McCain Camp Sees Energy As Winning Issue

CBSNews.com Reports: Under Fire For Being Too Reactive In Battle With Obama, McCain Goes On Offensive On Gas Prices

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

---

If you're looking for someone to blame for high gas prices, John McCain's campaign is happy to help.

In a television ad released by the campaign last week, "Pump," an announcer criticizes Barack Obama for "saying no" to offshore drilling and "independence from foreign oil."

"Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?," she asks - after which a photo of Obama appears onscreen.

The spot has been derided by USA Today as "baloney" for laying the blame for high gas prices solely at Obama's feet, and Obama responded with an ad of his own in which an exasperated-sounding announcer suggests McCain blaming Obama for gas prices represents "the same old politics."

The McCain campaign has increasingly focused on gas prices and energy in recent days: In addition to two ads discussing the topic (here's the second one, released Wednesday), there have been conference calls to stress the short-term impact of McCain's proposals and a Monday photo op at a Bakersfield, California oil rig. There McCain sang the praises of expanded offshore drilling, which Obama opposes, and once again knocked Obama as "the Dr. No of America's energy future."

Republicans believe that the McCain campaign, which has been criticized for being overly reactive in its battle with Obama, has finally found an issue on which it can successfully go on the offensive.

"This is the first time the Republicans have felt upbeat and optimistic about a major issue in a long time," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. "McCain has framed the issue well, with solutions and a sharp contrast to Obama, and in Congress, Republicans seem to be rallying around this issue. They feel Democrats have boxed themselves in a corner."

"I think it's one of the best issues they have," said GOP strategist Ed Rollins, who ran Mike Huckabee's campaign. "So much in the McCain campaign has been small and sort of nitpicky, and this is a substantive issue that shows that he has strength and some vision, which I think is very, very important."

In a move seemingly designed to help put the issue in the spotlight, President George W. Bush recently lifted the presidential moratorium on offshore drilling - a largely symbolic move since Congress has its own ban. At a press conference Wednesday morning, Mr. Bush pressed the legislative body to allow for drilling to help ease high gas prices.

The American people appear to be moving in McCain's direction on the issue: A Pew survey released at the beginning of this month found that support for energy exploration is at its highest point of the decade. The survey also found that while just 22 percent of liberals said expanded exploration was their top energy priority (ahead of conservation) in February, that figure had jumped to 45 percent by June.

Earlier this month, Democratic strategist James Carville and pollster Stan Greenberg released findings that six-in-ten voters favor McCain's offshore drilling proposal. They suggested Obama and the Democrats "have not yet advanced a compelling narrative" on energy and gas prices.

In addition, support for building new nuclear power plants, another proposal supported by McCain, is at its highest point in more than 30 years - 57 percent of respondents in a recent CBS News/New York Times poll (PDF) indicated they supported building new plants.

Obama's energy plan "would force the oil companies to drill in the areas they’ve already leased, provide every American family with an immediate energy rebate and a middle-class tax cut worth $1,000, and invest $150 billion in renewable sources of energy that will create 5 million jobs and replace the oil we import from the Middle East by 2025," according to Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan. Obama's new ad speaks of the candidate's plan to "crack down on oil speculators, raise mileage standards and fast track alternative fuels."

In a broad sense, according to Bruce Bullock, the director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University, "the mechanisms that Obama offers are more government oriented, whereas the mechanisms that McCain is talking about tend to be more incentive based towards the market."

The rival campaigns have been squabbling about which candidate offers short-term relief for Americans struggling with high gas prices. Though the McCain campaign acknowledges that offshore drilling won't result in an increase in the oil supply for a number of years, McCain economic advisor Martin Feldstein argued this week that "policies that affect long term-supply, like the McCain strategies for increasing exploration and production...have an immediate impact on today's prices."

The Obama team, meanwhile, dismisses McCain plans as doing nothing "to alleviate the crisis of the moment," in the words of Democratic Senator Bill Bradley, who characterize McCain's proposals as "pandering." In an earlier ad, the Obama campaign tied McCain's energy policy to that of President Bush and suggested McCain is "part of the problem."

Economist Gary Burtless of the Brookings Institution said the McCain camp's argument that McCain's long-term proposals could have a short-term impact on prices is legitimate, though he said his "suspicion is that the impact would be very, very small."

