Richter is doing some homework...

...but still hasn't visited the blog, as far as I can tell. Instead, he sends me 10 texts between midnight and 1 AM... like I work swing-shift anymore!

To boil it down for you guys, the man is saying that the problem with Mac is that his policies and plans are inseparable from Bush's agendas for the last 8 years... and that is bad.

Foregoing the fact that "change" for change's sake can also be bad, let's just focus on what he's beefing about, and see if we can draw him into the Bund discussion, shall we? That way, we all get to enjoy ripping him a new one. Hehe...

To start, let's lay down some ground rules. Bush has been President for 8 years, and McCain is still trying to get there. Thus, we have to weigh what Mac "plans" against what Bush has actually done.

So, let's start with energy. We know that in the summer of 2001, Bush repealed all regulation on speculation pricing for crude oil on the American commodity markets. Since that time, we have seen a 35% increase in our national capacity to refine oil domestically (even after Katrina and Rita), a 150% increase in the production AND sales of hybrid vehicles (averaged over the last 7 years), and a 17% increase in our importation of foreign crude oil to meet growing needs... and the cost of a gallon of gasoline has increased more than 300% in the same time period.

Prior to the lifting of the ban on speculation pricing, the average high-low difference in the price of a barrel of crude oil on the world markets (the 3 largest world commodity markets are located within the USA) was $37. Since the ban was lifted, we have seen the price go from $35/bbl to $150/bbl. Unregulated speculation on the price of a commodity that is SO vital to the economic heart of this society has driven the price of oil to heights never before dreamed of... and there is NO question that it has had a negative impact on our economy.

Reverting back to a "regulated" market pricing for oil would stabalize the price, smooth the market, and provide less of a shock to the economy every time the world saw another "hic-up" in the socio-political landscape. THIS is part of McCain's energy plan.

Bush has, for the last 5 years, pushed long and hard for increased domestic drilling and exploration of our national oil and gas reserves... but has accomplished next to nothing (with the exception of lifting the moritorium on off-shore drilling at a Federal level). No measurable increase in domestic supply has been seen in the last 8 years, but this isn't completely his fault. I blame this far more on the actions (and in-actions) of a Democraticly-controlled Congress, but it was Bush's watch, so it counts against him.

Mac can now benefit from an America that is SICK of $4/gallon gasoline and sees increased domestic oil production as a viable, short-term solution (which it is... no question). Mac also recognizes the benefits of Federal incentives to push the economy and society in general towards non-petroleum fuels and energy, and he is in position to take advantage of that swing in opinion, where Bush wasn't. If Alaska, or Florida, or California, or West Virginia, or Pennsylvania want to allow drilling for oil and gas, off shore or on land... who is the Federal government to say NO? Leave the decision up to the States... it's their revenue, after all, and the more they can drum up, the less they need from the Feds. Imagine ALL the States I listed above being just like Alaska and NOT needing a dime of Federal money to help meet shortfalls in their State budgets! Imagine California having a budget SURPLUS due to oil and gas revenues generated off-shore! Is the view off 6 miles of San Diego beaches really worth THAT much to the Sacramento "in-crowd"? Give me a break...

Mac has promised to give a $5,000 tax break to anyone in America that buys a 100% FFV by 2010. He has promised to give a $300 million prize to any company that can create and market a battery that is clean, safe, and can power a car for 400+ miles at highway speeds. He has promised $500 million in corporate tax breaks to any oil company that can convert existing distribution facilities to duel-fuel capacity by 2012 (meaning pumps for gas and hydrogen on a commercial/consumer level). He isn't promising to SPEND anything... he is offering these incentives by promising not to TAKE anymore from the consumers and producers of the nation that meet the goals required. That alone is a really refreshing bit of news.

I have to get in the shower for work... more later.