« Church Shooting - Hatred Against Liberals | Main | PATRIOTS MEMORIAL »
July 28, 2008
What’s the Skinny on T. Boone’s Energy Claims?
Posted by Tina
By now you have probably seen or heard the commercials by oil man T. Boone Pickens. He’s thrown a considerable amount of time and money into harnessing wind power and using natural gas to wean ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. His commercials, however, have been shown to include a few misleading “facts”. In fact, Steven Malloy at the popular website “junkscience.com” is asking the question:
Is T. Boone Pickens 'Swiftboating' America?
Formerly reviled for funding the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" campaign against Sen. John Kerry, he's now adored by the Left — unfortunately, for trying to gaslight the rest of us on energy policy. *** This column recently spotlighted Pickens' proposed plan to get America off foreign oil by substituting wind-generated electricity for natural gas-generated electricity and then using the natural gas to replace gasoline. *** Already having addressed the proposal's flaws — and Pickens' plan to profit at taxpayer expense from it — let's consider how Pickens' marketing shades the truth. *** On his Web site and in TV commercials, Pickens tries to frighten Americans about being "addicted to foreign oil." *** "In 1970, we imported 24 percent of our oil. Today, it's nearly 70 percent and growing," he intones. *** Aside from the fact that the Department of Energy (DOE) puts the import figure at a more moderate 58 percent, Pickens gives the impression that imported oil is scary because it all comes from the unstable Mideast. *** His TV commercials feature images of American soldiers fighting in Iraq and he likens the annual $700 billion cost of foreign oil to "four times the annual cost of the Iraq war." *** But hold the phone. Only 16 percent of our imported oil comes from the Persian Gulf — barely up from 13.6 percent in 1973, according to the DOE. Imports from OPEC countries are actually down — from 47.8 percent in 1973 to 44.5 percent in 2007.
Mr. Malloy's full article contains additional examples.
More information and opinion about Pickens’ plan can be found HERE and HERE.
Posted by Post Scripts at July 28, 2008 09:59 PM
Comments
What I want to know is why he's giving Yahoo such a bad time? And he's not adored by the left. Trust me.
"Are you ever going to get over this partisan horsepucky?" she plaintively wails.
Go tell one of these billionaire so-and-so's that he can write a project off his taxes ... and he goes nuts ... his politics being totally beside the point of preserving and expanding the empire! And his plan is nuts. I've told you and told you ... these guys have to be carefully watched.
Posted by: Libby at July 29, 2008 09:36 PM
"What I want to know is why he's giving Yahoo such a bad time?"
I don't know...why don't you find out and tell us.
"'Are you ever going to get over this partisan horsepucky?' she plaintively wails."
Tell me, what's "partisan" about this post?
I've told you it isn't a partisan fight. My purpose is to defend the values I hold dear and expose those that I believe will destroy America. America was born a republic and I wish it to remain so. Most in the leadership of the Dem Party wish to erase America and create some Marxist global utopian dream. It isn't surprising that I would champion the party that more closely reflects my purpose...or that I would bash the party that is going for that silly utopian dream!
"Go tell one of these billionaire so-and-so's that he can write a project off his taxes ... and he goes nuts ... "
And why shouldn't he...you "share the wealth" types want to take every dime you can that he's EARNED only to throw 75-80% of it down a rat hole. Geeesh...you think he needs watching...your redistribution schemes are "theft made legal" to purchase votes...he's taking tax write-offs that were made LEGAL by your buds for their own personal and political benefit. (Nancy Pelosi letting her husbands tuna company off the hook for the minimum wage hike is a similar example of government intrusion and control as it suits them)
I haven't decided what Pickens is up to. Innovation is the lifeblood of our economy. Who else is gonna fund it if not the wealthy? Some of his plan makes sense and other parts are pure opportunism what with the government subsidies that are bound to kick in as he sidles up to the greens.
He is quoted as saying he won't put windfarms on his land because he thinks they're ugly...I call it the new green urban sprawl. Between the windmills and the solar panels we'll have ugly dotting the countryside from sea to shining sea in no time. When they break down...and the mechanical windmills will break down...the cost to repair may prove too expensive so they will lay mute in the wind to boot. Ahh well...the greens keep marching on without bothering to examine the full impact of their own proposals. Their grandchildren will be out in protest no doubt.
I'm rambling...and I'm out. Goodnight all.
Posted by: Tina at July 29, 2008 11:31 PM