You are right, oil shale is somewhat speculative (although the article I linked makes clear that Shell thinks it’s a good enough bet that they have sunk about a $ billion into it).

However, if you really are for energy independence, it is logically at least as sensible to bet on oil shale as it is to bet on other alternative technologies. The implication that Northup is making is that John has an ulterior motive here. He isn’t looking for energy independence, he’s looking for carbon independence.

Put another way, if somebody could wave a magic wand and make oil abundent and cheap, would Yarmuth be for that if nobody was watching? I don’t think he would be and neither does Northup.

Whether you agree with that position or not, that is not the song that John is singing in public. He’s running around saying he is concerned about gas prices being high, while at the same time doing nothing that could truly bring down the price. Like I said, he is not after energy independence, he’s after carbon independence. And he needs to come clean on that and see if the district is ok with that position. That is where Northup is going on this issue.

Oil shale has not proven itself yet. It might be solution, but it could just as easily be too much of a hassle to do any good.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/30/magazines/fortune/Oil_from_stone.fortune/index.htm

Also, “Northup” has one “r”, not two. “Northrup” makes airplanes.

That is, according to the ad, “The U.S. has more oil than Saudi Arabia but much of it is off-limits.”

However, about 30 seconds on Google and I found this, the January, 2007 “World Proved Reserves of Oil and Natural Gas, Most Recent Estimates” from the Energy Information Administration:

United States — 21.757 billion barrels
Saudi Arabia — 262.300 billion barrels

The Energy Information Administration is of course a division of the Department of Energy.

Whoops.

But I do feel people like Anne are partially responsible for the current state of affairs. I mean, she owns a zillion dollars in big oil stock. Can’t tell me that doesn’t sway her. (And before anyone brings up Bruce Lunsford– he’s never been in office and hasn’t had a ten-year record of voting in Washington)

It’s just funny that she thinks this is helping her. That’s all.

I know you’re a Yarmuth! guy but I also consider you level headed. So – why is this embarrassing? It’s clearly political, but candidates win elections every year being just that, political. I have to assume both candidates – any candidate for that matter – will be forced to make oil/gas prices a central theme of their campaign in 08, so why not get out front. I don’t think John is responsible for the increases in price at the pump nor do I think Anne’s previous terms were. But why let it stop a candidate from capitalizing (if they can) on an opportunity. It’s politics baby – And you know as much.