The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

MY NAME IS JAKED, HEAR ME ROAAAAARRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I truly want to support Barack Obama but he changes his position on any issue to whatever is politically expediant to his campaign. He stands for nothing. FISA, campaign finance, The Surge, offshore drilling. This is why I supported Hillary until the bitter end. She would have been up by twenty points in the polls and probably picked out which drapes she'll be hanging in the oval office by now.

I may live overseas for a few years. I hear Belgium is beautiful in the springtime. God help us all.

Opens to the door to offshore drilling? This guy is harder to read than those poker players on ESPN wearing hats, bandannas, reflective sunglasses, and a parka. I can't tell what he believes in.

When will we all realize that oil is not the answer? It is a thing of the past because of the harm it does to the environment and because of its limited quantities. So why should we waste our time and money on something that is obsolete? Would you spend obscene amounts of money on a computer that is ten years old and has windows 98 on it? Solar Power and Wind power are the solution. So ask yourself if you want a president that is for oil and extremely harmful nuclear energy or do you want one that will find a way to move us into the future. Ralph Nader is the only person that will get this done. If he is allowed on the televised debates, look out! We are going to have a three way race for president.

on these off subject comments :
IM STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HOW SAME PEOPLE COMPLAIN OBAMA IS MUSLIM
AND
SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BEING A 20 YEAR MEMBER OF THE very CHRISTIAN CHURCH RUN BY REV WRIGHT.

I DONT RELISH BEING MEAN
BUT...
DONT THEY HAVE ENOUGH BRAIN CELLS TO CONNECT ThE DOTS?

No one has demanded we have alternates NOW.
No one has demanded the Control of AMERICA'S energy be taken from teh hands of the GOP OIL BARONS .
NO ONE HAS DEMANDED WE DRILL TEH ALREADY APPROVED LAND SITES OR HAVE 50MPG ELECTRIC AND OTHER TRANSPORT NOW.

what do we do ?
just stop business and life until some one LIKE YOU stops whining and DOES something?

LOL, Obama. Gimme a break. We dont need no Muslim running this country do we?

JT
www.FireMe.To/udi

Obama is thinking about the bigger picture.

This Barack Obama statement on offshore drilling seems to be made solely for political purposes and is not a firm commitment to support opening up more areas to exploration and drilling.
It reminds of a similar gambit used by Al Gore during the 2000 campaign.
Back then, George W. Bush had introduced the idea that individuals should be allowed to invest on their own a percentage of the Social Security tax that they paid. We have seen how far Bush got with that idea but at the time he seemed to be getting some support from voters on it.
As a response Gore came up with a federally funded IRA scheme. It appeared that he had not given much thought to his plan but had only introduced it to try and slow Bush's momentum on the issue.
Obama's drilling plan like most Obama plans is vague and only seems politically motivated to try and mitigate the damage that is being done to Democrats on the drilling issue. If some people really believe that opening more areas to drilling is a good thing then it is unlikely that this watered down plan that Obama throws out is going to get their votes.
So Obama just looks like he is pandering and he is not going to gain any votes from drilling advocates. It would have been better for him if he had just said nothing on the issue like he does with most issues.

This Obamazation is a loser. He has lost
all the backbone that he had against Hillary. But wait, it wasn't his backbone, it was MICHELLE'S, and since she
has been put out to pasture, Obama has turned into a jellyfish.

This man will do anything, sell his soul
if he has one, to get elected.

This is not a President. This is nothing
but a sad commentary. And, to the people
that say; oh, he has said all along he will
drill, BS(and that is not an acronym for Bachelor of Science), he has never had intentions. Do you remember that the $4.00 gas price did'nt bother him. Fill the air in your tires. I can't think of the last time I got a tune-up on a car. I think it was 20 years ago....

Get smart people, you don't have to let anyone know you CHANGED you mind. Just do
it and do not vote for someone who is blowing (??? is what is he is blowing) in the wind.

Thanks for reading. BE SMART BE COOL, DON'T VOTE LIKE A DUMB TOOL.

Hey KC:

"Or Ralph Lowlife Nader--it's all the same"

You are obviously a retarded person, so why don't we let the real grown-ups on this forum talk.

McCain married into the mob.

http://www.girlinshortshorts.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-mccain-and-mob.html

Why doesn't the MSM report that?

Perhaps they are just as compromised as McCain- after all, McCain's mob, the Phoenix/Vegas/LA set, was Italian and Israeli. Bronfman/Lansky...

Yesterday, Obama was heckled by African Americans in Florida. Obama responded that he passed the first important racial profiling bill in Illinois. Very misleading. State Senator Rick Hendon did all the work on that bill and took all the heat, and at the last moment it was handed to Obama by Emil Jones. Why? Because Obama hadn't accomplished much and wanted to run for the U.S. Senate. Some called it bill hijacking. Why doesn't MSM report this? Good question.

