Oil and the Union

The State of the Union address was pretty much as expected. Partisanship, security, etc. were the usual blah blah blah that you expect from a politician. It was interesting to hear the comment on Isolationism. Especially since that is a typical weakness of the Republicans.

Bush also said the United States cannot retreat into isolationism and must get involved in regions where corruption, poverty and despair breed terrorism and other crimes, as well as help impoverished countries with issues like AIDS.

"For people everywhere, the United States is a partner for a better life," Bush said. "Short-changing these efforts would increase the suffering and chaos of our world, undercut our long-term security and dull the conscience of our country."

The MSM is painting Oil as the big topic of the speech. Frankly, it should be. Especially since this President is another in a long line of do-nothings on the topic.

Saying ''America is addicted to oil," President Bush used his State of the Union address last night to call for reducing America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil by 75 percent by the year 2025. Bush also laid out a relatively modest domestic agenda of providing federal help on healthcare and education, and vowed to remain vigilant against the ''enemies of freedom" around the world.

and

While Bush has previously unveiled many of the energy proposals he made last night, he offered a new initiative that he said would boost federal spending on clean-energy research by 22 percent. The government has spent $10 billion on such research since 2001, Bush said.

By setting a 19-year goal of slashing Middle Eastern oil consumption, Bush followed in the tradition of several presidents who have called for ending such dependence. Bush's term ends in January 2009.

Great, raise federal spending again. I also don't see how they will decrease dependency on Middle Eastern oil. I believe we only receive about 20% of the present oil supply from the Middle East and the markets control where it's bought and sold. So, we should be reducing our oil dependencies period, not just from the middle east. 75% of 20% strikes me as a very modest start. But at least it's a start. Now let's hear the specifics.

The Democratic response was disappointing.

Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, delivering the official Democratic response, said his party has ''a better way" to address many of the nation's problems, such as calling on oil companies ''to share in our sacrifice and return some of their record-breaking excess profits." Bush did not mention that issue in his speech.

I can't say I'm stunned. I'm hoping they're not pushing for more taxes on the profits again. Though I don't see any way the oil companies will willingly share their profits. They are a business after all and their purpose is to make money. And what exactly is an "excess profit?" Who decides what is too much? I'd say the market should decide. When things cost to much people stop buying and the profit margin is pulled back to stimulate buying.

Anna Aurilio, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, said last night that Bush's goal of drastically reducing Middle Eastern oil imports was ''absolutely doable if [he] picked up a pen and required the auto industry to use existing technology to increase gas mileage." She said the United States imports about 60 percent of its oil, of which about 20 percent comes from Middle Eastern countries.

Gas mileage has been a good topic. I'm reticent to force legislation to make cars more efficient. The market has been doing the job on it's own recently. The rise of the Hybrid car has shown the buyer's concerns and willingness to move, even with extra cost, to a system that uses less oil.

It still comes down to the details.