I bug my elected officials regularly with e-mails and occasional phone calls. (hat tip to progressivesecretary.org!)
Once in a while, I get a response, and this latest one from Senator Udall was extremely distressing, because although he's not very liberal in general, he has a reputation for being an environmentalist.
I don't see how one can possibly be an environmentalist while supporting expanded nuclear power and oil shale, which leads me to ask the cynical question: With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?
I like dailykos because they support 'better' Democrats, and not just more of them. But in Udall's case, I'm pessimistic.
Here is the letter Udall sent me:
Mr. [retro postmodernist],
Thank you for contacting me about important debates in Congress on energy reform and legislation to reduce carbon pollution. I appreciate that you took the time to share your specific concerns with me about these critical issues.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and, more importantly, as a Westerner, I am very concerned about our energy future. Our dependence on foreign sources of energy jeopardizes national security and limits economic development at home. A smart, ambitious energy plan that takes advantage of all of our domestic energy options will create jobs for Americans, improve security, help the environment, and place America at the forefront of the next great global revolution - the clean energy revolution.
That is why I support a comprehensive energy plan, including responsible drilling for oil and natural gas, fast-tracking renewable energy sources and energy efficiency technology, and safely expanding nuclear power. Natural gas, in particular, will be an important bridge fuel between the carbon-intensive fuel sources of the last century and the clean energy economy of the 21st century. We should also continue oil shale and clean coal research, although most experts agree these technologies are still far from being commercially viable.
I also strongly believe that comprehensive energy legislation should include a federal renewable electricity standard (RES). Colorado is a leader in clean energy, thanks in part to our state RES, which I helped pass, that was recently amended to require 30 percent of the state's electricity to be produced by renewable energy resources by 2020. I believe the federal government must adopt a renewable energy standard, and I am helping to lead the fight to require utilities to produce at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable electricity sources by 2025.
In addition, we must act to address the threats posed by the emission of greenhouse gases from combustion of fossil fuels, including finding ways to reduce pollution and adapt to our changing climate. There are numerous efforts underway in the U.S. Senate to combat these problems, including a comprehensive, bipartisan energy reform package approved by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in June 2009 and a bill to put a price on carbon - the American Power Act recently introduced by Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman. In this debate, my overriding goal is to strengthen our economy and reduce carbon pollution to benefit Coloradans and future generations. The best way to accomplish that, in my opinion, is to put a price on carbon pollution and unleash the power of our energy sector to begin building the clean energy future. Please know that as this process unfolds in the coming weeks and months, your concerns will help inform the decisions I make, and I will always keep the best interest of Coloradans as my highest priority.
I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.
Warm regards,
Signature
Mark Udall
U.S. Senator, Colorado
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If only we had a parliamentary system of proportional representation so I could vote Green Party and abandon Democrats like these. But alas, we don't have a very democratic political system, so I am stuck. And the worst part is that Udall is very charismatic and therefore unlikely to be threatened in a Democratic primary.
I'm open to ideas from all you kossacks out there.