Barack Obama may have single handedly broke the energy gridlock in Washington. The Gang of Ten alone was not enough to stand up to Reid and Pelosi as the Dems involved are more moderate and not very powerful. Obama's weight behind the issue, as the third pillar of the Democratic leadership, will open it up for the gang to grow.

Yet we have Repubs who'd rather take cheap shots to score political points for a candidate they're not even all that excited about?

American energy independence is far greater than any political candidate, far greater than any election. It is the key to a safe and secure America and those who wanted offshore drilling should be applauding Obama's efforts rather than shunning them.

Yes, McCain was first to "flip flop" on the issue but citing that in response only lowers you to their level of name calling. There is no need to sling mud because Barack Obama hasn't done anything wrong.

What the hell is there to "truly believe in" when it comes to American energy independence and getting the job done? "Truly believing" in something is just an excuse for gridlock and refusal to compromise. That is NOT what politicians are elected to do. Compromise is baked into the word politics and it's the pols who can't recognize that who have screwed Washington up.

I don't care what the media says, Barack Obama has always presented himself as a president who can unite the parties, as a compromiser who can look at both sides of an issue in order to come to a solid agreement. He may have run to the left of Hillary for the sake of the primaries but that didn't make him a liberal dandy. He wants to change this country and it starts in Washington DC with good, bi-partisan movement like the Gang of Ten Bipartisan Energy Plan.

If you want to call this a flip-flop by Obama go agead but, you better take a look at McCains record first.

He was against drilling, now he is for it.
He was against torture now, he is for it.
He was FOR his OWN immigration bill now, he is AGAINST his OWN immigration bill.
and on and on it goes.

If Obama is a flip-flopper then McCains record will make you dizzy.

If you want to call this a flip-flop by Obama go agead but, you better take a look at McCains record first.

He was against drilling, now he is for it.
He was against torture now, he is for it.
He was FOR his OWN immigration bill now, he is AGAINST his OWN immigration bill.
and on and on it goes.

If Obama is a flip-flopper then McCains record will make you dizzy.

For a price, Obama will also drill in ANWR. If anybody knows of any issue which Obama truly believes in, he is smarter than I. He reneged on campaign finance, surveillance, and Iraq. Much as I despise this Republican government, I can't vote for Obama.

Obama, can he think on his own? Does he think things through? He certainly moves with the wind. Another reason not to vote for him.

We need serious intellects to lead this country. It is not going to be easy for our next President. Our country needs a leader with experience and unwavering fervor, Ralph Nader for me!

Although Obama does come across as elitist to me, it's because of his lack of experience. And failure to identify the issues and his solutions, that will keep me from voting for him.

The big question is: Given eight years of Bush, why isn't Obama polling better? There is something wrong with this picture. Maybe there are more people out there that feel that Obama just doesn't have the experience they want leading the country.

Then again....

While I can understand that as the de facto leader of the Democratic Party, he is demonstrating bipartisan leadership for the purpose of reaching a political compromise in order to move forward on a new comprehensive energy policy sooner than later, I also understand a heavy price will be paid.

For an exercise in leadership is not how it will be publicly understood or perceived because he did not publicly discuss or set the stage for the possibility of a bipartisan compromise that he would support prior to today.......a day largely spent being critical of Mobil Oil and offshore drilling.

Senator Obama could have waited until September to exercise such leadership in Congress when Congress was in session rather than today of all days.

I guess when you are having a bad week you might as well have a very very bad week and hopefully get it all over with.

As it is, he will spend next week explaining this week without nuance to everyone but he will also say he is moving on an opportunity to get something comprehensive done which has not been done before on the critical issue of energy.

"The Republicans and the oil companies have been really beating the drums on drilling," Obama said in the Post interview. "And so we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done."

This is ridiculous. Obama needs to exercise better judgement that this. Like, keeping his word: No offshore drilling. Period.

It is disappointing that Obama keeps bringing up the claim that his opponents will attack him because he is a black candidate. Everyone knows that Obama is black, and everyone can see that he is black. A majority of Americans don't have a problem with Obama being black. In fact, many folks that I speak to are proud that he is a serious black candidate. But stick to the issues. And stop repeating the ridiculous claim, because it will invite people to think that Obama is uncomfortable being black.

I am disappointed that Obama's policies are dictated by polls. I was counting on Obama being firm against offshore drilling, but it took a mere three weeks of erosion at the polls to change his mind. So the things that Obama's been saying about big oil and McCain, in all fairness, applies to Obama too. It is unfortunate that Obama is saying many things and anything to win. That is what has been bothersome about Obama. As a presidential candidate, Obama has been somewhat disappointing. Obama won the primary partly because of the fact that there are more Democrats that dislike the Clintons than anything else.

I'll be sure to donate $50 in your place, JR. Keep up the good fight to protect the caribou in Alaska.

The Barack Obama campaign called me yesterday and asked me for a pledge of $50 and since I had been giving to his campaign regularly I said of course.

