tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post5374257462380196022..comments2008-10-08T12:00:25.302-07:00Riaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-72781316421928724812008-10-08T11:59:00.000-07:002008-10-08T11:59:00.000-07:00Libertarian,<BR/><BR/>You are probably right about Obama's chances of winning. As far as Palin is concerned, I think McCain needs her to excite his party's evangelical, conservative base. Without her, his chances of winning are close to zero.<BR/><BR/>On Pakistan, I think tough talk will hurt rather than help. Remember what happened when Bush said "Bring it on"? If there's anything we've learned from Iraq, it is that we should be more tempered and be prepared to use carrots with sticks. Even Bush, Gates and Petraeus now favor talks with militants in Afghanistan.<BR/><BR/>On economy, I agree that we are all in unchartered waters. It's not clear what will work but I think the recent bailout plus McCain's proposal to buy out bad mortgages will help.<BR/><BR/>On energy, I agree with you on the importance of pursuing alternatives but it won't be sufficient for a while. Markets will react positively to the news of new offshore drilling. With new technology, environmental problems can be minimized even with drilling and the use of fossils with carbon capture.Riaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-48185539033012256172008-10-08T10:02:00.000-07:002008-10-08T10:02:00.000-07:00If Obama doesn't trip he's through. McCain has that albatross called Palin round his neck. <BR/><BR/>On Pakistan, Obama has to overplay his hand - given he's up against a war hero POW. Does not mean McCain will not use that "big stick" he talks about. <BR/><BR/>On the economy - both are clutching at straws - like everyone except Paulson and Bernanke. Not clear if even they know how to fix this mess.<BR/><BR/>On energy policy, offshore drilling is a disastrous idea. That production takes 5-10 years to come online - it will make no material difference to the supply or the price of oil. Instead, doubling or tripling federal subsidies for pluggable hybrids and EV's will yield real results starting 2010. With current subsidies, a Chevy Volt buyer will get $7500 off a $40000 car. If that were $15k - $20k, Nissan, Toyota and Chrysler (who all have PHEV projects targeted at 2010) would show the same urgency as GM. Solving the transportation problem in the US solves the oil problem worldwide: US uses about 21M (25% of world consumption) barrels of oil per day - 66% is transportation. <BR/><BR/>Waiting for the day when we can kick those arrogant, illiterate Saudis in the butt and send them back to riding on camels.libertarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05258039856928341788noreply@blogger.com