But That Was Yesterday And Yesterday’s Gone
Obama on Thursday concerning domestic drilling:
“It won’t lower prices today. It won’t lower prices during the next Administration. While this won’t save you at the pump, it sure has done a lot to help Senator McCain raise campaign dollars.”
Obama on the same topic Friday:
“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.”
What a hoot! He bashes McCain on Thursday for what he endorses on Friday—it seems the Angel of Voter Rage visited him during the night and changed his mind, soul and heart about domestic drilling.
OK. Sure. Whatever.
You’ll notice his statement on Friday was ultra-Clintonian—is there really any doubt that once he is POTUS, Obama will decide domestic drilling just isn’t “carefully circumscribed” enough?
With every passing day Obama messes up the campaign. He needs a vacation – I think that he’ll do better in the polls if he was out of the news for a few days!
Comment by tiger woods | August 3, 2008
McCain has been far from stellar on the trail Tiger – one awkward situation after another.
Comment by Rob Mellon | August 3, 2008
You kjnow as much as I dislike Obama (I know it is a big secret that I dislike Obama) if I thought this was actually a thoughtful reconsideration of the energy crunch problems I would stand up and cheer the move. I still would not vote for him but I would still cheer the move. But since we all know politicians only have a change of heart where seeking votes and power are concerned –> we all can rest safely that his holiness Pope Barack the first is just pandering for votes and will return to the same BatTime, same BatChannel upon the need to swing in the opposite direction.
The one great thing I can say about McCain is that, unlike his holiness Barack the first, McCain has a proven track record of actually working across the political aisle when push come to shove. That does not change the fact that McCain is not my ideal choice as POTUS either. Still since I am forced to choose between his holiness and McCain in the real world it is one of those instances in history I wish there was the more sensible ballot choice of “None of the Above”.
Comment by thescoundrel | August 4, 2008
I’d suggest that McCain provided a “thoughtful reconsideration” (as gas prices closed in on $4.00). Obama, on the other hand, railed AGAINST drilling long after gas prices approached $4.00 – he only “thoughtfully reconsidered” off-shore drilling after he discovered what an idiot he was being – on that this anti-drilling position was hurting him in the polls.
Next, Obama will discover that the Surge actually worked (because the polls will tell him that this is really hurting him).
Lets face it, it appears as though Obama will be governing (should he get the chance) based on polls, similar to….
In addition, one has to consider the type of thought-process this man has,
1. He cannot determine how to deal with, or comment on, the Pastor Wright issue,
2. He cannot admit that the Surge worked,
3. He pushes/ stumps against off-shore drilling, only to reverse his position because that position was hurting him.
““““““““““““““““““““`
Rob,
Of course McCain has been far from stallar. McCain appears very uncomfortable on the stump.
Why then, can Obama, after 10-days as front-page news, as (the self-proclaimed) “hope for America” (can anyone say PRIDE?), the Democrat against the Republican (whose Party is struggling terribly) – why then is Obama in a basically dead-heat?
Obama has serious issues if he cannot pull away from McCain!
Comment by tiger woods | August 4, 2008
Even Obama’s surrogate, that doofus John Kerry said yesterday on Meet The Press that “Barack Obama doesn’t want to drill offshore, doesn’t think it’s the thing to do.”
But Joe Lieberman knows the score; he said if offshore drilling ever came to a vote, you can count on POTUS Obama to vote against it.
It’s obvious that Obama just doesn’t do a very effective job of pandering!
I chalk that up to his inexperience in running a campaign with a serious challenger from the GOP and dealing with independents. Both his run for the IL Senate and the US Senate were cakewalks. Hillary and Bill are tough kick ‘em in the cojones hardball players, but were limited by the fact they were pandering the same Democrat voters.
When Obama makes these moves to the center, I just don’t think many people believe he has really changed his views. Obama said he would consider drilling in order to be bipartisan—which would be a first; the correct answer would be that $4 gasoline, hurts the poor, middle class, business, etc. It is just another Obama rookie mistake—which he always makes when he is away from his script!
