U.S. Energy Supply Forum, a must see

On July 16, 2008 the topic of U.S. energy supply was discussed at the National Press Club's Energy Supply Forum. The forum included panelists from government, and the private sector. Panelist discussed oil, gas, coal resources, alternative energy, and ways to meet U.S. energy needs.

CSPAN Link - http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=206438-1

Link to the video replay - http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/includes/templates/library/flash_popup.php?pID=206438-1&clipStart=&clipStop=

Rising energy costs: We need real short-term, mid-term and long-term solutions

As you know rising oil prices have created a ripple effect on the American economy that places a heavier burden on our most economically vulnerable citizens. OPEC has announced that they will not increase oil production any time soon, and will not meet again to discuss supply and demand policy until September 2008 (Mufson, 2008).

Blaming speculators and holding congressional hearings about the commodities market when market supply and demand is dictating price will not create any meaningful solutions (Economist 2008; Smith, 2008).

A recent congressional proposal called for withdrawal of 10% of the U.S. Strategic oil reserve which would result in 70 million barrels of oil hitting the market. This amount of oil is equal to about 3.5 days worth of oil that we consume (Nationmaster.com), and does not result in a steady stream of oil supply.

Many politicians are not fully informed about oil leases and how the process works in the oil and gas industry leading some to claim that oil and gas companies have leases and are not using them or let them sit idle, which is not accurate (Energy Tomorrow; Smith).

While it is notable that congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the Energy Bill) that introduced higher CAFÉ standards and increased use of renewable fuels in gasoline, however, the America people will not materially benefit from that legislation until 2016-2020.

The U.S. is the only oil and gas producing nation in the world with government restricted access to its domestic energy resources (Caveney, 2008).

Our political leaders should be more active in support of solutions that can increase domestic supplies of energy. Our current laws prohibit exploration and drilling in many promising areas. Leaders should actively promote and support fuel diversity, so that the market—not government regulations and taxpayer subsidies—determines energy winners and losers (Lieberman).


References
Caveney, R. (2008, July 16). Presentation by API President and CEO Red Cavaney to the USEA Energy Supply Forum. http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046863/posts

Energy Tomorrow. (2008). Facts about non-producing leases. http://www.energytomorrow.com/energy/Facts_about_Non_Producing_Leases.aspx

Lieberman, B. (2008). Energy and the environment. Heritage Foundation. http://www.myheritage.org/Issues/EnergyAndEnvironment.asp

Mufson, S. (2008, March 6) OPEC says members won't pump more oil. Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030500500.html

Nationmaster.com. (n.d.). Energy Statistics: Oil consumption by country. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption

Smith, D. (2008, July 2). Whats really driving oil price? Motley Fool. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/07/02/whats-really-driving-oil-prices.aspx

The Economist. (2008, July 3).The oil price: Don’t blame speculators. http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670357&CFID=12328457&CFTOKEN=12385819

Tony Snow: We will miss him

Tony was truly one of the best political commentators and thinkers in America. I have fond memories of Tony's intellect, wit, and grace over the years whether it was on radio, tv, or in print.

America lost a great one today.

Huckabee and the AM radio pundit class

Let me open by saying that I love the opinions and analysis offered by conservative pundit's on AM radio, coupled with FM radio excursions to the usually liberal perspectives on NPR.

On the AM dial; however, I have noticed a developing and interesting phenomenon whereby the conservative pundit class seems to be running off a cliff with respect to Mike Huckabee. There is this talk of Huckabee being a liberal, and an economic populist who is anti-corporation and on and on.

This phenomenon even reached the Republican presidential debate in South Carolina January 10, when Fred Thompson declared that Mike Huckabee was a holder of liberal ideas aligned with the Democrat party.

I find the populist and liberal democrat brush that is being stroked about Huckabee’s economic and foreign policies by the conservative radio pundit class to be woefully off base and out of touch.

Mike Huckabee spoke at the Detroit Economic Club and delivered a passionate and heartfelt speech January 11, 2008 that is available at C-Span's web site. Click here to view.

I watched and listened, and what I heard from Huckabee was a need for a strong entrepreneurial spirit, unleashing creativity, innovation, growing small business, reducing over-regulation, reducing taxes on productivity, creating economic opportunity for anyone who wants to work for it, and a fair tax system. As a conservative these are ideas I have always embraced.

Huckabee's foreign policy appears like an optimized version of Bush 41 (coalition building), Bush 43 (broad offensive strategy against terrorism, and radical Islam), and energy independence.

Huckabee connects with people like no other Republican candidate does, and he reaches out to a broader segment of the population, not just the suits, or the professional/managerial class, but also the boots and flannel shirts, and single working moms.

I sincerely believe that the more the AM radio pundits misrepresent Huckabee, and the more people hear Huckabee directly, the wider the gap becomes within the conservative movement between the conservative establishment and pundit class, and common conservatives.