Democrats Should Not be Praising T. Boone Pickens

Over the past few weeks we've seen glowing praise for T. Boone Pickens from Democrats such as Carl Pope, Harry Reid, Dick Durbin and Paul Begala. Even Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama got in on the action, saying "T. Boone Pickens is right. We need a much bolder and much bigger set of solutions." This is a grave mistake.

To make matters worse, I've just learned that Pickens will be speaking at The Big Tent in Denver next week. Why is this anti-environmentalist being given a platform at an event which appears to be concerned about the environment? I intend to get answers next week in Denver.

Aside from the fact that the natural gas component of The Pickens Plan is fatally flawed, there are several other reasons Democrats and environmentalists have no business praising or providing a platform for this man.

1. He is a Republican Operative

Wikipedia:

Since 1980, Pickens has made over $5 million in political donations.[13] He was a financial supporter of President George W. Bush and contributed heavily to both his Texas and national political campaigns. In 2004, Pickens contributed to 527 Republican groups, including a $3 million contribution to the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth attacking Bush's rival, John Kerry, and $2.5 million to the Progress for America advocacy group. In 2005, Pickens was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.[14][15][16]


On July 16, 2007, Pickens wrote an article for the National Review supporting Rudy Giuliani for President. "In Rudy Giuliani, a gracious and committed public servant I've known for many years, we see that rare blend of big-picture vision and proven track record of achieving the 'impossible.' We see a forward-looking, accomplished executive eager to tackle the challenges of today's America and ensure that tomorrow we wake up stronger, freer, and more united than ever before."[17] Pickens was an executive-committee member of the Rudy Giuliani presidential committee.

What makes Obama and others so sure that Pickens won't give a major speech in October endorsing John McCain's energy plan as the prudent path forward?


2. He Cannot be Trusted to Keep His Word

As Firedoglake pointed out, Pickens reneged on his offer to give $1 million if anyone could disprove the Swift Boat Veterans' claims.

Rich Texas bastard T. Boone Pickens boasted that he would give $1 million to anyone who can disprove "even a single charge" leveled by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who he funded to the tune of $3 milion. Kerry offered to meet with Pickens and do so, with the million dollars going to veterans' charities.

But now Pickens is reneging:

Pickens, who provided $3 million to bankroll the group during Kerry's race against President Bush, responded by saying he won't consider giving Kerry the reward unless he surrenders his combat films, additional military records and wartime journal.

There's an old saying in Texas...

3. He Supports Drilling EVERYWHERE

On CNN:

BLITZER: What about drilling offshore? There's a debate. As you know, McCain says, yes, go ahead and drill off the coasts of Florida and California. Obama says, no.

You're an oilman. What do you say?

PICKENS: OK. McCain says, OK off the East and West Coasts. I say East, West Coast and ANWR. Get it all. I mean, to get off of foreign oil, that is the enemy. Get everything you can get. You cannot drill your way out of it. But you're drilling, and whatever you are able to find and put into the domestic system will help us. But you -- you aren't going to be able to find enough to take care of all the imports that we have.

4. He is Supporting John McCain

T. Boone Pickens says he supports Sen. John McCain in the presidential race...

...Pickens denied reports he's promised to contribute heavily to a new conservative organization being formed to run ads boosting McCain and undercutting the Democratic nominee. Pickens, a major contributor to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which spent heavily on ads attacking Democrat John Kerry in 2004, said he'd "put up money to lobby to get rid of" such groups, known as 527s and loosely regulated under federal election laws. "But," he added, "if we're going to have them, I'd consider [donating to them] again."

Can anyone explain to me why I am supposed to put up with leaders of the environmental movement and Democratic party praising a man who is an enemy of both? The bottom line is this: Anyone who claims to care about the planet and collaborates with or legitimizes this guy comes off as foolish and loses major credibility.

Cross-posted at The Seminal.

Follow Josh Nelson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/josh_nelson

Comments

[chrisjmonty]

This is why nobody respects liberals--the guy is in favor of a clean energy and he gets ripped? Too funny

[Marguerite Manteau-Rao - Huffpost Blogger]

Josh, while I share and appreciate your concerns about Mr. Pickens, I think it is important to not fall into political partisanship on energy issues. What Carl Pope, and Barack Obama, are responding to, is the practicality and boldness of Pickens. To echo, Ken Allen's comment, climate and energy solutions cannot be solely the privilege of pure environmentalists and citizens from the 'right' political orientation. Actually, I find it very hopeful, that such a hard core Republican and oil man as Pickens is getting into wind. We no longer have the luxury of being picky. Time is running out, and I will take solutions from any one, as long as they are good ones.

[KillTheMessenger]

Mrs. Manteau-Rao,

your characterization of Mr. Pickens has to be the worst political spin or journalistic delusion I have seen on this site in days. I let you pick which one it is.

