Pelosi and her bretheren have really screwed the pooch over the last few weeks on this offshore drilling issue. When Palin came on board and threw ANWR into the mix, it really seemed to flummox all the dems, Obama included. Between the "rising star" personality she brought to the table and the pinch in American's pocketbooks, the Republicans have managed to take a nonsense proposal and make it seem like brave, maverick-y action.
It's time for drastic action on the Dem side as well. Everyone has pretty much agreed that this "Drill Here Drill Now" mantra is a symbolic guesture. Let's get symbolic, too, and then back it up with some kickass ideas, people!
If we can strike a deal (or even create the appearance of a deal) between the oil co.'s and environmental regulators instead of bickering with the Republicans, we might be able to grab this one back, and come out looking like the "Mavericks" who get things done.
Offshore drilling takes years to set up. So let's set up the setup. If we can get high level democrats in power (Pelosi, Reid) to organize a sit down between the EPA and the domestic producers, we might be able to put together some nice stagecraft while actually getting something done.
A partial lifting the ban should be offered as a bargaining chip in exchange for total transparency, hightened environmental regulation, and complete investment of profits in renewables and environmental cleanup. Development of current un-drilled leases should also be required.
We've made a platform out of being "against big oil". Why don't we shift that to "make big oil work for us, in a serious way, or lose their right to do business in our country"?
I'm sure we could also find some kind of incentive to help keep domestically produced reserves in the American market (a huge sticking point on drilling). A subsidy of a penny or two a barrel should be adequate in such a large, tight market. We could simply redirect the taxes we already charge on oil into this tiny subsidy, and if applied correctly, it could help make sure that American production boosts American supply. The Republicans haven't touched this, and making it a make-or-break point will put them on the spot in a way that they are not prepared for.
As for natural gas, pretty much everyone agrees that we need to develop our reserves. The problems arise from infrastructure concers. There's a whole faction that thinks we'll all be in NG Ford Trucks in six months, while it's totally unrealistic. We need pipelines and fueling stations and a whole new fleet of vehicles, not to mention safety and environmental laws to regulate them! That's a long, long way off. So let's use the NG, immediately, to produce electricity, close to the source, reduce transmission costs, and close some older, filthy coal plants. This will shore up (or at least quiet) some of our enviro base, while showing willingness to be pragmatic on oil/gas energy issues. Five Maverick points.
Now that we've settled the pressing questions of domestic fossil fuel reserves (and it really is that easy), we can refocus our gaze on renewables. Obama's enegy plan is pretty fantastic, but it has none of the name recognition pizzaz of "The Lexington Plan" or the "Boone Pickens Plan". We need a good name, a good commercial and most importantly, some bold new aspects with creative flair and common-sense appeal.
How about levvying a tax on purchasing large, SUV and non-commerical truck vehicles and apply that tax towards subsidies for small, smart cars, personal electric mopeds and public transportation? That's a home run piece of legislation right there, pays for itself. Not a soul in America would oppose it.
How about temporarily redirecting the gas tax from highway construction (except for crucial, needed infrastructure repairs) to subsidizing the creation of new car plants (bid contracts to our struggling american car builders) to produce smart cars, plug-in hybrids and full-electric vehicles. Another portion of that money could go to expanding passenger and freight rail networks, starting with Amtrack and finishing with something breathtakingly modern and forward thinking, like a 200 mph electric bullet train connecting major cities in the northeast. Ten Maverick points.
Since America is already going into the mortgage business, why not go into the car loan business too? We can offer interest-free loans for low emission/consumption vehicles! The biggest complaint is that the damn things are too expensive... If our banks and mortgage lenders want the massive bailout that's coming, they should have to give us something in return. That's a tough stance, and an easy sell all at once. Makes us look ballsy and smart at the same time. Twenty maverick points.
A major problem with renewable energy is that it still seems "future-y" to the unwashed masses. Our modern energy solutions need to be as in-your-face as the parade of fueling station billboards on our nation's highways. How about this? Build long stretches of solar panels along the sides of our freeways in major cities. They can have change-able panels so we can upgrade to better ones in the future, we can power the cities with them wihtout having to transmit the juice from the desert, at least partially, and it will be a huge PR point that shows that we are serious about solar, and lack of space for big ugly powerplants be damned.
The point of all of this is that there are creative solutions to serious problems. A broad, overarching proposal that includes strong plans for fossil fuels, but revolutionary plans for renewables will make the Republican's "Drill Here, Drill Now" look like the dog an pony show that it is.
Obama's plan is strong, but he's been unclear (at least in the media) on how we'll pay for it. He's been unclear what "responsible development" of our resources is, and to Repugs that sounds like foot dragging and burecratic hand-wringing until we all forget about it, and it goes away. He needs to get down and dirty with this plan, and present it like the powerhouse that it is. And he needs a snappy name, and a kickass slogan... something that evokes something revolutionary, and forward thinking. Like "The Tesla Initiative"... "Greenvolt Transition"... "Energy Evolution for the 21st Century"... "The Hawking Plan"... You know, something that could be a plot point on Lost.
The dems are strong, but we need to sell our plan with panache. Right now we're getting smokescreened by a fucking slogan! The emporer has no clothes! Can't we come up with something that just sounds better? Something that seems clever? Something that is, on it's face, creative and mavericky and bold? We've gotta be smart here!
Hope to see some great slogans and names in the comments.