Obama Offers Support For Energy Compromise -- Including Offshore Drilling

That's unfortunate. But I guess the reality of it is that to get the right legislation passed elsewhere, one must support a compromise including offshore drilling. But it's truly unfortunate that there's even that much support for such a bullshit gimmick.

McCain's "Country First Concert" Only Gets Hundreds Of People

Ahahaha! That's just AWESOME. The immediate contrast of crowds of hundreds of thousands of people for Obama... to just hundreds for McCain. And in FLORIDA, no less, a state where McCain has typically done better than Obama. That's just beeeautiful

Regarding Missouri, I had a look at the crossover and I am kinda surprised to see that there is a 20 points gap difference in favor of McBushSame, this is really odd, especially when nationally there is a gap of 4 - 5%

Any takers?

The off-shore drilling is a non-issue other than as a political tool - it's basically a pander. Obama came out on the wrong side and took a hit for it, and will take another hit because the compromise will be sold as a blatant flip-flop by those with an agenda to see it framed as such. Obama has to explain his compromise, whereas labeling it an easily repeatable flip-flop is all that is needed by the Right.

You "allow" off-shore drilling but leave it up to individual states to decide this way the non-coastal interior states are happy because you are looking out for their gas expense and the coastal states are happy because of the NIMBY principle no coastal state will allow off-shore drilling.

Besides, off-shore drilling would only give the gas companies more money unless the next government planned to nationalize Big Oil.

Obama should demand that McCain make an apology now- to the American people. The challenges our country is facing are too big and too serious to be handled by a petty old man who resorts to low and crude attacks.

Obama is tough enough to handle it- hell, he took on both Clintons and won. But America deserves better than the tripe McCain has too offer. Demand an apology to the laid-off worker, to the soldier, to the veteran, to the broke college student, to the senior citizen. These folks deserve a mature discussion of the issues that will affects their lives. Johnny boy doesn't seem able to handle it.

Demand it now, and start a counter on the DNC website (repubs love those counters) and keep demanding it until the very first debate. Then watch the meltdown of all meltdowns. This is the offensive stance Obama needs to take, and he needs to do it now.

Isn't it odd that in Missouri, that McBushSame would get 55% of independants voters and Senator Obama only 31%?

While he may have taken a hit this week in the eyes of the MSM, the Intrade crowd still has him over 60% and quite frankly, I think that's more telling than any razzle dazzle daily tracking poll at this stage of the cycle.

McCain's "Country First Concert" Only Gets Hundreds Of People
Despite having the free entertainment of country music star John Rich, premiering his new song paying tribute to the candidate, the Washington Post reports that a McCain rally in the Florida Panhandle was only able to attract several hundred people.

It's the Hicks in the Sticks Tour, '08!!!

Oh well, from what I understand the Lollapallooza lineup sometimes sucks too.

Hopefully they will start doing some debates soon and get back to some real issues.

Obama in person comes off as calm and sensible, exuding intelligence, humor and good will.

The negative stereotypes can only take hold for people who never hear him or see him speak.

Support for comprimise my ass! He's caving in in advance like a good compliant centrist corporate Democrat is supposed to. He can't stand up to even the slightest pressure and be for what is right. It's disheartening in the extreme.

He's going to screw the American people to the wall with his capitulationist crap. My God, he's not even elected and he's caving in to Republican pressure on tiny stuff. Oy!

Get ready folks, Obama and Gen. Patraeus will end up being BFF and we'll be firmly in Iraq when BO runs for re-election on the slogan "Keep Hoping! Someday you may get your wish!"

--Obama said Friday he would be willing to support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that's what it takes to enact a comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy sources.

Shifting from his previous opposition to expanded offshore drilling, the Illinois senator told a Florida newspaper he could get behind a compromise with Republicans and oil companies to prevent gridlock over energy.--

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25974097/

It's called compromise, people. Obama is saying the gas crisis is just that, and he's willing to compromise with Republicans to get part of a broader package through. Basically saying, I give you LIMITED offshore drilling, you give me renewable energy subsidies, etc.

I'm not thrilled about offshore drilling, however, I think this sort of compromise is EXACTLY what Washington needs right now. I can live with drilling, if and only if, it gets the ball going on other more renewable options. (Also keep in mind that some offshore lands are available right now- so we wouldn't necessarily have to give the oil co.'s more land for their coffers.)

We haven't had it in a while, but this is bipartisanship in action.

Personally, I think natural gas makes the most sense. I can't argue against compromise though.

http://www.drillingplace.com/catalog/us_geologic_province_map.jpg

McCain is taking today off. Even loose cannons need their nap time.

Voter in Florida today from Obama's town-hall:

"The media says you don't get substance, but he answered everyone's questions with substance."

