Bush Promises To ‘Knock Our Socks Off’ At SOTU With 5 Year Old ‘Energy Independence’ Pledge

[RedEarth]

Yesterday, the Financial Times reported that energy “will be a central theme of President George W. Bush’s state of the union speech this month”:

Al Hubbard, chairman of the National Economic Council, who is co-ordinating White House energy policy, has also raised expectations. In a speech at De Pauw University he predicted “headlines above the fold that will knock your socks off in terms of our commitment to energy independence.”

In every one of his previous State of the Union addresses, Bush has promised to push America towards energy independence:

- 2006: Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. The best way to break this addiction is through technology. <1/31/2006>

- 2005: To keep our economy growing, we also need reliable supplies of affordable, environmentally responsible energy. … I urge Congress to pass legislation that makes America more secure and less dependent on foreign energy. <2/2/2005>

- 2004: Consumers and businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run — so I urge you to pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy. <1/20/2004>

- 2003: Our third goal is to promote energy independence for our country, while dramatically improving the environment. …Even more, I ask you to take a crucial step and protect our environment in ways that generations before us could not have imagined. <1/28/2003>

- 2002: Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordable energy. This Congress must act to encourage conservation, promote technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increase energy production at home so America is less dependent on foreign oil. <1/29/2002>

- 2001: We can produce more energy at home while protecting our environment, and we must. We can produce more electricity to meet demand, and we must. We can promote alternative energy sources and conservation, and we must. America must become more energy-independent, and we will. <2/27/2001>

Yet the Financial Times also reports today that “U.S. dependence on the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries for its oil imports has risen to its highest level in 15 years.” “At more than 52 per cent, Opec’s share of US oil imports is at its highest since 1992.” As of Septmeber 2006, seventy percent of oil consumed in the United States came from foreign sources, up from 58 percent in 2000.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/03/sotu-energy-independence/

[Rex]

1. It's really quite simple, under Clinton a barrel of oil was 15 dollars.

Under Junior? Around 80 dollars. He can get up on stage and lie through his teeth. Won't matter. We all know that it will NEVER happen, whatever he says.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. His idea of energy independence

is to give as much money to the oil companies as possible.

[jgraz]

3. At this point, he could knock my socks off by completing a sentence...

Preferably one of 15-20 years....

[Lerkfish]

4. LOL!

I may use that, with your permission.

[jgraz]

5. Be my guest

Though I'm pretty sure I'm not the first person to come up with that line :)

[radfringe]

6. don't want my socks knocked off

have to wear them to keep my feet warm because heating the house costs too much

[hatrack]

7. Socks still firmly attached - how 'bout y'all?

:eyes:

[KoKo]

8. Those Crazy People still think they can pull his approval up by rehashing

crap like this? Knock our socks off? Sounds like a fading Advertising group coming in trying to hold an account that's about to be "pulled" be trying one last gasp to hold the "business."

[Javaman]

12. he* is completely out of touch with reality, I can just imagine him saying...

"I need to listen to the rock and roll to get in touch with the younger generations".

[hatrack]

9. Absurdity and arrogance kick

nt

[xxqqqzme]

10. just like all his previous SOTU

speeches - he talks about it, then does nothing. There will be no surprises.

[Javaman]

11. more of the usual blather, promises promises promises...

just like the now famous stupid ass line he puked out, "we are addicted to oil", yet has he funded anything? Has he supported anything? Has he passed anything? Nope, nope and nope.

So just whose socks is he going to knock off? Won't be mind that's for damn sure.

more beathing of the chest filled bullshit spewed forth by that shit-inator*

[Beetwasher]

13. What Will Chimpy's "Throw Away" Topic Be This Year? Steroids? Sex Slaves? Hybrids?

Maybe he'll promise to fight off the UFO invasion this year.

[radfringe]

14. NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY

During the State of the Union address President Bush announced that America is "addicted to oil" and vowed to replace "more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025." Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said that this promise was not meant to be taken literally. "This," he said, "was purely an example."


http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Feb06/energy.html
“In his State of the Union address, President Bush suggested he wants to join House Democrats in decreasing U.S. dependency on Middle Eastern oil. If the President were serious, he would immediately repudiate comments since made by his Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman that the President’s remarks should not be taken literally. The American people want to know, ‘what is the truth, Mr. President – what you said in the State of the Union on Tuesday or what your Energy Secretary said the very next day?

[mattclearing]

15. "Stealing energy hasn't worked out so well, so I am now looking at alternatives."

:)

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. MARS, BITCHES!!!!

Same lie, different STFU, I mean SOTU :eyes:

[radfringe]

17. Oil companies will put him back on the patch...

[donheld]

18. Bushies SOTUs are all talk, we never see the action

unless it's war.

[salin]

19. Nonsequitor about SOTU.... so what gimmick

will republicans use to show their bushsupport? Remember the blue/inked "I voted" thumbs to symbolize the elections in Iraq? How will they commemorate their "successes" in Iraq and backing for bush this time around?