But after reading this I withdraw my pledge and will no longer be contributing to his campaign.

Are some of you reading the same article I am? For those of you commenting on Obama's flip flopping, could you make yourselves sound any more ignorant? He NEGOTIATED and said he would be fine with a COMPROMISE. I know these words are unfamiliar to many conservative spoiled brat Americans who, like Pres. Bush, refuse to reevaluate or allow anything but their own wishes. Obama said he still doesn't like the idea of drilling, but he is willing, to compromise so that both sides can get some of what they want. WHAT A NOVEL IDEA!!! Not being a stubborn arse?!?! It could take some getting used to, and apparently some people just aren't equipped with the mental faculties to get it.

Oh, yeah, and one last thing about flip-flopping...McCain flip flopped on his OWN immigration reform bill as soon as he went under a little party pressure. We're talking about the bill HE HIMSELF was heading up, pushing for!
Those in glass houses....

Not another penny from me. As far as I'm concerned, they both suck and were all screwed.

Who hijacked Obama anyway?

Barack Obama is demonstrating that he's not a puppet of Nancy Pelosi. He is now a pillar in the Democratic leadership and by throwing his weight behind the "Gang of 10" compromise, more Dems will follow and we can finally start making progress when it comes to energy independence.

There's talk that President Bush might call an emergency session of Congress to take action. Barack Obama has paved the way for more Dems to abandon the crazy environmentalists and get on board with offshore drilling. That's what the American people want and Obama or any other politician has no right to stand against us, the people who put them in office.

Omg, my head is spinning. Is there anything that this guy won't hedge or flip flop on? I've been counting on intelligence but intelligence does not equal leadership. There is simply nothing to hang your hat on with him esp. with no discernable track record of any kind except self-promotion. I have tried but I simply cannot trust a candidate when I can't even keep track of his positions from one day to the next. What a disaster.

I dunno; he probably thinks off-shore drilling is not important to the unregistered latino voters he is hoping to attract and therefore changed his position.
Whatever; Im outta there.

We need a comprehensive plan, not 'more drilling', ie business as usual until it runs out. The time for planning is NOW.

A comprehensive plan is going to make someone feel left out.

The buggy whip makers.

Thank goodness. As a moderate Dem I was actually considering voting for McCain if I saw that Obama would be so foolish and stubborn by opposing offshore drilling. I'm glad he's finally come around.

A lot of people say that Nancy Pelosi is going to be upset or that he threw her under the bus. You need to realize that this is Barack Obama's party now. He has just as much clout as Reid and Pelosi. He is a Democratic leader and he's opened the door for more Dems to abandon their stupid stance against drilling.

The people who consider this a bad thing aren't really invested in American energy independence. They just want to score political points and run to call Obama a flip flopper. But he has made a step forward in breaking Washington's dumb gridlock on energy, probably our top national security issue. I applaud him for trying to get things done.

Dear no name/no courage. Your post is not true because by the time new leases are researched and drilled, China will have 10 million more cars, maybe 25 million. That demand is not going to allow the price to go down. We need to explore new ways of doing what we do. That means steam powered cars, and other ideas, not exploiting the little oil left in the world until our air force and navy are on a short leash.

Below, you quote me, then you comment, without identity:
Me" Any oil that is pumped up will be sold to the highest bidders, as always."

Well ... yeah ...

Oil is fungible. But the more the world pumps, anywhere, the price goes down.

Posted by: | August 2, 2008 12:04 AM

ME: you statement only hold water if the demand is constant.
The demand will increase and the trivial amount we can pump up wont stop the price from rising, although yes, it may slow it a bit. However, please admit, we need to get out of the box.
We need new ways to address our many fuel needs. RIGHT?
That's the Obama point of view. McCain doesnt address it at all.
McCain's point of view is the past solution and no more, and pretending to do something about the situation which wont have the desired change effect.

GDI has said it very well. It is a very sad commentary that most blogs today are dominated by angry people that are not thinking but just yelling such things as FLIP FLOP, LIES, and not really listening or reading what these people are saying. Our headlines betray the public need for an informed electorate when they focus on a line or a phrase that is inflammatory toward the other candidate in a fifteen minute or longer speech or event. People, let's chill out and work towards changing the behavior of the media, blogs, and candidates media manipulators. We have to work together and use our personal energy to solve these problems not hate each other. Partisanship is going to kill this country. Greed and self interest feed partisanship. Either candidate is capable. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. Who is going to do the best job leading and assemble the best leadership team to really get things done? We will only know if we listen and read and engage these candidates like we really believe something can change. For those of us that have taken the time to talk to our representatives in person, we have found they will listen and they do care and it can be done without making contributions or representing moneyed interests. Let's make this a real democracy by participating instead of yelling at each other or tearing down the candidates with little regard to what they are actually saying.

Just a reminder to the drilling fans. Oil has been found in the millions of acres of leased land. Why dont they drill?
ACCOUNTANTS run those companies, NOT Mother Teresa.
Their jobs are to maximize profits and to spread the profits over the life of the lease.

