Here is the full speech:

Below, I’ll parse the majority of Schweitzer’s speech, picking out some of the good and the bad. There were plenty of high points, but there is also enough troubling language to give me pause before praising it wholesale.

A generation later, we face a great new challenge, a world energy crisis that threatens our economy, our security, our climate and our way of life. And until we address that energy crisis, our problems will only get worse. For eight long years, the White House has led us in the wrong direction. And now Senator McCain wants four more years of the same.

A great start. Tying McCain to Bush on an issue where he has clearly failed is great strategy.

Can we afford four more years? Is it time for a change? When do we need it? And who do we need as the next President of the United States of America? That’s right. Barack Obama is the change we need!

Easy applause line. I like the messaging that we “can’t afford” four more years of the McSame old shit.

Right now, the United States imports about 70 percent of its oil from overseas. At the same time, billions of dollars that we spend on all that foreign oil seems to end up in the bank accounts of those around the world who are openly hostile to American values and our way of life. This costly reliance on fossil fuels threatens America and the world in other ways, too. CO2 emissions are increasing global temperatures, sea levels are rising and storms are getting worse.

I don’t like the bit about “those around the world who are openly hostile to American values and our way of life.” I’m sure Mexico and Brazil, and Saudi Arabia for that matter, don’t like it either. I don’t think we need to tap into the us vs. them language of T. Boone to create excitement for the clean revolution. It is exciting enough without that.

We need to break America’s addiction to foreign oil. We need a new energy system that is clean, green and American-made. And we need a president who can marshal our nation’s resources, get the job done and deliver the change we need.

Foreign oil! This is the wrong frame. What we need is to break America’s addiction to all oil, and in fact, all fossil fuels. We don’t talk about the need to increase domestic opiate production in order to break our addiction on Afghani heroin. This should be no different.

That leader is Barack Obama. Barack Obama knows there’s no single platform for energy independence. It’s not a question of either wind or clean coal, solar or hydrogen, oil or geothermal. We need them all to create a strong American energy system, a system built on American innovation.

There is no such thing as clean coal. Admittedly, Obama isn’t much better on this.

After eight years of a White House waiting hand and foot on big oil, John McCain offers more of the same. At a time of skyrocketing fuel prices, when American families are struggling to keep their gas tanks full, John McCain voted 25 times against renewable and alternative energy. Against clean biofuels. Against solar power. Against wind energy.

This paragraph is spot on. The bit about McCain voting 25 times against renewable energy should be repeated ad nauseum until the election.

This not only hurts America’s energy independence, it could cost American families more than a hundred thousand jobs. At a time when America should be working harder than ever to develop new, clean sources, John McCain wants more of the same and has taken more than a million dollars in campaign donations from the oil and gas industry. Now he wants to give the oil companies another 4 billion dollars in tax breaks. Four billion in tax breaks for big oil?

Yes! Talk about the oil money lining McCain’s pockets. Talk about the quid pro quo.

That’s a lot of change, but it’s not the change we need.

Seems like a confusing message, since he just mentioned how McCain wants more of the same.

In Montana, we’re investing in wind farms and we’re drilling in the Bakken formation, one of the most promising oil fields in America. We’re pursuing coal gasification with carbon sequestration and we’re promoting greater energy efficiency in homes and offices.

Wind farms and increasing building efficiency = good. Everything else here = bad.

Even leaders in the oil industry know that Senator McCain has it wrong. We simply can’t drill our way to energy independence, even if you drilled in all of John McCain’s backyards, including the ones he can’t even remember.

Oh snap! I didn’t know he had it in him.

That single-answer proposition is a dry well, and here’s why. America consumes 25 percent of the world’s oil, but has less than 3 percent of the reserves. You don’t need a $2 calculator to figure that one out. There just isn’t enough oil in America, on land or offshore, to meet America’s full energy needs.

Again, we need to stop using fossil fuels, not just “foreign oil.”

Barack Obama understands the most important barrel of oil is the one you don’t use. Barack Obama’s energy strategy taps all sources and all possibilities. It will give you a tax credit if you buy a fuel-efficient car or truck, increase fuel-efficiency standards and put a million plug-in hybrids on the road.

Not all sources are worth tapping, but otherwise a good paragraph.

Invest $150 billion over the next 10 years in clean, renewable energy technology. This will create up to 5 million new, green jobs and fuel long-term growth and prosperity. Senator Obama’s plan will also invest in a modern transmission grid to deliver this new, clean electricity from wind turbines and solar panels to homes, offices and the batteries in America’s new plug-in hybrid cars.

All great stuff, this is the part of Obama’s plan I really like.

Overall it was a pretty compelling speech and it included some great talking points. Given the shortcomings though, if this really was the highlight of the night, we’ve got some serious work to do.

