I'm surprised Richardson is not on their list. I think he's got to be one of the top contenders.

I have suggested Richardson half a dozen times. He makes the most sense. I think he is the highest-ranking Democrat with the best handle on energy policy.

Of course I would do it, if I had the time. :-)

richardson is most likely a candidate for secy. of state. and i think he is more qualified for that post than energy.

how 'bout mathew simmons ?

It's not completely out of the question. Usually there's at least one member of the other party in the cabinet, so the president can pretend to be bi-partisan. (It was Sec. of Transportation Norman Mineta for Bush.)

Odds are against it, though.

You think Matt Simmons actually has a chance of becoming secretary?

"You think Matt Simmons actually has a chance of becoming secretary?"

no.

otoh, lugar has been mentioned as a possible secy. state, i believe.

If Obama is looking to place a Republican or two in his cabinet, he will likely look for Republican senators from states with Democrat governors. That would be their best bet to move closer to that 60 member filabuster-proof majority.

Yeah, but the Republicans can count, too. Active Congressmen are likely to turn down the appointment, so as not to lose seats.

Mineta was no longer in Congress when he took the Sec. of Transportation job, and I suspect Obama's token Republican will be from the private sector as well.

Leanan,

Does the staff of TOD have any thought to put together an open letter to Obama addressing peak oil and offering a possible policy to work through the coming age of declining energy?

I've liked some of the past announcements TOD has done when oil hit a certain price etc. and although there is little guarantee Obama or his staff would see such a letter, and perhaps less act on it appropriately, it seems a worthwhile gesture to make at such a time.

There's some discussion in the other thread.

However, the problem we have is that the TOD staff can't agree on a policy. We all have our own ideas of what we should do, and trying to get everyone to sign onto an "official" policy is like herding cats. Nukes vs. no nukes, more efficient cars vs. no cars, more local vs. more global, etc.

I think what they've decided to do is have several staff members each write their own policy suggestions, rather than have a site policy.

Another issue is that as a nonprofit organization, there are limits on our political activity. We are supposed to be non-partisan.

Perhaps a policy is not needed yet. I think the best action to take is to inform them of the current situation with facts... Define the problem, how big it is. Show graphs and charts about what we are facing... show a story of "This is the problem in detail". Show how certain solutions won't work (for instance, Hydrogen is only a carrier of energy and not an energy source). Use data to make your argument that action needs to be done.

I also think that the solution to many of these problems will be multipronged, and complex. For instance, does it make sense to use geothermal heat pumps in place of current technology? Yes. Hybrid cars? Yes. Insulation? Yes. Fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent? Yes. Electrified rail? You bet. How about ethanol? Maybe. Etc. But, for our audience, instead of mentioning all of these solutions, focus on the fact that there is a problem and it will affect the world.

Also mention how other fuels are peaking (in particular natural gas) and what this all means.

Good luck!

Obama should be spending the time between now and inauguration explaining to the American people just how serious the problems facing the country are. He needs to do it to prepare the country for actions he'll take after he's inaugurated. He also needs to do it to avoid being blamed for bad stuff that is already in the pipeline. He has a window of opportunity to lay the groundwork for what will come later. Lets hope he uses it wisely (and that what will come later is wise, as well).

Obama should be spending the time between now and inauguration explaining to the American people just how serious the problems facing the country are.

I don't think this is the time to do that. I think that a comprehensive response to the crisis must be ready to be presented to the public at the same time.

I think that this disagreement is healthy. A site policy, no matter how well considered & intended, would be a bad idea. It's a bad idea regardless of whatever issues of nonpartisanship on the part of nonprofit orgs may be involved. Let everyone speak for him- or herself.

That is what we are going to do. Honestly, I don't think people understand how diverse we TOD staffers are. We're all over the world, from different political persuasions, and range from doomer to cornucopian. About the only thing we do agree about is that peak oil is likely to be a problem, sooner rather than later.