If WE/you stop leasing our US lands to companies and INSTEAD have US sovereign corporations do the drilling, WE KEEP ALL THE OIL and it never goes on the global market where it will be bid by the highest bidders.

PS. Mighty big natural gas find recently in NW Louisiana. That will lower the cost for a long time, unless "WE" allow more power companies to be powered by natural gas. As things are, natural gas heats homes in the South. Natural gas can power cars too. Some are, in California.
We need a comprehensive plan, not 'more drilling', ie business as usual until it runs out. The time for planning is NOW.

"Any oil that is pumped up will be sold to the highest bidders, as always."

Well ... yeah ...

Oil is fungible. But the more the world pumps, anywhere, the price goes down.

leasing US lands to oil companies wont lower the price. Any oil that is pumped up will be sold to the highest bidders, as always.

We must stop selling leases and keep the oil for ourselves, the US citizens.

We can start the practice of pumping oil by Americans for Americans by drilling 250 miles out, in the deep Gulf where all the oil is free to anyone who can find and take it out and where the Chinese and Indians will be drilling with or without us.
We need to save the USA lands with oil for the future, when our air force and navy will rely on it.

"... be one of the most important people of our time."

For keeping the Clinton Slime out of the White House, his visage should be carved onto Mt. Rushmore.
===============================

best post of the evening, hair helmet's, have at 'em.... (Chucky with the kung fu grip).

Today we saw McCain's interview from 2001 when he pretended that the ANTHRAX powder sent to poison liberals at NBC and the Senate had been sent by the Iraqi's. Now we know, it was sent by an employee of a US biological weapons Fort in Maryland. But the White House sent out disinformation that it was sent to us by Iraqi's.
Why? Why did McCain help spread this lie to convince you to support the coming war against the Iraqi's?

Augh, bad move man. Bad move.

Erelong, Obama will have to utter the words, "The surge is working."

That'll hurt.

Ouch.

The Democrats in Congress have grossly mis-read their voting constituency. The very people they claim to represent (and I am one)are the ones most effected by rising gas prices. And they adjourn without doing a thing? I am outraged by what I saw on TV today and I have clearly been a fool. I will remedy that foolishness in the voting booth in three months. I've had it.

j:
"THE DEMS HAVE A CHANCE AT THE DNC CONVENTION IN DENVER TO NOMINATE THE BEST CANDIDATE"

Right, and Obama is handing it to them on a platter.

OBAMA FLIP FLOPS AGAIN..... NO SURPRISE OBAMA HAS NO INTEGRITY

OBAMA IS UNQUALIFIED AND UNELECTABLE

THE DEMS BETTER WISE UP FAST AND THROW OBAMA UNDER THAT VERY CROWDED BUS WITH HIS OTHER TRASHY PALS

THE DEMS HAVE A CHANCE AT THE DNC CONVENTION IN DENVER TO NOMINATE THE BEST CANDIDATE, HILLARY CLINTON, WHO IS CLEARLY THE MOST QUALIFIED AND MOST ELECTABLE CANDIDATE, HILLARY HAS ALREADY WON THE POPULAR VOTE. HILLARY HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE PLACED IN NOMINATION, HAVE HER NAME ON THE BALLOT, AND GASP, YES HAVE ALL THE VOTES COUNTED. HILLARY WOULD WIN IT. WHAT ARE THE DNC, HOWARD DEAN AND OBAMBI AFRAID OF??? LOSING, PERHAPS?

IT'S HILLARY OR MCCAIN 08 AND HILLARY 2012. COUNTRY FIRST, PARTY SECOND.

reason:
"Well there you have it dems... you were snookered again."

They deserve it for snookering Clinton. I say GO MCCAIN, GO!!! The honeymoon with Obama is over.

RON:
"WOW, A LITTLE PRESSURE AND HE CAVES."

Like when he wouldn't debate Clinton again or join the Town Hall meetings with McCain. He is simply not a stand-up kind of man. Hate to think of his negotians with foreign leaders. Looks like his political honeymoon is about over.

Dear reason,

Hillary would have done the same thing. Barack Obama's doing exactly what the Clintons were doing, or planned to do if she got the nomination: Purging the left-wing from the Democratic Party.

Only the Clintons were pandering to the moderate Republicans, trying to bring them into the Democratic Party, and Obama is pandering to the Christian right-wingers.

They're all scheming conniving jackals.

There are at least two entries of "HE'S A N1GGER" Posted by: Phil Martin.

Please remove these posts. E-mails to blogs@washingtonpost.com are being returned as non-deliverable.

Obama is a bad joke and the Democrats are not laughing anymore!

He had his worldwide coronation and his dreamy cult followers glassy eyed and drooling. And he was still tied in the polls? Thats relative weakness. He promotes and arrogantly coronates himself in front of the world - and they dont vote in the US thank god - and his lead narrows! Ha ha ha!