As I walked in and sat down, I received a few strange glances and overheard someone mention that they were waiting for T. Boone to arrive. As soon as I sat down, two people approached and asked who I was. I introduced myself and showed my Big Tent pass. One of the folks who questioned me said, “This is a private event, how did you find out about this?” I mentioned the schedule downstairs, and got up to leave. As I walked out, I said, “I’m curious as to what a bunch of Democrats have to talk about with an oil man behind closed doors.” A gentleman informed me that he would be glad to speak with me about that, and gave me a card. As I walked out, I added, “I’m sure nothing good can come of this.”

I was then escorted out of the building by two CAP employees, who were quite anxious to see me leave.

Personally, I’m just glad we have such an open and democratic process.

Anyone who claims to care about the planet and collaborates with or legitimizes this guy comes off as foolish and loses major credibility.

Since then, we’ve seen more evidence and some pretty compelling arguments from the likes of Apollo Gonzales at NRDC, Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars, Edgery at EENRblog and of course, Adam Siegel at Get Energy Smart Now.

Crunchtime is coming for two leaders on the left who will be speaking on a panel with Pickens on Wednesday at 1pm in The Big Tent. Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club and John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Progress, both have a deadly serious decision to make. Will they a) greenwash a Republican operative oil man who funded the swift boat vets and has plans to make billions selling natural gas and exploiting our water supply? or b) do the right thing?

I try to remain optimistic on such matters but recent statements released by Pope and Podesta make that very difficult.

Podesta:

“Today, with the release of the Pickens Plan, we can start having the right debate.”

“The plan that T. Boone Pickens has put forward today is a major step in the right direction.”

Pope:

“To put it plainly, T. Boone Pickens is out to save America.”

Since it appears unlikely that John Podesta or Carl Pope will be asking T. Boone Pickens the hard questions, we’re going to have to pick up the slack. If they allow questions at the panel at 1pm tomorrow at the Digg Stage of the Big Tent, I’ll be asking Pickens the best question I can come up with. If you are in Denver and are able to attend the event, I strongly encourage you to do so as well. The costs associated with letting an oil man lead the national conversation on energy are too great.

With that in mind, what question should I ask T. Boone Pickens tomorrow? What would you ask if you could be there? Here are a few that I’ve come up with, but I’m mostly curious to see what others think.

I’m looking forward to your ideas for questions!

When John McCain turns out to have an advantage over Barack Obama on the energy issue this fall, we’ll know who to blame.

To make matters worse, I’ve just learned that Pickens will be speaking at The Big Tent in Denver next week. Why is this anti-environmentalist being given a platform at an event which appears to be concerned about the environment? I intend to get answers next week in Denver.

Aside from the fact that the natural gas component of The Pickens Plan is fatally flawed, there are several other reasons Democrats and environmentalists have no business praising or providing a platform for this man.

1. He is a Republican Operative

Wikipedia:

Since 1980, Pickens has made over $5 million in political donations.[13] He was a financial supporter of President George W. Bush and contributed heavily to both his Texas and national political campaigns. In 2004, Pickens contributed to 527 Republican groups, including a $3 million contribution to the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth attacking Bush’s rival, John Kerry, and $2.5 million to the Progress for America advocacy group. In 2005, Pickens was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.[14][15][16]

On July 16, 2007, Pickens wrote an article for the National Review supporting Rudy Giuliani for President. “In Rudy Giuliani, a gracious and committed public servant I’ve known for many years, we see that rare blend of big-picture vision and proven track record of achieving the ‘impossible.’ We see a forward-looking, accomplished executive eager to tackle the challenges of today’s America and ensure that tomorrow we wake up stronger, freer, and more united than ever before.”[17] Pickens was an executive-committee member of the Rudy Giuliani presidential committee.

What makes Obama and others so sure that Pickens won’t give a major speech in October endorsing John McCain’s energy plan as the prudent path forward?

2. He Cannot be Trusted to Keep His Word

As Firedoglake pointed out, Pickens reneged on his offer to give $1 million if anyone could disprove the Swift Boat Veterans’ claims.

Rich Texas bastard T. Boone Pickens boasted that he would give $1 million to anyone who can disprove “even a single charge” leveled by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who he funded to the tune of $3 milion. Kerry offered to meet with Pickens and do so, with the million dollars going to veterans’ charities.

But now Pickens is reneging:

Pickens, who provided $3 million to bankroll the group during Kerry’s race against President Bush, responded by saying he won’t consider giving Kerry the reward unless he surrenders his combat films, additional military records and wartime journal.