Comment by qcexaminer | August 4, 2008
Just to clear this up, what you are against is Obama supporting a comprimise bill that allows some offshore drilling along with incentives to promote alternative energy.
QCBbaby, you should know by now that Obama is one sharp dude. He raises loads of cash. He plays hardball as well as any of them. But they don’t even know it’s Obama’s foot kicking them. They call him lucky. The smackdown is coming on the Republicans in November.
Comment by the oracle | August 4, 2008
Oracle,
Obama can certainly raise money – a great strength of his team.
Obama can certainly create a PR-buzz – again, a great strength of his team.
However, ‘one sharp dude’?
Really?
1. Anyone who sees McCain give a speech knows that Obama far outclasses McCain.
2. The Republican Party as a whole is in the toilet.
3. McCain does not get great support from Conservatives.
4. McCain does not get great support from Evangelicals.
If Obama was such a ’sharp dude’ why is he in a dead-heat with a guy that is (in some camps, considered) half-dead?
This is a serious question.
Is there a serious response?
Those undecided voters have had 18-24 months of Obama 24/7. I have got to believe that they have had their chance to jump on the Obama bandwagon, if they have not done so yet…(this would lead me to think that over 50% must fall to McCain).
When all is done and said, this has got to concern the Dem’s, no?
Comment by tiger woods | August 4, 2008
You take more comfort from these polls than you should Tiger. ABC just got in hot water for not reporting a poll favorable to Obama. It comes down to this buddy. Most everyone shakes his head and says in a disgusted way “Bush.” Bush has cost McCain and the Republicans the White House. If looking at bogus poll numbers gives you comfort between now and November I guess that’s better than getting drunk every night.
Comment by the oracle | August 4, 2008
O, I’m disappointed you are so easily bamboozled by a “sharp dude” with a handsome face, a sleek physique and pretty words able to seduce mass quantities of dollars out of wallets. It seems that for you, it’s all about good looks—-even Jerry Lewis can raise “tons of cash”!
Comment by qcexaminer | August 4, 2008
The smackdown is coming on the American public after November.
Do you think the new taxes will only effect Republicans? Excrement runs down hill and taxes will be passed on in the form of price increases. Many of Obama’s supporters are just waiting to get something for nothing, ala the “I’ll take their profits” and give it to… Sad thing is they are not ashamed of taking others money that they did nothing to earn. Let me see, we can’t drill, we can’t build more nuclear,no new refineries, coal is bad. Let’s destroy our economy while we wait. Since it is going to take 7 years we shouldn’t start. Doesn’t the same reasoning rule any other new forms of energy?
Comment by Tspud1 | August 5, 2008
Oracle, I am impressed that you can sluff off polls showing that Obama cannot gain any traction, or lead in a race that he should win by a landslide.
Good for you – no reason to allow reality to get in the way with your mood.
“““““““““““““““““““““““
Today, Obama is spouting off that he has a plan to get “the US totally off foreign oil in 10-years.”
What an absolute stupid piece of politics.
There is no one, not one single voter, dumb enough to believe that this is possible.
Not even one person dumb enough to vote for Lane Evans would believe this piece of foolishness.
HOW STUPID IS THIS GUY?!
First, “inflate your tires properly”, now this!
““““““““““““““““`
Oracle, I understand why you disregard reality – this stupid SOB is going to lose the election (that was impossible to lose).
Comment by tiger woods | August 5, 2008
The economy is already teetering on the brink of major recession Tspud. Are you fools so blindly loyal to Bush and the Republican Party you refuse to recognize the loss of 70,000 jobs a month, a stock market losing value every day, AlQueda and the Taliban reemerging in Afghanistan as bad news? At least Sesame Street is still on PBS. That’s as real as you deluded fools want to, and pehaps all that you are mentally capable of as accepting as reality.
Comment by the oracle | August 5, 2008
Let’s talk oil drilling. You are just trying to change subject. As Pee Wee use to say & repeat “I know you are but what am I”
How do you think stock market will react to taxes on dividends and capital gains? By the way, these beat Tookies, check out AAV, 13.9% dividend or PVX, 13.95% dividend or PWE, 13.88% dividend. Of course you will lose much of that dividend to your big brother because he needs it more than you do. He took no risk but is there to get his taste.
