Richardson proposes energy plan

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson on Thursday laid out his plan for a dramatic shift in the way the U.S. uses energy, proposing to all but end the country's reliance on oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2040.

Invoking President Kennedy's call for the Apollo space program, he said the nation needs a "man-on-the-moon" effort to develop technologies that will cut energy costs and halt global warming.

"I am issuing a call to action, for Congress, the energy industry and the public," he said in a speech to the New America Foundation. "I am calling for a new American revolution _ an energy and climate revolution."

Richardson's plan encourages people to drive electric and plug-in cars, promotes public transportation and calls for increasing fuel economy standards to 50 miles a gallon by 2020 from about 25 miles per gallon now.

He also wants to fund programs to develop wind, solar and biomass energy, and create a market-based system requiring utilities to emit less pollution.

Richardson has promoted his energy plan this week in campaign stops in California and elsewhere.

He says his experience as energy secretary under President Clinton and as the current governor of New Mexico give him a leg up on other candidates, who also have rolled out energy plans.

The Democratic front-runner, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, also has called for an "Apollo program" on energy. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama recently lectured automakers for investing in bigger, faster cars while dependency on oil is jeopardizing U.S. security and the global environment. And Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd wants to double the average fuel economy for each automaker to 50 mpg by 2017.

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WASHINGTON (AP) _ Fred Thompson, the not-quite-yet presidential candidate, is getting flattering buzz on the Internet. Now he's returning the favor, and piquing more interest in the process.

In a blog to be posted on Pajamasmedia.com on Friday, the "Law & Order" actor and former Tennessee senator praises the Internet as a way to send a message beyond the Washington beltway.

Thompson has shown himself to be well-schooled in the ways of the Internet. He knows what sites are saying and he knows where to go to push his ideas.

This week he engaged in a spat with producer Michael Moore over Moore's movie "Sicko," which depicts survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks seeking medical care in Cuba. Moore is now under investigation for traveling to Cuba in possible violation of the Cuban economic embargo.

Thompson questioned Moore's trip. Moore rebutted with a challenge to debate, archly noting that Thompson has been described as a fan of Montecristo cigars from Havana.

In a Web-posted video, Thompson shot back. Sitting in a leather chair in his home study, he slowly puffs from a cigar and reminds Moore that the Cuban government once thwarted a documentary filmmaker by putting him in a mental institution.

"Mental institution, Michael, might be something you ought to think about," he says.

The clip was shot with a small video camera and Thompson came up with his own script, said Mark Corallo, his part-time spokesman. Simple and cheap, it's getting plenty of viewers on the Web.

"Whether or not the Internet can elect any particular candidate in any particular race, it's clear that all of you and many friend across the blogosphere and the Web are part of a true information revolution," Thompson writes in his Pajamasmedia posting.

Pajamasmedia CEO and co-founder Roger Simon said, "If he does run, and I suspect he's going to, he is going to be the most Web-savvy candidate yet."

Though Thompson offers no overt hint of his intentions, he signs off saying: "Hopefully, we'll continue this conversation."

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NEW YORK (AP) _ Democrat Barack Obama taped an interview with Air America radio Thursday as part of the liberal talk network's "relaunch" after suffering financial woes.

Obama is one of several high-profile presidential candidates, political players and celebrities scheduled to appear on the network next week. Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards are among the others.

Speaking to host Rachel Maddow, Obama said congressional Republicans need to push President Bush to change course in Iraq, but he held out little hope Bush would actually do so.

"I don't think the president is going to change his mind. They are dug in," Obama said.

The Illinois senator also criticized the Republican Party as "bereft" of ideas and noted that during their recent debates, the GOP presidential candidates "kept on talking about Ronald Reagan, ignoring the fact that they've largely controlled Washington for the last six years."

Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the subject of persistent presidential speculation despite his denials of any interest, also taped an interview.

Air America is broadcast on 64 stations nationwide and on XM satellite.

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Associated Press writer Jim Kunhnhenn in Washington and Sara Kugler and Beth Fouhy in New York contributed to this report.