Thomas Friedman Gets Angry: "Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave"

[AlternativeEnergy.com]

Thomas Friedman Gets Angry: Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave

Thomas Friedman seems really angry in the video below as he discusses US energy policy. He wrote a powerful editorial on Sunday, June 22 about energy policy. Friedman column: "Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave". He was interviewed about the column. Highlights are below, but watch the videos.

Highlights:

• "What is his [Bush's] energy plan?"
• On 9/12, gas was $1.60 a gallon
• President told us to go shopping
• "Complete incoherent mess"
• Saudis: "Stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones"
• "We want the price to be just high enough to maximize return... but not so high that the West starts to invent alternatives to oil"
• This administration fought against mileage standards for almost 7 years
• Nobody is talking about radical innovation and radical energy efficiency
• Calls President Bush "Addict in Chief"
• Need incentives for radical innovation
• Efficiency needed for refrigerators and bulbs
• Radical conservation needed ... must drive 55mph
• Clean tech, clean power, clean energy is next great global industry
• Our energy policy is to beg Saudi Arabia to take ten cents off a gallon of gas
• Pat Buchanan asks if it is politically viable to impose taxes for energy consumption.
• Friedman says that tariffs will put money in US Treasury and reduce taxes paid to OPEC treasuries and reduce consumption
• Buchanan agrees that it could fly politically if tariffs disbursed backed to consumers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25349642#25349642

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25343974#25343974