Mr. Chu, who was expected to get a friendly and brief review by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, said in prepared testimony that “last year’s rapid spike in oil and gasoline prices not only contributed to the recession we are now experiencing, it also put a huge strain on the budgets of families all across America.” He called for a “greater, more committed push towards energy independence, and with it a more secure energy system.”

Sigh. I know I’m being all intellectual about something that totally doesn’t affect me, but it’s sad that no government figure is allowed to allowed to say that gas prices should be higher or we’re never going to see meaningful alternative energy investment and innovation. I’m sure Chu was told in private “Look, you just can’t say that in public even if it’s true - it will cause an uproar. Just hope that gas prices go up and do what you can behind the scene to make a difference, but taxing gas is off limits.”

If only the economy wasn’t totally shot to hell, Obama might have been able to push something like that through. Unfortunately, his political capital has to be spent elsewhere. Maybe in four years.