Hi Human Power, sorry I was pissy before, just trying to be funny and coming up a little short.

You are correct I misinterpreted your original post to mean we could not become energy independent.

Since your are strictly referring carbon emissions and global warming I must concede that solving that problem is much harder than JUST becoming energy independent. You are also correct that coal is currently supplying most of electrical power for the grid and it is very dirty and big climate problem.

The sustainable future cannot be heavier reliance on an electrical grid powered by coal. Such a solution will increase, not decrease carbon emissions (and others) over time.

BUT

I believe a big step in the right direction, and one that does not shut out other options is the use of the plug in hybrids using the efficiency of the electrical grid. It is not a solution to climate change by itself as you have pointed out. If we plan on powering that grid with more coal we are just digging the hole deeper (and "clean coal" is a myth, you cannot bury all the gaseous carbon in the ground that would be required... holy cow, its a simple calculation... clean coal = scam by coal producers).

Plug-in hybrids and the proper use of the grid is a step in the right direction. As I have said, the electrical grid doesn't care where the electricity comes from. Also, the efficiency of the total system is higher. Even if we wanted to keep on burning oil because we just love sending our money to the Saudi Arabia it would be much more efficient to burn the oil at large power plants and distribute the electrical energy over the grid to power the highly efficient electrical hybrids.

The key is to take advantage of this new energy system's flexibility and efficiency by powering it with the best energy sources. Wind, solar and hydroelectric are bar far the best along with a few other more exotic renewable sources. The potential for end user solar and wind power for certain parts of the country holds potential, but for now is not economically feasible..... but if our lives depended on we might just do it.

So in regards to global warming, the plug-in hybrids are a step in the right direction and give us flexibility, but its won't solve the problem without offsetting coal with renewable sources. It will be difficult to provide that much renewable power............... But we have NEVER tried.

neuter Chavez and Iran at any time by making ourselves energy independent.

The fact that we have not done so, but continue to point to them as imminent threats to ourselves and other countries is disgraceful.

This, hopefully will finally help illustrate once and for all that energy dependency is not only in our own economic self interest it is also in our diplomatic and military self interest...

as well as helping keep the planet livable for ourselves and everyone else on earth.

P.S.(Bush and the other "oilmen" in Washington have been Chavez and Iran's biggest enablers.

that's energy Independence that is in our self interest not dependence.

sorry bout that.

Damnit.

I knew my job was basically whoring, but did you have to go and say it.

Can't you find it in your heart to thank Sarah too?

You helped to kick over the rock she was hiding under for all to see, laugh at and be repelled by all at the same time.

So this thanksgiving let all Americans thank Sarah for speeding the long overdue last gasps of the "conservative" movement.

...and for God's sake, stop touching yourself!

I recently saw a Frontline documentary on the tribal areas of Pakistan (Frontline seems to make exceptional documentaries about important current events, why can't anyone else do this... is it too hard? duno).

I've seen the terrain of Afghanistan from news reports and never has any of that footage ever brought close to home just how futile trying to fight conventional battles or even to "go into" the tribal areas of Pakistan would be.

Over 40 million people live there, all hate outsiders. The terrain is all half-barren rocky scrub mountains strewn with boulders, crevasses and caves. Its not like just over that hill it flattens out into forests or hills or planes... its all like that.

I'm not a military expert of course, but it seems crystal clear after seeing what that area is like, geographically, politically and socially that it would be pure folly to send US troops into that area.

And the real kicker is that every time we blow something up there it has the effect of strengthening Al queda's grip on Pakistan and weakens the legitimate government.

...but, If he "removed himself from consideration" from a post which he would be appointed to and not elected because a bunch of bloggers who get no say in the appointment didn't like him then he is either:

a.)An insecure six year old schoolgirl.

b.)A pathalogical liar.

c.)Both.

But he is not perfect. This is a mistake, hopfully not a serious one, and it will not be his last.

Even though he will make mistakes and have setbacks I'm still hoping he proves himself to be as good as Bill Clinton... (without the sex scandle)

...if he could pull his head out of Tom Delay's backside.

Matthews is a classic empty shirt, he loooooves some of slimiest right wing wackjobs and seems to be some kind of neoconservative who is trying to now change his colors.

The Democrats can do much better than that windbag.

...about Iraq and Afganistan for over two years.