As I mentioned earlier, the greater challenge for energy policy going forward is in mobile source energy, meaning planes, trains, and automobiles. This is where the most urgent economic and foreign policy need arises, but where the technological barriers are also the most severe.

Weaning ourselves from foreign oil is an objective shared by almost everyone, albeit for different reasons. Some want to stop sending trillions of dollars to countries who don’t like us or our way of life. Some decry the economic harm caused by our trade deficit, of which oil imports are a major part. Others want to see those energy jobs here and not in Saudi Arabia or Indonesia. And, still others want to find less polluting alternatives. All of these are valid points. So, let’s just stipulate that eliminating American imports of oil sourced from outside North America is a worthy goal.

So how do we use our oil? Less than 1% of oil is used to produce electrical energy. About 30% is used in industrial processes, such as the making of plastics. That is obviously a significant amount. It is beyond the scope of this piece to get into detail about that, but suffice it to say that… Read More

In this column I will seek to spend a few minutes making the case for why Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman should endorse Proposition 23, the Jobs Initiative, appearing on this November’s ballot. This is the measure that would suspend AB 32 until the recession in California is fully in the rear view mirror. For those looking for a good general write up on Prop. 23 – the policy and the politics – let me point you towards this piece by Katy Grimes over at PRI’s CalWatchDog website. I apologize that this is a bit longer than what I would normally write – but I wanted this to be a comprehensive approach to an important issue.

In the meantime, it is my hope that Meg Whitman reads this column and that as you read it, you will carry its message to those people with whom you interact that can give input into Whitman and her campaign. PHILOSOPHY AND METHODOLOGY OF AB 32 EMBRACES THE TENETS OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY

The type of… Read More

A couple of otherwise mostly-missing-from-the-mainstream missives from the San Diego area (and other places)…

Do 9/11 Responders Continue to Die?… A Fox News story indicates that about 900 emergency and rescue responders have died since 9/11, at least implying many of the deaths are a result of illnesses related to response conditions. Missing from the article is any reference to how this compares to death rates among emergency responders in general. Yet, on the surface, the numbers alone would seem to be staggering. Some may say suspect, lacking any context. What do you think?

9 Years Later, Nearly 900 9/11 Responders Have Died, Survivors Fight for Compensation Nine years have passed since Al Qaeda orchestrated the deadliest attack ever on U.S. soil, claiming nearly 3,000 lives.

But reports from the New York State Health Department suggest the carnage may not have ended that day.

More than 800 responders to the World Trade Center ruins have died — some, advocates say, from illnesses related to their heroic… Read More

It’s been almost a decade since the terrorists struck the World Trade Center, shocking the entire nation and the world. It was the worst act of terrorism ever committed on American soil. In all, nearly 3,000 people were tragically killed.

But it isn’t the terrorists we remember most. It’s the heroes – especially the brave passengers on United Flight 93, such as Tom Burnett, of Pleasanton, whose last words were captured in a phone call to his wife, saying:

“Our flight has been hijacked. The terrorists have knives and have stabbed someone. They indicate they are going to crash our plane into the capitol building in Washington, D.C. I know we’re all going to die, but we are going to do something, I love you honey."

A mother whose daughter worked on Capitol Hill wrote on a memorial website that she believes her daughter’s life was saved by these brave men and women. They did not go gently into the night, but fought the terrorists, and gave up their lives, saving countless others who might have died if the hijackers had been successful.

Something important was gained from the sacrifice… Read More

This just in from the O.C. Lincoln Club (pardon the cut and paste of a release — blogging from an airport…)… And before you ask, this mailing was created by FR friend Jim Bieber and his team over at Bieber Communications…

… Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

The Lincoln Club of Orange County has entered the fray in the 47th Congressional District, hitting liberal Democratic incumbent Rep. Loretta Sanchez with this mailer zapping for wasting taxpayer-dollars on globe-trotting junkets while voting for Obama’s unprecedented explosion in federal spending:… Read More

I discovered a great new website and fledgling cable network today and want to recommend it to you.

Click here to go to RIGHTNETWORK, an extremely well done and entertaining effort put together by conservative activist and actor Kelsey Grammar among others.

I’ve spent a good part of my day watching all the different programming they already have on their website. From excellent documentaries, comedies, dramadies, educational programming, animation and even talk shows – all from a center-right perspective – RIGHTNETWORK started strong.

Democrats and liberals are going to hate this network – they have nothing comparable to compete. Frankly, most every lefty site always strikes me as angry and mean. RIGHTNETWORK is positive and a lot of times, funny.

Check it out.… Read More

Pugno Fact #1 Emotion regarding social issues is clouding the political judgment of political observers and the local press in the race for the 5th Assembly District between Republican Small Business Owner Andy Pugno, Democrat Community Physician/Educator Richard Pan, and Peace and Freedom College Student Elizabeth Martinez. So the Pugno campaign will attempt to provide some facts for people to consider about the race, the district and the candidates. Pugno Fact #1 In the June primary election more than 42,000 votes were cast for Republican candidates compared to just 35,000 for Democrats. 7,000 votes is a substantial difference.

Note: I am the general consultant for Andy Pugno for Assembly.… Read More