Could there be a more perfect sentence that captures the state of the race?

More here:

http://strategy08.wordpress.com/2008/08/02/the-media-says-you-dont-get-substance-but-he-answered-everyonewith-substance/

Hahahahahahhahahahaaaaa, no wonder McCain is so angry and acting so childish in attacking Obama's "celebrity", lol, he is jealous as hell!!

Wouldn't it be nice if people made their decisions on who to vote for intellectually?

What? And eliminate the Republicans completely?

Gotta love the irony of this. After making his "disappointment" in the race card being allegedly played by Obama, McCain's campaign "removes" th only black state reporter at McCain's event. Looks like black reporters aren't even allowed on the back of the bus with old McBush.

" Tallahassee Democrat senior writer Stephen Price on Friday was singled out and asked to leave a media area at the Panama City rally of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain."

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080802/CAPITOLNEWS/808020312

If the press conference yesterday did not show the world how scripted McCain is I dont know what will. Question:"What do you think of Senator Obama's compromise to Oil drilling, he has said he is willing to support it..." McCain:"Senator Obama has been against Oil drilling, he is against nuclear energy, he has no plan to solve the energy crisis, blah, blah,blah"
This is brilliant. Take it off the table, republicans had all gone home with this issue, they thought they had something to throw over Americans eyes. Come October gas will be down to about $3 a gallon, and then the real issues like health care and social security and Unemployment will be the issue. This kills their momentum, it was the only issue they had.Its all McCain is talking about, now what?

Generally, it seemed to be part of a regular Friday evening event, with little or no promotion.

The Florida Democratic Party, however, managed to get this small dig into the local paper:

"As Floridians are waking up to news that our state is in a recession for the first time in 16 years, John McCain proved how out of touch he is by wearing $520 Ferragamo shoes to his country concert" read the statement released by the Florida Democratic Party, only minutes after McCain stepped off stage Friday.

MCCAIN IS FOLLOWING KARL ROVE’S STRAEGY……BOLDFACED LYING! AND HE'S TRYING TO DENY HE'S A RACIST DESPITE HIS RECORD TO THE CONTRARY

McCain defended opposition of federal MLK holiday by saying he supported Arizona’s state holiday. During a press availability in Panama City, Florida, John McCain said, “I have supported hundreds of pieces of legislation, which would help Americans obtain an equal opportunity in America. I am proud of that record, from fighting for the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in my state to sponsoring specific legislation that would prevent discrimination in any shape or form in America today.”

FACT: McCain Supported Republican AZ Governor’s Decision To Rescind MLK Holiday. ABC News reported, “In Arizona, a bill to recognize a holiday honoring MLK failed in the legislature, so then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, declared one through executive order. In January 1987, the first act of Arizona’s new governor, Republican Evan Mecham, was to rescind the executive order by his predecessor to create an MLK holiday. Arizona’s stance became a national controversy. McCain backed the decision at the time.”

FACT: McCain Supported Gov. Evan Mecham’s Decision In 1987 To Rescind Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “In a vote likely to haunt him for the rest of his public career, McCain voted against 1983 legislation establishing the third Monday in January as the federal holiday marking King’s birthday. Back home in Arizona, he supported Gov. Evan Mecham’s decision in 1987 to rescind an executive order creating a state holiday for King, but later reversed his position.”

FACT: McCain Voted Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday. In 1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The motion passed 89-77.

FACT: In 1994, McCain Sided With Senator Jesse Helms and Voted To Eliminate Funding For Martin Luther King Commission. McCain voted in favor of a Helms amendment “to prohibit federal financing for the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission.” The amendment failed 28-70-2.

FACT: McCain Voted Against The Civil Rights Act Of 1990 FOUR Times. In 1990, McCain voted against a bill designed to address employer discrimination at least 4 times. According to the Washington Post, the “Civil Rights Act of 1990 is designed to overturn several recent Supreme Court rulings that made it much more difficult for individual employees to prove discrimination. The legislation, being fought by business, also would impose new penalties on employers convicted of job discrimination.”

YES. You’re missing the point of what he is trying to do. Obama has never said that off-shore drilling would lower gasoline prices in the short-term, which is what McCain and his supporters are arguing and or implying to the Americans that are feeling the PAIN of high gas prices. Obama has opened the door to some limited “well-regulated” additional off-shore drilling in response to the PAIN of those voters rather than simply ignoring them by arguing that they are wrong. Rather than making a confrontational/polarizing effort to win the argument by more or less ignoring those voters who are in PAIN, Obama is deflating the issue itself by eliminating the PAIN points for consumers and environmentalists. He is offering a compromise position that addresses consumer gas price PAIN and the PAIN of environmentalists who favor that all off-shore drilling be “well-regulated”.