US debt becoming national security threat

Worried about our trillion dollar deficit

Ouch. Hillary Clinton slammed ex-Treasury Secretary Allan Greenspan for "outrageous" policies during his tenure that have resulted in a skyrocketing national deficit and become a national security risk.

So why not some out of-the-box actions, Mrs Clinton? For instance, let's stop importing so much foreign oil into the US. In fact, let's declare war on foreign oil dependence.

While I'm not a big fan of oil drilling in the US - it seems a step backward to me - I'd be willing to compromise if such an energy bill included new tax credits for hybrid cars, clean diesel vehicles, etc.

Moreover, lets attack our natural gas supplies immediately and aggressively. Its cleaner than gasoline and its right here in America. Furthermore, it sends the message that a new world order is coming in energy, and America WILL be energy independent by 2030.

Seriously, foreign oil dependence is already a significant threat to national security, adding our national debt atop this threat only adds insult to injury.

Jobs. Cheaper and cleaner energy. Less Debt. Safer country. Natural gas might not be perfect and its only a piece of the larger solution, but it can be a hugely important piece, especially in the interim, as we develop more long term solutions.

And, frankly, any politician against such change shouldn't be in office. In fact, the fact that there isn't such a movement storming through Congress already makes me think most politicians in Congress right now don't belong. Just another reason to vote against the incumbents.

So, c'mon Madam Secretary, outside of the President no one is in a better position to lead the charge against foreign oil dependence. Besides it'd sure look pretty Presidential.

Foreign oil dependency: Bush versus Clinton

Foreign oil dependency, Iraq and Bush

Today, there is an article on CNN's Political Ticker, The Donald: Time for Bush to go into hiding.
In the article, Donald Trump reiterates his belief that George W. Bush is probably the worst President ever - a sentiment which seems intrinsically linked to the War in Iraq.

Yet, would the War in Iraq have happened if not for America's foreign oil dependency? Would 9/11 have happened?

How responsible is Bush for America's foreign oil dependency? How responsible are other politicians? How responsible are the people of America?

Finish: Foreign oil dependency? Is Bush the worst President ever?

Foreign oil dependency: Jobs versus National Security

Can America survive a couple more decades of foreign oil dependency?

So, the Senate has already watered down their original CAFE plan, and more diluting should be expected in the House, as Detroit-influenced lobbyists storm the halls of Congress. When all is said and done, you'll probably be able to drive a fleet of Hummers through all the gaping CAFE loopholes.

Obviously, Detroit has no choice. When around 70 percent of your business comes from selling the most fuel-inefficient vehicles, the phrase 'fuel economy' becomes fighting words. Besides, isn't Detroit just trying to protect American jobs and an important part of America's economy?

Yet, are those jobs more important than National Security? When a line can be drawn from the first Persian Gulf War to Bin Laden to 9/11 to Afghanistan back to Iraq because of foreign oil dependency, isn't it time to start asking serious questions and to take serious actions?

Reid says CAFE will happen

Wow, Reid and Bush agree! America needs to get tough on foreign oil dependency

"I know the auto industry is still wavering on this issue," Reid told a Washington think tank. "I met with the CEOs of the Big Three automakers last week, and here is what I told them: The debate on raising CAFE standards is over. It will happen."

"Perhaps if they had joined us instead of fighting us these last 20 years, they might not be in the financial mess they're in today," Reid said. "But now is their chance to do the right thing -- both for their bottom line and for the American people. And if President Bush is truly serious about raising CAFE, he'll help us pass this bill."

(DetroitNews)

Republicans suck: Why doesn't the right care about foreign oil dependency?

What do you stand for elephant?

Back in March I posted the article, Democrats suck: Why no Toyota hybrid tax credits? And they do suck. But, to be fair, Republicans also suck.

With Republicans in control of Congress, President Bush asked Congress to extend the hybrid vehicle tax credit. Yet Congress did nothing.

Why?

Didn't the Republicans in Congress care about foreign oil dependency?

Even Bin Laden - the scorn of the Republican Party - has connected 9/11 and other terrorist activities quite directly and indirectly to foreign oil. Bin Laden even considers oil to be the Achilles heal of America.

Thus, National Security hawks, such as James Woolsey, have called foreign oil dependency the greatest threat to American National Security. As a result Woolsey has become a huge proponent of hybrid vehicles - he drives a Toyota Prius - and, particularly, plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Yet Republicans did nothing, despite the claim they are strong on terrorism?

Really? Or, only when it is convenient?

Americans should be doing everything possible to address foreign oil dependency, yet Democrats, albeit poorly, are the only ones really pushing what should be a core Republican value, national security.

Extending the hybrid tax credit is something that should be done right now. If extending the hybrid tax credit - if striving for foreign oil independence as quick as possible - is bad for American automakers, then maybe a few U.S. automakers just aren't very good for America.

