The issue of creating enough power for the production of hydrogen is an issue that always comes up. I again, say *I* haven’t said word one against nuclear energy. I know that many dems (which, BTW, I am not) do, and while I don’t claim to know ALL the facts on the issue of nuclear energy, we’re in an R&D phase. And while I don’t 100% agree with some of the things McSame has said about rushing to nuclear power, I’m also not to worried about it, because I don’t trust a word of it. He is only saying “nuclear” to placate individuals such as yourself and prove to others he can pronounce it.

I know you think Obama is an idiot, I understand your concerns I feel the same about McBush. But, on many topics Obama, has indicated that he will consult the experts in the field and use THEIR input to formulate policy. Guess what, I respect that. If you don’t know the answer to a problem you find people who know about it and you pick their brains. Unlike the current administration who only consults science to say he’s done it. Then disregards it and carries on business as usual. I don’t believe that would be the case under Obama.

I’m sorry you have no worries about the continued and increased drilling, but your mindset, is exactly the distraction that government is getting caught up in, and is the major hinderance to advancement of renewable sources of energy. I know you don’t seem to want to believe it, but oil has been and IS making too many republicans (and even a few dems) rich to really abandon it int he foreseeable future. And the longer you (and I’ll use your term here “stay in your comfort zone” with oil as the primary energy source we’re begging for continued eco and economical disaster. In the mean-time such disasters could be headed off by making moves to these renewable energies. Again- I get they’re expensive, but what you’re failing to address is that hydrogen (which at this point is viable, save the chicken or egg argument over filling stations) and wind and solar energies will NOT get less expensive unless we start using them. Why will they? because like everything else we innovating Americans do, we will enhance and refine the technology used in generating them, which like will, eventually, lower prices. Which as I’m sure you understand will not happen with oil, sure, eventually, we’ll see a very small decrease at the pump, but that’s only until we’ve dried up that field… and at what cost? I know there’s little Sarah Palin hates more than polar bears, but eradicating them (and other wild life) isn’t necessary for our continued energy independence.

summation:
The notion that we need to full out drill in alaska to gain our energy independence is flawed. Prolonging our switch to alternate energy sources is only going to continue our dependence on oil (foreign, or otherwise) until we’ve depleted our native sources as well.

For solar to make a very substantial contribution, the cost has to come down to about 2$ per Watt installed. I don’t know if it ever will or can. Until then it doesn’t matter how much solar energy is available, it will be a minor player. There is a very promising new technology and company called, I think, Nanosolar. I am eagerly waiting for them to get to market. I originally intended to put a 7500W PV plant at my house, but I just couldn’t justify the expense.

Of course I believe in conservation. Everyone should, and it shouldn’t even be necessary to promote that. It should be automatic.

I get very upset when any plan for energy independence doesn’t have Nuke power as its centerpiece. Because there is no way in hell we are going to get anywhere near that without it. We should be building 15-20 each year in this Country, freeing up Natural Gas for transportation fuel and ending the need to build new coal burning plants (and there is NO such thing as clean coal in my book). With all that extra, cheap, endless power we could have the power to charge up plug-in hybrids at night, plus produce Hydrogen. There are already fleets of Hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles in Southern California, being tested. The technology works. The problem is they still cost too much, there are safety and engineering issues, and we don’t have the distribution infrastructure. All solvable problems. But we need a vast supply of cheap electricity to generate the Hydrogen from electrolysis of water.

So you see, the real mid and long-term solutions start with Nuclear. But the hardcore anti-nuke zealots are fighting it. The Democrat leadership is against it. In Kalifornia there is a 30 year religious crusade against it.

Short-term (now to 10 years) we must absolutely develop our own fossil-fuel resources. Drill wherever there is oil. I don’t care if it is Al Gore’s backyard, we go after it. We must be energy independent, we must fuel our economy as we transition to alternatives. This is what idiots like Obama, Pelosi, et al will not acknowledge or accept. The environmental risk of oil drilling is much less than in past years, not zero, but it is a risk we must take.

I don’t trust Obama and the Demcorite leadership on energy. They have shown no understanding or willingness to accept reality. They would take us right over the cliff.

No good.

I’ll again point that I haven’t said word one AGAINT nuclear power, again, a tactic used by you- not me.
I’m well aware of geothermal heating, and as you point out, I am also well aware of the price tag (expensive.) I’ve got a leaky OLD home with a shitty forced air system and yet still managed to keep my gas AND electric bill for the last three months below $25.00 (sorry I recycled the bill, I don’t have my kilowatt usage handy.) That, so you know, is 100% American earned dollars, I don’t get any sort of special assistance. I’m not rich but am in the fortunate situation of not requiring public assistance of any kind.

Again, yes, inflating tires does little (like ~1.5-3%) for gas economy, and while this is just an example, are you suggesting we DON’T do what we can? That hardly makes sense at all (and BTW- re: tune-ups: you don’t check plugs and wires, etc to make sure your engine is firing efficiently?)

Let’s again bag on solar, but as of 2002 the amount of energy beamed upon the planet in an hour (how many zettajoules? Like 3.5k?) was enough (if theoretically it could all be properly captured) to supply power to the world for a year? This is a resource that due to *current* price you’re willing to give up on?
Im sorry, I’m not that hopeless. Just because I can’t afford it at the moment doesn’t mean it isn’t viable in the (near) future.

