“What do you call an energy bill that doesn’t have any energy in it? We could call it a lethargy bill.”

That’s Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which reconvenes at 9:30 this morning to continue marking up six committee prints, i.e., versions of draft energy legislation. (Prints are here.) As this Washington Post story details, the process has been a slog, with a lot of intraparty disputes between committee members who recognize the importance of a functioning economy — Chairman Dingell, for example — and the seekers of a true environmental utopia.

Left out of the debate, yet again, is any attention to the supply side of the energy equation, hence Burgess’ frustration. Nothing to promote oil, coal or nuclear power. Consider the reality manufacturers face:

U.S. manufacturers are disproportionately impacted by energy price instability and consume roughly one third of our nation’s available supplies.

During roughly the last three decades, the U.S. population grew by 40 percent while energy demands grew by 47 percent. Today, imports account for fully 60 percent of our petroleum consumption and 34 percent of our total energy consumption.

The U.S. energy trade deficit is more than 25 percent of our total balance of payments. In the next 25 years this imbalance will worsen, as our energy consumption is forecast to grow by 34 percent, while domestic production will only increase by 27 percent.

With domestic demand further outstripping domestic supply, energy prices can be expected to take a further toll on America’s competitiveness. Already, higher energy costs have contributed to the loss of some 3 million American jobs.

Those facts are from the NAM’s “Manufacts” page on energy policy.

And yet when it comes to proposals to allow the development of natural gas — a proven environmentally safe process — the House continues to say no, most recently on amendments to the Department of Interior appropriations. (Here’s a news story on the proposals by Rep. John Peterson, R-PA. Roll call vote here.)

It’s hard to produce manufactured goods in an environmental utopia. To the extent Congress’ magical thinkers set U.S. energy policy, completely ignoring supply, then they succeed only in driving more business and jobs overseas. The quickest way to eliminate emissions is to shut down the economy. Unfortunately, that appears to be the policy choices being made right now.

According to this business report from Germany, only a third of the tickets have been sold for the Hamburg “Live Earth” concert for carbon depletion. Hmmm. Nine days left until Al Gore’s grand, global smash, and they’re only a third of the way?

Organizers are putting on a happy face: “Given the time frame and late start on advertising, we’re actually still on target,” said Live Earth spokesman Frank Ehrich. Really? With only 13,000 of the 45,000 available tickets being sold? They’re not even that pricey by European concert standards, with the most expensive ticket going for 55.50 Euros.

As much as we’d love to blame the Hamburg headliner, Snoop Dogg — a convicted felon and obscene degrader of women — we suspect it’s more the weak lineup that’s at fault: Chris Cornell, Jan Dela, Reamonn, Sasha, Silbermond, Michael Mittermeier, Katie Melua, Mono Diao, Lotto King Karl, Mana and Juli. Oh boy.

But perhaps another factor’s coming into play: People don’t attend a rock concert to be lectured at. “How was the show?” “Ugh. I went to see a band and an Al Gore Powerpoint presentation broke out.”

Meanwhile, still waiting for a reporter to ask Al Gore the question: Mr. Vice President, in having Snoop Dogg as a performer — and Akon, too, for that matter — you are using performers who demean women, promote violence and commit crimes, even as you preach positive social change. Aren’t you the one committing an assault on reason?

UPDATE (2 p.m.) Oh, things are now bound to improve. Enrique Inglesias has signed on!

The NBA draft is tomorrow evening, and ESPN’s Bill Simmons and Chad Ford run their mock draft in this entertaining piece. Simmons trashes Yi Jianlian, the 7 foot Chinese small forward, provoking this response from Ford:

Chad: Has there ever been an international player you did like, Bill? You’re the Lou Dobbs of NBA sportswriters. I’m waiting for your new book “War on American Hoops.”

Too bad they can’t build a wall around every NBA arena.

Bill: I’m very xenophobic when it comes to the NBA draft — too many foreign guys have bombed miserably, everyone underestimates the cultural adjustment. For every Nowitzki, there’s been four Darkos. For every Tony Parker, there’s been four Beno Udrihs. We overrate the younger foreigners, even though they’re playing against crappy competition, and we underrate the older foreigners (like Oberto, Hermann, Garbajosa and others), even though they’re tough and know how to play the game. I don’t get it. What a screwed-up league.

