Bush's Energy Policy

February 1st. 2006
Sent to but not published in the New York Times

In his State of the Union Address President Bush made an eloquent but incomplete plea for reform in our energy policy (New York Times, February 1st, 2006; page A1.
The question is whether we can believe him.
In his Jackson Square speech of September 15th 2005, President Bush said: "there's also some deep, persistent poverty in this region, as well. That poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America. We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action. So let us restore all that we have cherished from yesterday, and let us rise above the legacy of inequality."
What in the intervening four months has the Bush administration done to relieve poverty in New Orleans or elsewhere (except among the hyper-rich)?
Is it that Mr. Bush is merely a man of fine words, or is he unable to bring the Congress along with him?
In either case, I remain skeptical that there will be any change in our disastrous energy policy.