Get Energy Smart! NOW!

Tom Friedman has already declared the election done when it comes to energy and global warming issues, with Sarah Palin’s introduction as John McCain’s running mate sealing the deal. Care about a decent energy future and dealing with Global Warming, there is now only one ticket to vote for: Obama-Biden. And, let us be clear, John McCain had VP options that might not have driven Friedman to write that piece. Let us take a moment to compare briefly, head-to-head, the two VP candidates on energy issues.

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The Republican Party, the McCain campaign, and willing collaborators are trying to pass Sarah Palin off as a true energy expert, someone deeply knowledgeable in the arena of the nation’s greatest challenges. This attempt to create a resume item re Sarah “Energy Expert” Palin is, simply, an attempt to sell a fraud. Searching Palin “Energy Expert” and there are more than 11,000 hits — luckily hit number one re “Energy Expert” Palin is for an honest report.

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Amid the pages of America’s traditional print media, Tom Friedman has emerged as perhaps the strongest regular columnist on energy issues. He has moved from his globalization agenda to ever stronger appeals for a move toward more sensible energy policies and for confronting the crises of Peak Oil and Global Warming.

Today’s column, And Then There Was One, is a clarion call for America’s university students (and, well, Americans) to realize that — if you have any concerns about energy and Global Warming — there is only one candidate on the ballot this November worthy of a vote: Barack Obama.

For Friedman, Palin was the last straw.

With his choice of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor who has advocated drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and does not believe mankind is playing any role in climate change, for vice president, John McCain has completed his makeover from the greenest Republican to run for president to just another representative of big oil.

This OPED is a must read and a refutation of McCain on multiple levels.
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The storm of revelations about Sarah Palin, post her joining John McCain’s campaign as the presumptive Republican Vice Presidential nominee with seemingly no serious vetting prior to the decision, might be equated to at least the equivalent of a 100-year flood. Where to start? Separtist? Serial pork barreler? Disgraceful and dirty campaign style? Disingenuous (lying) about the flagship issue of opposing the Bridge to Nowhere (lie?)? Association with serial Republican corruption in Alaska? Lack of foreign policy experience and disdain for key international issues? Lack of experience? Extreme anti-choice stance? Serial Abuse of Power? Tyrannical governance style? Close allegiance to the fossil fuel industry and evidently lack of understanding of America’s (and the globe’s) energy options and challenges? Anti-environment views, including support of aerial hunting of wolves (see)? John McCain’s insult to the nation’s collective intelligence through suggesting that she is even in the top 100 list for viable people to be a heart-beat away from the Presidency? Abuse of Power? And, the list can go on and on and on and on … As noted, a 100-year flood.

Amid all of this, one song keeps going through my mind, a song that could represent Sarah Palin’s love ballad to John McCain and the Republican Party: What a wonderful world it would be …

watch?v=IYuv7X6Llqw

Don’t know much about history
don’t know much biology
don’t know much about science books ….
Don’t know much about geography
don’t know much trigonomitry
don’t know much about algebra

How does this relate to Sarah Palin? In brief, Palin

1. Rejects the Theory of Evolution and believes that, at a minimum, “Intelligent Design” should be taught alongside Evolution in science classes.
2. Rejects human causation in Global Warming.

These two, immediately, put Palin in the anti-science and anti-knowledge element of American society. We have to question whether, in the face of 21st century challenges and opportunities, the United States really wants someone in the corridors of power who is able to so blithely reject basic fundamental science and scientific method.

Palin’s anti-knowledge crusade and ignorance credentials don’t stop there.

1. Much has been made of her historical ignorance in answering a question about the Pledge of Allegiance. In this case, she directly linked the Pledge of Allegiance to the Founding Fathers when the Pledge was written in the 1890s (over 100 years after the Founding Fathers) and the relevant words (“Under God”) are younger in the Pledge than her running mate (having been added in in 1954). Okay, trivia, how about another example … an anti-knowledge one.

Palin is a strong supporter of abstinence-only education. Putting aside the question of her own family situation, the analysis is clear: abstinence-only education does not work, it is a waste of taxpayer-resources (over $1 billion), and does not solve problems like HIV-AIDS transmission.

2. When elected Mayor of the bustling 6000 person metropolis of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin sought to ban books from the public library.

Let us return to evolution and “intelligent design” for a moment. When pushed on this, her is Palin’s words:

Asked for her personal views on evolution, Palin said, “I believe we have a creator.”

She would not say whether her belief also allowed her to accept the theory of evolution as fact.

“I’m not going to pretend I know how all this came to be,” she said.

