MyDD :: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on Energy Policy

More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on Energy Policy

by campaignmonitor, Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:17:09 PM EST

On the heels of McCain's admission yesterday that his support of President Bush's proposal to open up the US coastline to offshore drilling would have ZERO short term effect on gas prices and would only give Americans a "psychological benefit" (read: voters think it sounds nice), here's another doozy.

Today, McCain pledged that America would have "strategic independence" from foreign oil by 2025.

Doesn't that sound nice? Do you have any idea what that means? Neither do I.

[Cross-posted on my blog.]

McCain's mysterious new phrase sounds an awful lot like McCain a couple months ago:

My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will -- that will then prevent us -- that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.

If "strategic independence by 2025" is the same as "eliminat[ing] our dependence on foreign oil", here's the big problem with that (via the Carpetbagger Report):

[T]here isn't an energy expert in the world -- not one -- who thinks we can "eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East." It's a child's fantasy, but McCain spouts this stuff as if solving our problems really were just that easy. It reminds me of his solution to the fighting in Iraq: "One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, `Stop the bullshit.'"

McCain, you are tiring me out this week. Can you come up with any energy proposal isn't a lie, distortion or an ineffectual pander?

Tags: John McCain, Lies, Pandering, Energy Policy, Gas Prices, Baloney (all tags)

Permalink :: 23 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (2.00 / 1)

Doesn't that sound nice? Do you have any idea what that means? Neither do I.

It means we wont have to depend on foreign oil for national security purposes or have our economy be held hostage due to lack of it .

could have easily been said by barack too. really a fluff statement to rile up the 'fed up of oil prices crowd' i.e 99% of the country.

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:22:11 PM EST

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.50 / 2)

I love how you jump in so quickly to defend McCain. This isn't the first time you've done it and I'll bet it won't be the last. Anything to drag down the Democratic candidate and to make the Republican candidate look less bad. I salute your dedication to your cause.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:50:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.50 / 2)

Are you really that daft or do you not read comments before you wet yourself.

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:16:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.50 / 2)

You need to polish your debating skills. Attacking me doesn't negate my points. You were quick to come to McCain's support and to explain what he really meant, at least according to you. When I pointed that out you didn't respond with an explanation of why you did it, you chose to attack me instead. That's alright. You stopped debating me on the points some time ago. I don't really expect you to start doing it now.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:21:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (2.00 / 1)

what part of 'fluff statement' did you miss...

You're troll dude.. in the real sense. If i were mary you would be my lamb!

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:25:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.50 / 2)

It means we wont have to depend on foreign oil for national security purposes or have our economy be held hostage due to lack of it .

Helping McCain out by explaining what he 'really meant'.

could have easily been said by barack too.

Equating Barack to McCain so McCain doesn't seem so bad.

really a fluff statement to rile up the 'fed up of oil prices crowd' i.e 99% of the country.

Cover for your first two statements.

Would you like me to draw up a diagram?

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:38:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.50 / 2)

I have some crap in my commode . would you like to analyze it if spells R or D to your satisfaction- dear lamb?

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:35:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.50 / 2)

ROFLMAO!!!

Hasn't the teacher called you in from recess yet? It must be close to nap time.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:37:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (1.33 / 3)

she asked me to wait till you executed your grand plan for you knee pads...

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:48:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (2.00 / 1)

I doubt I could stoop to your level even with knee pads on.

Seriously, is this all you have left? I know you can't keep up with me in a direct debate, but this is just plain childish. It's far better to remain silent and be thought a fool than it is to open your mouth (or use your keyboard) and remove all doubt.

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson

by MS01 Indie on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:52:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh, John... (none / 0)

My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will -- that will then prevent us -- that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.

To add to your point, my understanding is that there is a world market for oil. If we got all of our oil (100%) from non-Middle East sources, that would mean that other countries would have to get a higher percentage of their oil FROM the Middle East. It would have zero effect on either the price of oil or on the amount of oil coming from the Middle East. For example, the fact that we boycott Iran doesn't mean squat for oil. We buy more from other places and, consequently, other countries buy it from Iran.