Comment by Tspud1 | August 5, 2008
Oracle,
1. Why do you duck the energy issue as it relates to Obama?
2. Why do you duck the fact that EVERYTHING points to Obama winning in a landslide, yet he cannot shake (and in some polls, is losing to) a poor candidate.
3. Yes, the economy is in a funk, but in reality, the GDP grew, GREW, by 1.9% last quarter, and by .9% the quarter before.
4. Check the stock market today – it does NOT lose value every day,
5. You point to Afghanistan because Obama has talked of it (and you talk of conservatives blindly following the talking points), but you refuse to discuss the success of the Surge.
You and Obama are the only people left that cannot accept this. Even CNBC and CNN acknowledge the success of the Surge!
Oracle – please show that you are not just a kool-aid drinker…can you say three things against Obama? Just 3. Personal issues, policy, anything that you want…
Heck, let’s make it easier – 3-things against Democrats in general…
Can you?
Comment by tiger woods | August 5, 2008
Tell you what Tiger. because you asked respectfully I’ll give you some fodder.
I disagree with Obama’s health care plan. I think a single payer plan is the way to go. It takes the burden of health insurance expense off business.
I’m pro life with exceptions for rape, incest and life and health of the mother.
I am staunchly for the rights of responsible law abiding citizens to own firearms and support their rights to concealed carry.
I have discussed the Surge on several occasions. Either Tiger has a faulty memory or he cannot come to grips with TRUTH.
I have several local issues that are taking up my time at THE ORACLE SPEAKS right now. Should Mrs.QCE want to allow us to discuss the Surge or other issues here I’m more than happy to spank Tiger and the rest of his deluded friends with the paddle of TRUTH and WISDOM.
Comment by the oracle | August 5, 2008
Thank you for sharing – I am impressed. From your comments, I would have thought that the kool-aid affected everything.
As for the Surge – please, qce, let’s not go down that road. It’s like trying to debate with someone who thinks that OJ is innocent.
Comment by tiger woods | August 5, 2008
Tiger is a scaredy cat.
Comment by the oracle | August 5, 2008
Not at all, but how does one debate whether the Surge was effective, if not stats…
Violence is down.
Deaths are down…
…civilian deaths are down,
…US deaths are down (July 2008, lowest ever)
Yet you will say, ‘the Surge is not the factor’ (at least even you can not be dim-witted enough to dispute the facts as stated above).
Why debate, if you will not accept facts and reason?
Comment by tiger woods | August 5, 2008
This drilling argument is really just campaign rhetoric. John McCain has been in Congress for almost 30 years – where was the strong outcry for drilling? Let’s all be honest here – McCain is playing this card because he knows that 75% of the American people agree with domestic drilling. Most do not know what that would entail, but it sounds good. This is not a short term fix no matter what the right wing puts out there in an election year. It will take years to explore, drill and process domestic oil reserves. The oil companies already have thousands of miles of land/ocean to drill and have not utilized that yet – this is a political distraction funded by the richest corporations on the planet.
As for the gas tax holiday that is nothing but another tax break for big oil, but it sounds really good “gas tax holiday” so it was even trotted out by Hillary and Edwards. What are the oil companies doing with their money now? Giving them a tax holiday would not affect the price at the pump. Oh, they are trying – the price of gas is creeping lower. They know that if the price of gas is over $4 a gallon in November it will be a long election night for Big Oil’s sugar daddies in Congress.
Comment by Rob Mellon | August 5, 2008
Tiger – most Americans do not know what the definition of a recession is in an Economics textbook, but they do understand that the price of gas, medicine, healthcare, food, and pretty much everything else has gone up. You can through out your GDP quarterly growth numbers or sporadic stock market gains all you want. I hope that is the GOP’s response to people when they say that they are hurting.
