Did Anyone Notice McCain Has No Energy Policy?

[IntertubeGuy]

We've been beating this drum at the Drexel Democrats blog for over a month, but not many people have pointed out that McCain has no energy policy. Not just a bad energy policy, or a weak policy, but genuinly no policy at all.

I first noticed it back in January when I was examining his issues page. I was pretty surprised, but I was even more surprised when I started digging. McCain gave a speech on energy in April 2007, a speech that was particularly devoid of specific proposals. He focused on the need to end our dependence on foreign oil, mostly from a national security point of veiw, but didn't offer details about how he would go about doing it. He's also spoken out in favor of nuclear power, and higher (though without specifiying details) CAFE standards.

However, McCain has yet to put out a comprehensive energy policy, in a policy paper, a speech, or on his website. In mid May he released his cap-and-give proposal, but absent a larger energy policy.

At the Drexel Democrats blog we're counting the days that McCain has been running for president without an energy policy (414 right now). First, we highlighted Obama's and Clinton's plans. Then we compared Obama's and McCain's cap-and-trade proposals. On day 410 we explained revenue decoupling, which Obama has stated his support for and McCain is silent on. Finally, today we looked at what a McCain energy policy probably will look like, but pointed out that the lack of priority that he affords it is shocking.

John McCain is hoping that nobody cares enough about production and investment tax credits, revenue decoupling, basic and applied research in our universities and national labs, a national smart grid, hundreds of thousands of green economy jobs, and a clean and safe energy supply, to notice that he doesn't have an energy policy.

[yourout]

1. Sure he does.........give as much money as possible to big oil.

[IntertubeGuy]

5. Then at least make him say it.

I know he has a record of votes and statements on the matter, but he hasn't been concerned enough to even out it in a policy. How can we hold politicians accountable if we don't hold them accountable as candidates. Wait a second, I just remembered the 2000 and 2004 elections. Nevermind.

[liberal N proud]

2. He has gas

When it builds up, he leans to one side and if the nurse doesn't sit him back up, he farts.

Doesn't that count as an energy policy?

[frogcycle]

3. did anyone notice mccain has no brain?

seriously - it's as if the rightwing loonies extracted it and installed a remote control device. his energy policy is whatever cheney and his cronies cooked up seven years ago. end of discussion

[kristopher]

4. His energy and climate change policies are simple

Build nuclear plants - lots and lots and lots of them.

[ashling]

6. McCain's Energy Policy: Ensure

[jwirr]

7. McSame has the *ss policy - 100 years in the ME with 58 bases. nt

[hisownpetard]

8. McCain has no energy policy? McCain has no energy, period.

[losthills]

9. Problem is: Obama doesn't have one either.

It's all sunshine about Ethanol, "Clean" Coal and "Safe and Secure" nuclear energy.

Not much different from McCain's, as far as I can tell....

[IntertubeGuy]

10. That's just an ignorant thing to say.

Obama supports cellulosic ethanol, not food based. His cap-and-trade would make new coal economically disadvantageous, he has $150 billion allocated for investment into renewables, and a doubling of federal money for research. Also, he would use the proceeds of the cap-and-trade permit auctions to finance it (McCain gives the permits away, and allows unlimited domestic and international offsets). Obama also supports creating a federal VC fund for emerging clean technologies.

He supports extending the PTC (McCain opposes). Obama supports federal incentives to promote states to move to revenue decoupling of their electric utilities (McCain has no position). Obama also supports higher CAFE standards and a robust renewable energy portfolio standard.

Yes, Obama sees a place for nuclear power, but if anti-nuclear is your game, I don't think you'll find an ally in McCain...

Anything else you're curious about?

BTW, how did voting for Nader work out? He got a killer energy policy passed!

[losthills]

11. Oh the "Thou shalt not question the annointed one" response.

Ethanol is ethanol-- Obama endorses both kinds.

Coal is coal-- Obama is for it.

Nuclear is nuclear-- he supports the same nuclear power McCain does, and he takes silver from the same palms.

And his stand on Iraq is not much different, either. I don't think I have ever seen an election where the positions of the two major candidates were this close together on the important issues of our day. If Jefferson and Madison could see this, they would literally stand there and weep....

[IntertubeGuy]

12. Ok, I can't tell if you're kidding.

There needs to be some kind of "ignorant cynic" corollary to Poe's Law.

I'll let Ezra Klein rebut you, by way of that LA Times editorial a week ago.

A week ago, I laughed off fears that any reporters in America would be dim enough to argue that Barack Obama and John McCain, contrary to what they say and what their policies suggest, are actually quite close to each other ideologically. Today, the LA Times takes a shot at proving me wrong. Happily, the Times' editorial page isn't quite able to convince itself of this bit of tomfoolery, but they give it a go. I hereby promise to never again underestimate the media's ability to turn any campaign into an ideas free contest of personalities.

I mean, if you don't consider their stated (and McCain's as yet unstated) policies, then sure, Obama and McCain are totally the same. Nader/LaRouche '08!

(Edited for typos)

[Zachstar]

14. Someone needs to read the rules.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6344459&mesg_id=6344459

[kristopher]

13. I dont know about that.

PA, WV and KY are by far the largest coal producers in the country. I don't think it was because of Hillary that he didn't do well there. In all three cases Hillary had the state parties behind her. Why do you think that was?

[IntertubeGuy]

15. Obama does have a cozy past with coal in IL

But his cap and trade is robust enough to make serious dents in the stranglehold coal has on the electric market share.