Your hopes that the likes of Mr. Pickens will do something positive for the environment is based on sheer desperation. The man said repeatedly that he does not believe in global warming, that he does not care about global warming and that he won't do anything about global warming.

A wind farm does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At all. It actually adds to them because it takes energy and resources to build it. Only the closing of an equivalent of coal fired power generation will offset that carbon budget to build the wind farm in the first place.

So while Mr. Pickens might put those wind turbines up that you crave so much, you have to ask yourself if he will actually help you to close those coal fired power plants, too.

According to his own words, he will not. But you are free to get an interview with him and ask him about that part of the equation.

Regards

[GreyFlcn]

re: Manteau Rao
So what happens if what Picken's is proposing increases carbon emissions?

In particular, Natural gas from Oil Shale formations.
Which is the CNG equivalent of Liquid Coal.

That makes up over 90% of the Natural gas Pickens is counting on.
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/28/142421/062/#6

_

I challenge you to perhaps consider that there might be overwhelming downsides to Picken's proposal related to climate change.

Especially when on Larry King, Pickens mentioned that he simply doesn't care at all about climate change. That his goal is stiffing Saudi Arabia, nothing more.

[mamadeus]

The governor of Montana has utilized wind power and is more knowledgeable than old T. Boone. He now sells power to other States.

T. Boone should not run the show. he can be a consultant.

[johnwinner]

The way to deal with the "new" T. Boone Pickens is not to refuse to negotiate but to compete with him in his own business - get our own air-power mills up and running.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Pickens is talking about a good concept, but we need to remind ourselves that using public money to funnel cash flows from public domain resources into private bank accounts is not capitalism.

[GreyFlcn]

RE: CAPTAINSKIPPY
I sure hope you aren't complaining about the Renewable Energy Tax Credit.

Compared to the direct subsidies that Coal and Nuclear get, thats nothing.
http://greyfalcon.net/subs.png
http://greyfalcon.net/afpc.png
http://greyfalcon.net/nuclear

Infact both Coal and Nuclear get a comparable tax credit, on top of their other lavish subsidies.
http://www.nei.org/keyissues/newnuclearplants/factsheets/highlightsenergypolicyactof2005page4/
http://greyfalcon.net/coalptc.png

So if you want to talk about "Capitalism", how about we first start talking about a "Level Playing Field".

[WretchedEtcher]

I saw Pickens in an interview. There was one thing he said, I think sincerely, when asked if this wasn't just some new money scheme; "I'm 80 years old."

I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt but at the same time be a bit wary of the man.

[KillTheMessenger]

An eighty year old can be just as greedy as an eighteen year old. I will refer you to the Duck McScrooge comics by the Walt Disney company for this piece of wisdom.

Or maybe I should simply ask:

In an old wolf a vegetarian wolf?

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

There are good things and bad things with bad with Picken's Plan. Good thing: He uses his own money to

build wind farms that can serve as a source of alternative energy. Bad thing: He wants me (as a

taxpayer) to subsidize his wind farms. Another bad thing: He wants me (as a federal taxpayer) to

subsidize the infrastructure needed to make his wind farms more profitable.

Let state and/or local governments pay for infrastructure that they feel is needed to meet their energy needs. If the federal government wants to help, let them lower tax rates (and cut spending dramatically), so that individual state and local entities can use the funds to meet their constituents' needs (and these constituents can have more control over whether or not they think all of this is a good idea anyway).

I'm sure most posters here think that Big Oil owns our government. Don't let them sell the government to Big Wind.

[elr50]

I would not trust Pickens-or any Republican-as far as I could spit. Remember it was Pickens who funded the "Swift Boaters for Truth". He was a liar then, and he is a liar now. Another f'in lying Texan.

[TAC]

"Another f'in lying Texan."

Almost endemic...

[GreyFlcn]

Well,
We all know that Picken's focus has far more to do with his personal financial stake in water rights, and natural gas transportation.
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1951/
http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/alliance.html

The catch being, a multi-million dollar media-buy for Wind, thats compelling, has gotta be worth something.

So sure he's got gigantic ulterior motives.
The question is, is it worth it to go along with the con job, as long as it gets us huge support for Wind?

[lisakaz2]

Well, both of the things you say are true: Pickens IS an operative and as such IS NOT trustworthy. But his ads are appearing in Red Country. I live in TN and he is touting his plan on spots airing in Knoxville. Don't you think that makes an impression? I can say to a reluctant flat earther: well, even oilman T Boone Pickens says we can't drill our way out of this mess. Why are you for mindless drilling which cannot provide for the future while against energy technologies which can?

Yet is a powerful tool to cite Pickens. As such, he is useful, regardless of his personal motivations. He still is a swiftboater who helped lie about Kerry. I haven't forgotten. But if Americans can change their energy policy for the better because Pickens is airing these commercials, how can I be against them?

