Bush Finally Gets It Right

But it certainly did not come without a cost.  In order for President Bush to sign landmark energy legislation, we had to give him a 550+ billion spending bill that includes additional money for the Iraq War - without a timetable mind you.

Because it’s far too depressing to discuss the spending bill, so I’ll focus on the energy bill.  According to Speaker Pelosi’s blog, The Gavel, the bill does the following:

Strengthens National Security
· Increases vehicle fuel efficiency to 35 miles per gallon in 2020—the first congressional increase in 32 years.
· Slashes U.S. oil consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day by 2030—more than twice our daily imports from the Persian Gulf.
· Expands American-grown biofuels to 36 billion gallons in 2022.

Reduces Global Warming
· Cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 by 24 percent of what is needed to save the planet.
· Increased vehicle fuel efficiency has the equivalent effect of taking 28 million vehicles off the road.
· Increases the efficiency of buildings, homes, appliances, and lighting, reducing emissions 75 percent as much as increasing vehicle efficiency.
· Makes an historic commitment to American homegrown renewable energy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Lowers Energy Costs
· Increased vehicle fuel efficiency will save American families $700 to $1,000 a year at the pump.
· New fuel efficiency standards will produce $22 billion in net annual savings for consumers in 2020.
· Building, appliance, and lighting efficiency will save consumers $400 billion through 2030.

Creates Jobs
· Massive development of biofuels and cutting-edge energy research will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
· Job training will prepare workers for 3 million new ‘green’ jobs over 10 years
· Small businesses will be renewable energy leaders.

The bill won approval in the House 314-100 yesterday, following the addition of several amendments in the Senate the day prior.  To argue that this bill is a milestone in environmental and energy conservation is an understatement and is arguably the most important legislation in the last quarter decade.

Mark Penn…Hack…

I had the pleasure of watching this live.  Watching it again makes me wonder what in the world Mark Penn hopes to accomplish?  It was a complete embarrassment for the Clinton campaign.

The best moment is when Joe Trippi, senior strategist for John Edwards, interjects “He [Penn] just did it again, he just did it again…this is unbelievable…this guy has been fillibustering on this and just said cocaine…”  And where is David Axelrod, Obama’s guy?  He brilliantly sits quiet and revels in the moment.