Liberal Talk Radio

As befits a former Energy Secretary, it’s quite good. For starters, the words “energy independence” which sound nice but are mostly meaningless, are nowhere to be found. Instead there are simple but bold solutions: increasing MPG standards, more renewable energy, etc. There’s also this:

Further, I will get out the “green scissors” to cut back on wrongly-placed tax subsidies.

That’s a pretty genius bit of framing: using the metaphor of scissors and “cutting” to describe what is essentially a tax increase. I like that kind of jujitsu. Especially from a guy who has an unfortunate tendency to highlight his record of tax cuts, which reinforces a Republican frame and does nothing to engender him to the Democratic base.

Update: With an energy plan this aggressive, you have to wonder if Richardson’s trying for the Gore endorsement. Granted, Gore’s endorsement of Dean in 2004 probably did more to help Gore’s reputation as a reborn, real-deal lefty than it did to help Dean with the nomination. Still, the Gore endorsement, when it inevitably comes, will serve to (a) dispel any notions that he might get into the race, and (b) give some real heft to whomever he endorses. Hint: it won’t be Hillary.