In a comment on a previous posting:
Truth Be Told 24 said..."Ummm... did you guys actually read the energy plan or are you going to spend this entire campaign looking for stupid ways to get in cheap shots? It was a publicity stunt, and based on the news coverage it worked. Is anyone going to blog about the actual issues here? Attack the issues that he presented in his energy plan if you want to make a point."
Well, "you guys" is just me and I can't remember any other time I've been accused of getting in cheap shots. I'm not cute either.
But, since TBT24 couldn't be bothered to direct the dialog, I looked over at Meier's 'now arrived' site and took a look at the energy plan that couldn't be seen through the exhaust fumes of the old caddy.
(Reminded me too strongly of the Utica Independence Day Parade in 2004 where I marched behind Sherwood Boehlert as he rode in an antique fire truck. I still don't know if it was dehydration or car exhaust that knocked me off for the rest of the day)
In his "Energy Plan," Meier reminds us of the Energy Crisis of the 1970's. Those were the days where wearing cardigans were cool because our President wore them. Carter also set the tone by not only urging conservation as a good idea, but by also giving us specific tasks and habits to develop that would move us as a nation to real conservation.
Ray Meier has been in political positions since 1978, so I would have liked to see what he offered in answer to "the clear call for action."
He proposes 5 items he "will propose, work and fight for."
The first is "Change the Tone"
In that piece, he states, "Neither are they impressed with sound bites or gimmicks."
Right... That pretty much sums up the publicity stunt.
The second is "Conservation"
In this, he promotes "implement and expand tax credits for fuel efficient vehicles, including a tax credit for retiring fuel inefficient cars."
So, when NYS's Alternative (Clean) Fuel Vehicle Tax incentive Program, which offered credit and an exemption for purchasing a new hybrid vehicle, expired, what did the State Senator do to see that it be extended? Or am I to believe that what's good for the country is not good for NYS?
The third is "Increase Oil Supply"
Without the outrage of this Badministration's Energy Policy developed by the Oil Companies, his statement, "Accessing these reserves, to the extent they are in or near environmentally sensitive areas, should be done under rules developed by independent scientists of impeccable credentials with no ties to oil companies" sounds like a sound-bite and gimmick. (see above.)
The fourth is "Develop a Market in Alternative Fuels"
Again, if this has been such a great idea for so long that Brazil's been far ahead of us for the last 20 years, what tax incentives or research supports have we missed learning about that he delivered? Certainly the Tug Hill windmills, but is that all the 10 years show?
The fifth is "Look at Energy Issues Comprehensively"
Here, the State Senator makes sense, but it's common sense, stating the obvious. "We need to seriously pursue fuel cells, clean coal technology, wind and solar power, and safe nuclear power as sources for new electricity generation which will bring prices down."
I'm still not sold on the possibility of "safe nuclear power" but I also know that I lack the credentials to evaluate that. And some common sense in DC would be a good thing...
beaming out...
Maimun
3 comments:
"Truth be told". How appropriate. If the Truth Be Told, Ray Meier has been front and center watching the disintegration and near demise of his entire state district during the past decade. Front and center. Why on earth would we expect him to solve our energy problems, when we never heard a peep out of him while National Grid ripped us off all winter. Nary a single word from that man. Post Katrina, when it was reported that areas in his district had the highest gas prices in the country, did we hear Ray Meier say a single word on behalf of his constituents. Suddenly Ray Meier is "interested"...just long enough to work on getting elected to an even higher slot where he can ignore his consitituents who are bleeding from the wallets in New York and particularly in his district, where the incomes are the lowest in the state and his campaign donators are ripping us off.
There couldn't possibly be one good reason why Meier was driving around in a gas guzzler. But good reasons aren't necessary when you are hawking for publicity. He got his publicity, including a reminder that Do as I say, Not As I Do is not a very good message from a leader. We already get enough of that in DC. Nobody asked him to do this, he decided to do it himself. Now he reaps the reward of the entire dumb idea. So much for good decision-making prowess.
You are welcome to put the work into starting and continuing your own blog. I'm sure it would make you far happier than whining about our blogs and you will have far less time to attack other blogs, something I avoid doing personally. Starting a blog is your right just like it is ours, based on what is left of democracy in this county.Go for it. Try not to make it another one of those One Post Wonders we are seeing so many of these days.
Truly, if I were in the Network Solutions business I would take more care and be knowledgable enough to protect the identity of my website when I was posting crap about decent candidates on other people's blogs. Just a thought.
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