Don't they know he owns the largest wind farm in the world?

[a kennedy]

Who's supposed to love Boone Pickens and who's supposed to hate him? This is no longer simple; he's breaking rules and it's frankly a little too taxing for those of us who would prefer to lump people into Green or Not Green.

As Dealbreaker points out, it is simply thrilling that a former oil man would be pushing alternative energies. Titillating. Intoxicating.

They then link to Tim Carney's story on just why oh why T. Boone Pickens might be pushing for a subsidized wind power plan. To wit, an excerpt from the delightfully-titled "Shocking! Windmill owner wants subsidies!:"

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Would a major newspaper editorialize with surprise that "even Kraft Foods says we need to eat more macaroni and cheese"? Would guests on The McLaughlin Group get away with saying that "even Budweiser is lobbying for more beer consumption"?

Then why do talking heads and journalists exclaim with surprise that "even T. Boone Pickens" is lobbying for greater U.S. reliance on wind power? Don't they know he owns the largest wind farm in the world?

The "Pickens Plan," the legendary oilman's public relations and lobbying blitz billed as a way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, has its virtues and its flaws, but it should be presented in an honest light -- a billionaire heavily invested in currently unprofitable (without subsidies) wind power wants the government to further subsidize, mandate or otherwise help wind power be more profitable.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/15/why-pickens-plan-is-no-su_n_119225.html

[dems_rightnow]

1. I could care less his motivation

He's right, and I support him in it.

[AllentownJake]

2. He's in it to turn a profit but...

so are the people building electric cars and Hybrids. New technology requires up front investment and I'd rather someone who is actually building wind turbines get the subsidies instead of Exxon Mobil who pretends to look into alternative energy.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Don't Forget All The Natural Gas Futures He Holds

His "plans" call for replacing oil with natural gas...one fossil mess for another...but since he's sitting on tons of Natural gas properties and stocks, he buries it behind other "alternatives".

This slimeball doesn't do anything for anyone but T Boner Pickens...

[PATRICK]

4. The new oil

All of these oil billionaires must know the oil won't last. This might be more than the plucky concern of a heroic capitalist or even the self-serving self advertising pluck of an isolated entrepreneur.

They have bought all the patents. they buy media. They buy the future to move their cancer to. Is this the first tentacle of the dinosaur petrol chemical oligarchs to seize the future they repressed for so long? These first moves solidify their first dibs on the released future which is still held captive by corporate media and repressive government. it would be nice at least if they COULD do a good job in converting the world safely to green along with their verdant bank accounts but the pursuit of the latter would seem by pattern to ruin all rational prospects for the rest of us.

To see this crusty old school "rebel" curmudgeon out there highlights the only way reality gets any respect of change, any championing: through the right people with the right money herding us down the sucker path to falling for all the transparent selfishness of the oligarchy all over again. It may well be that Pickens is a naive individualist separate from any grand plot or tribal nomadic movement to raid the next watering hole, but regardless of motivation he coincidentally, fatefully and conveniently points the way to a hope encumbered by the usual corrupting suspects.

That is, if we totally ignore the personal wind farm interest and the fact they know we are up against the wall before they allow us to know it- much less act as a commonality.

[NMDemDist2]

5. check out this funny series

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x376932

[NMDemDist2]

6. check out this funny series

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x376932