Bush took Al Gore's advice for the SOTU speech...

[Wordie]

Al Gore has been advocating the use of alternative energy for decades, Bush is catching up way too late. Gore even advocated doing away with the internal combustion engine as early as 1992 (and was scoffed at for it by Republicans), in his book, Earth In the Balance.

Here's a bit on what Bush said in his SOTU-replay speech in Tennessee earlier this week:

As he did on Tuesday night, Bush -- a former oil executive -- warned about a national Achilles' heel that affects most Americans: U.S. dependence on foreign oil -- much of it from politically unstable regions of the world.

"Most important of all, it seems like to me, if you recognize the fact that being dependent upon oil is a problem for the long term, why don't we figure out how to drive our cars using a different type of fuel?"

..."Tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22 percent increase in clean energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas," Bush said. "To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission, coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy."

(BUSH:)"We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/01/bush.sotu/

Now here's something about what Gore was saying, fourteen years ago:

Gore writes in Earth in the Balance earnestly and passionately about how he traveled the world, from the polar ice caps to the Amazon rain forests and how bad environmental practices have resulted in the disappearance of many animal species. He talks about how the burning of oil has led to the increase of greenhouse gasses like C02 and how this leads to a gradual warming of temperatures on earth a theory called global warming. Gore even called for a Global Marshall Plan, akin to the post W.W.II plan that rebuilt the economies of Europe, this Global Marshall Plan would help convert to cleaner burning technologies And, Gore of course called for the elimination of the internal combustion engine in his lifetime. This was the most controversial of Gore's assertions.

Republicans were quick to attack Gore and the ideas he represented. They call global warming junk science, and Republicans seized on the "death of the internal combustion engine" as they called it, as the stance of some left wing, loony, tree hugging enviro-nut. Where would the money for such a transformation come from? they asked, wouldn't such a transformation would cause an undue burden on the economy, they bellowed. These are the same Republicans who don't have any problems giving companies like Enron and IBM retroactive business tax breaks.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/01/14_gore.html

Note that the link on the Gore info takes you to a great article from the DU archives, by Richard Prasad, written in 2002. It's called "Vindication for Al Gore." I think Dems ought to point out that we would have been a lot further on the road to energy independence if Gore had been sworn in as President, instead of Bush.

(I still haven't gotten over Florida.)

[uppityperson]

1. "clean, safe nuclear energy" is the part that sticks out for me

(I still haven't either)

[Wordie]

4. When I heard him say that, I repeated it back out loud in disbelief!

I shouldn't have watched that SOTU. I just can't believe him. :(

[FreedomAngel82]

2. He steals other people's ideas

He doesn't have a damn original thought in his pathetic brain.

[Wordie]

3. Worse...

he stole the ideas from the person from whom he also stole the Presidency.

...and further, he had ridiculed those ideas before he stole them.

:banghead:

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Up

Gore and Kerry. The nerve!

[uppityperson]

5. did he steal "animal human hybrids"?

how did he come up with that line?

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. And I'm sure they got the idea from our Greatest Page, because

we pointed that out BEFORE Bush gave his speech.

[Wordie]

11. But nobody listens!

I'm sorry if I'm repeating things that everyone already knows...I'm in a particularly grumpy mood about Bush tonight...and I found that article from way back in 2002...and I just had to post it. WHY does Bush get away with this stuff?

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Because we have to learn how to fight on two fronts:

We need to be prepared to answer back any swiftboating attacks, whether it comes off Chris Matthew's tongue or the GOP AND we need to push the Democratic agenda.

Of course, it would be helpful for the Democrats if they actually had an agenda they all agreed on.

[Wordie]

19. There ought to be some group of Dems who do nothing but

anticipate these RW attacks and develop the strategy for how to defeat them. Msm is a large part of the problem, though, and being the party out of power.

As for an agenda, I understand that's in the works (Howard Dean). Several of the recent votes do reveal a division (although I'm really impressed with Pelosi keeping all the Dems together on the bill regarding social programs recently - even though they lost it was only by 2 votes and she even picked up 13 Republicans w/o losing one Dem). I keep hearing that part of the problem is that many of the Congresspeople who keep leaning right on various votes do so because that's how their constituents think. So, clearly, winning this fall is key.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Well, here's a blast from the past that someone can use against

Matthews when he goes against the Democratic challenger to Bush. After the 2000 election, when people asked him why he was harder on Gore than Bush, he said that it is customary to be harder on the incumbent. Gore wasn't even an incumbent president, but no one questioned Matthews. Find that soundbite and play if often when Matthews goes harder against the Democratic challenger to the Republican leadership.