Asked if there were any significant short-term solutions being offered by either candidate when it comes to high gas prices, Burtless said, "If you define a short-term solution as returning the U.S. to the price we were at five years ago, or even one year ago, I don't think there is anything practical on the horizon."

SMU's Bullock said that while both candidates' proposals "have some merit" - he points to Obama's emphasis on investments in alternative energy and McCain's push to increase supply - they are both offering "gimmicks" as well. (Among them, he says, are Obama's proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies and McCain's proposed gas tax holiday.)

"I don't think we can produce our way out of this, and I don't think we can conserve our way out of this," Bullock said.

In the latest CBS News/New York Times poll, voters indicated that they are largely on the same page as the economists, with the majority suggesting that neither candidate's policies will reduce gas prices anytime soon - though Obama had a slight edge over McCain among those who believed the candidates could do so.

Nonetheless, Republicans believe they are winning the perception battle on energy, and both President Bush and Congressional Republicans have begun spotlighting the issue. McCain senior advisor and spokesman Taylor Griffin promised that McCain will continue to press the issue, arguing that Obama "refuses to embrace real solutions."

"It's important for McCain to show his action plan for domestic issues," Reed said. "The rap on McCain is he didn't have much on the economy, but the truth is for the last two months he's pretty much owned the energy issue. He has found a political niche, and he's filled it."

[ariel133]

The Obama speech actually reveals an even more naive view of the world than we had previously been treated to in the United States.

His speech was truly radical, from an American perspective.


Having earlier proclaimed himself "a fellow citizen of the world" Obama explained that the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Europe proved "that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one."

Perhaps Obama needs a remedial course in Cold War history, but the Berlin Wall most certainly did not come down because "the world stood as one."

The wall fell because of a decades-long, existential struggle against one of the greatest totalitarian ideologies mankind has ever faced. It was a struggle in which strong and determined U.S. leadership was constantly questioned, both in Europe and by the senator''''s own Democratic Party. The successes Obama refers to in his speech -- the defeat of Nazism, the Berlin airlift and the collapse of communism -- were all gained by strong alliances defeating determined opponents of freedom, not by "one-worldism."

But beyond the incoherence, there is a deeper problem, namely that "walls" exist not simply because of a lack of understanding about who is on the other side but because there are true differences in values and interests that lead to human conflict. That is knowledge Obama knows very little about.

Sometimes it does come down to knowledge and experiance when applying for a really BIG job.

[hungry1968]

What a joke this article is!!


"New YouTube Video Shows McCain Hypocrisy on Yucca Mountain and Nuclear Waste

McCain Wants to Stick Nevada with Thousands of Tons of Dangerous Waste But %u2018Wouldn%u2019t Be Comfortable%u2019 with Waste Going Through Arizona"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPlaHQCKc34

[hungry1968]

What a joke this article is!!



Industry Gushed Money After Reversal on Drilling

"Campaign contributions from oil industry executives to Sen. John McCain rose dramatically in the last half of June, after the senator from Arizona made a high-profile split with environmentalists and reversed his opposition to the federal ban on offshore drilling.

Oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with $116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072601891.html

[hungry1968]

What a joke this article is!!




McCain Voted Against Reducing Dependence On Foreign Oil. In 2005, McCain voted against legislation calling on the President to submit a plan to reduce foreign petroleum imports by 40 percent. [Senate Roll Call Vote #140, 6/16/05]

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00140

[hungry1968]

What a joke this article is!!



In 2005, McCain Voted Against A Windfall Profit Tax On Oil Companies At Least Twice. McCain voted against a measure that would have provided an income tax rebate to Americans by taxing enormous oil company profits temporarily on an sale of crude above $40 a barrel. [S 2020, Vote #331, 11/17/05; S 2020, Vote # 341, 11/17/05

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00331

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00341

[jmurrieta1]

Pandering to greed is always an effective political tactic.

It''s just amazing what a pander bear McCain has become.

It''s kind of like "Maverick" turned into "Winnie the Pooh".

[andylance1]

Pelosi, Reid and Obama are the three myopic rodents when it comes to a sane energy policy. They don''t care about our future. They don''t care if this huge transfer of wealth from the USA to Arabia and Venezuela will turn us into a third world nation.

