Pardon My Gas

Oil and Gas fuel our cars and heat our homes. Not the sun, not ethanol and certainly not the wind. Not on a realistic scale anyway.

I'm wondering if anyone in Congress realizes what our energy policies and roadblocks are really doing to our economy. I've been reading lately that sales of battery powered and hybrid cars are slim to none. Why? They just aren't practical. I was reading an ad this morning where you can go all of 100 miles on one charge. That means I could barely get up to Sandpoint to visit a friend, and back.

How many wind turbines does it require to produce enough energy to supply a town the size of Coeur d'Alene for a year? Where would we put them anyway?  And how do we get the power to the grid?  How do even more remote places do it?  They don't.

Solar panels? The same thing. Not practical when the "sun don't shine".   Ethanol for your car gives poorer mileage and is hard on the engine.  What's the point other than giving subsidies to farmers.  Eat the corn!  It's good for you!

I'm not saying these ideas are all bad. I am suggesting we're cutting off our nose to spite our face with technologies that are not yet ready for prime time. If not in this country, certainly nowhere else.

Consider China's up and coming love affair with the automobile. Consider the expanse of that country. To get from point A to point B in a battery powered car is laughable. Forget ethanol, forget solar and wind. Good old gas power is the up and comer.

Third world countries too. As they develop industry it isn't going to be powered by solar or wind but gas, oil and coal.

Hampering the exploration for and development of fields in this country and off shore makes no sense. Isn't it better to use our own? Consider, too, that world market I just outlined. Who is going to supply them? Canada? China? Venezuela? All the gas and oil producing middle eastern countries?  Getting rich. Healthy economies. Oil at $90 a barrel. Why? Because they can. And we're stuck with it because we deny ourselves sources of our own.

I hope Congress will be happy commuting on bicycles. Of course it will cut down the length of their sessions which isn't all bad. It will completely destroy what's left of the airline industry. And every other industry that uses oil in any phase of manufacturing - be it an ingredient in a product or a lubrication for machinery.

Unintended consequences. That's what our government policies do best at creating.

For me, I'll stick to our 10 cylinder Ford 250. Driven at a reasonable speed we get reasonable mileage. We get to our destination in reasonable time and safely in a reasonably sized vehicle.

I ride my bike around the neighborhood. What's next? Hair shirts? The only one's around here are on the dogs. Where they belong.

Political Lip Service

Here we are two days into the new year. I have a few thoughts that I should readdress in about six months to see if I'm right.

From just what I've heard on the talk shows today, I think the Republicans are going to have trouble with the Tea Partiers. Many of them have never served in public office; therefore they don't know how the game is played. For the most part I don't think they care. That could be good or bad. If they cause division within their ranks, the Republicans are sunk. It will be interesting to see if the leadership can handle them. I have my doubts.

The leadership has additional problems. The Democrats. They still hold the Senate. And Nancy Pelosi is still their leader in the house. I don't expect to see a climate of cooperation in either.

Then there is the President. He says he's willing to listen to anyone who has a good idea. The problem is is just what is a good idea? Remember the one time he sat down with Republicans during the health care debate? They came in with a slew of 'good ideas'. All of which Obama ignored. He won, as he reminded them. The definition belongs to him. I don't expect him to give much ear time to the Republicans after an initial display for the sake of public relations.

It's far too soon to even be asking whether or not Obama will be a one term President. Right now the Republicans have no one really attractive to dangle in front of us as an alternative. Those with real potential say they will not run.

The biggest worry to me is if Obama gets a second term, any move toward the center he may make now will disappear. He is not a man of the center, never has been and never will be. On that he is not evolving!

This is where we have to especially observant. If we really want the intrusion of government into our lives as has already begun, give him his second term. If we do not, we may have to swallow our distaste and vote Republican for that reason alone.

It never seems to change. Hold your nose and vote or don't vote. I wonder which choice will prevail.

Big Sis Is Taking Her Show On The Road!

The urge to post has been overwhelming. Especially since there is so much going on that's receiving little play. But then, it is a holiday and the last for awhile.

I just have to weigh in on Janet Napolitano once again. She has always struck me as being a very frightening person. It's because of the way she wears her power. It's with an iron fist paired with an exterior so blank I often wonder if what's inside is merely programmed. And not too well.

Oh, that's harsh. I'm sure she's a very nice lady. And this post has me chuckling over the ironies of our world. Here, in America, we have some of the most invasive security measures in existence. The fight over that is not yet over.

But the irony of Napolitano and her department advising the Afghans on how to better protect their borders is what's overwhelming me! Two things in particular. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is so porous the Taliban and al Qaeda come and go at will. They smuggle weapons and drugs. Hmmm. That she is familiar with a similar situation cannot be denied. Were I the Afghans, I'd suggest she tend to her own house first. Besides, why shouldn't we be first? We are her country!

The second thing that has me chuckling is the supposition she  might recommend security measures like we have. You know. Full body scanners! With the Muslim views on modesty I see that as a big no. With the scanners inability to pick up explosives if properly placed anyway, why bother?

Gee. Why can't the same arguments work for us?

One other little stickler in the source material. The article says the idea of including more of our government agencies in the war and nation building effort in Afghanistan was the brain child of the late Richard Holbrooke.  Nation building effort?  Where did that come from?  But of course it is.  We're just not supposed to say it.

The serious side of this is I'm sorry Holbrooke died. I'm wondering if this isn't an idea that should have died with him.

Out With The Old

Wouldn't it be great if you could look into a crystal ball and see the world being cleaned up? Talk about wishful thinking!

The next couple of nights television will be filled with reviews of the year past. I wonder if anyone will try to look into the future!

Will we get out of Iraq as scheduled? They have said in no uncertain terms it is not negotiable! Will we make progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan or are more of our soldiers going to lose their lives in  what looks more and more like a lost cause?

What will Israel do about Iran's nuclear program? What will Britain do about being a haven for terrorists?

So many questions. Will the Republicans do anything worthwhile with the opportunity given them? I have severe doubts. Same old leadership. Groan.

Then there is the absurd. Will Obama come up with a real birth certificate? While he's at it he could provide his transcripts from Columbia and Harvard. I'd like to know just how much of a scholar he really is!

Will we finally get tired enough of Sarah Palin and Christine O'Donnell for them to disappear from the media? That can go for a few dozen celebrities too!

Will NoLabels or The Modern Whigs  come to the fore as a viable third party?

Well, there you have it. Some of what I'll be watching. I'll keep most of my predictions to myself. I'm too likely to be wrong.  I hope.

Oh, last but certainly not least! Will Brett Favre finally retire?