RUSH: The Heritage Foundation today: ‘Morning Bell: A Crisis of Competence — Nearly 31 years ago, on July 15, 1979, President Jimmy Carter told the American people from the Oval Office: ‘Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite this nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny.”
That is almost verbatim what Obama said last night, almost the exact same speech. Obama said, ‘I’ve returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we’re waging against an oil spill that’s assaulting or shores and our citizens. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful, powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America’s innovation and seize control of our own destiny.’
Jimmy Carter ended ‘and we can seize control again of our common destiny.’
Let’s go back and listen to Obama last night from the Oval Office.
OBAMA: One answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big and to difficult to meet. You know, the — the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II. There are some who believe that we can’t afford those costs right now. I say we can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy, because long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater.
RUSH: ‘I will not settle for the idea that this challenge is…’? Who’s saying it’s too big? Here’s the straw man argument again. Who’s saying the challenge is ‘too big and too difficult to meet’? Who is saying this? Has anybody thrown up their arms and said, ‘Sorry, we can’t do anything about it. Live with it’? Nobody has said that. ‘[T]he same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in…’? Who said we couldn’t produce enough planes and tanks in World War II? Who said we couldn’t? We did it. Jimmy Carter, July 15th, 1979, at the Oval Office. This is from what is now called the ‘Crisis of Confidence’ speech, or the ‘Malaise Speech.’ This is what Jimmy Carter said.
CARTER: Just as a similar Synthetic Rubber Corporation helped us one World War II, so will we mobilize American determination and ability to win the energy war. These efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. I will urge Congress to create an Energy Mobilization Board which, like the war production board in World War II, will have the responsibility and authority to cut through the red tape, the delays, and the endless roadblocks to completing key energy projects.
RUSH: I tell you, it’s second term of Jimmy Carter! And it’s liberalism 100% through and through. Jimmy Carter, 1979, July 15th, gave the same speech. The problem back then was an imagined oil shortage. There wasn’t any shortage. It’s just exports were being diverted away from us. And Jimmy Carter, of course, we had then the Iranian hostage crisis. But Synthetic Rubber Corporation, costs a lot of money, we need a lot of money, spend a lot of money, war production, World War II — it’s all there! Everything he said Obama repeated last night. And the same call to action. Well, we had this call to action in 1979. Do you know how long ago 1979 is? Well, 1980 to 2010 would be 30 years. Thirty-one years ago Jimmy Carter prescribed the same fix! Here we are 31 years later, almost to the day and another left-wing liberal ideologue with the same solution to a problem that they have no clue how to fix.
This is the kind of stuff that as a thinking person — I’m sure it’s the same thing with you, thinking individuals — why is it…? Well, I know the answer to the question. It’s still frustrating. Why is it anybody pays any of these people any mind? Why? It’s because two things: They got a media that makes ’em seem like they’re the majority of the and doesn’t tell the truth about them, and they somehow own this notion that they’re the ones that are compassionate, tolerant, inclusive, and all that. All of it’s absurd. There’s nothing new about who these people are. This just happens to be the most current iteration of them, and in this case Jimmy Carter was a bumbling fool. We don’t have really a bumbling fool here. We have somebody who looks like one who makes a speech last night, but I’ll guarantee you: Everything this guy has in his head he wants to see this road map to the future, it’s happening.
We’re on the road. We’re on his road and we are speeding down that road.
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RUSH: Speaking of Jimmy Carter, in 1977, the Department of Energy was created by Jimmy Carter. Do you realize that’s how recent it is? Thirty-three years ago. And what was the purpose of the Department of Energy? It was to end the US dependence on foreign sources of oil and transition us to renewable energy sources. Thirty-three years ago. What has happened? What has happened to all the money that’s been flushed down that hole over the last 33 years? For 33 years we were working on renewable energy, reducing our dependence on foreign oil. It’s been 33 years. The point is what did we get for it? The Department of Energy’s budget for 2010 is $26.4 billion. And what do we have? We have Energy Star appliances and we got curlicue little lightbulbs, $26.4 billion this year.
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RUSH: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This is Kate. I’m glad you waited. You’re on the EIB Network, and hello.
CALLER: Hey, Rush. Good afternoon. How are you today?
RUSH: Very well, thank you.
CALLER: Well, listen, the first thing I have to say is congratulations to you and Kathryn for a lifetime of happiness with those three little fuzzballs you’ve got, too.
RUSH: Thank you. Thank you very much.
CALLER: I was on hold for another purpose, but I heard you talk about the fact that you thought that Jimmy Carter has to be darn happy about this Gulf disaster, because his reputation as the worst modern era president in history has to be saved now, right? But I figure there’s gotta be another president who’s really happy. Don’t you think this has to retire Slick Willie?
RUSH: Uhhhh. (laughing)
CALLER: Oil slick?
RUSH: (laughing) Well, that’s a great line, but in truth, I really don’t think that Clinton at all thinks he’s anywhere near the worst president ever. Carter knows he is. With Obama coming along here, Carter can rest easy. Carter can say, ‘Finally there’s somebody worse than I am.’ That’s what he’s saying to himself, but Clinton’s ego is such that I’m sure he still looks at Obama as this interloping intruder who stood in his and Hillary’s way of greatness. Clinton doesn’t sit around and think about how bad his presidency was. Jimmy Carter can’t escape it. I mean, it’s just certain things are just obvious. Appreciate, Kate, the phone call.