Mark Warner: Biggest Concern is Dependence on Foreign Oil
By: Lowell
Published On: 2/2/2008 8:52:33 AM
Former Governor Mark Warner was in Culpeper yesterday, where he answered questions from students and others. According to Warner, "We need to say no to extremists on both sides" and instead to bring Americans together in what he calls "the radical centers" of both political parties. On immigration, Warner said he favors "tougher penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants," but also declared that "[w]e are a nation of immigrants." Warner commented on other subjects as well, including one that's at the top of my priority list:
Warner said his biggest concern is America's dependence on foreign oil and that the nation must buy crude from Middle Eastern countries that may be helping terrorists.
"We may well be funding both sides of this war," he said.
That, of course, is the "geo" (as in "geostrategic") argument for getting off of oil, and it's a powerful one. Then there's the "green" argument -- "green" in both senses of the word, environmental AND economic -- for transitioning to a low-carbon, energy efficient, sustainable economy. Fortunately, Mark Warner "gets it" completely in all those areas. In contrast, we've seen absolutely no evidence that right-wing Republicans ("extremists," as Mark Warner might call them) like Jim Gilmore "get it" in the least bit. Yet another reason to strongly support Mark Warner for U.S. Senate this year...not that we need any more. Go "Your Excellency!" :)
Comments
There are so many reasons to reduce our dependence on oil (Silence Dogood - 2/2/2008 11:18:02 AM)
Economic, Geostrategic, Evironmental...it's kind of stunning that with all those reasons stacked together, we still need to keep talking about change rather than doing something about it. I'm excited that Virginia's going to send another Senator up to Washington who knows that it's not enough just to talk about how America is addicted to oil in some speeches, but that we actually have to do something about it.
By the way (Silence Dogood - 2/2/2008 11:19:42 AM)
Exxon Mobile posted record profits again Yesterday. So good to know that our coming recession isn't yet cutting into their bottom line.
Coming Recession? (HisRoc - 2/2/2008 3:58:43 PM)
It's already here. When the politicians, whether Republican or Democratic, admit that the economy is in trouble then the news is even worse than you thought. Doubly so in an election year.
It's really great to have someone (emmasnacker - 2/2/2008 12:15:35 PM)
of Warner's stature using the correct framing and calling right-wing Republican extremists......right-wing Republican extremists.
'bout time!
No matter what Matt Stoller says... (Johnny Longtorso - 2/2/2008 1:39:40 PM)
Mark Warner will be a progressive leader in the Senate.
What did he say? (JohnBruhns - 2/2/2008 1:43:13 PM)
Matt Stoller?
Actually, that was toned down a bit (Lowell - 2/2/2008 2:05:05 PM)
The original version was more critical of Warner and also of Jerome Armstrong...
How great is it going to be? (CADeminVA - 2/2/2008 4:11:11 PM)
Having Mark Warner in the U.S. Senate? Webb and Warner as Virginia's Senators...when I moved here in '03 I never could've imagined it.
It actually feels like some progress is being made!
We may lose Webb to be VP though... (ericy - 2/2/2008 5:55:08 PM)
Lots of people would put him on a short list.