This is the biggest story the media is not talking about. Romney promises energy independence. The idea that we have a pro-American candidate promising to stop the largest transfer of wealth to jihadist nations is the single largest pro-active national security proposal on the table.
Imagine. Stop funding jihadist countries, their aggressive mosqueing of the West and imposition of the sharia, and the paradigm shifts. The rise and resurrection of Islamic jihad in the late twentieth century and its ensuing war on the west is thanks to the largest transfer of wealth in history from Western societies to petrol-rich Muslim nations.
I stand in awe of Romney's position paper on energy. Elect him on this alone. Not only do we defang the vampires, we create millions of jobs and billions in wealth. It is the American answer to the Obama rout.
Mitt Romney visits Hobbs, NM, pledges to make North America energy independent By Milan Simonich / Texas-New Mexico Newspapers El Pasotimes.com 8/23/12
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign event at Watson Truck and Supply on Thursday.
HOBBS, N.M. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney came to the heart of oil country today and told cheering supporters that his administration would team with Mexico and Canada to make North America energy independent by 2020.
The idea of partnering with neighbors to the south and north was one plank in Romney's energy platform.
He said a revamped North American energy policy would create million jobs in the United States through the Keystone Pipeline and more drilling, especially
in Alaska and off-shore sites of Virginia and the Carolinas. The Keystone Pipeline's starting point would be in Alberta, Canada, just one reason for a continental approach to energy, he said.
By working cooperatively with Mexico and Canada, the United States never again would have to buy oil from nations hostile to America, Romney said.
In addition, Romney said, he would end President Obama's use of government money to invest in alternative energy companies. Instead, Romney said, he would spend tax dollars only on science, technology and research.
"I don't want government investing in companies, particularly the companies of his campaign contributors," Romney said in his most pointed jab at Obama.
Romney criticized Obama's administration for spending billions in "so-called green jobs" while gas price approached $5 a gallon.
Obama's campaign fired back, saying Romney was vague except for a commitment to Big Oil.
"So much for that substantive debate that Mitt Romney promised. His energy speech today was devoid of any policy specifics or concrete steps that would realistically increase our nation's energy independence," said Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith.
"If anything, Romney's policies would take us backward. He wants to keep giving billions of dollars in tax subsidies to the big oil and gas companies and recklessly open new areas for drilling, but turn our back on increasing energy efficiency and developing our clean, homegrown energy sources."
In remarks tailored to Permian Basin oil companies, Romney also pledged to make it faster to obtain drilling permits for federal lands.
He said he would accomplish this by giving states power over the permit process, though it still would be subject to federal approval.
Romney said North Dakota turns around drilling permits for state or private lands in days and Colorado does it in 7 days. But a permit for federal lands takes 07 days from application to approval, he said.
Romney spoke for 4 minutes in a lot at Watson Truck & Supply, an oilfield business started by a family in 1943.
Then he shook hands, signed autographs and mingled with the crowd for a half-hour. He even took time to pose for pictures with the Hobbs High School Marching Band before heading off to a private fundraiser at the Lea County Events Center.
Gerrid Bowen traveled from Odessa, Texas, to Hobbs to hear Romney at the public session.
"We need a change," Bowen said. "He's got some answers for our country."
Justine Bearden, of Hobbs did not vote in the presidential race four years ago. But this time, he said, Romney will get his vote.
"I like his stance on energy. That's what keeps us going," said Bearden, an electrician.