All Pelosi, Reid and Obama care about is this fantasy that they are saving the world from those crude and nasty oil companies that want to drill.

[andylance1]

Pelosi, Reid and Obama are the three myopic rodents when it comes to a sane energy policy. They don''t care about our future. They don''t care if this huge transfer of wealth from the USA to Arabia and Venezuela will turn us into a third world nation.

All Pelosi, Reid and Obama care about is this fantasy that they are saving the world from those crude and nasty oil companies that want to drill.

[hungry1968]

What a joke this article is!!




McCain Now: McCain Called For Lifting The Off Shore Drilling Moratorium. During a press availability in Arlington Virginia, John McCain called for a lifting of the federal moratorium on offshore drilling. McCain said, %u201CI think that%u2019s a subject of negotiation and discussion. But right now, as you know there%u2019s a moratorium. And those moratorium, in my view, moratoria, have to be lifted. And they have to be lifted so that states can make those decisions. I%u2019m not dictating to the states that they drill or they engage in oil exploration. I am saying that the moratoria should be lifted so they have the opportunity to do so. And by the way, I would also like to see perhaps additional incentives if the states, in the form of tangible financial rewards if the states decide to lift those moratoria.%u201D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbP5JSTM85g





McCain Then: McCain Voted Against Off-Shore Drilling At Least Three Times, and Twice Supported Florida Efforts To Prevent Drilling Off Their Coasts. [H.R. 6, Vote #143, 6/21/05]S. 14, Vote #221, 6/12/03][H.R. 2788, Vote #241, 10/7/89]



McFlip

McFlop

[williamfold]

wake up people. we live in a fascist country. nothing will change until the people take back their country. i''m talking 1775 all over again.

[realpatriot1]

That oil derrick looks as old and outdated as him.

[zerato-2009]

It may be a winning issue but not for mccain.

He has changed his mind on offshore drilling.

He blamed Obama for the price of gas being so high.

He praised george bush for bringing down the price of oil.


"I''m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated." John Mccain

"The issue of economics is not something I''ve understood as well as I should. I''ve got Greenspan''s book." John mccain

With his perspective and economic ability do you really think oil policy is a winning strategy?

[hungry1968]

Posted by Ariel133 at 08:18 AM : Jul 30, 2008




Why are you copy and pasting opinion pieces? Do you not possess the intellect to post your own opinions?

[hungry1968]

Pelosi, Reid and Obama are the three myopic rodents when it comes to a sane energy policy. They don''''t care about our future. They don''''t care if this huge transfer of wealth from the USA to Arabia and Venezuela will turn us into a third world nation.

All Pelosi, Reid and Obama care about is this fantasy that they are saving the world from those crude and nasty oil companies that want to drill.

Posted by andylance1 at 08:36 AM : Jul 30, 2008






So you OPPOSE our energy independence, and believe we should STAY addicted to oil?

[antoniof123]

Neo cons how do you explain that not only do economics say more drilling will not help?

Please don''t copy and paste a pundint like Rush, or Bill they are pisssed that the Repulbicans lost power and are going to face a blood bath in 2008.

Try to come up with something on your own.

[wellhell3]

So you OPPOSE our energy independence, and believe we should STAY addicted to oil?


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Posted by hungry1968 at 08:43 AM : Jul 30, 2008

So you support our continuing to send billions of dollars to the Sheiks instead of drilling our own oil and putting big oil money into America!

[cfin5]

Both sides have their part in the blame for not using our own natural resources years ago. The "understanding" of facts change in a fiat monetarily based economy,.....and the one to seize the upper hand of wisdom in things oil will rule. That is our modern day "feed" to compete in a global economy. What athlete in the Olympics does not take care to eat properly? How would even the most self-sufficient Amish farmer get anything done without feeding his work horses properly? The past is the past and is only variable for correction out of the problem of self choked oil supply is by leaving the ones who know how to supply it alone to do their job. The democrats have not changed from their oil policies of the past, though they talk about "CHANGE" more than they act on it. How about less talk and more action,....its what we hired you politicians to do! You should be denied your recess for not getting your work done.

