Opening Bid

http://www.energyxxi.org/xxi/open_letter.html This is an open letter sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, which was slightly pro-business in its leanings the last time I checked. This is a crushing indictment of most of the Bush administration energy policies, signed by some of his former cabinet and other executive officials. I take this to be a blueprint for what an intelligent republican administration (perhaps McCain's) would pursue as its energy policy--though, with a democratic Congress, compromise would be inescapable. I consider it an interesting update on what the "business/security first" types are willing to concede to the environmentalist elements and what they demand in return. Mostly they seem clever enough to at least go for "dual-use" policies: those environmentally friendly policies that are also good for business or security. That's something, and quite a bit more than the genius in the Oval Office is prepared to sign on for.