Pres. Bush Sticks to Agenda and Talks Ethanol
Despite the ongoing drama of the war in Iraq and the firings of U.S. attorneys, the president is focusing in energy, converting switchgrass and wood chips into ethanol.
The president is scheduled to visit a U.S. Postal Service plant today, where he was to stand near vehicles that run on alternative fuels and hail them as a way to reduce reliance on oil. He also touted his energy plan on a Midwestern tour of auto plants last Tuesday.
“We want people to know that we’re doing a lot on energy, and we think energy is an issue where there’s an interest in getting it done on the Hill,” said Kevin Sullivan, the White House communications director. “The only way to break through and build some momentum is to do two or three events in a short period of time.”
Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst from the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, says it is not surprising that Bush is spending so much time on energy. Energy, especially the shift to alternative sources of fuel, is a hot topic in America today.
Bush wants to reduce U.S. gasoline consumption 20% over 10 years, so he promotes cars that run on batteries or on alternative fuels such cellulosic ethanol, which can be produced from cornstalks, woodchips and switchgrass.
After announcing his plan, he first went to a high-tech ethanol lab in Delaware to focus on the science. Next, he toured Ford and GM plants in the Kansas City area to show people that hybrid vehicles are becoming sleeker and more common. Last Tuesday, he was showcasing how big delivery companies use alternative fuel technology.
But is Bush coming off as oblivious or tone-deaf, especially since Americans (and Congress) are paying attention to other issues? Sullivan says Bush won’t let that happen. On the day Bush toured the auto plants last week, for example, he returned to the White House earlier than expected to give a statement on the Gonzales matter and take questions from reporters.