[wellhell3]

McCain Then: McCain Voted Against Off-Shore Drilling At Least Three Times, and Twice Supported Florida Efforts To Prevent Drilling Off Their Coasts. [H.R. 6, Vote #143, 6/21/05]S. 14, Vote #221, 6/12/03][H.R. 2788, Vote #241, 10/7/89]



McFlip

McFlop


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by hungry1968

Funny isn''t it? McCain sees this country is in a pickle and has changed his stance to try to find a solution to the problem!

Obscamma''s solution....keep on HOPING that a solution is going to materialize and maybe some fairy will wave a magic wand and we won''t need oil anymore!

[ariel133]

Obama is on another planet, delusional, imaginary, a ''child" of the world, not a leader, by any means. When will people finally wake up this fact? And, when will they see that Obama is simply not qualified to be a Commander in Chief in the greatest country in the world? Why would anyone want to change that?

PS. To Hungry''s comment: Sometimes people neglect to read good information that would provide them with reality instead of the media''s attempt to provide biased, uninformed nonsense. I dignified your comment with a response only because you are one of those who would rather fight an ignornant cause than actually support the truth.

[wellhell3]

That oil derrick looks as old and outdated as him.


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Posted by realpatriot1 at 08:38 AM : Jul 30, 2008

You mean that OIL PUMP? lol Geezus!

[bckrd1]

NO NO NO NO NO NO. This is exactly what Cheneys''s Energy Meeting wanted. They drove the prices up so American''s would beg them to start drilling. Does anyone really believe that the oil be begged for will be just given to us? No, it will be sold on the open market for the highest price it can get. Don''t be stupid anymore. We need to be independent of oil not slaves to it. We must put our efforts into alternative energy. We have already wasted years that could have been spent developing real alternatives that had we done so we would not be in the position we are in today. If we are independent, oil could go to 200.00 and it wouldn''t matter because it would not be a main component of our economy. If you want to keep paying up the nose for everything because oil is too high keep drilling, but don''t expect to see any of it for at least 10-15 years and don''t expect it to be cheap. Say NO to Offshore drilling and no to food based ethanols.

[omega39-2009]

McCain Camp Sees Energy As Winning Issue

No doubt, Obama is an energetic dynamo while McCain is just a tired old man. Energy will win this election.

[zerato-2009]

Funny isn''''t it? McCain sees this country is in a pickle and has changed his stance to try to find a solution to the problem!

Posted by WellHell3

I would call it political opportunism. 24 years of the same position, 2 years of extremely high gas and he chooses to change his position right after obama got the nomination

[promaclaura]

I''m so glad that in 2008 John McCain is able to change his mind about drilling based on public opinion and what voters are asking for. The polls don''t lie, American''s want more drilling and the "Do Everything" policy for energy is wildly popular. Campaign contributions to John McCain from the oil industry is welcome and it''s good to see the people who produce our energy recognize who to support for our energy future. Barack''s plan is unrealistic and pandering to environmental lobbiests, does he think our military is going to run on air and electricity. The logic in thinking we can stop our tanks and planes to go plug them in is stupid. Energy production is directly related to our security and financial stability, it makes sense to do EVERYTHING to ensure this. The Democrat''s are insuring that we rely on hostile countries for our oil. Let''s not make the same mistake again like the Democrat''s did when we had a chance to drill in Anwar and shot it down for their environmental lobbiest''s. The rest of the world is not going to stop drilling wherever they can, even off our coasts. So democrats tying our hands in this because of the perceived "get the oil execs mentality" is shooting us in the foot. Good try other posters to degrade John on this issue, you can type till your blue in the face, the majority of American''s are behind McCain on this one.

[cfin5]

Posted by curse914 at 08:55 AM : Jul 30, 2008---- Sell your cars, turn off your furnace and air conditioner, your refrigerator, cut your own use in the things you blame me for using,......then you will have the right to point your left finger at me. Till then, stick it in your LEFT ear as well as insert your LEFT thumb into your mouth. Anything I left out?

[wellhell3]

NO NO NO NO NO NO. This is exactly what Cheneys''''s Energy Meeting wanted.

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Posted by bckrd1 at 08:55 AM : Jul 30,

What a bunch of bull spit! We have about 7 billion gas driven vehicles in this country! Whose magic wand is going to turn those vehicles into burning alternative fuels tonight while we sleep!

Congress has the ability to pass an energy law that says American oil will be sold in America!