[Ken Allen - Huffpost Blogger]

As long as only admirable people with admirable motives take action supportive of the environment, the earth will be in big trouble. When enough incentives exist to insure that even the actions of selfish bastards interested in feathering their own nests support the environment, the earth can begin to recover from the insults to which humanity has subjected it. Conclusive research by Amory Lovins and many others has demonstrated that wind is a much more economical and effective source of power than coal, oil-based, or nuclear plants. To insure it is productively used, we must stop subsidizing the less-economical alternatives and allow entrepreneurs (with whatever dirty names you believe they deserve and questionable motives you wish to ascribe to them) to operate in the resulting market. T. Boone Pickens recognizes wind as a good investment opportunity. We should highlight that in the hope that other entrepreneurs, large and small, malicious and benign, will gain the same recognition. Sure, Pickens may share a lot of obsolete ideas with the rest of society, and he may stand ready to fleece society if it offers itself to be shorn. We should discourage that, and protect ourselves when necessary, but we do ourselves and the earth no favors if we discourage beneficial activity just because we don’t like the people who conduct it.

[disenfranchised]

I personally don't think the problem with T. Boone Pickens is his lack of admirability.

Much of the movement for sustainable energy practices has come from grass roots, community oriented, "bottom-up" thinking... not exactly what Pickens, a corporate minded hedge-funder, has in mind.

Mr. Nelson is right. Who knows?- this could be maneuver by Pickens because he has bet on oil futures dropping and needs to publicly support alternative energy resources to secure that bet and to score him political brownie points, and if so, you can also bet that he wants mega infrastructure and a select few mega corporations involved to deliver wind energy over long distances, instead of multiple smaller scale organizations providing alternative energy more efficiently to local regions.

His (and other large corporate representatives) operation in the the alternative fuel market may mean that many other smaller and more independent minded organizations will not have a chance to participate.

[mjt218]

And without T Boone and large corporate interests, do we have the ability to get it done in the first place? Are grass roots efforts enough to change over a century of development based on coal and oil?

We probably need large investors to tackle the capitally intensive major infrastructure development hurdles, like wind or solar thermal installations. Grass roots efforts need to tackle niche markets, and we need enough volume of different efforts to help us change dramatically in as many ways as possible. Grass roots efforts can probably be most beneficial for efficiency improvements, like resusable item development and recycling efforts.

[KillTheMessenger]

To call Mr. Pickens an entrepreneur is charming but incorrect. Wind is out of its entrepreneurial stage for over a decade. Today it is a system solution that can be bought and traded like any coal fired or nuclear plant.

Ken, please ask Mr. Pickens how much money he spent on Wind R&D in the early days of the technology. I will congratulate you if he admits to spending even five dollars on it.

[JBoy]

Wind & solar energies are going to be the next industrial revolution, just as personal computers were in the 1980's. They are clean, natural, renewable, and domestic. That's good for our economy, as well as the environment. It's a no-brainer, really. Sure, Pickens will make a ton of money off it, but if it lowers are energy bills, and our dependency on foreign oil, that's alright with me. I can't deny someone the opportunity to make money if it's solving a serious problem. It's capitalism - and there's nothing wrong with that.

[WretchedEtcher]

I think there is one thing about wind power people don't get. I am not sure I get it.

Sometimes when I think of wind and solar power, I associate that with cheap cheap cheap...almost free! Except for maintaining the infrastructure...hell...wind is free! These windmills are going to be built for profit. Large corporations are surely to be involved. They will always want energy to be a commodity they can sell back to us. We are not talking about nationalizing the energy system. I believe the next step in energy...after the conversion to renewable, unfortunately with the "help" and profiteering from the same folks "who got us into this mess", should be a push for self contained energy solutions for our homes which the homeowner owns.

[KillTheMessenger]

Neither wind nor solar energy are for free. But the cost of generation is not tied to the sales price for energy. The Pickens plan is ingenious as it uses the cheapest form of renewable energy generation to keep cost low, then offloads the transmission cost to the tax payer, and demands that the buyer pay any price they will ask for. Guaranteed profits, no risk, indeed.

:-)

[Yurdelite]

Pickens is a very rich oilman who is now trying to get government subsidies so he can make even more money on his new product. What has Pickens done in the 30 years leading up to another "oil crisis" besides make money?

You people are so gullible. Rich folks like Pickens do not care about you. He has found another way to make mo' money.

[JBoy]

You just sound jealous.

[KillTheMessenger]

No. He sounds like a realist.

[rudiy]

Unlike Republicans, Democrats can be pragmatic. He is wrong on much, but on this issue he is more right then McCain

[KillTheMessenger]

To ask one of the nation's worst exploiters to exploit you a little bit more is not pragmatism. It's madness.