The truth, it turns out, is not Gov. Jindal’s friend

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.casavaria.com/cafesentido/2010/06/09/6425/renewable-energy-investment-could-rebuild-gulf-economy/

Renewable Energy Investment Could Rebuild Gulf Economy

9 June 2010 :: J.E. Robertson


<snip>Gov. Haley Barbour, of Mississippi, a Republican who has bet his political future on the notion that offshore drilling is the best, or perhaps only, way to go economically, has just about called on the media to stop reporting on the spill, alleging that reporting on the impact of the BP disaster has hurt his state economically. Barbour does not have a clean energy plan; he has opposed the spending of Recovery Act money in his state, yet he has requested federal help in dealing with the oil spill, even as he alleges there is no problem in Mississippi and seeks to blame the media and not the oil industry.

Barbour wants offshore drilling expanded and has put himself forward as something of a mouthpiece for big oil’s interests in the Gulf of Mexico, citing his state’s economic interest in attracting “investment” from the big oil firms. What Barbour has not been able to articulate is: why is he not in favor, then, of an economic recovery strategy, already available to his state prior to the spill, which would help Mississippi diversify its energy economy, produce clean energy, reduce the environmental threat from energy production, and create lasting new jobs?

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal, also a Republican who has opposed his state spending any money from Pres. Obama’s Recovery Act, a flagrant act of political grandstanding that was specifically calculated to deprive the people of his state of the investment they needed in hard times, in order to make it appear that Pres. Obama was not addressing the economic crisis, has been playing the populist. But even as he attacks the federal government and demands more assistance, he blames the government for the actions of interests he has supported and whose support he has enjoyed.

The truth, it turns out, is not Gov. Jindal’s friend: he has been a staunch ally of big oil and even now is calling for more drilling off the Louisiana coast. He has no serious plan for energy innovation and no willingness to cooperate with the federal government’s most significant investment in clean energy in history, despite the many ways it could benefit the people of his state. In fact, Jindal has been one of the most persistent champions of BP and other drilling interests, both in Washington and in Louisiana.

[Jennicut]

1. But he looks angry on tv! People can be so naive sometimes.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Typical Republicons. Prevaricating Pharisees.

as usual

[jaxx]

3. drill baby drill lives on....don't mind the oil slicks

Good article. I like seeing hypocrites blurt it out and dance around the politics. People don't forget this kind of stuff and Jindal and Barbour are both in denial.

[Blue Owl]

4. Such a tool.

:eyes:

[laughingliberal]

5. K & R nt

[n2doc]

6. He's leading! He's doing something!

Heard it right here on DU, last week....

[skipos]

8. What was that thread titled?

"Don't worry, Jindal is taking charge" or something like that? It had a bunch of recs too. Funny!

[blondeatlast]

7. Well, imagine that. In many ways, he's as big a twit as Sarah Palin--

he just had the good sense not to flirt.