Nonetheless, I still say the Democrat Party sucks, it just sucks a little less than the Republican Party regarding foreign oil dependency. Of course neither Party has ever really done anything about foreign oil dependency

Do actions speak louder than words?

What does your car say about you?

I know many people whom live in the dumpiest apartment, yet they drive a Lexus or some huge gas-guzzling SUV. When their car payments and insurance are combined, these people are paying half a monthly mortgage on a car lease. Not only will these people probably never own a house, a recent study I read says they will probably die in poverty.

--> Finish What do cars say about American culture?

Hard on Iraq, soft on foreign oil dependency?

Likes to slam war in Iraq, yet soft on foreign oil dependency?

I think today's two party political system is just short of becoming a complete joke. I'm an issue orientated guy, yet issues seem to matter little in Washington.

Self-proclaimed national-security-protecting Republicans couldn't seem to care less about the most important national security facing America: foreign oil dependency. On the other hand, Democrats criticize the Iraq War and big oil companies, yet protect Detroit's gas-guzzling-creating culture.

Anyway, two of Michigan's leading Democrats have proposed a new CAFE plan, according to the DetroitNews, that insulates Detroit's most fuel-efficient vehicles, light trucks and SUVs, from any real increase. The plan does, however, at least include money to develop plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Cars & Global warming: Does anyone care?

Foreign oil dependency fighter

Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, are extremely clean and loved by numerous greens. Hybrids, such as the Prius, are also loved by national security hawks whom realize that if every American drove a vehicle as efficient as the Prius, America could end foreign oil dependency.

While some Americans argue about the reality of man-made CO2 caused global warming, few can argue that foreign oil dependency is not a significant threat to national security. Fortunately, however, fighting foreign oil dependency, inevitably, also fights global warming.

Perhaps, at least in the very near term, it would be better for greens to focus on foreign oil dependency, rather than global warming, at least when it comes to automobiles?

Foreign oil dependency: Hillary versus Obama

Winning is the only thing that matters?

According to the DetroitNews, Hillary Clinton is going to try very hard to distance herself from Barack Obama and his stance on Detroit and U.S. automakers. Mr.Obama wants to see significant increases in U.S. fuel economy and a move towards hybrid vehicles due to the dangers of foreign oil dependency and global warming.

Hillary, on the other hand, doesn't want to risk any votes by speaking the truth. Well, sometimes the truth hurts, and the truth is that U.S. automakers need to become as aggressive as possible regarding foreign oil dependency. There's no way to candy-coat that reality.

On that issue Barack Obama is dead-on.

I guess since Hillary saved the health care system, she probably has the perfect plan to save U.S. automakers as well.

Memorial Day - Celebrate Foreign Oil Dependence!

Honor our soldiers by buying a foreign-oil dependence-increasing gas-guzzler?

Heading into the Memorial Day Weekend, U.S. automakers are beginning an ad campaign to convince Americans that CAFE increases are bad for America. Such a move, they argue, is too expensive, too limiting and too unsafe.

How safe and cost effective is America's foreign oil dependence?

The world is on the brink of massive chaos - chaos significantly created and nurtured by America's dependence upon cheap, foreign oil - yet we do nothing? Even worse, heading into the Memorial Day weekend, U.S. automakers launch a campaign to warn America about the dangers of trying to do something about foreign oil dependency?

Nice timing.

Still, I understand that it won't be easy to end foreign oil dependency - it's our generation's moonshot, some have called it. But with every crisis there is an opportunity.

Detroit needs to stop telling America that's it too expensive to end foreign oil dependence. Rather Detroit needs to work with Congress to create a real-world plan to end foreign oil dependency.

Enough partisanship. Enough politics. Enough profiteering. It's time for action, not excuses. It's time for leadership.

The benefits of ending foreign oil dependency could revolutionize the U.S. auto industry and U.S. manufacturing, while inspiring a nation to greatness. The costs of not acting, however, threaten not just the U.S. auto industry, but the entire U.S. economy - not to mention our security.

Will we, the consumers, voters and tax-payers of America, demand it?

Are Michigan Democrats really Democrats?

Is Nancy Pelosi's biggest problem her own party?

Do Democrats really care about global warming and foreign oil dependency? While the answer to that question seems like a resounding yes, why is it that some Democrats are the BIGGEST laggards regarding real CAFE increases and real action on global warming? Isn't that supposed to be the domain of Big Oil-influenced Republicans?

At some point Democrats might have to ask, "Are Michigan Democrats really Democrats."

John Dingell (D) of Michigan is one of the biggest forces preventing a serious increase in CAFE, even though hybrid cars demonstrate that the CAFE requirements proposed for 2020 are essentially achievable today. Yet, Dingell has ripped....(Finish: CAFE: Can Democrats put Michigan in check?)