Why not just title the piece “Sensible Plan” instead of all the almosts, ifs, ands, and buts? I’m with Educatordan on this one. It takes ideas like Mr. Hofmeister’s to break through the dogmas of single-issue, single constituency politics that each year drive Congress to allocate a little bit here for alternatives research, a little there for environmental protection and a little bit (or lots) more for oil companies – then brazenly call this an energy policy!

Senator Obama has promised to break through the provincial politics that dominate policy debates today and will be held accountable to do that. Mr. Hofmeister’s project is at least a place to start. The problem is how to sustain a long-term energy policy through changing administrations and Congress. The mandate has to be huge and the legislation tight. It has to include the best ideas (not a litany) of energy companies, consumers, environmental advocates, coastal states melded into a stage-by-state plan with clear yearly or bi-yearly targets.

This is where the ‘race to space’ model might come in. Like space exploration, working towards energy independence should appeal to patriotism. Being in the forefront of new technology is as American as apple pie. winning. We announce the War for American Energy Independence