Lugar has never been quiet in his objections to Bush's blunders. My only criticism is that he needs to take the next step and challenge Bush to do the right thing. Quiet is good but sometimes loud is what gets heard.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_t...s_radical_.html

Lugar's radical oil plan

Posted by William Neikirk at 3:10 p.m. CDT

Who is this radical politician named Dick Lugar? Reported to be a quiet, solid conservative from quiet, solid Indiana, Lugar came out today with an aggressive plan to make the nation more energy independent.

And he had the temerity to criticize our political leadership on the energy question, which may seem a bit odd since he is a GOP senator from Indiana.

But Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made it clear in a speech at Purdue University that the nation is in danger on the energy front and that "advancements in American energy security have been painfully slow during 2006, and political leadership has been defensive rather than pro-active."

Was he talking about his own party--and President Bush? What has been done so far (energy bills) are "small steps," he said. The senator wants to be bold, because he says that is what is required to protect our national security.

Listen to this: He wants to expand ethanol production to 100 billion gallons by 2025, which would require a doubling of production every five years. He wants to put a $45 a barrel floor under the price of oil, which would be achieved by manipulating tax credits on ethanol. He wants to make sure that one-quarter of all filling stations in the U.S. have E85 pumps. E85 is a blend of 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent gasoline. By law, all new cars in the U.S. would be equipped to burn this fuel. And, all vehicles would be required to meet stricter mileage standards "to point automobile innovation toward conservation."

If these steps were adopted, he said, it would save 6.5 million barrels of oil per day, replacing roughly one third of all the oil Americans use today.

All of these would be hard to achieve, but a $45 a barrel oil under the price of oil would be the most controversial. But the aim is to ensure that oil companies have some assurance that prices won't plummet in a business that has been boom and bust in the past.

Lugar said the U.S. has the financial resources, the industrial might and the technological prowess to move away from oil dependence. "What we are lacking is coordination and political will," he said.

The question is whether this quiet, solid conservative can get his message across in a country content with half-measures to solve a big energy problem.

Not a radical, looking out for his state, currently the ethanol is made from corn. Sugar beets or sugar cane would be higher yeild, they could grow the beets there. He's quiet but he often gets people to stand with him, if he's serious the idea will get a good airing.

That's why people pay attention when he has something to share. He's never been much of a showman. So when he does speak out it's because it's important.

And yes we are all about ethonal in the midwest. Here "Corn is gold".

Yes, he's one of the most powerful senators, people like Frist come and go, he remains and exerts influence (often through negotiation).