NOW ANOTHER HISTORIC SIZED FLIP FLOP.

This man will self destruct. McCain is going to win. Writing is on the wall people.

Obama is road kill.

Has anybody seen Michelle Obama lately? Or does Cheney have her in chains at the dungeon beneath the Naval Observatory?

One day after Exxon posts the most obscene profits ever and Obama undercuts his own party's correct position?

This latest capitulation by Obama is beyond insane.

Well there you have it dems... you were snookered again. How does it feel to know your messaih is just another mealy mouthed politician? And not even a very good one.

I am so fed up with the democratic party. We would have won this if Hillary was the nominee but no.... the whining kooks who took over the party had to have their false messiah.

The republicans already have this one in the bag. The clueless dems just don't know it yet.

HILLARY 2012!

I have to laugh at the judgemental and acrid comments on this board. Congress currently has a favorabilty rating around 20% and almost 75% of the nation says were are "on the wrong track". Why? Because of the constant partisan bickering and inability to legislate! No legislation is getting done because no party is willing to compromise. Why can't the parties seek common ground accross the aisle? Because they listen to their base: people like you who hate Democrats or hate Republicans because you're lemmings to their blanket generalizations. Do any of you have open minds? Challenge and think about statements rather than jump to conclusion becuase a Repub or Dem mentions it? Or do you blindly listen to Rush or Dobbs and lie prostrate in homage to everything they say. Every consider thinking outside this limited box and thinking for yourself?

Here we have someone who is not "selling out" but actually compromising. Did any of you fully read the article? I'm fed up with divisive politics and actually want someone to come up with solutions that benefit both parties! Instead of drill/no drill, Obama speaks to controlled drilling with conditions COUPLED with alternative energy mandates. Instead of one solution, we get both...a win/win. But instead of both parties being happy, we cry "sellout". Since when is compromise a dirty word? Perhaps if we compromised such that BOTH parties got some of their demands, political ratings might actually go up for both sides.

Think about it, you who see the world as "my way or the highway". You are contributing to the stalemate problem...with no hope for this country's future spewing perpetual hate for the other side. GROW UP and think outside your rightous Rep/Dem world and compromise so we can solve these problems.

I commend Obama for having the guts to at least try to reach across the aisle so both sides win with concessions.

--- A GDI, voting on intellect and rational decision-making

Tom Jeffers:
"Barack Obama, we hardly knew ye. And now we're wishing we'd never met ye. "

This is not the man we knew before the first 11 primaries, when the "Wright baggage" hit the news. The man is an arrogant politician from the Chicago Rezko ilk, and has played his followers for fools.

FLIP FLOP!

Change? He is more of the same - exactly the same. Do ANYTHING, say ANYTHING to get elected.

FLIP FLOP!

Just a few months ago there was a candidate who was running on a platform of changing the way politics was done in Washington. His was a grassroots, populist campaign, where he wouldn't be beholden to big business, but to the people. His was a movement campaign, and he told the people that he couldn't do it alone, and that if they wanted change they would have to do more than vote and give him money through the Internet (although that was mandatory) -- They would have to get involved, stay involved, and get more like-minded people registered to vote. They would have to become their government.

Record numbers of people showed up, registered, got involved, and made this candidate the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party.

As soon as that happened, the candidate "went Washington" on them. He flip-flopped, made a turn in his positions so sharply right that his supporters could swear they were in the Republican Twilight Zone.

Barack Obama, we hardly knew ye. And now we're wishing we'd never met ye.

All you people need to calm down. McCain makes a good point about oil drilling, but Obama makes a better point. I am from a coastal state and if "potential" oil deposits are off the coastline we should look to drill there, but the drilling should be apart of a broader energy policy that focuses on solar, wind, biofuels, and some nuclear and coal.

The decision to drill off-shore should be a state decision. Obama needs to focus his energy policy on the need to increase R&D to make burning coal and oil cleaner as well as pushing for affordable renewable energy.

Stop worrying about flip-flops unless it is a major one, for instance if Obama says he is pro-life vs pro-choice or that the War in Iraq must continue.

flip flop flip flop just another politician in the back pockets of the central banking cartels... democrat rebublican it doesnt matter untill the voting public is ready to clean house both in congress and with the executive branch its more of the same .... the sellout of america

Americans are led to believe that oil companies set prices. How wrong. Oil companies are price takers not price setters. Why do think that when prices go up they drill more and when prices go down they drill less? It's because of economics. If Americans knew what it took (people and time) to produce one barrel of precious crude you would be thankful that gas is only 4 dollars a gallon.
Oil companies don't drill in all of their leases for many of reasons. Sometimes they lease land on hope and it doesn't work out. They make business decisions, they are not government entities. They responsibilities are to stock holders. Is this a capitalist country? Wait let me check......oh yes it is. Now do a little research and understand the subject instead of making uniformed statements.

