History proved Carter wrong

Obama Refuels Jimmy Carter's Failed Energy Policies

Carter Redux: While President Obama talks about how forward-looking he is when it comes to the nation's energy, almost everything he's proposing is just a retread of Jimmy Carter's failed policies from the 1970s.

In the face of historic gasoline prices and an increasingly agitated public, Obama has taken to lambasting Republicans. They're members of the Flat Earth Society, he says, and display "a lack of imagination, a belief that you can't do something in a new way."

But the only thing imaginative about Obama's energy plans is how he's managed to recycle most of them from Jimmy Carter's playbook without anyone noticing. And we all know how well Carter's plan worked out.

Here's just a sampling of quotes from Carter and Obama speeches on energy. Notice any similarities?

Carter: We can't substantially increase our domestic production. The cost will keep going up.

Obama: We can't just drill our way to lower gas prices.

Carter: We must face an unpleasant fact about energy prices. They are going up, whether we pass an energy program or not.

Obama: Anybody who says we can get gas down to 2bucks a gallon just isn't telling the truth.

Carter: We are running out of gas and oil.

Obama: We cannot sustain a future powered by a fuel that is rapidly disappearing.

Carter: We can protect ourselves from uncertain supplies by reducing our demand for oil.

Obama: If we really want energy security and energy independence, we've got to start looking at how we use less oil.

Carter: We must start now to develop the new, unconventional sources of energy we will rely on in the next century.

Obama: With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil.

Carter: I will soon submit legislation to Congress calling for the creation of this nation's first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20% of our energy coming from solar power.

Obama: I want to make sure when these guys are grown up that they're seeing solar panels all across the country.

Carter: Conservation is the quickest, cheapest, most practical source of energy.

Obama: Making our buildings more energy-efficient is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to save money.

Carter: If we fail to act boldly today, then we surely face a greater series of crises tomorrow.

Obama: We have to make a serious, nationwide commitment to developing new sources of energy and we have to do it right away.

Carter: These efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay.

Obama: It's time to end the taxpayer giveaway to an industry that's never been more profitable, (and) invest in clean energy that's never been more promising.

Carter: This is an effort which requires vision and cooperation for all Americans. ... I can't tell you that these measures will be easy.

Obama: Energy independence will require an all-hands-on deck effort from America. ... This will not be easy, and it will not happen overnight.

About the only thing Obama hasn't lifted from Carter's energy playbook is the word "malaise." Then again, Carter never actually used that word.