There’s an old saying in Texas…

3. He Supports Drilling EVERYWHERE

On CNN:

BLITZER: What about drilling offshore? There’s a debate. As you know, McCain says, yes, go ahead and drill off the coasts of Florida and California. Obama says, no.

You’re an oilman. What do you say?

PICKENS: OK. McCain says, OK off the East and West Coasts. I say East, West Coast and ANWR. Get it all. I mean, to get off of foreign oil, that is the enemy. Get everything you can get. You cannot drill your way out of it. But you’re drilling, and whatever you are able to find and put into the domestic system will help us. But you — you aren’t going to be able to find enough to take care of all the imports that we have.

4. He is Supporting John McCain

T. Boone Pickens says he supports Sen. John McCain in the presidential race…

…Pickens denied reports he’s promised to contribute heavily to a new conservative organization being formed to run ads boosting McCain and undercutting the Democratic nominee. Pickens, a major contributor to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which spent heavily on ads attacking Democrat John Kerry in 2004, said he’d “put up money to lobby to get rid of” such groups, known as 527s and loosely regulated under federal election laws. “But,” he added, “if we’re going to have them, I’d consider [donating to them] again.”

Can anyone explain to me why I am supposed to put up with leaders of the environmental movement and Democratic party praising a man who is an enemy of both? The bottom line is this: Anyone who claims to care about the planet and collaborates with or legitimizes this guy comes off as foolish and loses major credibility.

Over 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Democratic National Convention; those who have received credentials are allowed to cover the Convention at the Pepsi Center. While most of them offer legitimate commentary, some do not.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue is protesting two of the blogs:

“The list of credentialed blogs include radical sites like The Daily Kos. Worse are blogs that feature anti-Catholic and obscene material. The two most offensive are Bitch Ph.D. and Towleroad.

“Both of these blogs should be cut immediately from the list of credentialed sites. Neither functions as a responsible media outlet and both offend Catholics, as well as others. To allow them access to the Democratic National Convention sends a message to Catholics they will not forget. We look for Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Convention, to nix them ASAP.”

Bitch Ph.D identifies as a feminist blog and Towleroad calls itself “a site with homosexual tendencies”. As Spencer Ackerman notes, “How dare there be gays on the internet!”.

Bill Donahue is the same pompous blowhard who demanded John Edwards fire his bloggers last year, calling them “trash-talking bigots”.

This is a highly partisan group, despite claims to the contrary. They have repeatedly attacked Democrats, specifically Barack Obama, in the past several months.

RELIGION HAUNTS DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

OBAMA’S FAITH-BASED GAMBIT IS A FRAUD

CATHOLIC DISSIDENTS ADVISE OBAMA

OBAMA OWES CHRISTIANS AN APOLOGY

OBAMA CHAMPIONS “CULTURE OF DEATH”

Donahue has published three press releases attacking the Democratic convention, but has not mentioned anti-catholic Jerome Corsi at all. This group should not be taken seriously.

It was a neat idea for targeting a political ad—hit people with a Barack Obama campaign ad about gas prices and big oil companies on those new TV screens that are appearing atop the pumps at gas stations. But, said a campaign spokeswoman, “The oil companies shut us down,” and the ads never ran.

Huh. Looks like it was actually a pretty good idea.

The campaign planned for Obama volunteers to show up at gas stations across the country where the TV screens have been installed, including City Council member Mary Mulhern at an Amoco station on Fletcher Avenue, and hand out information to gas customers about Obama’s energy plan.

Gas Station TV is disputing the Obama’s campaign’s claims:

“Gas Station TV was considering running political ads and we have been approached by a few campaigns. We have made a conscious decision not to run political ads on our network,” said a statement from David Leider, the company’s CEO.

“At no time did Gas Station TV approve the campaign or receive … an “insertion order, which is required to purchase ad times,” he said, adding that the company never received or reviewed the ad.

On the bright side, now you don’t have to go to a gas station to see Barack’s new ad.

Update:

Adrianne Marsh has called the Tribune to retract her comment that “the oil companies shut us down,” acknowledging the campaign isn’t aware of direct involvement in the situation by an oil company. But Mark Bubriski, Florida communications director for Obama, has now put out another statement saying almost, but not quite, the same thing: “Once again, the oil companies and their friends are standing with Senator McCain, the candidate for president who is proposing to offer them a $4 billion tax cut,” he said in a news release detailing the campaign’s side of the disagreement.

