Gary Hart (left), former U.S. Senator from Colorado, and Angus King, former governor of Maine, listen to a bipartisan summit at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
BANGOR, Maine — Former Maine Gov. Angus King told a crowd of listeners at the Bangor Public Library on Monday that he has never been more scared or concerned about the future.
“That’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama,” he said to sustained applause at an “Energy Solutions” forum, the first of three to be held this week in Maine featuring Maine’s former independent governor. “People don’t have a full grasp of how serious the problems we’re facing are.”
King talked for about a half-hour on the differences between Sen. Obama and Republican challenger Sen. John McCain when it comes to energy.
“‘Drill, baby, drill’ is not a policy,” he said, referring to GOP chants heard during the Republican National Convention last month. “It’s a bumper sticker, but not a policy.”
By contrast, King said Obama “gets it” on energy, particularly alternative energy options, something the one-time governor has worked on for more than 30 years. Recently, King has turned his efforts to advocating wind power through his firm Independence Wind LLC.
“Maine is the most oil-dependent state in the United States. Eighty-seven percent of our energy comes from fossil fuels, but we don’t make any of that here,” he said. “We’ve got to think of ways to get off oil. The only way to do it is to do it.”
King said Obama’s energy plan, which includes a $500 energy rebate to all Americans created from a windfall profits tax on oil companies and a $150 billion investment over 10 years in alternative energy, is a step in the right direction.
“He’s got ideas I wish I had thought of, frankly,” he said of Obama.
King also pointed out that Obama’s demeanor in the last two weeks while dealing with the nation’s financial crisis has been as telling as his policies.
“I don’t think I’ve recalled an event in the middle of the campaign give us such insight into how candidates react,” he said, calling Obama “calm and collected,” and McCain “all over the map.”
McCain regional spokesman Jeff Grappone, however, said Obama is the one who has been “all over the map on energy.”
“While he voted for George Bush’s energy bill in 2005, with its massive giveaways to Big Oil, Obama opposes offshore drilling and expanded nuclear power,” Grappone said in an e-mail. “His refusal to embrace common sense energy solutions, and his support for higher energy taxes, call into question Obama’s understanding of the problem and his ability to solve it.
“Either way, Obama’s approach stands in stark contrast to John McCain’s ‘all of the above’ energy plan, which includes expanded offshore drilling, nuclear and clean energy sources,” he said.
King disagreed and told listeners in Bangor that Maine has more at stake than most states because of its dependence on oil.
“If I haven’t depressed you enough, in 1998 Mainers spent 4 percent of their income on energy. Today it’s 19 percent,” he said. “This is a really serious problem.”
King will be host to another “Energy Solutions” forum at 7 tonight at the REM Center in Waterville and a final event at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Western Maine Community College in South Paris.
On 10/7/08 at 6:32 AM,
mrclam wrote:
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Was Hart in town to chase some northern skirt?
On 10/7/08 at 7:14 AM,
jaygee wrote:
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There is currently a rush into wind today and it's mostly driven by big money that wants to take advantage of this latest form of corporate welfare.
I am not against wind in the "right places". For one that would mean more constant winds than those found in much of Maine's interior other than the western mountains - which I feel should not be despoiled by the sheer height, massive transmission lines, incessant strobe lights on every tower and last but not least, the noise.
Wind rarely makes economic sense and is clearly a form of corporate welfare - with you and me footing the bill.
I think it could work offshore one day when the technology is there.
There are many towns in northern Maine being looked at now by wind companies. The following is an interesting read on what to do if your community is targeted by a wind company.http://www.wind-watch.org/whattodo.php
On 10/7/08 at 7:33 AM,
ckc1996 wrote:
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What was Obama's energy policy? Oh yeah, just inflate your tires!
On 10/7/08 at 7:55 AM,
jaygee wrote:
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Denmark (population 5.3 million) has over 6,000 turbines
that produced electricity equal to 19% of what the
country used in 2002. Yet no conventional power plant
has been shut down. Because of the intermittency and
variability of the wind, conventional power plants must
be kept running at full capacity to meet the actual demand
for electricity. Most cannot simply be turned on
and off as the wind dies and rises, and the quick ramping
up and down of those that can be would actually increase
their output of pollution and carbon dioxide (CO2, the
primary “greenhouse” gas). So when the wind is blowing
just right for the turbines, the power they generate is usually
a surplus and sold to other countries at an extremely
discounted price, or the turbines must be shut off.