Is this a flip or a flop! Next obama will admit the surge worked. Maybe he has had an awakening?? Guess he figures the air in the tires won't save much money? Go McCain! it takes a little age and seasoning to know the right thing to do, the experienced senior senator knows best for the country. Glad to see Mccain take obama by the hand and teach him something!! Obama still won't get elected he is weak and popular amongst the kids and that just won't get the votes.

Flipity flop, flipity flop here comes the easter bunny.......Believe what you want but this guy will keep switching his stance with no substance or truth to get elected........As I've said before he will preach to an audiance the way they want to be preched to...The next day he will have a new audiance and a new message.....What a joke and anyone that believes in him is one stroke short of crazy.....

This lifelong Democrat (over 40 years of elections) has been straining for reasons to vote for this man for months (or any Democrat anymore) and I can't see any.

I'm flabbergasted at how we registered Democrats keep getting bamboozled by politicians in our own party election cycle after election cycle. Yes, one way to break gridlock is to surrender to Republicans. That's what Democrats have been doing consistently for the last 8 years, putting up little if any fight, and that's really worked out well, hasn't it?

I'm done with Dems.

"What won't he do to get elected?"

Claim to be named after Sir Edmund Hillary?

Here it comes folks, Obama has just done a flip. If he get elected you will see a huge flop on his position. Heck, even if he doesn't get elected he will change his position.

What won't he do to get elected?

Obama's comments regarding trying to seek a compromise to try to get a comprehensive energy policy that includes renewable energy are exactly what I have been waiting for. We need oil, gas, nuclear, environmentalists, tourist industry - everyone with a stake in the energy policies and their consequences to come to the table ready to do what is best for the entire country. We need a leader that is ready to bring everyone together and negotiate until we get what is best. Compromise but do it right, not sell out to the loudest or the richest.

Not in my backyard is appropriate if my backyard is going to be destroyed but if it is going to be treated with strong protections then compromise is appropriate. It is incredible that we are going to once again allow the hard headed, selfish, or greedy prevent us from having a comprehensive energy policy that includes strong practical environmental protections. Drilling offshore is appropriate if we spend what it takes to protect the environment. Developing next generation power is appropriate if we engineer a solution to the nuclear waste that is truly safe. Assuming we can't fix these problems solves nothing. Coal can be converted to clean energy including transportation fuels but it has to be done with investments in mine safety and environmental protection. No free rides. Renewable energy is an absolute must. Subsidies to develop all levels of energy is a must. Correcting the out of balance oil, gas, and coal subsidies so that renewable and nuclear are viable additions to our national energy sources is our only way out of this mess. While we bicker, the Chinese are making strides in two short years in renewable energy and clean air and water initiatives that puts us to shame. It is time to stop fighting each other and work together and we need a leader that is going to LEAD. Obama or McCain, either one, show us which one is really a leader and will bring us together to resolve these issues we are so polarized about.

"... be one of the most important people of out time."

For keeping the Clinton Slime out of the White House, his visage should be carved onto Mt. Rushmore.

Age old tactics... corporate democrats, corporate republicans... Oh how nothing changes in this duopolistic charade of elite stupidity and democratic suppression.

Get a life people... tear down the hierarchical structures of illegitimate authority and construct a society of counterpower and direct democracy.

Offshore drilling needs to happen to a certain extent because in the economic peril we are in we need to produce more jobs and income for our citizentry. It appears, however that we are speaking on drilling within the confines of currently leased areas which is really not so much a change of direction for Obama but an increased conversation.

I have to admit, there will be some who will consider this a flip-flop but it is refreshing to have a potential leader who can see that he/she doesn't have all the answers to an issue and can change their mind for what is in the interest of the greater good - compared to the current administration who thinks only of themselves. Bush has not been a compromising president and that attitude is sending Americans to the streets - LITERALLY!

going to have to allow it in repug areas... besides, we need oil to put in the strategic reserve, I know, I know, why not call that the strategic reserve, well, uhh, make work?

Sorrry to say Senator Obama, you have just unnecessarily made Senator McCain's sad "good week" a great week .

Not only have you failed to take on Senator McCain's Rovian tactics this week by attacking him full force and demanding a public apology for questioning your patriotism last week, you are now adopting his false issue of new offshore drilling which you had derided all week while also making a big issue of Mobil's oil profits.

This type of "change" makes absolutely no sense in the short or long-term. And for sure not this week of all weeks.

WTF?

You are just not smart enough to understand what he said. It is a last resort and since it will never happen anyway, tell the morons what they want. No oil company has any interest in drilling, he knows that. They don't drill the leases they have now.

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Obama has already lost this election folks... Don't believe me? Count the comments on here calling him a sellout, calling him weak, saying he is now just a common politician... Then count the number of people who said, thank god, I was going to vote for McCain, but this changes everything, now I can vote for Barack. This is starting to become a daily thing with him...