[Wordie]

22. Somebody ought to do a website with nothing but

the RW attacks on Dems (both actual and anticipated) and then the best suggestions on how Dems can best respond to them. Media claims like yours should be included. Just so it's always at peoples fingertips.

And there ought to be better prepping of the Dems who go on tv...some centralized group that works for all Dems, and prepares them to counter the attacks most effectively. Is there something like that?

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. Mediamatters is great at this,

but they missed some wonderful gems like the one I mentioned because they weren't up running at that time.

[Wordie]

24. Oh, yeah! Media Matters is terrific. I check them out often.

But I was thinking of something more like...an anti-spin think tank? I don't know what to call it, but I was thinking that there ought to be some group not only fighting the spin, but also anticipating it, and analyzing and preparing a strategy for countering it.

So, say, a Dem leader is to appear on MTP, and knows who it is on the other side he/she is to debate. He/she could check with this group I envision, and they would have the research all handy on what the opposing side is likely to say, and some good ways to handle it. The Dem could either use it or not, but they would be prepared for some of the nonsense that the RW spinners spin.

Maybe I'm being naive and this sort of group already exists someplace.

[RC]

7. Didn't the federal government just cut funding (again)

for alternative energy research the day after the SOTU fantasy?

[Wordie]

9. Yeah!!! He stole Gore's ideas for the SOTU, but he has no intention

of carrying them out. I can't STAND Bush!

:puke:

[stevedeshazer]

8. Bush has been blabbering about energy for years, and it's all talk...

...because he never does anything but talk about it.

Examples:

-State of the Union address, February 2006:

<snip>

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. Since 2001, we have spent nearly $10 billion to develop cleaner, cheaper and more reliable alternative energy sources. And we are on the threshold of incredible advances.

So tonight I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22 percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear <sic> energy. (Applause)

-State of the Union address, February 2005:

<snip>

To keep our economy growing, we also need reliable supplies of affordable, environmentally responsible energy. (Applause.) Nearly four years ago, I submitted a comprehensive energy strategy that encourages conservation, alternative sources, a modernized electricity grid, and more production here at home -- including safe, clean nuclear energy. (Applause.) My Clear Skies legislation will cut power plant pollution and improve the health of our citizens. (Applause.) And my budget provides strong funding for leading-edge technology -- from hydrogen-fueled cars, to clean coal, to renewable sources such as ethanol. (Applause.) Four years of debate is enough: I urge Congress to pass legislation that makes America more secure and less dependent on foreign energy. (Applause.)

-State of the Union address, January 2004:

<snip>

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. (Applause.)

-State of the Union address, January 2003:

<snip>

Our third goal is to promote energy independence for our country, while dramatically improving the environment. (Applause.) I have sent you a comprehensive energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation, to develop cleaner technology, and to produce more energy at home. (Applause.) I have sent you Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70-percent cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years. (Applause.) I have sent you a Healthy Forests Initiative, to help prevent the catastrophic fires that devastate communities, kill wildlife, and burn away millions of acres of treasured forest. (Applause.)

I urge you to pass these measures, for the good of both our environment and our economy. (Applause.) Even more, I ask you to take a crucial step and protect our environment in ways that generations before us could not have imagined.

-State of the Union address, January 2002:

<snip>

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. (Applause.)

Good jobs depend on expanded trade. Selling into new markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve trade promotion authority. (Applause.) On these two key issues, trade and energy, the House of Representatives has acted to create jobs, and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation. (Applause.)

---------------------
See? It's all talk.

[Wordie]

10. Jeez...getting applause for it since 2002, and what has he done??? nt

[stevedeshazer]

13. Well, he's added a lot of hot air...

...adding to his personal inventory of greenhouse gas.

Good thread, BTW, K & R.

[Wordie]

14. LOL..funny. "Personal inventory of greenhouse gas."

That made me feel better. Thanks.

...of course, he doesn't really believe there's any such thing, right? Sheesh.

[TInCanCommunications]

15. Gore took it from Jimmy Carter NT

NT

[Wordie]

25. Well, Gore really made it his own issue, even so. Both are Dems, too. nt

[Kahuna]

16. Bush just need something to say that no body could pin him down

to something he has to accomplish in the immediate future. He really spoke for 51 minutes and didn't say anything. He certainly didn't say anything new.

[Wordie]

17. Well, the human-animal hybrid idea was sort of novel...

...and so delightfully bizarre on so many levels.

Has anyone ever figured out what that was all about?

[Stephanie]

21. Yeah, but Bush didn't mean any of it.

They're already backtracking on it. "Clarifying."