On 10/7/08 at 8:21 AM,
mallett wrote:
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why is it , wnenever we have a statement by a highly respected public figure , like Angus King ,we have an immediate response from an opposing view.
Angus King is not running for office . His job is not at stake .He was merely stating his beliefs , which many of us share.For the record , King is truly a "maverick "in every sense . He has the authority to speak on these matters of Maine and energy without conventional partisan response. The republicans yell balh blah , but the fact is , this man was the most respected , successful and effective governor the state of Maine has had in recent history .
We dont need another incoherant response from the obvioulsy delusional right wing. I welcome Gov Kings opinion much more than the sate operative of the desperate Rebublican party .Please spare us.
On 10/7/08 at 8:26 AM,
Tikitorch wrote:
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ckc1996 I agree with you and I think that Obama doesn't have much of an energy policy; at least that he has shared with the American People.... McCain does say drill baby drill, but he also wants to find alternative energy.. He wants to drill to help us in the interim... We just can't afford to just change over to another energy source all at once.... It is not practical... we will need oil while this technology is being developed.... Some say it will take 10 years before we see that oil.. Then I say build a couple of refineries to get it out to the AMERICAN people sooner!
On 10/7/08 at 8:31 AM,
mallett wrote:
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mr clam , the photo of Gary Hart was taken in Oklahoma., not Maine . Old Mccain is the one chasing the "northern skirt'.Better be careful ,his heroic heart might not take it .Give this simple woman, palin, a cooking show , wild game perhaps , and her true calling will be met .
On 10/7/08 at 11:54 AM,
RevGerald wrote:
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And we should care what Anguish King has to say?
On 10/7/08 at 1:34 PM,
mainbad wrote:
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Who cares what Angus King has to say. He left the State in a mess that Baldacci has cointinued to run into the ground. King stands to profit from the stupid beaurocratic subsidies that an Obama administration would produce in attempting to solve an energy crisis that does not exist. When the resources no longer exsist to tap i.e. oil, water power, nuclear, we will be in a crisis. I am tired of same old rhetoric. The "Community Organizer" isn't even remotely qualified to even appoint competent people to a cabinet, much less establish a real "Energy Policy" Come on people, get real.
On 10/7/08 at 1:55 PM,
nonyabusiness wrote:
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I agree, mainbad. What is really scary, is that with all the complaining about Baldacci going on in the state and the mess (Dirigo, etc) he has created, most people in Maine will vote Democrat again this year during the elections. Why can't people wake up and see what's going on around them?
On 10/7/08 at 2:05 PM,
ralphmcdevitts wrote:
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angus you don't have to go home just go away.
On 10/7/08 at 2:52 PM,
Seaman24 wrote:
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AFTER JUST READING ALL OF THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS--I GUESS THERE ARE MANY MC CAIN BACKERS THAT ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS UPCOMING ELECTION. I HAVE HEARD "OBAMA" STATE HIS POSITIONS ON ENERGY,ECONOMY,AND ALL OF THE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH WILL AFFECT :MAIN(E)-STREAM AMERICA" VERY CLEARY AND CONCISELY. OTHER THAN, "INFLATE YOUR TIRES" WHICH AUTO- ECONOMICS-TIPSTERS" SAY,WORKS FOR BETTER "MPG". "MC CAIN/PALIN" THOUGH ARE PRETTY GOOD AT "OBAMA/BIDEN" BASHING. BY THE WAY;I AM AN "INDEPENDENT" VOTER.
On 10/7/08 at 4:55 PM,
mainbad wrote:
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Why don't you ask Obama the difference between dyed fuel and diesel fuel? How about the impact of low sulphur fuels has had on Mainer's fuel costs and ability to pay for heating oil? Why does home heating oil cost so much compred to gas? How about FAILED Democrat diesel emissions policies and laws requirements that have only resulted in extremely poor fuel mileage in diesels. Know what? I'd bet Biden will talk about how he has a friend who experience fouled spark plugs as a result of low sulfphur fuels! But it's a sure bet Sara Palin knows the difference!
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