Posted by: Keyser Soze | August 1, 2008 9:39 PM

The thing is, when this is over, win or lose Obama will make a few hundred million dollars as a lecturer and writhing books and be one of the most important people of out time.
You one the other hand will still just be poor white trash. I would pick Obama's life.

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HE'S A N1GGER

Posted by: Phil Martin | August 1, 2008 8:57 PM

Thanks, Obama. I now have no reason to vote for you whatsoever.

Alrighty then!

So Obama says "NO" to every solution because it's not his own solution. Then when he realizes the soluton is just that, a solution, he embraces it... This guy is exactly what Hillary Clinton said "Change you can Xerox!" So sad, this guy copies every solution in some way or another! WE need a president that comes up with solutions themselves. McCain has a FAR better plan for Energy Independence than any other canidate, including Clinton.

Nuclear Energy was a great idea, I have not heard anyone talk about Nuclear Energy in a long time. Not only that but McCain and the "Left Wing - Republicans" have been willing to get anything and everything done for the American people for a long time now. Just remember that there are 100 Senators in the Senate, McCain is only 1% of the Senate's Power. As President, John McCain will change America for the better, while keeping U.S. safe.

McChange 08'

Obama has already lost this election folks... Don't believe me? Count the comments on here calling him a sellout, calling him weak, saying he is now just a common politician... Then count the number of people who said, thank god, I was going to vote for McCain, but this changes everything, now I can vote for Barack. This is starting to become a daily thing with him...

Clearly Barrack is not the visionary he is reported to be. It is not that he changes his mind that bothers me. It is refusing to admit he was ever wrong about anything. It reminds me of four legs good two legs bad.

JOHN MCCAIN, TRADER TO HIS COUNTRY, COLLABORATOR WITH THE ENEMY, MILITARY DISGRACE.
Ted Sampley, a Vietnam Veteran and former Green Beret, issued a CHALLENGE to John McCain "If you can show us that the information presented in our mailer is untruthful . . . we will Stand Down" This CHALLENGE was issued during an interview with INSIDE EDITION on January 17, 2008.
John, family members of Vietnam POW/MIA(s) have been waiting for more then 14 years for you to have the courage to face them eye to eye in front of the American Public - Here is your opportunity for some "STRAIGHT TALK." Stop hiding behind your fabricated "War Hero" persona. You know we can prove your collaborations with declassified government documents . . . It is time for the American people to get to know the REAL John McCain - the John McCain that the POW/MIA families witnessed during the 1991-93 US Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs .
Bring It On John! HERE IS OUR NUMBER 252-527-0442

Dear Barack,

I love you, but for the love of God, stick up for your convictions!

What is this the KKK message board. Grow up already.

I'm very happy that Mccain has finally gained media attention after Whinning all week about Obamas successfull trip abroad. Especially the fact that Mccain made this break through without any substance or evidence at all. Mccain clearly won the week according to John the host of Race to the White House where Rachel Maddow was paired off with 4 conservatives to argue how and Why Mccain won the week. Mccain won the week with his Britney Spears and Paris Hiltion ads inwhich Mccains' ex staff members and supporters said it was distasteful and lacked substance. Mccain won the week, due to his race card that he accused Obama of using not to mention that Obama spoke in greater detail several times before. I heard all week how Mccains ads were comical, lacked substance, commentators and the pundits criticized it but still Mccain won the week because he got the media to talk about what the Mccain campaign wanted to talk about. So, Mccain is accusing Obama of god like personal attacks and calling him a celebrity as if Obama thinks its all about him but Mccain wins when he diverts the conversation to be all about him which was a bunch of nothing. So why bother criticizing the candidates of having no substance if Mccain could win a week on no substance. My question is, if Mccain can take risks of attacking Obama on fairytale ads that are false and distorts his image and still win the media over,( even though I thought the candidate that really wins is the one who speaks about real issues voters are concerned about), would Obama win the week if he made true accurate ads of why Mccain shouldn't lead due to his 52 flip flops on issues, and his repeated gaffes and mistakes on serious issues like the War in Iraq and Afganistan, Taxes, and Immigration reform? I think Mccain lost this week because he lowered his standards for political expedency being that he said he would run a respectful campaign. Lying about your opponent is the opposite of being respectful. The truth is Mccain cant compete fair with Obama because Obama is a much better candidate, a better speaker, he draws larger energized crowds. He can deliver a speech better and go into details about foreign policies or his economic policies without making a gaffe. Mccain on the other hand can't remember what he said during a interview on Monday during a interview on Wensday. These are the real differences with the candidates and Mccain don't want to talk about that neither does the media. The media has given Mccain an excuse over and over again. When will the media, pundits, commentators realize that Mccain with all of his experience may not be ready at 72 years old to lead our country. This is a serious issue especially after having 8 years with Bush. I think the media should take this election more seriously and not sink to the low standards of a desperate campaign.

Flip flop.