I hear you about the advice - I'd like to see a smart mix of new energy development (better nukes if there is any $ for them, LOTS of solar thermal in the Mojave and wind from Dakota to Texas), a rebuild of the power transmission infratructure and Alan's rail plan

but I'm sure that any plan would meet a lot of criticism

maybe just identifying the problem facing him "here's the best estimates of production" etc. would be best then - I'm hearing Obama is considering highway building and bridge repair as an economic stimulus - seems like a big waste of $ if there aren't going to be more cars on those hwys in the future.
I'd like to see TOD continue to lead in this area, and it seems like a joint letter to the next president would be a good start (and yes, I am cynical enough to think that it probably won't matter, that large corporate interests win in the end - but it just seems TOD should take a shot at it).

as for the partisanship issue - it isn't one I'd think - how can it be partisan to give general observations on Peak Oil and the ramifications thereof (and if some consensus can happen) - some advice for an approach?

I read somewhere that Richard Holbrooke is in line for Sec. of State. I wonder if Hillary will get any post in the Obama Admin.?

My guess is no. I think Hillary can serve the Democratic Party best as the junior senator from NY right now, and she and Obama both know it. Her seat is safe as long as she cares to occupy it, and that might not be the case with whoever might replace her.

I see her getting the first available seat on the US Supreme Court.

He's had the job before (Clinton). Perhaps he wants something else, or maybe he'll just stay at home (NM).

AP has him on the short list:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEHnFZIMYMB9MQfVIwhluz5JAYhQD947HRS80

yes, and federico pena was secy of transportion, his main qualification being that he managed to get the federal govt to sponsor the dia boondoggle.

maybe he should tap sara palin.............dooh!

And speaking of Sara... Ahhh... Let's dedicate a song to her... A little something from Jefferson Starship called Sara...

"Go now, dont look back, weve drawn the line
Move on, its no good to go back in time

Ill never find another girl like you, for happy endings it takes two
Were fire and ice, the dream wont come true

Sara, sara, storms are brewin in your eyes
Sara, sara, no time is a good time for goodbyes..."

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRTtkEHrA4)

Adeiu, Adeiu, Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Yeah. Sarah went out the same way she came in. The perfect 'Palin-Drome' :-)

Wow, negative rating... It's all tounge-in-cheek folks. I hope the door on the plane to Alaksa doesn't hit her fanny too hard, and with any luck she'll stay banished up near Wasilla for a very long time...

I don't think it was any fondness for Palin that prompted the negative ratings.

You may not have noticed, but we tend to be on the serious side, and people here often resent what they see as silly and off-topic posts.

To tell you the truth, I almost deleted it, just because I didn't think it added anything useful to the discussion, and I want to discourage posts like it.

I just figured that the folks here would appreciate not having perhaps the most ignorant, unqualified and arrogant politician I have ever seen within a heartbeat of the White House. I think it's worthwhile to at least mention her in passing since the Republican party beleives she's fully qualified as the #2 spot in the party. What does that say for our future? What does that mean when someone like her is selected in the future to possibly run for the White House...? Will things like increasing environmental degradation, decreasing energy production, increasing worldwide military conquest by the US, and increasing financial turmoil be tackled seriously by someone like her in the White House? I think not.

I am serious too (in fact to the point of downright cynicism), but realize that cynicism has an endgame of despair, whereas sometimes a bit of silliness implies a bit of hope, that things aren't really that bad and really won't get as bad as everyone here expects.

Sorry, but I don't think your post was an improvement over silence. Also, we are not all leftwingers here. We have people from across the entire political spectrum. I realize it's difficult, but I'd like the political discussion to be a bit above the rabid Daily Kos/Free Republic style. As in intelligent, objective, and supported by facts. Ancient pop songs don't cut it.

I like the sound of Secretary Rapier :)

I'd like to see Amory Lovins given consideration, as mentioned in this "what if" article:

http://blogs.discovery.com/news_powrtalk/2008/10/post.html