Important Cheney speech to read. Cheney hasn't been heard from in months. Here is one of his last speeches. And notice in particular the Big Lie about only 2000 acres of ANWAR being drilled. In reality that only counts one acre per rig and none of the roads and pipelines connecting them all, in other words they drill the whole place and ruin it permanently.
TORONTO (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney warned on Monday that the whole nation could face California-style blackouts as he outlined a national energy strategy relying heavily on oil, natural gas and nuclear power development - but not conservation.
"The aim here is efficiency, not austerity," Cheney told editors and publishers at The Associated Press annual meeting. The nation cannot "simply conserve or ration our way out of the situation we're in." (lie)
It was his first trip outside Washington for official vice presidential business, made possible, he joked, when President Bush invited the Senate to lunch - "the best way to ensure no tie votes while I was out of town." Bush invited all members of Congress to the White House to mark the first 100 days of his administration.
Cheney addressed concerns about his history of four heart attacks by jokingly offering to do jumping jacks. More seriously, he said, "If I ever get to the point where my doctors believe that it's not wise or prudent for me to continue in this capacity, obviously I'd step aside." (he'll need the excuse soon)
In his first extensive remarks about the energy recommendations his Cabinet-level task force will make to Bush by the end of May, Cheney blamed current shortages (what shortages?) on shortsighted decisions in the past. He said that conservation, while perhaps "a sign of personal virtue," does not make for sound or comprehensive policy. (and California now has a serious energy glut because of conservation)
Saving the specifics - and the price tags - for his boss to review and then announce (hundreds of billions in tax breaks and windfall profits to Big Energy out of our pockets), Cheney promised "a mix of new legislation, some executive action (they'll force on us) as well as private initiatives" (backroom deals with his energy cronies) to cope with rising energy prices and growing demand. (no longer rising or growing in fact the opposite sicne they stopped creating artificial shortages and gouging us)
He said anew that the administration intends to push for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge despite strong congressional opposition. (he doesn't care what we think he wants to destroy wild habitat)
He definitively rejected turning to price controls, tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or creating new bureaucracies. (won't get in the way of cronies gouging us)
Over the next two decades, it will take between 1,300 and 1,900 new power plants - or one every week for 20 years - just to meet projected increases in nationwide demand, Cheney said. (total lie, maybe 13 - 19 plants needed)
Energy shortages in California already have forced rolling blackouts. And he said, "Without a clear, coherent energy strategy for the nation, all Americans could one day go through what Californians are experiencing now, or even worse." (energy shortages were created by his buddies holding back energy during the crisis to make more money and punish Grey Davis and California for being Democrats)
The vice president, who made tens of millions of dollars as an oil services' company executive (as soon as he left office doing business with our enemies Iran and Iraq), made no bones about placing oil, coal and other fossil fuels at the center of his recommendations. (only likes dirty polluting fuels because only their lobby gives him soft money)
Alternative fuels are still "years down the road," he said. (thanks to him and the Bush Admin. immediately killing the programs to develop them)
The Bush administration wants to open the Arctic refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, a controversial (wasteful, greedy, destructive) plan that could be executed, Cheney said, with very little disruption to the refuge's 19 million acres of natural habitat: "The amount of land affected by oil production would be 2,000 acres, less than one-fifth the size of (the Washington area's) Dulles Airport." (total lie as described to begin once you read the fine print)
Along with additional exploration must come new refineries, Cheney said, noting that it has been 20 years since a large oil refinery was built in the United States. (but we have a glut of gas now and refineries pollute the hell out of our air)
He also suggested federal initiatives to boost the use of hydroelectric dams and the construction of new nuclear power plants. He called nuclear power "a safe, clean, very plentiful energy source." (destroy rivers and dump nuclear waste somewhere it seeps into water tables. safe my ass. What a liar.)
Although one-fifth of the nation's electricity is nuclear-generated, the industry has not sought a government permit to build a new plant in more than 20 years, since before the accident at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island. (And for good reason, look what 3 Mile Island almost did)
In developing hydroelectric power, Cheney said the Bush administration, whose environmental record has been sharply questioned by activists, would be "mindful of the fish and wildlife affected by manmade dams." (yes on private lands owned by the very rich only, like his private trout stream abd GW's private bass pond)
He put in a good word for coal, which he said remains the most available, most affordable way to generate electric power. The Bush administration has budgeted an additional $150 million for next year to support development of cleaner coal technologies. (coal also the filthiest source of energy adding to global greenhouse gases which is why they refuse to help on the Kyoto Treaty)
On natural gas, Cheney called for some 38,000 miles of additional pipeline and thousands of miles of added distribution lines to bring natural gas into homes and businesses. He did not mention expanded exploration off the eastern Gulf of Mexico. (okay some NG we could use but no more 500% price gouging like his buddies just put us through in California)
Acting on a campaign proposal, the president is committed to extending offshore oil and gas drilling to the eastern Gulf of Mexico in a tract that, in some areas, comes within 30 miles of the western tip of the Florida Panhandle. (Hew wants to drill off every coastline in America including our most pristine and beautiful areas, Florida, California and N. Carolina, what an A-hole. Residents there HATE the idea)
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is seeking re-election amid widespread local opposition to the drilling, has petitioned the administration to cancel an auction of new drilling leases. (Because Jeb wants to get re-elected) |
