Getting It

As far as I know, John Kerry is the only Senator to come out of his shell and endorse Russ Feingold's proposal for censure (though he hasn't done it in a public way; this is based on conversations with his staff). Now he's again fighting the craven attempt by the Bush Administration and oil & gas interests to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But instead of just fighting it, perpetuating the "Democrats are the Party of No" myth, he sent an email to supporters with five reasonable solutions that would do far more for energy independence than ANWR drilling could ever accomplish:

INCENTIVIZING RENEWABLE ENERGY

More than 20 states have implemented market-based Renewable Energy Portfolio programs that require utilities to gradually increase the portion of electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, biomass, geothermal, and solar energy. We should build on that success at the national level. Tell your Senators to enact a nationwide Renewable Portfolio Standard so that 20% of our energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that implementing this policy would save $26.6 billion and that commercial and industrial customers would be the biggest winners.

2. PROMOTING BIO-ENERGY

We have the ability to transform our transportation sector from one that fuels our addiction to one that drives us toward a sustainable future. The President should build on that demand and fuel new production opportunities by supporting a mandate that agriculture will provide 20% of the total energy consumed in the United States by 2020.

3. INVESTING IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

In addition to developing new sources of energy, we must make better use of available energy. New technological advances in appliances, energy grid systems, and buildings can boost productivity, create jobs, improve the reliability and safety of the energy infrastructure, and make dramatic inroads in reducing air pollution. Congress should enact energy efficiency measures to decrease energy use by 20% by 2020.

4. PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPER-EFFICIENT VEHICLES

The government should provide an aggressive set of tax incentives and grants for consumers and for industries that are retooling plants to promote the manufacturing and purchase of hybrid vehicles, which run on a combination of gas and electric power to sharply increase efficiency. Twenty percent of all passenger cars and trucks on the road should be high-efficiency, low emissions hybrids by 2020.

5. SETTING AMERICA FREE FROM MIDDLE EAST OIL

Today, America spends more than $500,000 per minute on foreign oil or $30 million per hour. We paid more than $42 billion for Persian Gulf imports alone in 2005. It is bad enough that these dollars will not help grow our domestic economy -- it is even worse when you consider their impact on our national security. Congress should act to eliminate America's oil imports from the Middle East by 2020.

This is sensible, and drives a stake through the heart of the "Democrats have no ideas" canard. Weaning this country off of foreign oil should not be a partisan issue; it's in everyone's best interest. It shows that those who are putting out responsible ideas are more serious about national security than those who want to give more tax breaks to multi-billionaire companies like Chevron and Exxon-Mobil. Democrats simply have a stronger and more credible voice on energy issues because they don't belong to the existing, old-world energy infrastructure of the current Big 5 oil companies.

Kerry has always been pretty good on this issue, saying "we have to invent our way" out of energy dependence during the 2004 election. I don't know that I want him as the 2008 standard bearer, but it's good to add him to the growing group of strong Democratic leaders. Now if they'd only WORK TOGETHER more and coordinate their messages, we'd be onto something.

UPDATE: Sen. Harkin signs on for censure, becoming the first co-sponsor of the resolution. Good for him, but it's like pulling teeth to get these Democrats to stand up.