As for convincing the Oracle the surge is working I know your frustration. Some people – even when they are presented with the facts right in front of their face they still just don’t get it – it is really, really frustrating. I remember this discussion I had with this guy, can’t remember his name, about President Carter’s military spending. Man was that guy ever wrong.
Comment by Rob Mellon | August 5, 2008
Rob,
Nice to have you back – sorry you had to be so wrong on so many counts in your return,
1. I early in the discussion admitted that Carter’s Defense spending was not as bad as I initially thought. He did, however, cut spending, in the middle years of his term – and cut spending from what was on the books from the Ford Administration.
2. The ‘gas tax holiday’ (which, ‘yes’ is a silly gimick) was a break from the ‘National Tax on Gasoline.’ The government loses money in this, not the oil companies gaining.
3. McCain’s strong cry for drilling has not been there for 30-years – because gas was not at $4.00 a gallon. There is a Congressional Ban on Drilling in certain off-shore areas – where the oil is. Who cares how many leases the oil companies have – if there is no oil there! Why do lib’s always think they know someone else’s business better than they themselves do?
4. The GOP’s response to people who are hurting was the stimulus package – which by all accounts, is working (thank you)! Is the economy hurting – certainly! Is it as tragic as you want to believe? The numbers still show growth.
Where was your comment about Obama struggling against a poor candidate, McCain, when he (or any Dem) should be in the middle of a landslide?
Comment by tiger woods | August 6, 2008
Rob, I had no idea you were so conservative. In another comment you excoriated those who refer to the textbook definition of recession rather than feel the pain people experience with job loss, at the pump, the grocery store, etc.
McCain is reacting to the changed facts on the ground—kowtowing to environmentalist extremists was nationally acceptable when gas is $2.50—at $4, not so much. But since you are against change, no matter the facts, I assume you were rooting for George Bush when he was shrieking “stay the course” about Iraq.
Comment by qcexaminer | August 6, 2008
The Iraq ocupation has been an abysmal failure. Never enough Troops to do it right. The Surge was simply a band aid for Bush and Co. to buy more time. If Tiger’s definition of success is dragging out a quagmire at the cost of billions to our treasury and more importantly, the lives of our Troops then in his deluded mind the Surge is successful. While Tiger and Cheney may take solace that “only 31″ of our guys were killed last month, I find it tragic.
Comment by the oracle | August 6, 2008
When was the last time we had a oil spill from an off shore platform here in the US? I can’t remember one and I think oil comes up from sea bottom anyway. Can’t stop Mother Nature.
I will not be voting for McCain but we do need to drill in Anwar and off shore while adding new sources of energy. There are tides in the ocean, solar in space and on surface, wind, switch grass(cellulose) ethanol or algae biodiesel, geothermal all waiting in this country but it takes massive amounts of investment to get it going and the incentive to take the risk to invest may be taken away by the next administration.
Comment by Tspud1 | August 6, 2008
Oracle, you contradict yourself in the same paragraph!
“Never enough troops to do it right”
“The Surge was simply a band-aid”
You say that there were never enough troops, yet when more troops were brought in, with the result being LESS violence, LEss civilian deaths and LESS American deaths – you say it was a band-aid (and not successful).
I appreciate the fact that you are not a fan of the ‘War on Terror in Iraq’ – but why does this hatred of anything Republican have to kill so many brain cells?
Comment by tiger woods | August 6, 2008
If Bush wanted the surge to be successful he should have done as Shinseki said years ago. Send 400,000 troops to do the occupation right. I would have been more than happy to have my taxes go back up to preBush levels to pay for a job done right. How about you Tiger? The only thing the right seems to be interseted in is half ass work and crippling national debt. THE ORACLE mourns the death of your brain cells Tiger. It’s probably suicide on their part because reading the words of THE ORACLE was most likely the first time they were exposed to TRUTH and WISDOM. The wall of Republican lies crashed around them and they couldn’t take it.
Where should I send the sympathy card Brother?
Comment by the oracle | August 7, 2008
So, you agree with Obama that the Surge was not successful.
That makes -2- of you.
Comment by tiger woods | August 7, 2008