[slick]

From Newt's new list of what the GOP must do to win the upcoming elections:

Achieve Sustainable Energy Independence.

The country is eager for a straightforward new energy strategy for national security, environmental and economic reasons. The combination of $3 gasoline, watching Iran, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Russia get more of our money, and concerns about the environment come together to require real change. The House should meet that need. Starting with Rep. Jim Nussle's (R-Iowa) bill on renewable fuels, adding to it clean nuclear power using new technologies that are safe and produce little waste, developing more clean coal solutions, investing in a conversion to a hydrogen economy, incentivizing conservation, providing tax credits so the auto industry can invest in the new technology and new manufacturing equipment needed to produce revolutionary new vehicles, creating the tax incentives to build the distribution system for biofuels, hybrids, and hydrogen, providing deeper tax incentives for radically better cars (imagine a substantial tax credit for cars exceeding 200 miles to the gallon of petroleum through a combination of E-85 or biodiesel, hybrid use of electricity and hydrogen), and a bill to create state flexibility in exploring off shore with a 50% split in revenue so state legislatures and governors would have an incentive to develop environmentally sound methods of exploration and production.

[gego]

Government schools are terrible failures, with quality education being the exception, no matter how much more money is poured into them.

Clearly the government can't built reliable levees; that is probably because they only realy understand "levy" as in tax.

The former Soviet Union couldn't even feed itself on its government run farms; many of the farmers became alcoholics in frustration.

And of course lets not forget plunging the government into debt so huge that nobody can comprehend the magnitude.

And now pudgy boy Newt, poster boy for managing his own unhealthy life, wants his pals to solve the worst problem any of us alive will ever likely see!

I guess they have screwed up the rest of the economy so screwing up the energy sector is only the logical next step.

[Colorado-Valley]

Newt was one of the architects of the Iraq War, so I wouldn't get too serious about his advice.

[RdSnt]

I get such a kick out of reading august statements such as the Grinches.

"Throw lots of tax breaks at the wealthiest of companies, so they can devise clever ways for nothing to change."

[Heineken]

Newt Gingrich "weighs in"? What with, a feather?

[Fishman]

Slick, your ignore list came through. Clearly you don't like to hear folks who disagree with your viewpoint, probably need to add me to your list. I think several of his ideas were very credible. Further tax credits for high mileage cars, incentivizing conservation. I hear screams on these posts regularly about the "sheeple". Now when someone tries to give them incentive to change folks rag about it. If he's a fraction as effective at pushing these ideas through as he was at other legislation it would be a huge success.

[Heineken]

Newt had his chance to do good when he was in power. Instead, he squandered his time in Congress on a mountain of stupidity. And did great harm.

Why do these guys always see the light after they leave office?

He's desperate for attention and will do/say almost anything to get it.

[seahorse2]

Newt is very public now bc he is considering running for president in 2008.

[rwwff]

He's desperate for attention and will do/say almost anything to get it.

Only that type of person would ever submit to the kind of abuse reps and senators have to endure in order to hold office. Even the ones from very safe districts get huge amounts of abuse from people who oppose them on issues or based on party.

[slick]

I just think it's interesting that the supposedly intelligent people in the conservative side of US politics are now talking seriously about energy for the first time.

I think it's a good sign, even though I think the Republicans are a bunch of evil nitwits.

[rwwff]

I just think it's interesting that the supposedly intelligent people in the conservative side of US politics are now talking seriously about energy for the first time.

Politicians talk about what the people want to hear. For the moment, its energy. That is why you have to ignore what they say, and watch what they do.

I think it's a good sign, even though I think the Republicans are a bunch of evil nitwits.

Ah such wonderful bias..

[kaktus]

Trying to avoid the cynics' race; still it's somewhat more difficult to explain why yuo havent done anything about something you said is a problem, than if the issue wasnt on the table at all. hopefully more and more politicians will see it as a career to push the energy issue.

[rwwff]

Trying to avoid the cynics' race; still it's somewhat more difficult to explain why you haven't done anything about something you said is a problem

Republicans would say they have done something. They've placed troops in strategic locations within oil producing regions. They've opened lots of places to drilling. They've opened even more places to survey. And, they've supported subsidy of ethanol production.

You may, or may not, disagree with those actions; but they are actions none the less, and they are undeniably addressing energy issues.

[kaktus]

great, there you see, then it's not all talk from the politicians