Re-Thinks
I'm not convinced that Obama's adjustment on his offshore drilling position is a mistake. Maybe, maybe not. I know it's simply an adjustment to a prevailing view that an announced U.S. intention to drill the continental shelf for fresh oil may spur a reduction inf foreign-oil prices, and that politicians (a group of operators that -- hello? -- Obama belongs to) sometimes come to these realizations for the sake of realpolitik. Either way McCain can't zap Obama for flip-flopping because he did the same thing in June.
An NPR report from late June reminds that McCain "this week called for an end to the federal ban on offshore drilling. The Arizona senator wasn't flip-flopping, says senior campaign adviser Charlie Black, [but] acknowledging the 'great crisis in energy' facing the country.
"Just a month ago, when McCain was asked about offshore drilling during a campaign stop in Wisconsin, the presumptive Republican nominee noted that such resources would take years to develop, and that the U.S. should instead focus on alternative energy sources. Black says McCain's new stance represents weeks of talks with policy advisers on how to bring energy security and energy independence to the U.S.
"'So it's not a change in his position as much as a new challenge to America,' Black says."
"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama told the Palm Beach Post's Michael C. Bender. "If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage -- I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 2, 2008 at 1:21 PM
comment #1
BurmaShave says ...
It's awkward as a lib seeing our side often doing contortions to appeal to the mass. I'm envious of conservatives. They get to be wrong all the time.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 2, 2008 2:42 PM
comment #2
Walter Sobchak says ...
It's so simple, really.
Whatever Obama does is good, understandable and for the best reasons, and whatever McCain does is evil, despicable and merely in the interests of bad guys.
Why bother breaking things down into complex discussions?
It's so fun being liberal. You don't have to think!
Liberal = Good.
Conservative = Bad.
Duh.
Posted by Walter Sobchak at August 2, 2008 3:32 PM
comment #3
D.Z. says ...
Walter: Obama said he's willing to drill oil, if it doesn't harm the environment, and if we can invest in alternative sources of fuel in exchange. What has McCain said about getting us off our oil addiction and preventing another Valdez?
Posted by D.Z. at August 2, 2008 3:42 PM
comment #4
SaveFarris says ...
McCain changed his mind after weeks of consultation with his advisers. Obama changed his mind in 2 days after seeing a 5 point lead disappear in less than a week.
Posted by SaveFarris at August 2, 2008 4:18 PM
comment #5
D.Z. says ...
Farris: McCain's advisers are lobbyists for Big Oil, while Obama is trying to appeal to the public at large.
Posted by D.Z. at August 2, 2008 6:50 PM
comment #6
Mgmax says ...
Farris: McCain's advisers are wraiths from the very mouth of Hell itself, while Obama's advisers play with kittens and puppies all day and night.
Posted by Mgmax at August 2, 2008 8:06 PM
comment #7
bb says ...
Some people have political convictions and some people have candidates they are voting for.
Posted by bb at August 2, 2008 9:47 PM
comment #8
supertaster says ...
I personally can't wait to have the anti-drilling crowd suddenly start preaching about why and how to drill as though they aren't the same people who maddeningly disregarded every rational argument for drilling over the last few months. Sheep.
bb said it perfectly. Do these people have no convictions???
Posted by supertaster at August 2, 2008 10:10 PM
comment #9
D.Z. says ...
bb: So voting for a guy, because he's the son of the last guy, shows conviction?
taster: Um, no I'm not for drilling. But if Obama can do it without giving us more global warming, I'll tolerate it, until he weens us off of oil in general.
Posted by D.Z. at August 2, 2008 11:32 PM
comment #10
bb says ...
"Um, no I'm not for drilling. But if Obama can do it without giving us more global warming, I'll tolerate it, until he weens us off of oil in general."
Beautiful.
And it is only going to get better.
Posted by bb at August 3, 2008 4:29 AM
comment #11
D.Z. says ...
bb: How is it going to get better? I never expected him to do be the second coming of FDR or LBJ. I just figure that, if he wins, he'll be able to push us in a different direction, and the Republicans won't be able to do anything about it, unless they want to stay out of power-kind of like when they tried to destroy Medicare and Social Security for non-rich people.
