Paris Hilton must have been reading from Palin's Play Book.

Palin is correct that it's naive to think the U.S. can just jump into renewable energy sources without an extended transition period. She's also correct that we need to be doing everything including drilling and renewables.

Palin has real energy experience and practical solutions unlike the energy obstructions of Obama and Biden who would rather kowtow to environmental extremists than do something positive for the nation.

Regarding the debate with Biden, I can't wait to see the competitive streak that earned her the nickname "Sara Barracuda" on her high school basketball team. Biden will never know what hit him.

Biden will never know what hit him.

This is pretty doubtful. Biden will not be caught flat-footed. Although, in fact the benefit of her being the relative rookie is that he has to absolutely blow her off the stage for it to be considered a win for him. If she even holds her own and the narrative is that it's a wash, she's more than done her part, since Sens. McCain and Obama will likely go about even.

If not, the narrative could be "Greenhorn seems equally competent to 35-year Senator," which would obviously be a bad thing for Sens. Obama and Biden.

Palin has real energy experience and practical solutions

From everything I have read this appears to be true, though all the rest of your sentence Sens. Obama and Biden kowtowing to Greenpeace is probably not. I could just as easily make an over-simple statement that Gov. Palin 'kowtows' to energy companies, when the reality is that each is doing what each believes is best for the nation's energy future. Seems to me what's most likely is that the government will split the difference between the party's plans; there will be limited new drilling with much expanded alternative research, i.e. the "Paris Hilton" plan. That is, that's what will happen if the folks in charge can get over the obstructionism and ideological handcuffs.

I do have one question for you, Mac - Why ANWR? Obviously the liberal sites I visit argue that side of things, that it's a drop in the bucket of the global market and it won't affect the price at all, especially by the time it actually hits the market. Is that incorrect? If so, can you point me to a link?

Wow! Have you noticed Democrats have given up all interest in truth. It has become necessary to smear Sarah Palin no matter what. Reason: she is far more qualified than Barack Obama. See:
http://christianprophecy.blogspot.com/

Parthenon asked, why ANWR? Here's the answer...

The "pristine" (and the environmentalists like to call it) ANWR coastal plain is where the oil is; I have been there. Nothing. No grass. No trees. No scrubs. No people. The oil is so close to the surface there are usually oil slicks on top of the puddles in the summer. It is idiotic to think the caribou can't walk around an oil well (just like they now walk around the drilling in Prudoe Field on the North Slope).

As I tell people, if you have a fescue lawn, would you be polluting if you happen to drop some fescue seed on it? Since the oil bubbles (naturally) to the surface is places, how would a small oil spill be 'polluting'? To me, it is the PERFECT place to drill.

Here is a photo of the area we are talking about: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.anwr.org/gallery/images/48-Coastal_Plain_summer.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.anwr.org/gallery/pages/48-Coastal_Plain_summer.htm&h=378&w=583&sz=48&hl=en&start=4&um=1&usg=__5HUcHICQkX66VuNMcwu433UtY6k=&tbnid=cK7UEXWNECXAFM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Danwr%2Bcoastal%2Bplain%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26c2coff%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN

Flat and not a mountain or hill in sight.

Another comment on "why ANWR": it is located very close to existing energy production and logistics infrastructure (Prudhoe Bay, the largest oilfield in North America).

Parthenon,

he [Biden] has to absolutely blow her off the stage for it to be considered a win for him.

Not only that, but Biden can't be seen to be condescending towards Palin or it will backfire with women voters. Where Biden might know something specific that Palin doesn't, well voters won't know either. Besides, Presidents have advisors for areas where they lack information. No one knows everything. The important role of the President is that of decision maker, and as the only person in the race with executive experience both in government and business, Palin knows important things Biden doesn't. What happens if Palin blows Biden off the stage?

Obama and Biden kowtowing to Greenpeace is probably not.

Well I didn't say Greepease, but it's a good example of environmental extremists.

I could just as easily make an over-simple statement that Gov. Palin 'kowtows' to energy companies

You're too late. Anyone who wants to increase domestic oil production is automatically accused of being in the pocket of big oil by the left. It's time the right starts labeling energy obstructionists as being in the pocket of environmental extremists.

Seems to me what's most likely is that the government will split the difference between the party's plans; there will be limited new drilling with much expanded alternative research, i.e. the "Paris Hilton" plan.

Whatever happens it won't be the Paris Hilton plan. Long before she got out of dippers many others were promoting research and development of all forms of energy. It's an insult to every serious person to call it the Paris Hilton plan. Is that your intention?

that's what will happen if the folks in charge can get over the obstructionism and ideological handcuffs.

The only way the energy obstructionists will get out of the way is for voters to move them out of the way this November.

Why ANWR? Obviously the liberal sites I visit argue that side of things, that it's a drop in the bucket of the global market and it won't affect the price at all, especially by the time it actually hits the market.

First, every oil field is a drop in the global oil bucket if taken individually, thus it's a meaningless argument. ANWR may produce 1 million bbl/day, and no, it won't lower energy prices. However, that misses the real issue. If we assume oil is $150 a barrel (which we may see after Gustav) then ANWR's oil is worth over 54 billion a year. That's 54 billion that stays in our economy regardless of where that oil gets consumed. That's 54 billion we won't be giving Russia to rebuild it's military or to some other nation so they can buy our banks, roads and real-estate. Besides oil there are trillions of cubic feet of Natural Gas in Alaska that currently can't be drilled. As you know NG is our cleanest fossil fuel. In Minnesota where the Republican convention is going on they just replaced an old dirty coal power plant with an NG power plant. The more NG we have the better it is for the nation.

As for the lead time to market; democrats have been using that argument for 30 years to obstruct development. It's that kind of obstructionism that has made the U.S. so dependent on foreign oil. It's why we have to go to war if there's any threat to our oil supply. It's why we went to Iraq the first time and doing that is why 9/11, which is why we went to Afghanistan and back to Iraq. What do you think we'll do if Iran blocks the straight of hormuz and what will Russia do in response? Drilling in ANWR and off both costs is not about lowering the cost of oil, it's about lowering the cost of defending our foreign oil supplies. That leads to a new bumper sticker.

Save ANWR from nuclear winter, drill now.

If you want peace and prosperity, vote out the energy obstructions this November.

Good point in #8 Mac, especially on the trade deficit issue. Every dollar that we do not send out of our economy is beneficial.

Also, at $150/brl the only impediment to speed to market is the US government permitting process.

People criticizing Palin's experience have not thought this one through. Her experience is the only experience that matters... ENERGY HARDBALL. She plays this game with the big boys and wins...
Since Obama lacks experience, I'm glad he chose Biden with his foreign policy experience. However, recent actions and speeches from Russia, Iran and Venezuela make it clear that for the next president, foreign policy is going to be highly dependent upon ENERGY policy. Thank goodness McCain tapped a Governor who has more knowledge and experience in energy politics than any of the all-talk/no-action beltway crowd.
Whether Washington takes her seriously or not, I'm sure that Putin, Chavez and Ahmadinejad will treat Palin with respect. She is not afraid to play political hardball when necessary. Look at the foreign leaders who know how to play energy politics and you'll see the ones who really run the world. Palin is no lightweight.
Democrats are asking for trouble if they insult Palin's small state/small town experience. Small town America will determine this election.
Insulting the Bible-totin, gun-lovin, bitter Pennsylvanians, Buckeyes and Michiganders will not make Obama POTUS.
REMEMBER... Palin's experience matters - ENERGY POLITICS ALWAYS MATTER.