Texas oilman taps into well of U.S. anger Kevin Blaum In The Arena

Our nation is in desperate need of national leadership on many issues. In particular the American people are searching for someone to put them first in dealing with our emerging national energy crisis. Can we trust an oilman to lead us away from our addiction to oil when he and his friends make millions by keeping us hooked? I say, yes.

The negative impact this growing energy crisis is having on the American economy is dangerous and profound. One year ago we were concerned when the price of oil exceeded $50 a barrel and was selling for the previously unheard of price of $86.

Driving back from a wedding in upstate New York last weekend we topped off our tank at a rate of $4.22 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. With the price of a barrel of oil hitting an unbelievable high of $147 last week we might soon see gasoline prices approaching $5 a gallon. The price of nearly all goods and services is heading in the same direction, while the stock market passes them all on its way down.

Presidential leadership is necessary and I was encouraged when President Bush met hurriedly last week at the Department of Energy with his secretaries of Interior, Energy and Treasury to consider the issue. This high-level meeting seemed to signal a sense of urgency rarely seen in this administration. It gave hope to the possibility of receiving a high-minded plan or even an original idea from this oilman turned president. But no, nothing.

Once again the lights were on but no one was home. Instead of a remarkable intellect, I was reminded that in 2000 we picked the one with whom most people would like to have a beer. History will record that lone mug of ale as the most costly never poured.

Just as hope began to fade, a true leader went up on television with his own energy plan supported by his own dollars. With an obvious affection for his nation, 80-year-old oilman Thomas Boone Pickens looked into the camera and told the American people the truth, “I’ve been an oilman my whole life, but this is one emergency we can’t drill our way out of.” These are remarkable words coming from a lifelong oilman and in stark contrast to the inability of our president to utter them.

Let’s be clear, T. Boone Pickens is no tree-hugger. He has been a huge contributor to governor and President George W. Bush as well as many other Republican candidates and causes including those who “swiftboated” Sen. John Kerry in 2004.

Call it enlightened self-interest or a late-life conversion of an octogenarian patriot. Whatever you call it, I call it much needed leadership.

Pickens proposes using wind to replace the natural gas that is now used to generate 22 percent of our electricity and moving that natural gas over to help fuel our cars, thereby reducing our dependence on imported oil by 38 percent.

While the Pickens Plan will not solve our energy problems, it is an affordable bridge to a time when improved technology will give us all-electric cars and so much more. Go to www.pickensplan.com and learn more. His plan is as fascinating and far-reaching as it is simple. If President Bush emerged from last week’s high-level meeting to announce anything similar, his approval numbers would have soared. But he could not do it. After all, leadership requires a keen mind and more. T. Boone Pickens seems to have it all. I’d like to buy Boone a beer and say thanks.

Kevin Blaum is associate director of admission at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston where he also teaches government. Blaum spent 26 years as a Pennsylvania state legislator and was a Wilkes-Barre City Councilman. Reach him at kblaum@timesleader.com.

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