Let''s just keep pouring billions of dollars into the Sheiks in the Middle East while they get stronger and stronger! In the meanwhile, we have visions of sugar plumbs dancing in our head about not needing oil and gasoline anymore!

Strange isn''t it? Obscamma FULLY SUPPORTED *** Cheney''s energy bill, and got paid resounding for it with donations from oil and energy executives pouring donations into his campaign funds.

[promaclaura]

If you want to keep paying up the nose for everything because oil is too high keep drilling, but don''''t expect to see any of it for at least 10-15 years and don''''t expect it to be cheap. Say NO to Offshore drilling and no to food based ethanols.


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Posted by bckrd1 at 08:55 AM

So you want to do nothing and ensure that our children will deal with this again in 10 to 15 years? We already had democrats shoot down drilling years ago that could increase the supply today which would bring down the price of oil. The little town closest to Anwar want''s us to drill there! We realize that it will not come on line for years, that''s why we say drill now. Do you think India and China are going to conserve while their economies are booming? The demand is only going to go up in today''s world so we better be prudent and do EVERYTHING. I''m all for developing alternative energies, but am unwilling to shuck off a known source used by the rest of the world for decades to come.

[zerato-2009]

Strange isn''''t it? Obscamma FULLY SUPPORTED *** Cheney''''s energy bill, and got paid resounding for it with donations from oil and energy executives pouring donations into his campaign funds.

Posted by WellHell3

When mccain flipped his position, a million dollars from oil executives came rolling in.

[superdem]

The Republicans held the White House, the Senate and the House for over seven years. Did we hear one word about drilling for oil offshore, or anywhere else ? Not one word. The Republicans marched in lockstep, they could have gotten any legislation through they wanted - not one word. They just let the oil companies get away with murder, while cutting their taxes. The oil companies made enormous profits, and they also said not one word about offshore drilling. They were making it hand over fist. Did they use any of their profits to develop any of the leases they already hold ? NO - but now, when people are screaming from the results of Republican/big oil rule, they are feeling the heat and need someone to blame - the DEMOCRATS, of course. Anyone who believes this Republican BS is too stupid to live. We need a Manhattan Project to put our best minds into the fight to get completely away from oil. We need new energy strategies that come from the laboratory, not the oil fields. Imagine if we could tell OPEC where to stick it - we don''t NEED oil any more. Do you think the oil companies are interested in getting America there ? McCain just wants more junk for the junkie. Pathetic.

[cfin5]

Posted by curse914 at 09:07 AM : Jul 30, 2008--- Yeah right, PAT RETORT! You think your words trump your own everyday use of the same products I use. Typical "ENVIROCRIT"!

[lfitts1]

McCain may have been an honest man in the past, but no more. After the oil shocks in the 1970''s--we could and should have done something..but instead we snoozed. Taxes on gasoline need to god UP..not DOWN..to do what is right not politically expedient...we need to declare war on energy dependence..we cannot and will not drill our way out of this hole..if you are in a hole you STOP digging..don''t keep on digging. We need to give incentives for alternative energy sources--wind, solar development..maybe even some nuclear if we can figure out how to do it right..the problem is the US has become a country of people who only care about their addiction to cheap energy..it is not politically expedient but gas has to go to at least $6 a gallon--BTW that is much less than it is in europe...we need to conserve and innovate our way out of this..not drill..PS there are already MILLIONS of acres of land approved for drilling that the oil companies are not developing..use it or lose it

[wellhell3]

McCain is reaching. He is out of money and is pandering to Bush and Cheney''''s oil buddies for a handout. His campaign is so broke I heard that his latest cancerous skin removal is being sold on E-bay.


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Posted by nokoolaid at 09:05 AM : Jul 30, 2008

Good! Glad the oil and energy money are investing in McCain''s campaign for awhile instead of Obscamma''s! Since Obscamma pissed on his own campaign finance bill...McCain can certainly use the money!

[wellhell3]

Posted by WellHell3

When mccain flipped his position, a million dollars from oil executives came rolling in.


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Posted by zerato at 09:09 AM : Jul 30, 2008

Good! McCain needs the money since Obscamma pissed on his own campaign reform bill...and renigged on his screeching about it like the empty suit he is!

[briannorwood]

"McCain Camp Sees Energy As Winning Issue"


Sorry McGrandpa, but a tablespoon of Geritol every morning does not constitute an energy policy!