I’m glad to hear you’re doing so much to help the planet, while I just talk about it. I really am. I’m also looking forward to the innovations you are in the process of mass producing. When can the public look forward to making use of them? Soon, I hope. Because if they aren’t it won’t just be economy the reds have ruined. There’s some stuff we just won’t be able to come back from.

BTW- I’d drop the air of smug superiority you attempt to promote, it makes you seem too liberal.

Thewn just moments later they glibly reported that 90% of “African’Americans” voted for Obama. Nope, no racism whatsoever there! No crawlers reporting on their educational level, nope, nothing at all. Move along, nothing to see here!

This is the kind of excrement that has replaced Reporting. These so-called Journalists are mostly just news readers and propgandists.

Keep in mind that the solar issue of only 15% over the foreseeable future is under a rightwing regime. If properly backed that number could increase, a LOT. BUT, lets assume you’re right”.

Do you see the logical flaw in your argument now? That’s exactly where I was leading you. WHY won’t solar be more than a small part of our electric power supply within the foreseeable future? Because it is very expensive (about $10 per W installed price in California). And that is AFTER (In California) the subsidies paid for by the California Energy Commission. The REAL cost is about $15 per kW. So what does “properly-backed” mean? The Gov’t subsidizes it even more? Increased demand from subsidies will only increase the prices; worldwide demand for PV panels still exceeds supply. At $15 per W, 2 7500W PV plant, which is about what most typical homes would need, would cost $112,500 to install. How long do you think that would take to pay for itself? Those PV panels don’t last forever; typical warranties are 20 or 25 years. And they start to drop off ion efficiency as they age. Have you ever really looked into this, calculated it? Do you understand any of this?

Do you know what Nuclear-generated electricity costs? Less than 5 cents per kWh, and that is with ALL costs (including decommissioning the plant).

So do you start to get it now? Do you see the practical problems, the economics? Or are you going to just stay in your comfort zone, blaming Right-wingers and spouting nonsense when the truth is quite well known and just requires some thought, analysis, and logic to arrive at.

Obama is a clueless idiot when it comes to energy production, energy policy, and the economics. Do you remember what he said about how if we just kept our tires properly inflated and got regular tune ups, it would go a long way? Keeping tires inflated would make a difference, a drop int he bucket. But would someone please tell this clueless idiot that cars don’t need tune ups anymore? haven’t for about 20 years or so.

The you disparage “right-wingers” and neatly just rationalize and dismiss it all by reverting to your talking point slogans. Honestly, you don’t appear to even understand what you are talking about.

And on a personal level, I have already done more than Al Gore to go green and save the planet. I am the designer of a leading edge high-brightness LED light engine that is in mass production and is going into commercial lighting. It saves anywhere from 70 to 85% of the power and lasts for 60,000 hrs plus with no maintenance. I am not just talking about saving energy, I am doing it and enabling others. My home uses less total energy than the typical home one quarter its size because I have a state-of-the-art Water Furnace geothermal HVAC system (very expensive), with hydronic radiant heat, super insulation, and an on-demand (tankless) water heater. So far from being some knuckle-dragging, oil and coal waster promoting the status quo, I am actually doing real things to make the situation better.

But the difference between me and the Al Gores, Osama Obamas, Nancy Pelosis, and other morons who just babble nonsense, is I am a realist. I understand the whole picture, what our options are, what the technology is or can do, and what actually MAKES SENSE an dis doable. And I am actually doing it, not just babbling about how we need to do it like these so-called leaders are (they are actually morons).

And you? You talk while I do.

Keep in mind that the solar issue of only 15% over the foreseeable future is under a rightwing regime. If properly backed that number could increase, a LOT. BUT, lets assume you’re right- drilling in alaska will only alleviate 3% of our needs… eventually. So, why is the right so hell bent to create an eco-disaster. Uh-oh, there’s that whackiness again: she mentioned the environment. I know, I know, oil spills are just par for the course, right? That’s a course I’m not will to play.

I’ll have you note YOU mentioned ethanol- I didn’t because, I know it has major problems. Hell if ford makes “flex fuel” vehicles there MUST be something wrong with the technology.

You keep throwing out the problems with renewable resources (as I would expect from an oil dependent right winger) but you also fail to note that photovoltaic batteries do, in fact, exist and are getting better all the time (unlike the clean burning coal solutions your boy McCain is hocking.) Why are you afraid of REALLY and truly exploring alternatives to fossil fuels? Remember the concern is that YOU (and your cohorts) will distract from the issue of alternative fuel sources- as has been done for the last 8 years. Also remember it is the greater good, not immediate convenience most of us “hippies” are concerned with.

Let me guess, you’re one of the folks who mock Obama for suggesting we each do our part to contribute to conservation (which is funny if you look at “conservation” and “conservative,” makes you wonder where you’re concerns REALLY lay… should I say “lie?”) God knows, no american should make sure their vehicle is properly tuned, or their tires are properly inflated, or that they shut the water off when not using it, or turn the lights off when the room is empty… god forbid!

Keep screaming and twisting about those of us who actually want to make things better. Hopefully, you will, soon(er than later) realize, it’s you and yours that are the problem. Keep shoveling your status quo. You’ll eventually drown in it.

“Given that he’s not black enough for most African Americans…”

Except that typically about 90% of them voted for Obama in the primaries.

This is fun, JMDOLCE. Like I use to say to San Francisco Liberal: Batter up!!!