Palin slams Obama on energy plan

In her post-governor life, Sarah Palin apparently wants to be a serious policy analyst, as well as GOP heavyweight, mother, etc.

In an op-ed piece in today's Washington Post, she critiques the energy plan that President Obama and Democratic allies in Congress are pushing through.

Complaining that "many in the national media would rather focus on the personality-driven political gossip of the day than on the gravity" of the recession and job losses, she declares that "at risk of disappointing the chattering class, let me make clear what is foremost on my mind and where my focus will be:

"I am deeply concerned about President Obama's cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage," writes Palin, who stunned the chattering class by announcing July Fourth weekend that she is resigning at the end of the month with 18 months left in her term.

In late June, the House -- on a narrow 219-212 vote -- approved a sweeping energy bill that is designed to curb global warming pollution and encourage clean energy. It includes the so-called cap-and-trade system that would limit carbon emissions and create pollution permits that could be bought and sold.

"American prosperity has always been driven by the steady supply of abundant, affordable energy. Particularly in Alaska, we understand the inherent link between energy and prosperity, energy and opportunity, and energy and security. Consequently, many of us in this huge, energy-rich state recognize that the president's cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the US economy.

"There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn't lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America's economy."

As the Republican vice presidential candidate last year, one of her biggest applause lines was "Drill, baby drill" -- a clarion call to increase domestic energy production in places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"We must move in a new direction," Palin argues in the op-ed. "We are ripe for economic growth and energy independence if we responsibly tap the resources that God created right underfoot on American soil. Just as important, we have more desire and ability to protect the environment than any foreign nation from which we purchase energy today.

"For so many reasons, we can't afford to kill responsible domestic energy production or clobber every American consumer with higher prices," she concludes. "Can America produce more of its own energy through strategic investments that protect the environment, revive our economy and secure our nation? Yes, we can. Just not with Barack Obama's energy cap-and-tax plan."

While she is very circumspect in talking about her political ambitions -- she is in the conversation for the 2012 presidential race -- a new CBS News poll found that most Americans believe she is resigning to boost her political career, not to help her state, which she said was distracted by her battles against the Democratic legislature and ethics investigations.

According to the survey, 24 percent accepted Palin's explanation that she resigned because it was the right thing to do for Alaska, while 52 percent cited her political ambition.

UPDATE: Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, who has made climate change a key issue as the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, penned an acidly worded response to Palin.

Published on the Huffington Post website, Kerry's response accuses Palin of ignoring the threat of global warming.

"Unfortunately, her promise to roll up her sleeves and tackle serious issues is followed by a column that focuses on everything but the single grave challenge that forms the basis of all of our actions: the crisis of global climate change," he writes.

"Yes, she manages to write about the climate change action in Congress without ever mentioning the reason we are doing this in the first place. It's like complaining about the cost of repairing a roof without factoring in the leaks destroying your home."

Kerry goes on to cite a May 2007 New York Times story about the impact of global warming on Alaska. “The earth beneath much of Alaska is not what it used to be. The permanently frozen subsoil, known as permafrost, upon which Newtok and so many other Native Alaskan villages rest, is melting, yielding to warming air temperatures and a warming ocean," it says.

Kerry also says that by focusing on the economic impact of the energy bill, Palin ignores the military and national security issues involved in climate change.

"We can't afford to ignore this reality - in an op-ed column or in our public debate over an entire piece on legislation designed to meet these challenges. An op-ed on Guantanamo policy that fails to acknowledge the existence of terrorists would not be taken seriously. Neither should an op-ed on energy reform that fails to mention the irrefutable reality of climate change," he writes.

"To get this right, we need an honest debate that focuses on the real issues. Both Democrats and Republicans will be better off if Governor Palin joins the debate we need to have--one about climate change as well as energy security--rather than leaving so many important details on the editing room floor."