Text of SOTU

Leanan · **Joined:** Thu May 20, 2004 12:00 am **Posts:** 4677

The text of Bush's speech has been made available. He rarely deviates from the script, so I expect this is the speech he will give. Here's what he'll say about energy:

Quote:

Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. 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 dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, 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 energy.

We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We will also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years. Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment … move beyond a petroleum-based economy … and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.

mekrob · **Joined:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:00 am **Posts:** 2663

We only get like 5 mpd from the ME right? Replaciing 3.5 mpd is not that big of a deal but the people wouldn't know any better. They'd think its all of our oil we use. Ahhh, hydrogen, our Savior.

UIUCstudent01 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:00 am **Posts:** 894

mekrob wrote:

We only get like 5 mpd from the ME right? Replaciing 3.5 mpd is not that big of a deal but the people wouldn't know any better. They'd think its all of our oil we use. Ahhh, hydrogen, our Savior.

We might be getting more in 2025...

Or less, if China and India has a HUGE middle class can (easily) out compete American jobs and such...

Globalization, the emergence of China and India, and Peak Oil are all going to hurt...

seahorse · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:19 pm

Just finished listening to Bush so forgive me for talking off the top of my head. But two questions after listening:

(1) Bush said he wanted to reduce OPEC oil imports by 2025. Why does that date sound familiar? Isn't that a key date in either EIA or IAEA oil production forecasts?

(2) Bush spoke "directly to the Iranian people" saying the US stands behind them. Didn't he say this same thing to the Iraqi people in the 2003 State of the Union Address, just two months before invading?

Hegel · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:23 pm

@seahorse

Yes, he did the same in 2003. The most frightening similarity.

seahorse · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:25 pm

Is 2025 the USGS peak oil date that shows on the countdown on peakoil.com?

Leanan · **Joined:** Thu May 20, 2004 12:00 am **Posts:** 4677

The USGS forecast goes to 2025.

CNN has a gaggle of rightwingers discussing the SOTU speech. Even they are scoffing at the idea of hydrogen cars...

LadyRuby · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:31 pm

Quote:

Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

Wonder what he means by that. Does he mean reduce our current imports from the middle east by 75% by 2025 (in barrels)? Or does he mean 2025 expected middle east imports, reduce it by 75%? Two very different things since by 2025 we'll need a lot more of that OPEC crude, if it's there.

DesertBear2 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:36 am

seahorse wrote:

(2) Bush spoke "directly to the Iranian people" saying the US stands behind them. Didn't he say this same thing to the Iraqi people in the 2003 State of the Union Address, just two months before invading?

Yes that is correct. Bush was also highly animated when speaking about Iran. He also ended the speech with "having faith in the victories to come"etc.

We are screwed. At some point before he exits the scene, this guy is going to set off an uncontrollable chain of events. A nuke attack on Iran could likely be such an occurrence.

linlithgowoil · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:49 am

i never saw the speech but i like what he says on energy, thats if he means it of course.

you guys will never be happy though - you probably would have preferred it if he had came out and said 'We need more oil!' - so that you could have come on here and gloated about how clueless he was.

its also true to say that technological breakthroughs are the only way, unless you fancy the idea of living in a cave or something. believe me, you'd be first in line to come back to this 'terrible oil based world' after spending a week in a freezing cave with no electricity, running water or sanitation.

iran attack is a joke also. no way will that happen. do you people really believe that bush is insane? he quite clearly is not. he has a viewpoint of the world and he sticks by it. what is wrong with that? i know its deeply unfashionable in these wish washy no morals liberal times, but that is what is so good about it. in your face sandal wearing hippies!

Teclo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:00 am **Posts:** 279

well bush is saying the right things...
When Bush talks I get the feeling he is just saying the right things but has no plan or real idea of how to do them

These are the guys for whom 'the american way of life is not negiotiable' are now talking about grass, trees and flowers. If they can't comprehend their way of life will have to change (even to, gasp, driving a smaller car) all this is just hot air

Martin

waegari · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 6:40 am

Quote:

Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

So, the remainder would then be used for making plastics, textile fabrics, insecticides, asphalt?

And air planes would use wood chips? Or wind power? Nuclear???

Leanan · **Joined:** Thu May 20, 2004 12:00 am **Posts:** 4677

Quote:

he has a viewpoint of the world and he sticks by it. what is wrong with that?

Well, the fact that his viewpoint of the world has little to do with reality kind of bothers me. Indeed, the Bush administration mocks liberals as "the reality-based community." They don't think reality applies to them.

Still, this was a sea-change, on energy policy...for him. Whether he'll follow through is whole different story. Remember the "manned mission to Mars" that was the centerpiece of his SOTU a year or two ago? I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

But then, what do I know? I'm a member of the reality-based community... :lol:

elroy · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:36 am

I think it was quite surprising to hear the big oil president say america's addicted to oil. And at the same time, so confirming. I was actually kinda gloating when I heard it. But I sure hope he'll follow up with his promises of cleaner energy, cause if it's only rethoric it's not gonna help. It would also be cool if in the EU we'd also make some serious work of alternative energy sources.

gnm · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:36 am

If the world peaks in the next year or so he'll probably get his 75% less by 2025 part anyways. I wonder if he means 75% less than we are using now or 75% less than demand growth adjusted use by 2025.

-G

Text of SOTU

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