Not knowing seems to be a common refrain from Sarah.  It is not that she should “know” everything, but that as Vice President, that she would act based on reasonable knowledge and information.   The Theory of Evolution merits education and discussion in science classes.  “Intelligent Design” merits (perhaps) discussion and debate in theology and philosophy classes … and until it can meet basic tenets of scientific theory, it does not merit entry into science curricula.

Sarah Palin’s stated beliefs and positions clearly show her to be an anti-knowledge and anti-science zealot.  She is, to me, the clearest anti-science, anti-knowledge VP selection in, perhaps, US history.  With this decision, impulsive John McCain kowtowing to the ‘know-nothing’ fringe of the Republican Party.

We are going on eight years of having an Administration focused on sound science rather than embracing the value of scientific knowledge. We cannot afford four more.

But i do know that i love you
and i know that if you love me to
what a wonderful world this would be

As much of a romantic as I might be, this is one romance that America, Americans, and the Globe can’t afford to see consummated.

A cowboy has ridden out, gathering a posse, to slay the demon of imported oil.  Texas Oilman T Boone Pickens is investing over $50 million in promoting The Pickens’ Plan with advertising, a tremendous website, public affairs, and public presentation after presentation. This includes speaking tomorrow at The Big Tent.  There are serious issues surrounding Pickens’ politics that foster questioning not just of T Boone’s designs but also the sensibility of inviting T Boone into a new media space and whether Pickens will face serious questioning when there. 

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At first sight, my heart skipped a beat.

One quick glance and I was sure, this was the one for me.

No, we’re not talking about a dalliance with a Kiwi from New Zealand, but an “I WANT THAT” moment looking to the PLX Kiwi dashboard feedback system to help drivers learn how to drive better.

The basic principle is clear if you’ve ever been around hybrid car drivers bragging about their latest achievements in inching out another .5 mpg on their latest drive. Instant feedback systems on the dashboard, especially in an era of $3.50 and higher gasoline, foster more efficient driving habits.

The Kiwi takes this a step, actually many steps forward, providing not just miles per gallon, but feedback on critical elements of more efficient driving (smoothness, drag, aceleration, deceleration), test programs to teach the teachable, and other feedback paths to move drivers toward safer and more climate-friendly driving habits. Give these sorts of feedback systems and, across a wide range of drivers, and a ten percent improvement in overall fuel efficiency is on the low side of the expected improvements.

I’m a stats type of guy (falling asleep yet) … into competition with self via measurements … into playing with feedback systems … who is concerned about cost of driving, cost in terms of dollars and, more importantly, cost in terms of CO2 emissions.

Okay, on first glance, I knew that that Kiwi was for me …

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In the coming days, for those not actively on the Democratic National Convention (DNC) floor, The Big Tent will be one of (if not the) places to be. And, much of the Tent will be colored Green. Much of The Big Tent’s agenda will focus on Green initiatives, energy efficiency, and Global Warming.

Looking at this schedule makes this blogger envious of those able to attend.

And, a few tinges of off-green makes this same blogger concerned.

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At Netroots Nation, six dedicated people joined to discuss Energizing America: Setting an Agenda for Progress. On this panel were three core members of the Energize America team and three Energy Smart candidates who are part of the effort to change the composition of Congress toward one more knowledgeable and concerned about creating a sensible energy future.

Part of the discussion was how to provide a rallying point for the freshmen (and women) class of 2009, to join together for passage a set of legislative initiatives to help spark an Energy Smart renaissance across the United States.

This effort is developing.

But, this development is missing something.

YOU!

Join me, after the fold, for a discussion of concepts and ideas as to moving forward together.

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John McCain makes much noise about his concern for Global Warming, that he views it as real and something that requires action (even if his actions don’t match his words, also). A more prominent activist on Global Warming, Al Gore, has been hit hard for his supposedly excessive energy use at his home being at odds with his expressing concerns about Global Warming and calling for action in the face of the threats of catastrophic climate change. As per Joe Romm, the time is here to ask “What is the carbon footprint of John and Cindy McCain‘s seven (eight, or is it now ten or twelve or who knows how many) homes?

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There is The Pickens’ Plan.

And, there is The Pickens Problem.

Too often, the two are not talked about in combination as is merited.

While The Pickens’ Plan has its problems, The Pickens’ Problem sadly raises questions about how seriously one should take T Boone Pickens’ words about The Pickens’ Plan. I would welcome the ability to engage openly and with trust with The Pickens’ Plan, but as long as The Pickens’ Problem remains unresolved and unaddressed, any engagement will have to be reserved, guarded, and cautious.

T. Boone Pickens speaks to the need to end America’s oil addiction, to move off oil. T Boone Pickens’ political contributions speak to continuing the status quo, to drilling the hole deeper when it comes to oil addiction.

The Pickens’ Problem is undermining the chances that The Pickens’ Plan will ever see fruition.

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