[rogerhb]

Same old same old.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he presentation has not been vetted through standard U.S. intelligence channels because it does not include secret material. One U.S. official involved in the briefing said the intelligence community had nothing to do with the presentation and "probably would have disavowed some of it because it draws conclusions that aren't strictly supported by the facts."

[Rafa]

Have any of you seen the speech of president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez?

It was a very strong speech, now I understand why Bush didn't gave the visa fast enough, if Chavez had been there before, Bolton proposals would have been completly crushed!

A very good speech, he spoke about peak oil too! (and even more in the 30' press conference)

[Zardoz]

He's making a lot of the right noises, at least:

No Magic Fix for Gas Prices, Bolten Says

"We've been going in the wrong direction for years, for decades."

They're all coming around, to varying degrees. The wall of denial is crumbling fast. A year from now you'll see Senators and White House staffers quoting Deffeyes, Kunstler, and Savinar like biblical scripture.

[Grimnir]

Something smells fishy about all of this. Why are so many of these people suddenly taking these out-of-character stances and trying to act like it's what they've believed all along? If they're really so well educated on the issues, they could have, should have, and would have done something years ago. You'd think they'd be a little embarrased to admit "yeah; we've known all along that this would happen sooner or later, but we decided not to do anything until we were forced to". Either they've just figured the problem out now, or they've been recklessly ignoring it for a long time. Either way, they don't come off looking too good.

Someone should ask this guy "when did you come to the realization that we've been on the wrong track for decades? If it was some time ago, why didn't you try to change tracks before now? If it was just this year, what took you so long?"

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grimnir', 'S')omething smells fishy about all of this.

[abelardlindsay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Zardoz', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grimnir', 'S')omething smells fishy about all of this.

[shakespear1]

It is the same thing as the commercials that the oil companies started to run as of 2002-3 that they are into alternate energy. I remember seeing a SHELL comercial on BBC and going "Something fishy here".

I think the idea is to start singing a new tune early so as to get the crowd used to hearing them say it. Then when the problem arrives full force they will say "We said so"

[abelardlindsay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shakespear1', '
')I think the idea is to start singing a new tune early so as to get the crowd used to hearing them say it. Then when the problem arrives full force they will say "We said so"

[Free]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shakespear1', '
')I think the idea is to start singing a new tune early so as to get the crowd used to hearing them say it. Then when the problem arrives full force they will say "We said so"

[dhfenton]

The reason they're just now starting to publicly talk about this is because they're politicians. You don't get elected with a doom and gloom warning about Peak Oil sometime in the future. Now that the Peak is upon us, they can safely talk about it without getting laughed out of the room. They are creatures of the system, as are the voters. People would like to exclusively blame the politicians for this; but, the fact of the matter is, the people expect boom and prosperity, and the politicians who preach that have a lot better chance of getting elected than ones who preach conservation, and mass transit. You can't just blame the politicians for a system the people themselves have supported. This is the end result of a couple of generations who demanded more, and never gave the longterm a second thought. It looks like the time to pay the piper is drawing near, and our politicians can serious begin to attack the problem. It will be interesting to see how quickly we can change gears and start making real progress to retool our energy infrastructure.

[retiredguy]

dhfenton, you are exactly right.

The Bush administration has known about PO all along. The Iraq adventure only makes sense in that context.

The real question is what our politicians will propose to do about it. The early reaction certainly is not encouraging. Time is of the essence and we are wasting it by the handfuls.

[IanC]

All great points. I agree that the Bush admin. has known about PO forever. I'm of the opinion that, far from "doing nothing" about PO, they have decided to secure the largest oil reserves on the planet for themselves by force and to make as much profit for their benefactors as possible while doing it.

Saudi Arabi: appeasement

Iraq: Invasion and eventual control of the oil.

Iran: sabre rattling and possible airstrikes. This drives up the price of oil everywhere, lining the pockets of oilmen everywhere and ensuring that those pesky environmental regulations can get swept aside when gas is $5/gallon.

I agree that the time is ripe to talk about PO if you're a politician. It would have been political suicide to mention this in 2002 when oil was $18/barrell, but now people are receptive to it. Just remember - WHO IS MAKING THE MONEY OFF OF HOW THEY PROPOSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. Don't expect an altruistic solution. Look for big payouts to the coal, corn, and oil industries all in the name of "energy security".

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('retiredguy', '.')..The Bush administration has known about PO all along. The Iraq adventure only makes sense in that context...

[pup55]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 't')hey can safely talk about it without getting laughed out of the room

[dhfenton]

One of the key lines in Bolten's speel was: "Demand will outstrip supply". He's still talking short term, three years right now; but he did utter the key words. As this problem escalates you'll see more of this type of talk. Most politiicans are not specifically saying Peak Oil just yet; but they are moving in that direction. We're still not to the point where Peak Oil is going to be the key to national party platforms; but, we've come a long way in the last year, and some politicans may use Peak Oil against the incumbants this fall. It should get really interesting.

[Bobbotov]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pup55', '
')
They can whine about the high prices, and talk about alternative fuels, but cannot yet bring themselves to telling Americans what they really hate to hear, which is that their lives are going to change.

[Geko45]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bobbotov', 'T')hey are scrambling until they can unveil the new Dilithium Crystal hybrids.

[Kickinthegob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grimnir', 'S')omething smells fishy about all of this.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kickinthegob', 'L')et's consider a few facts here. The CIA...Cheney...Bolten's father...Bush is an oil man himself...most of the current admin is related to either oil or defense.

The plan is already underway...

[TITAN]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grimnir', 'S')omething smells fishy about all of this. Why are so many of these people suddenly taking these out-of-character stances and trying to act like it's what they've believed all along? If they're really so well educated on the issues, they could have, should have, and would have done something years ago. You'd think they'd be a little embarrased to admit "yeah; we've known all along that this would happen sooner or later, but we decided not to do anything until we were forced to". Either they've just figured the problem out now, or they've been recklessly ignoring it for a long time. Either way, they don't come off looking too good.

Someone should ask this guy "when did you come to the realization that we've been on the wrong track for decades? If it was some time ago, why didn't you try to change tracks before now? If it was just this year, what took you so long?"