printThe Republican Governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, has declared:
“‘Drill baby, drill’ by itself is not an energy policy. It’s not enough. We’re going to need wind and solar and bio mass.”
What Pawlenty is saying is that arguing with global warming politics is not viable. Therefore, the logic of drilling must be substituted with the illogic of expensive, and hence dirtier, sources of energy. As I wrote in “The Goods on Gas“:
“The more efficient the source of energy, the less waste and pollution are involved in its conversion into energy. Think of the totality of the production process! The fewer resources expended in bringing a fuel to market, the cleaner and cheaper is the process.”
So, Mr. Pawlenty, drilling is so an energy policy—especially if one hasn’t drilled in decades, and if oil is one of most viable sources of energy. Most Republicans have simply lost the ability to make a case, any case.
Update (Nov. 20): It’s my theory that the quest for power, among the punditocracy and the pols alike, creates a convergence toward opinions most acceptable to power brokers and voters.
To wit, in “Rebooting the Right,” Ramesh Ponnuru, editor of National Review, ladles out the same lukewarm, happy, middle-grounds we’ve heard from most GOPers–and I surveyed in “GOP, RIP?“:
“At the GOP governors’ meeting this month, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota argued that Republicans need to stay conservative but also modernize. A revitalized conservatism would push for tax reform with an eye on middle-class families, not hedge-fund operators. It would seek solutions to global warming rather than deny that it exists. It would place a higher priority on making health care affordable than on slashing pork programs. It would promote the assimilation of Hispanics rather than regard them as a menace or a source of cheap labor.”
As we slip into depression, the so-called ‘energy policy’ will be used as an excuse to ration all of our energy supplies. Once they get their hands on the valve that supplies our energy, we are owned. Not only is your energy consumption equal to your standard of living, is is necessary to your very survival. Access to a free energy market is vital to personal and economic freedom.
That’s why there is no reference to plain logic in the ‘energy policy’ argument — it’s all about raw power.
There is far more energy that can be extracted per unit mass of uranium, especially with fuel recycling, than in hydrocarbons. And hydrocarbons are probably more efficient than wind and solar for many uses (solar hot water heaters in Arizona make sense, for example). As for biomass – like burning dung – a great sign of various advanced civilizations! Has Governor Palenty explained WHY “the government” has to make energy policy as opposed to allowing free market mechanisms to work? …. Oh that’s right – Republicans are “ha ha” opposed to “big government” and “socialism” – how could I forget!??
Ms. Mercer: I had my doubts about Gov. Pawlenty previously, but your article has clarified my thinking on him now: He is a RINO loser (in my humble opinion). This “‘drill, baby, drill’ is not an energy policy” drivel is obviously served up to ingratiate oneself to the left (who simply will not be ingratiated to, Governor!). This revelation about Pawlenty comes on top of his anemic performance on various talk radio shows this past week about the obvious Democratic theft of the Senatorial seat in Minnesota (by Franken, from Coleman). Pawlenty evinced ZERO moral indignation or fire in the belly. Rather, he blathered on, mouthing monotone boilerplate about how he is “confident” that the recount will be “done fairly.” (Yeah. Right. The DFLers have already pulled some 500 magical votes out of their, er, hats, narrowing Coleman’s lead from nearly 800 votes to just over 200!) Can you imagine how badly McCain would have lost had he picked Pawlenty over Palin as his running mate? The only thing the two have in common is the first two letters of their surnames.)
[Thank you; you’ve gathered more evidence than I did about this chap; I condemned him based on this one, deeply idiotic thought. Keep us posted.–IM]
It is about power and control over the lives of the citizens of the United States. We are about to find out how much control the fedgov will exercise. Smart growth, light rail, green cars, packing more people into smaller spaces so that vast areas of the US can be rewilded are all part of the same plan. Control the serfs.
On your comment on my comment on your piece, “Unpack This,
Pawlenty!” you asked me to keep you posted on this character.
I have three relatively fresh and relevant links for consideration — one a video (5 mins
in length) and two items from Human Events.
http://video.newsmax.com/?assetId=V3425553
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29511
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29498
It seems clear to me that Pawlenty is a listless, lifeless “moderate”
with ZERO fire in his belly.
It also seems clear to me that Tex Gov Rick Perry AND Pawlenty want
to cut off Palin at the pass on the road to the 2012 Republican
nomination.
I can tell you as a Texan: Rick Perry is about as conservative as
GWB, but he and his wife do both look as though they stepped out of
the studio for the latest Hollywood flick. (Both are very
“pretty.”)
Palin is the real deal in comparison to either. (As is Jindal.)
Pawlenty (to me) is a joke. Perry is dangerous, in my view.