I thought I'd never say this. He's a sellout. The reason oil prices are high is George Bush. Just the thought of that last bill, to stop speculation in the market, sent oil prices plunging. Those low-life republicans kept it from passing, and now oil's on it's way up again. Their all corrupt. Every F'NNNN one of them.

Old Rev. Wright was truthful when he said Obama will say what a politician has to say.

Just to be fair, McCain's done his fair share of flipping, too.

But Barr hasn't changed on a single issue since he received his nomination. You do have a choice.

DEAR KC

THE GOOD BOOK SAYS WE WILL MEET HIM IN THE AIR.

YOUR MESSIAH IS NOT ELECTED YET. OPPS ACCEPT IN GERMANY AT FREE BEER CONCERTS

He's changed his mind on Iraq, government spying, Jerusalem, the death penalty, guns, and now oil drilling -- all in the short amount since he secured the nomination.

A true man of conviction.

Let 'em drill everywhere. In my backyard, in ANWR, wherever they want. The cost of gas will continue to increase every year. This is the same old BS politics with the far right fighting with the far left with neither side trying to actually solve a problem.

BROKE BARRACK MOUNTIAN

WOW, A LITTLE PRESSURE AND HE CAVES.

This is SAD! The guy (Barack Obama) that i would have voted for , is now going with this current (Bush) Administration! Guess you can't trust anyone to run this country. NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ANYONE this election! STOP THE OFFSHORE DRILLING!

Why sell the soul for a few votes?

HE'S A N1GGER

I am glad that Obama has changed his position on off shore driling. I believe his position is not about flip flogging, but what is good for the America people.

I am also upset that Congress is taking off 5 five weeks. If I am correct, I believe they also took a spring break some months back.

When are we going to get a Congress who will work full time for the America people. Afterall, we America work and pay Congress paychecks.

Perhaps the people need to demand through court system, at voting poles, or petitions to get Congress to revamped the workweek. Come on people lets demand that Congres work for us and not their own greeding ways.

I was listening to NPR this afternoon and they played a clip of Barry Hussein responding to a man who just lost his job with Union Carbide. Do you know what he told him? He said he would put him to work building windmills! What planet is this man with the purple lips from anyway?

Good for president Obama. Even though off-shore drilling was a red herring and won't amount to anything, give the fools a shiny ball to play with so we can get on to some serious alternative energy proposals. If liberal bed wetters have a problem with this, LEAVE! Vote for McCain. I dare you morons. Or Ralph Lowlife Nader--it's all the same. If Republicans have a problem with this, hey: he compromised with you. He hasn't flip flopped as much as McCain. And Obama has done more in his 8 years in the Illinois Senate and 4 years in the U.S. Senate than McCain has in 26 years to get us off foregin oil.

Obama changes his mind more frequently then he changes his underwear. This guy will say anything to get elected.

What's the point.. He does not want gridlocks. First he'll negotiate his principles, then executive orders and finally constitution away... It's a slippery slope. Yeah.. Nice.. I don't think that's what the country wants or needs.
There has never been a comprehensive energy policy in this country. And one is not likely to happen. Shortsighted earmark happy congress got us into the ethanol mess. Shortsighted earmark happy congress will not get us out by more drilling. There is a ton of places of the coast of Texas and Alaska, where drilling IS LEGAL AND OIL HAS BEEN FOUND, they are not being drilled.
That will bring the oil prices down. Oil industry is happy to drill just enough to maximize profits. Anyone with IQ above 40 can see that, but not our congress. Clearly their approval rating matches their combined IQ.
What this does is secures oil supplies for 7 years from now, which perhaps is necessary, but does not solve squat. As oil companies will only drill there, if and when it suits their needs. Repeal oil tax breaks, they will take it out on customers.
Because CEO's of oil companies care only about their golden parachute, and that parachute is secure only if they make huge profits, lying, cheating doing whatever it takes, including passing the charge for the repealed tax breaks to consumer.
Yeah sure, do something about bickering and culture. But with real solutions, not pretense at doing something useful while actually doing nothing at all and playing politics and wasting tax payer money and taking money from lobbyists.
Like it's not clear by now, that Obama avoided public financing, so we can't see oil companies contributing to his campaign.

At least (common sense tells me) that the Republican corps cannot castigate Obama for "flip-flopping" when it involves cooperating with Republicans to get legislation passed.

if theONE is elected POTUS..i think this country will need DAILY presidential radio addresses...

..and monthly..maybe weekly, State of the Union addresses..

who is theONE?

so now McCain and Obama have changed their minds on off shore drilling-it is now a non issue except by partisans

yep, it was predicted that Obama would FISA on the offshore oil drilling too.

how sweet that he's attempting to sugar coat his spin

"we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done". How refreshing. Instead of attacking the Republicans for being 100% beholden to corporate oil interests and refusing under any circumstances to ever think about drilling anywhere, ever, for oil, Obama says, "we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done". Let's get 'er done. End the culture wars, stop the bickering and the ideological. Let's solve the serious problems we face. Good grief!!