[zerato-2009]

The Republicans held the White House, the Senate and the House for over seven years. Did we hear one word about drilling for oil offshore, or anywhere else ? Not one word. The Republicans marched in lockstep, they could have gotten any legislation through they wanted - not one word. They just let the oil companies get away with murder, while cutting their taxes. The oil companies made enormous profits, and they also said not one word about offshore drilling. They were making it hand over fist. Did they use any of their profits to develop any of the leases they already hold ? NO - but now, when people are screaming from the results of Republican/big oil rule, they are feeling the heat and need someone to blame - the DEMOCRATS, of course. Anyone who believes this Republican BS is too stupid to live. We need a Manhattan Project to put our best minds into the fight to get completely away from oil. We need new energy strategies that come from the laboratory, not the oil fields. Imagine if we could tell OPEC where to stick it - we don''''t NEED oil any more. Do you think the oil companies are interested in getting America there ? McCain just wants more junk for the junkie. Pathetic.

Posted by superdem

amen

[wellhell3]

better idea is to force the oil companies to start drilling for oil in the 70 million acres of land they already have availble to them instead of chasing more money for offshore contracts. Then force the oil companies to accept the Congressional offers given to them in the past, but rejected, to ease up restrictions on new refineries.



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Posted by rafterman1 at 09:12 AM : Jul 30, 2008

They''ve already drilled 3,000 wells on that land. Makes sense to you, I guess, for them to invest money in drilling MUD?

Seems like they might want to drill where they know the oil is!

[juanpagelos6]

I will be happy when they are drilling off the coast of Virginia. Oil slicks are nice when you are body surfing and swimming at the beach. Why would I want to sacrifice driving the huge car or push for business to look for alternatives to oil (innovation drives business and jobs folks)? It is so much easier to disrupt nature (sarcasm). I am not a liberal, but I love to hunt, fish(and eat fish), bird watch, swim and hike. Teddy Roosevelt would be pissed at McCain.

The combustion engine is basically the same as it was when Henry Ford put it on the assembly line. The diesel engine is as well, with one exception, Diesel powered his engine with peanut oil. Ethanol is *** unless it in a cold can or bottle of vino. Wind power is OK if it is done in remote locations away from migration zones - yes I like to hunt and bird watch. Solar energy is great but we need bright minds to help create cheap methods to capture it. Butanol might be feasible. Recycling your cans also helps. Put a little energy in to saving. It is easy and you might feel a little better about yourself. I also prefer the view of mountains and clean ocean to smoke stacks and scummy water.

Drilling equals more of the same and is a completely brainless and economically silly non-solution to our energy/gas price crisis.

[ariel133]

You all are scaring me. Get a grip, friends, the Ol''mighty Obama will self destruct right before your eyes, so get ready. Change to Obama is changing the USA, now why would you want to change the best country in the world?? If you are not happy here you are free to move about the universe. Oil is our main issue- if we don''t drill we remain dependant, just like the liberals prefer so they can take care of you. That''s right- you are all children that need taking care of.

[erb0087]

"McCain Camp Sees Energy As Winning Issue"

And it is, for Obama.

That''s an unintentionally funny headline, by the way. McCain is 71 years old.

[omega39-2009]

You all are scaring me. Get a grip, friends, the Ol''''mighty Obama will self destruct right before your eyes, so get ready.
Posted by Ariel133

LOL! It hasn''t happened yet in spite of Roves best efforts, perhaps you can try replaying the Larry Sinclair card.

[promaclaura]

Many factors in the world have changed our approach to oil and energy alternatives. It took 9/11, two battlefronts and over four dollar gas to wake us up, including our government. We are being held hostage to the producers of oil and it only makes sense that we remove this middle man. I DON''T CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO COME ON BOARD. We have a chance to create a whole industry of jobs to replace our lost auto jobs. If we produce domestically it''s a given that good paying jobs won''t be sent overseas. Many who support my views WANT to be responsible to the enviroment and another job industry can be created for the overseeing of energy safety.

[wellhell3]

Pathetic. Yeah lets spend billions more on a short sighted plan that will give no immediate relief and what effects will be minimal on oil prices.

I say spend those billions on fast tracking vehicles like the GM volt....all the car companies are transitioning to build electric cars, I say fast track that and Build more windfarms.



