obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

[BiscayneSunrise]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

We do have a certain flair down here in Margaritaville, don't we! ;)

[blazespinnaker]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

In his speech in Janesville, Mr. Obama proposed creating a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to invest $60 billion over 10 years and create nearly 2 million new jobs in the construction field. He said the program would be paid for by ending the Iraq war. He also renewed his call to create an energy plan to invest $150 billion over 10 years to establish a “green energy sector” to add up to 5 million jobs in the next two decades.

“It’s time to stop spending billions of dollars a week trying to put Iraq back together and start spending the money on putting America back together instead,” Mr. Obama said. He added, “We’ll also provide funding to help manufacturers convert to green technology and help workers learn the skills they need for these jobs.”


[emphasis added. these were the only specific proposals noted in the times article]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2...omy/#more-4240

Yeah, it's a good plan. Gotta give him credit. He's a powerful politician, he's nailing McCain on all his weakest spots.

The question is - can he deal with a nuclear Iran? I think he can deal with China / Russia (in the sense that there really is nothing you can do about China / Russia) ... but can he deal with Iran?

Iran has to be contained. Nuclear proliferation is extremely dangerous. I think McCain has the will to take them down, though I suspect it will mean more war.

[blazespinnaker]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

Peter Schiff?

[blazespinnaker]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

Damn, you're right. Schiff

[dbarberic]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

As if on que, I caught an interview yesterday morning in CNN with David Wilhelm, the former national campaign manager for Bill Clinton.

Clinton ex-campaign manager backs Obama
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The man who served as national manager of former President Clinton's 1992 campaign endorsed Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday. David Wilhelm, who led the campaign and later became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Obama had the unique ability to encourage cooperation as a 65-percent president after the divisive years of a 51-percent majority.

In the interview, David discussed why he switched camps and now supports Obama.

I about fell out of my chair when he said that he has mutual interests in sustainable green argiculture, green energy, and infrastructure investements. He mentioned Obama's pledge to spend money on infrastructure and alternative energy.

I'm searching for the transcript, but it appears not to be out yet.

Also of interest, David is president of a venture capital firm specializing in underserved areas of the midwest, including Ohio.

[Slimprofits]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

As if on que, I caught an interview yesterday morning in CNN with David Wilhelm, the former national campaign manager for Bill Clinton.

CNN American Morning

ROBERTS: ...The Barack Obama campaign picked up another endorsement. This one has the Clinton campaign wincing about it. The campaign manager who led Bill Clinton to the White House back in 1992 is now backing Obama. David Wilhelm, is also a super delegate from Ohio and he is the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He joins us now live from Columbus, Ohio. So, David, why the endorsement?

DAVID WILHELM, BILL CLINTON '92 CAMPAIGN MGR.: Well, a couple of reasons. Both substantive and political. The substantive reason is for the better part of the past decade I've been working to bring venture capital into underserved world regions of the United States. And when I looked at what Barack Obama is saying about world development when I look at his plans for organic and sustainable agriculture, the world that he believes that green energy could play in rural America, his plans to rebuild a rural infrastructure, I like what he has to say in an area of the economy in which I've devoted myself.

YouTube -----------> here

I pasted the embed code, but it didn't take.

[Slimprofits]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

Bill Gross, in his lastest "Investment Outlook":

To provide a stable recovery path, government spending needs to fill the gap – not consumption. Public works programs, badly needed infrastructure repairs, as well as spending on research and development projects should form the heart of our path to recovery.

[dbarberic]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

So Obama is becoming the infrastructure candidate; does that mean he has been anointed by the power structure to win?

[jk]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

So Obama is becoming the infrastructure candidate; does that mean he has been anointed by the power structure to win?

i think infrastructure will be a winner no matter who is elected.

[Slimprofits]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

i think infrastructure will be a winner no matter who is elected.

I agree with JK on this one.

In 2007, FIRE money (from individuals and PACS) was contributed mostly to the campaigns of Clinton, Obama, Guiliani and Romney with McCain and Dodd in the next, lower tier of recepients (they are just as shocked as I am that McCain is going be the GOP nominee).

But maybe the right people are telling Obama what to say as we head into the part of election season during which the three remaining candidates will be the focus of all of the attention.

By the way, I don't think Obama mentioned this specifically in the New, New Deal speech:

Obama will create a federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that will require 25 percent of American electricity be derived from renewable sources by 2025, which has the potential to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs on its own.

[Rajiv]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

embedding

[Slimprofits]

Re: obama's plan: infrastructure and "green energy"

Pro-AE/Infrastructure spending Editorial in today's (Sunday) edition of the Baltimore Sun:

Green economics

Building a green-collar economy would be a massive undertaking, demanding a significant reshaping of the U.S. economy - an endeavor that would require more than just government spending. There is a real danger that many of the billions invested in government green-collar development might turn into pork-barrel spending, offering relatively few improvements in energy efficiency and fewer permanent jobs. In the 1990s, the Clinton administration spent many millions on a joint venture by the big three automakers to produce a superefficient 55 miles-per-gallon car. The partnership was likened to the Apollo project, but the car never arrived.

Still, the green jobs program has appeal. Many of the jobs in energy infrastructure improvements would be intensely local - in or near older, economically troubled urban areas. New biomass energy sources could boost depressed rural economies. Also, if real gains are made in producing cleaner fuels, more efficient cars and consumer goods, these improvements could produce significant economic pluses for American businesses and workers in the world economy.

Success would depend on convincing millions of ordinary Americans that going green makes economic sense for them and in finding ways to let markets, not bureaucrats, promote the green evolution. These are the same Americans who insist on gas-guzzler SUVs, resist buying light bulbs that would reduce home energy consumption and protest the erection of windmills and solar panels where they might ruin the view.

But kick-starting the greening of America's economy should be pursued because oil isn't getting any cheaper and the planet isn't getting any cooler. And if it inconveniences some of us, keep in mind that our grandchildren will be grateful.

The Sun is a Tribune Company newspaper.