Fiddling While Rome Burns

Debra Saunders wrote a recent column ( see below) about why the U.S. is at the mercy of foreign oil barons and notes that our own governor, Ted Kulongoski, apparently not having enough to do at home with Oregon's own fiscal crisis, made an appearance:

"Here's a sobering statistic: U.S. imported oil use grew from 24 percent in 1970 to 70 percent last year.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, I believe, spoke for all the other anti-drilling Democratic politicians -- there were no Republican or pro-oil pols -- when he said that supporting more oil and gas drilling "sends the wrong message."

Message? Americans use more oil than we produce. Doesn't that send the most powerful message of all?"

Indeed it does send the most powerful message of all and until the U.S. quits posturing and gets serious about energy independence by developing all our energy resources, we will continue to be whipsawed by the whims of other nations. I respect Gov. Kulongoski for attending the funerals of all Oregon war dead, but posturing in the vital area of energy policy is a disservice to Oregon and the nation.

( http://townhall.com/columnists/DebraJSaunders/2009/04/19/left_coast_tea_party)