Stage 4: Debate Over Energy Policy

In the Carpetbagger Report, Steve Benen comments on an article regarding a debate over energy policy. Benen introduces this editorial by connecting his review to something all drivers can relate to: gas prices. He sets apart this topic as in important issue of discussion the public should be debating about. Benen conveniently quotes from the article on yahoo news for easy access to readers. He criticizes Bush's strategy to drill more oil calling it "quick, do something, whether it works or not."

Bene then lists arguments from both sides of citizens that agree and disagree with Bush's idea. He lists the arguments by way of dialogue which makes the connections between the arguments very clear and concise. He lists the important information and nothing more. This is an easy way to be bias because limited information gives readers only one perspective. Although Benen is doing a good job of giving arguments from both sides of the issue, he is selectively choosing information which he can base criticism on Bush. Benen is obviously critical of Bush's ideas because of his negative diction he uses: "How foolish has this bizarro-world debate become?" and "Not only is this a post-hoc-ergo-propter-hoc fallacy of logic, but Bush’s comments about ANWR aren’t even consistent with his own administration’s estimates about what’s possible in Alaska." Benen supports his claims of Bush's inconsistency with links. Benen then moves on to further his argument against Bush's ideas by using rhetorical questions like "Gas prices are high because Congress opposes coastal drilling? Wait, wasn’t it Bush’s father who helped protect the coasts through executive order? Is this his fault, too?" This is a very effective strategy that feeds information to readers by asking a question but in reality, it really suggesting a comment. After criticizing Bush's ideas, Benen concluded with a new strategy that he thought was much better, John Kerry's idea of " a serious long-term energy strategy that reduces our dependence on oil and promotes affordable clean energy sources to address the urgent threat of climate change and help consumers.”

I like how Benen concluded his editorial with an idea that he thought was better instead of just strictly criticizing Bush's and McCain's idea of drilling for more oil. He offered an alternative which gives readers a new opinion of possibilities for lowering gasoline prices. Benen did a good job on this editorial.