Political Quotes

“In response to the Republican leader's speech, I have three words: Drill, baby, drill. That was the chant we heard across the United States from the Republican side of the aisle during the last Presidential campaign. The notion was that if we just started drilling in every direction, we could solve America's energy problems. It was an irresponsible chant, failing to address the most fundamental issue of our time: the future of America's national energy picture. What you heard this morning from the Republican leader is a return to the subject but ignoring the past. What we know is this: We know we have become more and more dependent on foreign oil. It costs us, as a Nation, $1 billion a day that we are sending overseas to other countries to buy their oil to sustain our economy. This dependence, unfortunately, leads to commitments we have to make--military commitments, political commitments, economic commitments--because of this dependence on foreign oil. The second reality is this: We understand there is a new, emerging energy technology in the 21st century. It is an energy technology based on efficiency, economy, and the reduction of costs. There are other countries in the world that are taking the lead in this area, not the least of which is the nation of China. I recently heard from Michael Bennet of Colorado, who spoke to us at a Democratic Senate luncheon.…”