Via Americablog:
...[T]his is the seventh time the President has mentioned energy independence in his state of the union message, but for the first time this exchange is taking place in a Congress led by the Democratic Party. We are looking for affirmative solutions that will strengthen our nation by freeing us from our dependence on foreign oil, and spurring a wave of entrepreneurial growth in the form of alternate energy programs. We look forward to working with the President and his party to bring about these changes.
In past SOTU addresses, we've been promised hydrogen fuel cells, renewable energy from switchgrass, and an end to America's addiction to oil. Given that the president had a Republican congress for four years, there's really no excuse for our present situation. We use more foreign oil now than ever before. Admitting you have a problem may be the first step away from addiction, but it isn't going to get you very far unless you actually do something about it.
Think Progress:
President Bush has pledged to reduce our energy dependence in every State of the Union he has delivered since taking office. At the same time, the United States has become increasingly dependent on foreign oil, from 58 percent of oil consumed in the U.S. in 2000 to 70 percent in September 2006. U.S. dependence on OPEC nations for oil imports “has risen to its highest level in 15 years.” By focusing on expanding domestic exploration, he perpetuates our dependence on oil.
[ThinkProgress, 1/3/07; Department of Energy; Financial Times, 1/2/07]
So much for that then. Think Progress was definitely the place to follow the SOTU; Bush would make a point and they'd post the debunk in minutes. They must've gotten the advance copy sent to the press.
As Webb pointed out, this is the first time he's given these promises to a congress completely controlled by Democrats. In other words, this will be the first time that he has no excuse...
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Tags: news | politics | energy | oil | environment | pollution | Bush | global warming
