Poison oil: Al Gore and John Kerry were right, Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin were wrong

Now we see the result of Dick Cheney's secret energy task force meetings and Sarah Palin's greed fanaticism of "Drill, baby, drill.” Now we see the truth: If Al Gore and John Kerry had been inaugurated president, our dependence on foreign oil would have been long ago reduced, and the poison destroying our jobs and killing the pelicans on the coast of our nation would not be happening today.

Politics means choices. Governing means deciding. Al Gore has spent a lifetime warning about the polluting and economic dangers of dependence on foreign oil. John Kerry is battling today to wage war against climate change and unshackle the potential of new energy sources. They were right all along. They should have been heard long ago. They should be heeded today.

It is no surprise that BP spent weeks giving false and ridiculous lowball estimates of the amount of oil spilled, tried to keep secret the videos of the spill and now threatens workers if they talk to the press. The secrecy of BP today carries on the tradition of Dick Cheney's secret energy meetings. Insects thrive in the dark. Secrets protect corruption.

Truth saves lives while secrets protect the poison and deceptions bring the deaths.

The greed mercantilism of Sarah Palin continues unabated. Her chants for more drilling are the mindless pitter-patter of the ignorant, offered in paid speeches, promoting the poisons of polluters, rooted in lack of knowledge, uttered in the service of greed, drenched in partisanship while the pelicans are drenched in oil.

I was one of the first to call for a criminal investigation of BP and am pleased it has come to pass.

Let’s release all the notes of the Cheney energy task force.

As for Mr. Hayward of BP, if he really believes there are no plumes of poison oil, I have a modest proposal for him:

Mr. Hayward should go where the scientists have found the plumes and enjoy an extended swim in those waters. When he emerges, there can be hoses and disinfectants for him, as he begs forgiveness from the people he poisons with his oil and the victims he infects with his dispersants.

Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney were wrong.

Al Gore and John Kerry are right.