Which is why we stick to supporting H-1B basketball visas. For the most skilled.

But anyway, how interesting to see Dobbs emerge as a cultural point of reference. Not since Father Coughlin (who was really foul prone)…

From the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page (subscription required)

The way the vote was managed says a lot about how little Democrats really wanted to debate this “card check” legislation in public. Unions claim that it’s only fair to let a union organize a work place once 50% of employees have signed a union card. But this very public process leaves workers open to union and peer intimidation, which is why U.S. labor law has allowed secret ballots for a half century. Leaving workers to fend for themselves against the gentle persuasion of, say, the Teamsters isn’t a big political winner.

So it’s not surprising that Democrats staged their losing vote the same day as a key immigration vote that was certain to get far more public attention. Democrats also did little PR work, and the vote itself had a ritual quality to it, like some of those Republican votes on cultural issues when Tom DeLay was House Majority Leader: Hold a largely symbolic vote, check off a box to pay off your election supporters, and move on to something that most Americans might even care about.

Interestingly enough, left-wing bludgeoner David Sirota agrees with the analysis, suggesting the Senate leadership was more or less paying lip service to the bill. He asks:

Does it have something to do with Democrats wanting to set up a situation that allows them to claim they care about workers and labor rights, while making sure that those labor rights continue to get trampled?

Not for us to say. But interesting speculation. And may the factionalism grow.

Have you noticed how the blogs and commenters opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act are always quoting labor’s own spokesmen? How we constantly cite union arguments to rebut them? And yet, the labor blogs never cite the other side? As if they were afraid of engaging the issue, of actually addressing the arguments?

Why is that, do you think?

Anyway, we’d been collecting statement from union leaders declaring victory despite this year’s death of the Employee Free Choice Act, claims based on the argument that the political climate will shift even more dramatically against the secret ballot next year. But then Bret over at Laborpains.org has already posted the grand illusions. So, thanks to Bret and here are some good reasons to continue fighting the anti-democratic card-check bill:

AFSCME president Gerald McEntee told The Politico: “In 2009, we’ll have a real opportunity and a real chance in putting this into law ….”

AFL-CIO president John Sweeney told The New York Times that “This is really about 2009. But it’s important that we show the country that we have majority support.”

Bill Samuel, the legislative director of the AFL-CIO, said the bill is in “the building stage,” and a vote on the bill would be considered a victory.

Robert Borosage, director of the union-funded Campaign for America’s Future, said “We’ve just begun this debate. We started with unions not even in people’s consciousness … and now even the conservatives in the Democratic caucus are coming on board.” He added: “We’re a while away from it, but if you get a Democratic president and Democratic majorities (in Congress) this will be on the lead agenda.”

Generating electricity with his propeller-topped superbeanie. Stay off the coast of Massachusetts, Bruce!

As for Al Gore and “An Inconvenient Truth,” Willis opines, “This whole global warming thing, I’m not convinced. I’m not convinced ….I’m a little skeptical that it’s global warming. I’m thinking, maybe global humidity is the problem.”

As noted earlier, Wisconsin Governor Hugo Doyle and his legislative allies are intent on raising taxes on the oil companies while pretending they can make it illegal for those businesses to pass on the increased costs to the customer. Preposterous, unconstitutional and invidiously populist. Not such good economics, either. And politically?

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, in contrast, is an adept politician skilled at reading the electorate’s mood. So ….

HARRISBURG — Gov. Ed Rendell made three major concessions to legislative critics yesterday, dropping his controversial plans to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike, tax oil company profits and raise the state sales tax by one full percentage point.

Like Doyle in Wisconsin, Rendell originally wanted to make it illegal to pass on the tax, that is, to make the standard kind of operating and accounting decisions that any business must make in a market economy. And populist claims aside, the tax would have affected hundreds of businesses in the state.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry welcomed Rendell’s decision.

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry welcomed Gov. Ed Rendell’s announcement to drop his bid for a harmful oil industry gross profits tax, and is urging state lawmakers to reject other new and/or expanded taxes as part of the 2007-08 budget.