Transcript via email:

Obama: By the way while we’re on the subject of Senator McCain contradicting himself, a few days ago somebody asked me what they could do personally to help America save energy so I said something that some of you have heard which is all of us could get better gas mileage and save oil in the process just by keeping our tires inflated. Turns out the experts agreed, turns out that we could save 3 to 4% on our total oil consumption just by keeping our cars tuned up, inflating our tires. Senator McCain and the Republican National Committee though mocked the idea, they’ve been going around sending tire gauges to reporters saying Barack Obama’s energy plan. Well, the, you know that sounded clever except last night after all that Senator McCain actually said he agreed that keeping our tires inflated was a good idea. Which makes sense because it turns out NASCAR, which knows something about tires, apparently said the same thing, so did the AAA and so in the coming days it is going to be interesting to watch this debate between John McCain and John McCain.

Too easy?

The plan includes several promising and innovative policy proposals, a few questionable ideas and a perfect opportunity for Senator McCain to make an ass of himself.

The Good

The “Green Vet Initiative”:

As President, Barack Obama will ensure that more of our veterans can enter the new energy economy. He will create a new “Green Vet Initiative” that will have two missions: first it will offer counseling and job placement to help veterans gain the skills to enter this rapidly growing field; second, it will work with industry partners to create career pathways and educational programs.

Talk about killing multiple birds with one stone. As David Sasson points out:

Sent to fight a war on terror, many vets now know — or will have to admit it soon enough — that they ended up fighting an oil war instead; and there’s a great danger lurking — that they will feel used and sidelined after having served the nation at the risk of their lives. Embracing this fighting force and turning them toward the battle for a new global energy economy is simultaneously uplifting, pragmatic and healing.

The plan also includes an aggressive strategy for transitioning to electric cars as quickly as possible. It would:

• Invest in advanced vehicle technology with a specific focus on R&D in advanced battery technology.
• Provide a $7,000 tax credit for the purchase of advanced technology vehicles.
• Ensure that within one year of becoming President, the entire White House fleet will be converted to plug-ins as security permits.
• Require half of all cars purchased by the federal government to be plug-in hybrids or all-electric by 2012.

The target cited in the plan is 1 million plug-in hybrids, capable of 150 MPG, on the road by 2015. David Sasson reminds us that “nobody until now has floated a plan for the rescue of Detroit that makes so much sense.”

Joseph Romm at Climate Progress calls it “easily the best energy plan ever put forward by a nominee of either party.” He has the most concise and compelling summary I’ve seen.

The Bad

Tucked into page five, there is a section called “Promote the Supply of Domestic Energy”. It includes proposals for increased drilling in Montana, North Dakota, Texas and Arkansas for various types oil shale and “unconventional natural gas supplies”, as well as opening the 23.5 million acres in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.

Further down on page six, the plan calls for “public private partnerships to develop five ‘first of a kind’ commercial scale coal-fired plants with carbon capture and sequestration.” Remember, all coal is dirty and CCS is a scam.

On nuclear, the plan is ambivalent. Obama refuses to rule out nuclear as an option and promises to… try to find something to do with nuclear waste. He does emphasize the importance of tracking and safeguarding nuclear materials, but I’d much rather see a candidate with the strength to say we won’t build new plants.

As I mentioned before, this thing is fairly comprehensive, so I’ve barely scratched the surface of what it covers.

The Ugly

As pointed out by Crooks and Liars, the Republican attacks on this energy plan are misleading and outright silly.

I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing for days. As the Obama campaign kicked off “energy week” with a new contrast ad and a policy speech in Michigan, Time’s Mark Halperin reports, “McCain supporters in Michigan will distribute tire gauges at Obama’s energy speech in Lansing. The RNC will also deliver gauges reading ‘Obama’s energy plan’ to Washington newsrooms.”

It looks like far-right blogs have received their copies of the Republican script, too. RedState.org’s Erick Erickson is on message: “Inflating your tires and getting a regular tune-up sounds more like Obama’s plan for ego maintenance than it does for helping American families.” Ed Morrissey added, “…Obama refers to ‘big oil’ and the need to reduce our use of oil by 35% over the next twenty years. How do we get there? Keep inflating those tires, folks.”

We are, quite obviously, in the midst of a very aggressive roll-out here. John McCain criticized the notion of well-inflated tires on Friday, and Newt Gingrich described Obama’s remarks as “loony toons” during a Fox News interview. Over the weekend, McCain said, “It seems to me the only thing [Obama] wants us to do is inflate tires” to improve gas mileage.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, still auditioning for the role of VP, even took to using a tire gauge as a prop.

As Bill Scher points out, inflating tires will have more of an impact on the amount of money Americans spend on gas than offshore drilling would. They’ve never let facts get in the way before, so why start now?

Here are the tire gauges the McCain campaign is pushing through their emails for the low, low price of $25.

If you need one, you can get it much cheaper from Amazon.

Expect the topics above and more to be covered in the coming days and weeks.

To get you in the mood, here is Obama’s 2nd energy ad released this week, entitled National Priority.