Comments on WattHead - Energy News and Commentary: Democrats Are Losing the Battle of the Century

Republicans are winning the battle of the century ...

2008-08-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Republicans are winning the battle of the century because the public remains in denial about the possibility of global warming and peak oil. So long as the public is in denial about peak oil and global warming it will continue to believe we can find more sources of oil and continue to use it. So Republicans can give the public what it wants while Democrats have to explain why the public can't have what it wants.

A workable slogan would be "Energy Independence." The public knows dependence on foreign sources of energy is bad. This is why the public supports domestic oil production. But domestic oil production alone will not supply all our energy needs. In order to supply all our energy needs from sources of energy we control we will have to go to renewable energy sources and learn to use energy more efficiently.

Yes I do see the problems with energy independence. But you have to go to where people are if you are going to try and sell them something. People want to preserve a way of life with which they are familiar no matter how hopeless this might be. You will not get their support by telling them what they want is something they can't have. Too many liberals think telling people they can't have what they want when they really and truly can't have it is being honest. Perhaps it is. It is, however, a poor way of winning their support.

Let's try this. I don't claim to be a slogan man, ...

2008-08-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

Let's try this. I don't claim to be a slogan man, though I have some Marketing background.

New Deals Not New Drills
(I know it's a little forced)

What we need is a small, fast Energy Stimulus check (specifically for that) and to tell people either we can GIVE YOU A CHECK to help with gas, or GIVE IT TO BIG OIL.
Ideally we would give incentives to buy hybrids, or cars that exceed CAFE by 25%+, transit pass and carpool deductions on your tax returns, maybe even low-interest government loans for hybrids.
Basically it is this:

People vs. the Profits of Big Oil.

Corporations have dismantled the new deal that people got in the 30's and now only fat cats get the deals. We need to rebuild the Middle Class while we are building our Green Energy future.

While I agree with most of your article, the power...

2008-08-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

While I agree with most of your article, the power of the Republican message is there's some truth to it.

Part of the price of oil at the moment is the fear that we'll run out of oil in the future. Changing the political situation around drilling affects analyst estimates on the future value of oil; even though the supply now doesn't change, the potential future supply is increased, and that affects the market price of oil.

I wouldn't bet against an economist, but my guess is that would only be a short-term reduction in price, since it doesn't meaningfully affect how much oil is actually available.