Wrongly couched by the administration as a tax on “big oil,” the oil gross profits tax would have negatively impacted any producer or distributor of fuel, including many small to mid-size independent companies – more than 270 businesses in total.

“This tax would have sent a terrible message to any company thinking about locating and/or expanding in the Commonwealth,” said Gene Barr, PA Chamber vice president of government and public affairs. “On behalf of our more than 24,000 statewide members and customers, the Pennsylvania Chamber is pleased that the governor is abandoning this detrimental proposal.”

Back to you, Governor Doyle.

The thumbnail to the left is of the Chungs at their drycleaners on Monday, holding a news conference after a judge held on their behalf in the multimillion-dollar lawsuit by a D.C. administrative judge, Roy Pearson, over a pair of lost pants.

And here’s the photo caption:

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Well, we should say so.

That’s the ASCII-transliteration of Korean from Chosun.com, the website of a huge South Korean newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, with a circulation of about 2.4 million. And here’s the English-language version of the story.

Great impression being left with the Koreans, eh? Especially as we negotiate a free-trade agreement? “Q: What do you know about the United States?” “Many lawyers! Too many lawsuits!”

Thanks, Pearson.

A lot of Wisconsin state Senators appear eager to follow Gov. Hugo Doyle and pass unpopular, unworkable and unconstitutional tax increases on the oil companies, because big oil is bad. Anyway, Doyle’s 2.5 percent tax on fuel sold in Wisconsin — and he wants to make it illegal for companies to pass on to consumers — passed the Senate yesterday. While not knowing too much about Wisconsin politics, it seems likely that the BIG-TAX-ON-BIG-OIL supporters are making a very risky choice with the electorate.

From the Wisconsin Radio Network:

According to analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the Senate Democrats’ version of the budget totals over $66 billion — compared to Governor Doyle’s original request of $58 billion.

A tax on “big oil” makes the cut in the Senate budget. It was a big part of Governor Jim Doyle’s budget proposal: go after oil companies to help finance Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure. After all, said Wausau Democrat, Senator Russ Decker, “they can afford it.” The Doyle administration has maintained it can prevent oil companies from passing the tax on to Wisconsin drivers. Minority Leader Fitzgerald still skeptical about that. Fitzgerald also ticked off a long list of tax increases included in the Senate Democrats’ budget, including taxes on hospital profits and an increase in the cigarette tax. A conference committee will eventually iron out differences with the Republican controlled state Assembly’s version of the budget.

Hmmm. A split legislature. Perhaps Governor Hugo and the Senate majority have a fall-back position: A straight increase in the tax on motor vehicle fuels, abandoning the unconstitutional gimmickry. That’s a familiar maneuver in state capitols.

Turned on the CBS Early Show for just a second this morning, two people are waxing breathless about Apple’s new iPhone. The reporter then says something along the lines of, “It’s so NEAT! that Greg Packer has been waiting since Monday morning to buy one, Greg Packer!” And then the camera flashes over to a smiling fellow sitting in a lawn chair. Here’s the Sydney Morning Herald’s version of the same story.

Stephen Hutcheon
June 27, 2007 – 10:42AM

To claim his 15 minutes of fame, Greg Packer started queueing to be among the first paying customers in the world to own an Apple iPhone a full 101 hours before the much-hyped mobile phone goes on sale on Friday evening.

Packer, a retired highway maintenance worker, began his long vigil outside Apple’s flagship retail store in New York on Monday morning at 5am.

Greg Packer has claimed his 15 minutes so many times, he deserves a wing in the Andy Warhol Museum. Packer just happens to be a prince among the media mockers (not machers), a professional man on the street, a guy who is always offering himself to reporters as a disinterested regular ol’ Joe, just happy to share his opinions.

From Editor & Publisher, a July 2004 report:

NEW YORK He’s not just another face in the crowd at concerts, book signings, and sporting events. Somehow, over the course of 10 years, one man has managed to become the media’s go-to guy, quoted more than 100 times in various publications, including several prominent newspapers. Greg Packer is the “man on the street.”

Did Packer con the media this time? Nah. Just having fun at their expense. And, what the heck: iPhone and Packer. What a cross-promotion.