Posted by D.Z. at August 3, 2008 4:37 AM
comment #12
Mgmax says ...
This is a big flipflop. One of Obama's few pieces of legislation was designed to keep DOE from even inventorying what oil existed offshore. As so often, his move to the middle started from the furthest extreme.
Posted by Mgmax at August 3, 2008 5:51 AM
comment #13
D.Z. says ...
Mgmax: It's not really a flip-flop, unless he's for drilling everywhere with no checks and balances. This is a flip-flop, though.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/03/eight-years-ago-today-bushs-broken-promise/#more-31517
Posted by D.Z. at August 3, 2008 11:16 AM
comment #14
Mgmax says ...
No, D.Z., that's a matter of opinion. There is a difference, and holding a different one from you is not, in itself, dishonest.
Posted by Mgmax at August 3, 2008 11:20 AM
comment #15
shanana says ...
Let me get this straight, for months now republicans on this site have claimed Obama is unwilling to reach across the aisle because he is "too liberal," and we were all just too dumb to see past his sparkling teeth to realize what a liar he is. Now, he has said he would support a bill that would include offshore drilling if it meant getting a comprehensive energy plan through Congress which makes him what? A flip-flop? Pandering to polls?
He is not "embracing" offshore drilling, he is fighting for a new energy policy which is being debated, right now, in Congress. Everyone here should take note, he just sided against the Democratic leadership in Congress for a greater good. Last time I checked the polls, he was still in the lead.
Posted by shanana at August 3, 2008 12:03 PM
comment #16
D.Z. says ...
Mgmax: No, it's a fact, as evidenced by every legal scholar not bought by that party.
Posted by D.Z. at August 3, 2008 1:00 PM
comment #17
Mgmax says ...
Is not.
Posted by Mgmax at August 3, 2008 2:04 PM
comment #18
bb says ...
"Let me get this straight, for months now republicans on this site have claimed Obama is unwilling to reach across the aisle because he is "too liberal," and we were all just too dumb to see past his sparkling teeth to realize what a liar he is. Now, he has said he would support a bill that would include offshore drilling if it meant getting a comprehensive energy plan through Congress which makes him what? A flip-flop? Pandering to polls?"
The great thing about not belonging to a political party is that you don't get lumped in with group thinking.
What I love about this is that I get to watch people who only days ago were opposed to any and all new offshore drilling now having to say they are willing to consider it. I love seeing people that vilified those that held such an opinion last week now finding themselves holding the exact same position.
I'm loving the fiasco of watching people that evidently haven't actually thought through their positions now changing them simply because somebody else did.
And I'm loving the fact that this is going to happen again and again. Because the candidate can take the leftwing of the party for granted, they aren't going anywhere. Right now he has to appeal to the very cntrists that the wingnuts hate.
And it happens on the right as well. But right now it is happening in an especially sweet way on the left.
Posted by bb at August 3, 2008 2:34 PM
comment #19
shanana says ...
"'m loving the fiasco of watching people that evidently haven't actually thought through their positions now changing them simply because somebody else did."
I don't recall EVER coming on this site or any site to talk about how I oppose offshore drilling, seeing how Congress wants to make it a state's issue and I live in California, it is a non-issue.
Secondly, we need a new energy policy that focuses on renewable energy, and if to get that policy, RIGHT NOW, means allowing offshore exploration to be in the bill, then so be it. That is EXACTLY what Obama said, and that is what I am for. That does not mean I am for offshore exploration, I could give a shit, I don't drive. I am for an energy policy that focuses on renewable energy and away from oil which, I believe, most people are for. Please, stop with all the politics and just get it done NOW!
Posted by shanana at August 3, 2008 3:30 PM
comment #20
SpinDozer says ...
'What I love about this is that I get to watch people who only days ago were opposed to any and all new offshore drilling now having to say they are willing to consider it.'
There has not been opposition to 'any and all' drilling. The GOP has demanded that anything less than drill, drill, drill is not in the interests of the american people. Sadly, the media has done little to explain the issue and carried the GOPs political gambit undiluted by facts to the public.
Posted by SpinDozer at August 3, 2008 7:35 PM