Again, that's a very dumbed down understanding of the issue, but, assuming we don't quit oil, the only way to create a "strategic independence" would be if ALL countries stopped buying Middle Eastern oil. Of course, this would drive up the costs of oil dramatically, since the same demand would be after a much smaller supply. But beyond that, so long as ANY country is buying Middle Eastern oil, it will affect the oil market.

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:24:38 PM EST

Re: Oh, John... (1.00 / 0)

yeah ---DOES NOT mean our oil demands would remain high and we are only going elsewhere. as stated in your comment. . his words--

" eliminate our dependence THAT that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East

i.e he is saying- we wont be SOOOOOO dependent on them. example : we import crops from countries, but if one place fails we will go to another country. we are not dependent on a region to supply us because our imports would be low enough to be sufficient to grab it elsewhere. Instead of having 5 countries to import we will now only need 1 to import from.

right now we import from host of countries because of the high demand.

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:36:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, John... (none / 0)

So long as we're on oil at all, and ME oil can affect market prices, the ME is a national security problem. Granted, the less oil we use, the less serious that problem might be in the future.

But in truth, I'm not sure WHAT he means!

Assuming he wants off oil to some extent, I'd like to see serious plans for it.

But he's now on this "let's drill the OCS!" bandwagon which wouldn't have any impact for a decade or more, and even that assumes that oil companies would be willing to increase supply, lowering prices and hurting profits. Doubtful.

McCain isn't serious about solving this problem or, if he is, he isn't being anything close to honest about what it will really take.

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:44:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, John... (2.00 / 1)

You talking to moi, who likes the idea of drilling included in the energy plan. not as a be all solution , but a must include.

Kinda like Bill Richardson and some other democrats who are coming around and proposing it.

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:48:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, John... (none / 0)

I have no problem with an idea being on the table, but I think the first priority needs to be a simultaneous effort to increase our clean energy infrastructure while getting efficient vehicles on the road.

I lived for six years in Illinois, and I gotta tell ya...the wind does NOTHING but blow...constantly. I'm sure it's similar in a lot of the plains states, where a flat landscape and few trees offers little resistance. It's MADE for wind farming. And the desert southwest, and parts of California...those places are MADE for solar farming.

We (the world) also need to work on getting a cheap, efficient car on the market in India and China. They're gonna buy cars...might as well be less harmful, because no matter what the US does, if China and India continue down their current paths, we're all screwed anyway.

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 03:07:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, John... (2.00 / 1)

tad bit of trivia for you

Oil consumption per barrel per person / per year

Us 25 / year
China 2 / year
India 1/ year

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:11:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, John... (none / 0)

Good stat!

And that feeds into my point...we need to make sure we get China and India on the RIGHT track before they get up to US levels.

Also, since both of those countries are considerably more populous...

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 08:47:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, John... (none / 0)

I should also add...

Take ethanol, for example. While the product is cleaner, the energy it takes to produce it, in my understanding, actually makes it worse. It's a good idea, and one that shouldn't be cast aside but refined and perfected.

As is, I think the drilling stance is one that, at best, offers a little relief while ignoring the larger problem for decades to come.

No way. No how. No McCain.

by freedom78 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 03:09:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (2.00 / 1)

[T]here isn't an energy expert in the world -- not one -- who thinks we can "eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East."

Again, another example of fluff statement. If eliminating is the goal then both Obama and McCain's plan fail.

You can't eliminate but you can sure make imports so low that it is not national security risk. Since they both also include variations in their energy dependent plans ( nuclear, clean coal , green energy , fossil fuels etc)

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:27:34 PM EST

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (none / 0)

I agree with you for once. "Eliminating" our dependence on foreign oil is indeed fluff.

"There's something horrible and undefeatable about people who have no life except the worship of power. People who don't want the meeting to end."

by campaignmonitor on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:43:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (2.00 / 1)

so where is my mojo for it , or do you want to keep your TR " alive: record spotless :P

Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!

by aliveandkickin on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 02:53:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: More 'Psychological Benefits' from McCain on E (none / 0)

there u go:)