George,

Former Governor and Senator George Allen is a candidate for the Republican nomination to regain his Senate seat, lost to Jim Webb some years ago. He is billing himself, among other things, as "the Energy Candidate." You may read some of his policy positions here and here. It is clear that the Allen camp intends to make this an important part of the coming campaign, and sees it as a key point of difference with Tim Kaine (and the Obama administration).

As I understand Allen's policies, he is for exploiting every available form of energy as soon as possible--drilling, fracking, boiling tar sands, etc. He advocates reducing or eliminating government regulation. He is bitterly opposed to what he characterizes as "costly cap and trade schemes." There seems to be no acceptance of counter arguments; no smiling acknowledgement that persons of good will may differ ....

Tim Kaine's policy statements don't oppose drilling and fracking, either, but at least he makes a consistent pitch for a concurrent effort to develop alternate energy sources.

Allen is a founder and until a few weeks ago, chairman of the American Energy Freedom Center, a "research institute" with close ties to (ready to be surprised?) Exxon-Mobil. It was set up by the Institute for Energy Research in 2009 to (in their own words): "1. Oppose carbon and energy taxes. 2. Vow to defend jobs and investments against expensive, job-killing climate regulations. 3. Halt EPA's attempt to regulate carbon dioxide using the Clean Air Act. 4. Oppose the attacks on America's largest source of energy: coal 5. Oppose unrealistic biofuel mandates that drive up the cost of our food and feed." Nuff sed.

I think that Allen has misjudged the mood of the electorate on this issue.

Dave Sagarin (Electronic mail, December 15, 2011)