Giuliani Blog Tracking the likely Presidential candidacy of Rudy Giuliani

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Giuliani Lays Out Energy Agenda

Rudy Giuliani coupled his fundraiser tonight with some meaty policy discussion, giving a speech on energy to the Manhattan Institute. Anyone who has read Fred Siegel's The Prince of the City knows well how influential the Institute was in changing the intellectual climate of the city in the early '90s, preparing it for Rudyism.

Stepping up his political visibility as he contemplates a run for president, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani laid out an energy strategy Tuesday that calls for more use of nuclear power and ethanol.

Speaking to the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, Giuliani called for a comprehensive effort to wean the nation from petroleum. The Republican said there was no national strategy to do so, but avoided criticizing President Bush and congressional leaders.

This next part highlights what I think is Rudy's strong suit as a leader.

Giuliani said the best way for the U.S. to end its reliance on foreign oil is to diversify its own sources of energy.

"I think you can be independent by being diversified, the way many of you are familiar with a terrific portfolio," he said.

He doesn't overpromise. There is no grandiose talk of an "Apollo program" for energy independence or the plodding consultant speak that was Hillary Clinton's much-jeered remarks to the Take Back America conference. Just conversational straight talk.

He's going to do very well in the debates, particularly against McCain and Allen.

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