07.21.08

Carter, Oil, & Hair Of The Dog

Posted in Commentary, District 31, Election 2008, Energy, The Environment, Williamson County at 12:10 pm by wcnews

Over the weekend Rep. John Carter (R-Exxon Mobil) said some pretty bizarre stuff at a hotel in the Arboretum area in North Austin over the weekend. Here’s a little bit of what he said:

• “I believe there’s oil under the ground right here,”…. “I believe we ought to slam-drill right under this hotel!”
• “Judge Carter” just got back from the “Devil’s town (DC). He’s glad to be back in “God’s country”.
• He credited President Bush for this weeks $11-a-barrel drop in the price of oil.
• The Supreme court ruled on the Second Amendment and, “you live in Travis County. You really need the right to bare (sic) arms here.”
• The Democrats want to take over production of oil and gas.

Most of us that live in TX-31 know that when Carter is given the floor, nutty stuff like this is the norm. But it’s doubtful any oil corporation will be drilling for oil under North Austin hotels anytime soon. As a rhetorical point it’s mildly amusing but it does bring home what Al Gore said about the GOP’s only plan for energy, as quoted from Mydd :

“The idea that we can drill our way out of this is just so absurd [as] not to warrant any serious consideration….They used to say that a cure for a hangover was the hair of the dog that bit you. If you had a hangover you went and got another drink and it would help it go away. It’s the sort of the same thing with these proponents of drilling. ‘Oh, we’re in a fossil fuel crisis? Well let’s just dig for more.’ I mean, when you are in a hole, stop digging.”

To drive home his point Gore followed that up with this comment, “Drilling our way out of the climate crisis makes as much sense as responding to an attack from Afghanistan by invading another country.”

It’s hard believe there’s any rational argument for what Cater is saying, much less any reason to trust him on these comments. He owns a significant amount of Exxon Mobil stock. He’s received $2,000 from Exxon Mobil’s PAC in his latest FEC report. And we all know that when there’s money on the table it brings the element of distrust to an argument. All of his comments are an attempt to persuade that what’s best for Exxon Mobil, and in turn Carter himself, is best for us. Hair of the dog. And now we know that’s just not believable.

Brian Ruiz, who’s running against John Carter, had this to say about his comments on Saturday:

My name is Brian Ruiz and I am the Democratic Nominee for District 31.

I just met with Al Gore a couple of hours ago and I am fully on board with his plan for 100% renewable energy in 10 years. We have the technology, we just need the political will. Let’s not doubt that it can be done, let’s just do it (like going to the moon)!

My opponent, John Carter, is using the same ‘Big Oil’ talking points and staying in line with the status quo.

Williamson County and District 31 it is time for a change, it is time to vote for our future.

Well said. Whether it’s energy, the economy, the war in Iraq, etc.., Carter and the GOP have nothing new to offer, just more of the same. It’s time for a change. To send Carter back to “God’s Country” permanently, and away from the “Devil’s town”. No more hair of the dog.

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