dunewalker wrote:jamest wrote:He was an absolutely atrocious Secretary of Energy, who knew nothing and cared less about energy policy. His negligence is one of the principal reasons that oil hit $147 last summer, and that development of alternative energy came to a standstill.
It was last century that Richardson was energy secretary. What about the impacts of Spencer Abraham and Samuel Bodman over the past 8 years? Are you saying that they have collectively been unable during two consecutive Republican administrations to overcome whatever shortcomings he might have inflicted on energy policy?
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Richardson presided over the collapse of investment of all forms of energy development and conservation, when the oil price dropped as low as $8 a barrel. He didn't lift a finger or raise his voice once to avert or alleviate that supply crunch that would follow. He simply didn't care, as he was busy trying to position himself for the nomination as VP - an effort which failed because of his mishandling of security problems at Los Alamos.
By the time he left office, all global surplus production capacity had disappeared due to underinvestment, and it was too late to avoid the spike that had to occur.
Bill Richardson has jumped off the ship of the state of the Obamanation before it has even left the dock. Stated reason is a grand jury investigation into a pay to play scandal back in New Mexico that can't be cleared by inauguration day. And of course they need to get right to fixing the economy and can't let confirmation hearings drag out.
