I don't understand what the
White House hoped to achieve with the President's press conference today on America's oil refinery problems in the Gulf.
The President is right that we probably have too little refinery capacity fueling the U.S. market, but the "alternative fuels" strategy he is suggesting is ad hoc and isn't serious. He suggested that he feels strongly about "nuclear" as an option. And he said, that we all need to conserve gas.
What kind of national leadership is that? If he wants to put a comprehensive energy strategy on the table -- that reaches beyond simple dependence on fossile fuels -- then maybe nuclear energy is part of that package instead of huge subsidies to the already profit rich big oil companies.
However, what exactly is the package of alternative fuel sources that his administration is willing to invest in? He said nothing about that.
It's the biggest case of denial since the release of the Grand Jury report on the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Did or did not the Bush II White House propose cutting all subsidies to public transportation including Amtrak and now he is telling people to take public transportation? Did or did he not pooh-pooh all suggestions to improve energy efficiency not just for cars but all appliances? Did or did he not suggest highway administrations at the state level build toll roads so people could go as fast as they wanted?
Until we get an administration serious about America's energy future, perhaps the President and VP could use fewer of those roaring black SUVs that race behind their limos all over Washington and wherever...