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Posted by melchg at 09:18 AM : Jul 30, 2008

Yeah, let''s keep visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads! Now how many people do you think are going to buy a VOLT! Or even have the money to! I wouldn''t even give you two cents for a GM vehicle! How many YEARS do you want to continue this farce while we send billions to the Sheiks and they get stronger and stronger!

As for the WIND FARMS, first you have to convince the the bird watchers that the birds don''t migrate through where they want to put the wind farms! Then you have to convince the wind farmers neighbors it''s a good idea...because their little artistic sensibilities don''t want to see wind turbines on their horizons. Reckon they could even form a committee on this in ten years and make a decision?

[bfjones666]

What is wrong with John McCain? Here is a WASP who has plenty of money from his trophy wife, has the press to cover for his every mistake and flips more than he flops and no one calls him on it. Here''s a guy who''s been around forever and has all the experience one can ask for and he''s running against a guy who is too young and too black for most Americans. So, why the hell isn''t John Sydney McCain III ahead by 10-15 points? What is wrong with John McCain?

[ariel133]

NO, friends, you are whacko- thinking Obama is for the constitution- He does not believe in the 2nd and 4th amendament, and will defuse the 1st, if that is what you prefer, than that is WHACKY. You seriouslly think having our own oil is not independant? What school of stupidty did you graduate from?! LMAO

[omega39-2009]

NO, friends, you are whacko- thinking Obama is for the constitution- He does not believe in the 2nd and 4th amendament, and will defuse the 1st, if that is what you prefer, than that is WHACKY.
Posted by Ariel133

No one has caused more damage to the constitution than the idiot currently sitting in the White House. I can proudly say I didn''t vote for him either time, can you?

[afmca]

McCain is following the Rove/Bush election approach ... lie, lie, lie and eventually the lemming base will rally around. If America wants immediate relief - drill the startegic reserves, don''t open up the shorelines to such limited amounts of oil. The Democrats tried to get the strategic reserve opened up to destroy the speculation and the Republicans denied this. Why? Because it would hurt the oil speculators and Exxon was looking forward to the billions in tax-payer subsidies. The Repubs should be held accountable for this.

If we destroy the speculators and put American oil companies on notice that their days of manipulatinhg energy and foreign ploicy is over ... we are on our way to energy independence. Spend all the money that would have been spent to get this limited oil out of off-shore sites and put it into solar, wind, and other alternatives and by the time the oil would be ready to pump in 10-15 years we wouldn''t need it anyway. Again because of their greed the Republicans are putting their short-term interests ahead of America''s long-term interests.

[promaclaura]

Lib''s are nuts! The handbook for libs is: terrorist''s aren''t a big threat and it''s only used to scare us to vote Republican and American big oil is greedy and out to get us! How about changing this book to terrorist''s are out to get us and american oil companies aren''t a big threat.

[wellhell3]

That''''''''s an unintentionally funny headline, by the way. McCain is 71 years old.

Posted by erb0087

He''''ll need all the energy he can get come this fall. Obama has so many routes to take this thing. McCain will be running all over the country.


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Posted by melchg at 09:28 AM : Jul 30, 2008

Strange isn''t it? 76% of Americans want us to drill oil!

[jongood65]

You libtards on here continuing to wave Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama''s "NO Drilling, NO where, NO time" flag are just about to be buried by the 76% of Americans who figure they can only afford to be a fffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllliiiiinnnnngggggssss founded libtard like y''all when times are good. And, at $4.00 a gallon, times simply aren''t good enough.

Especially when this vast majority figure a lions share of this money is being paid to America''s enemies under Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama plan, instead of to us, under John McCain''s plan.

But, it''s okay, we''ve watched your boys fail, one right behind the next....George McGovern, Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter, Michael DooDooCockeye, Al Gore, HoChiMinh Kerry, and now Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama are just footnotes in America''s book of failures.

[wellhell3]

Seems like Obscamma is going to have a hard time selling his bull ***** to the 76% of Americans that want oil to be drilled NOW!

Seems like Obscamma will be running his tail off screeching his NONSENSE about not drilling!

The only reason Obscamma is screeching this ***** is so he has an issue to oppose! Too bad his campaign was to chicken ***** to propose it!