Fascinating new poll I spotted via Greg Sargent shows that the American people are evidently a bunch of nutty left-wingers. Except for the predictable minority who aren't.

The poll is from Gallup on what people think would constitute sensible energy/environmental policies. Now, to start with, it does turn out that 66% people still support offshore drilling but they are basically evenly divided between those who want to do more exploration for new wells and those who want to keep extant operations going but that's it. Only 22% want to ban it all.

So far so reasonable. Now is where we get into the communistic part:

Do you want to require utilities to expand renewables? Yes 87, No 9.

Do you want tougher efficiency standards? Yes 78, No 17.

Do you want limits on CO2? Yes 66, No 29.

Do you want more oil, coal and gas exploration? Yes 68, No 26.

Do you want more nuclear power? Yes 50, No 42.

Okay. The real message here is that people want more energy, even the dirty kind, but they think the government should place limits on CO2. They're a little dubious of nuclear, but they want more power, starting with renewables. I'd like to meet that 9% eh? Actually, on second thought...

Finally there's this. Is it more important to keep energy prices low or protect the environment?

All: Environment 56, low prices 37.

Dems: Env. 68, low 28.

Indies: Env. 59, low 32.

Reps: Low 52, env. 41.

So the Republicans are out of step with the rest of the country, which says by substantial majorities that they'd pay higher prices for a better environment. Just like substantial majorities typically supported a public option, remember.

To sum up then. Majorities of Americans want renewables, CO2 reductions, higher efficiency; and will pay higher prices.

What are the odds the energy bill that comes out of the Senate in a couple months' time reflects these priorities (assuming one comes out at all)? Correct. Slim. And why? The power of the lobbies, yes. But mainly the rules of the Senate, and the way the 41 who speak for the out-of-step minority group in the above have such inordinate power over what happens.

So any bill that's passed here will be to the right of where the American people are (this poll in my experience is hardly an outlier). And if Obama pushes hard for some of these things - if, for example, he were to say that protecting the environment was worth slightly higher prices, a view most Americans back - he would be pilloried as usual by the usual loudmouth gang of paid-for reactionary cretins with their usual lies, and the press would write the story that Obama was the one who was being extreme. I really give up some days.

