• Barack Obama,  Energy,  Polling

    Poll Watch: America Should Prioritize Energy Development Over Protecting the Environment – 50% Vs. 41%

    According the the latest Gallup Poll.

    Americans, by 50% to 41%, say the nation should prioritize the development of energy supplies over protecting the environment when the two goals are at odds. This reflects the continuation of a striking reversal of attitudes compared with those seen from 2001 through 2008, when Americans showed a clear preference for environmental protection.

    Americans’ preference for development of U.S. energy supplies over environmental protection swelled from 34% in 2007 to 50% in March 2010 and held at that level in this year’s update of Gallup’s annual Environment survey, conducted March 3-6.

    A separate update of the question in May 2010 — a month after the explosion that triggered the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — found a significant uptick in Americans’ choosing the environment over production. However, that proved a short-lived reaction to the event.

    Yet, Americans continue to favor the development of alternative energy.

    And, the preference for conservation over production narrows.

    Most Americans understand that dependence on fossil fuels for energy production is necessary for the short term but support the development of alternative strategies. They also understand that this development takes time.

    So, what do you do in the meantime?

    You either cut back or you produce more.

    But, this discussion has been going on since the oil supply crises of the 1970’s. Remember the gasoline lines?

    Americans’ willingness to put environmental interests over U.S. energy needs has waned over the past four years — perhaps a reflection of their underlying concerns about the economy. As in 2010, more Americans today believe energy production should have priority over environmental protection. And a record-high 41% now think the U.S. should emphasize production of fossil fuels as the preferred solution to the nation’s energy problems, although a 48% plurality continues to favor conservation. The same poll showed increased public support for offshore oil drilling and oil exploration in Alaska.

    The poll findings come at a time when U.S. energy policy may be at a crossroads, with gas prices once again exceeding $3.50 a gallon and Republicans putting pressure on President Barack Obama to back increased oil production and exploration. Obama’s preferred emphasis on a new generation of nuclear power plants in his “clean energy” plan may be undermined by the unfolding crisis resulting from the catastrophic earthquake in Japan. While continued higher gas prices would likely encourage consumers to conserve more gas, they could conceivably cripple an already weak economy and do serious damage to Obama’s job approval ratings.

    As the administration weighs its options, one policy Obama could champion without fear of much public resistance is developing alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. From the high level of support Americans show for that option, it appears that it simultaneously satisfies their demand for energy and addresses their concerns about energy independence, while being sensitive to environmental concerns.

    But, the development of new technologies with solar and wind take time. And, America, particularly its economy is out of it.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for March 16th on 07:53

    These are my links for March 16th from 07:53 to 07:56:

    • Young Leaders of Egypt’s Revolt Snub Hillary Clinton in Cairo – A coalition of six youth groups that emerged from Egypt’s revolution last month has refused to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Cairo earlier today, in protest of the United States’ strong support for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who was ousted by the uprising.

      “There was an invitation for members of the coalition to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but based on her negative position from the beginning of the revolution and the position of the US administration in the Middle East, we reject this invitation,” the January 25 Revolution Youth Coalition said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

      A spokesman for Clinton had no immediate response to the snub. Another State Department official, who would not speak for attribution, confirmed such a meeting had been slated for Tuesday and noted that she still plans to meet with members of civil society and transitional government officials during her visit, during which she will urge Egyptians to continue on the path towards democracy.

      ======

      Obama's foreign policy is a disaster. The young in Egypt do not trust Obama or Clinton which is bad for the USA.

    • Obama Inflation: Wholesale prices up 1.6 pct. on steep rise in food – Wholesale prices jumped last month by the most in nearly two years due to higher energy costs and the steepest rise in food prices in 36 years. Excluding those volatile categories, inflation was tame.

      The Labor Department said Wednesday that the Producer Price Index rose a seasonally adjusted 1.6 percent in February — double the 0.8 percent rise in the previous month. Outside of food and energy costs, the core index ticked up 0.2 percent, less than January's 0.5 percent rise.

      Food prices soared 3.9 percent last month, the biggest gain since November 1974. Most of that increase was due to a sharp rise in vegetable costs, which increased nearly 50 percent. That was the most in almost a year. Meat and dairy products also rose.

      Energy prices rose 3.3 percent last month, led by a 3.7 percent increase in gasoline costs.

      ======

      Here comes the inflation – just like Jimmy Carter

  • Mike Huckabee,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Polling,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin

    President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Sarah Palin’s Favorability Numbers Fall Among the GOP

    Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin gestures as she speaks during the LIA (Long Island Association) Annual Meeting & Luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York February 17, 2011

    According ti the latest ABC/Washington Post Poll (PDF).

    Favorable impressions of Sarah Palin have dropped to a new low in her own party, with negative views of the former Alaska governor substantially exceeding those of other potential Republican presidential candidates, the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll finds.

    Favorable Vs. Unfavorable:

    • Mike Huckabee – 61% Vs. 18%
    • Mitt Romney – 60% Vs. 21%
    • Sarah Palin – 58% Vs. 37%
    • Newt Gingrich – 55% Vs. 26%

    It is the unfavorability rating that is sinking Sarah Palin and her trajectory is downward.

    Palin also is following a different trajectory. She peaked at a remarkable 88 percent favorable among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (known collectively as “leaned Republicans”) after stepping onto the national stage as John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate in September 2008. That’s declined since then to today’s level, 30 points lower.

    This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone March 10-13, 2011, among a random national sample of 1,005 adults, including landline and cell-phone-only respondents. The results among the sample’s 378 leaned Republicans have a 6-point error margin.

  • Twitter

    @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-03-16

    Powered by Twitter Tools