternative fuels as they exist today have their downsides. The cost of using them may be too prohibitive given the benefit, and the technology may be unreliable. As anyone who has bought a computer or HDTV knows, that is the case with all technology. Given time, resources, and ingenuity, all of these problems can be fixed.

Like all things in life, the government should not be in alone in leading this effort. Its best role is in pooling resources and connecting the various wings of our society with each other to maximize our potential. Although there will certainly be government based researchers involved in solving this issue, most of the work will come from our vast network of universities, not-for-profit organizations, and companies. Even those of us who are not engineers, chemists, or researchers will play a role, doing our part to use energy efficiently and offering our own ideas to those who will listen.

I understand the desire to lower gas prices. Gas prices this high are terribly inconvenient, and in some cases can ruin the livelihood of some people. However, that is just a sign that something should be done, and the sooner the better. But if we are going to fix this, it is best to fix it right. That way we won't have to come back 20 years from now and start again at the same place.

Democratic Veep Watch

Here is the August Prairie semi-educated Veep Watch Rankings. As usual, all predictions are guaranteed, or you get your money back.

Frontrunners

1. Kathleen Sebelius

2. Brian Schweitzer

3. Tim Kaine

4. Evan Bayh

Middle of the Pack

5. Jim Webb

6. Bill Richardson

Longshots

7. John Edwards

8. Hillary Clinton

9. Christopher Dodd

10. Wesley Clark

11. Russ Feingold

12. Ed Rendell

No Chance in Hell

13. Al Gore

14. Chuck Hagel

Hillary Clinton probably would have been in the middle of the pack until it was announced that Patti Solis-Doyle had been hired by Obama to be the as yet unnamed VP candidate's chief of staff. It is unlikely that her hiring would be a good sign for the "dream ticket" die hards.

I know there are some hopeless dreamers falling in love with an Obama/Hagel ticket, but that just won't happen. Hagel is a very conservative Republican who would not mesh with the Obama campaign. I know he has been a vocal critic of the Bush adminstration in regards to Iraq, but there are plenty of qualified Democrats that fit that profile as well.

Al Gore Officially Endorses Senator Obama

Although it is somewhat irrelevant at this point, now that the race for the nomination is over, Vice-President and Emperor of the Moon Al Gore has decided to publicly endorse Senator Obama.

Although I would have loved to see Gore's endorsement before the end of the hoopla, I'm certain he was just playing smart politics. After all, look at what happened when Gore endorsed Dean in 2004.

Doing it now, in this relative dead zone between the primaries and the conventions, generates excitement and buzz for the Obama campaign, and reinvigorates the Obama community.

Lets just hope he doesn't take Obama riding on the moon worms.

Rural Votes tills up the Field

Today I discovered that Al Giordano, the writer of the blog known as "The Field", had vacated his space at Rural Votes and move his blog here. That explains a lot, as I was wondering what had happened to his blog (and why they were cross-posting their other blog).

From the sound of it, Giordano left because Rural Votes censored a post of his referencing Saul Alinksy. While they are certainly in their right to do that, they shouldn't do that, as it just isn't good blogging (or journalistic) policy.

Like all controversies involving censorship that leads to firings or resignations, it isn't so much the act that puzzles me as the cover-up. You can't access old material at the old site, and no comments related to the issue appear to be getting through their approval. They are basically acting like nothing happened, sending his posts down the memory hole.

It is that type of behavior that takes simple content differences to a place that gets me very annoyed. ESPN did this with Gregg Easterbrook after he made some really stupid comments about Michael Eisner. It isn't so much his getting canned by ESPN that pissed me off, but their lack of acknowledging what happened, or even acknowledging he had been a contributor to Page 2.

I'm withholding judgment until I get the other side of the story. But if that never happens, I must say that I will be disappointed in Rural Votes.

Tim Russert Dead at 58

Sad news from Washington, as NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert has died of an apparent heart attack. This campaign won't be the same without him.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

An Open Letter to Mr. Fred Hobbs

WARNING: Naughty language is to be found past this point. If your virginal eyes can't handle it, here is a link more your speed.

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LAST CHANCE FOR LOLCATS






OK, I warned you....


Dear Mr. Fred Hobbs,
123 Moran Lane
Idiotville, TN 12345


After reading your comments regarding the Democratic Nominee for President, I have just one thing to say to you.

Go fuck yourself.

Seriously, go fuck yourself. There is no room for this kind of crap in our political world, and certainly not within your own party. That isn't productive talk, and it certainly isn't respectful of the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party.

I'd ask you why you are in the Democratic party, but that kind of crap should be too stupid for even 3G Republicans to parrot (not that they won't, but the point still stands). It is one thing to hear this absolute drivel from people who aren't part of the Democratic party organization, but a State party Executive Committee member?

If you disagree with Senator Obama's policy proposals, or campaign strategy, or political theories, it is absolutely OK to disagree with them. Senator Obama would be one of the first to admit that he doesn't hold a monopoly over good ideas, and his brand of politics is built upon you getting involved. Discourse and debate are the bedrock upon which a stable democracy sits. And if you don't like the direction your party is going, you are more than free to leave and join the GOP, the Libertarians, the Greens, or even start your own party.

However, repeating crap that is so obviously true because you saw it on your AOL email sent by Cousin Merle that says BARAK HUSSAYNE OBAMMA = TERRORIST!!!!1! is not acceptable. It is demeaning to you, makes those you supposedly represent look bad, and does nothing but damage the cause to which you supposedly are devoted.

Knowledge is Power, folks. Emails, especially those sent via 50 forwards, are worse than Weekly World News and Wikipedia in regards to getting your facts (unless the facts you are looking for are about Bat-Boy or Scrooge McDuck). Believe them at your own peril, just like the ones from the Nigerian business man or hotstuffff69@yahoo.com who can show you how to MAKE YOuR PENIS LARRGE!!!!!!!!!!1!

Very Unhappily Yours,

augustprairie

This is why he should be President: Reason #5,253,353

Here is a blog post by Senator Obama from 2005, following the appointment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts. It clearly states Obama's vision for the Democratic party, and our nation. He took a lot of flack from the progessives in the Democratic party for this, but he clearly shows he is his own man, and truly represents a chance to remove ourselves from the gutter of Clinton/Bush/Rove politics.

Of course, Roberts has turned out to be a true friend of Bushism, but sometimes you just have to give the benefit of the doubt. In the long run, that attitude will win out, even if it loses some battles.