Political Punch

Why don't we put a ban on oil exports.

Nobody except the oil companies (and politicians heavily invested in the oil companies) benefit from oil exports.

In 10 years, once the offshore oil rig is actually operational, it will yield 200,000 barrels a day.

However, we export 1.8 million barrels of oil a day. So... if the idea is to lower dependence on middle eastern oil, why don't we keep our own and use it!

Maybe because that's not what the agenda is. The problem is, oil exports make more money than the sale of oil stateside.

Why would we need to drill offshore for 200,000 barrels a day in 10 years, if we can keep 1.8 million barrels in the country every day now?

hm?

I am so exasperated. Doesn't anyone remember why off shore drilling was banned in the 70s?

Do you really want a lot of people punching holes in a fragile continental shelf off the cost of California? I'm sure there are other places like in the bay of Mexico but really off the coast of California? Everyone knows that shelf is not stable and yet nobody is saying a word about it. If the worst happens what are you gonna say ..Opps?

Or do you just not care that it increases the possibility for dissaster? But hey less demand right?

TE? Obama DID say inflating tires was a replacement for drilling. I heard him. So did everyone else. It's like Obama claiming McCain supports Bush's energy policy and tax breaks for oil companies when Obama voted FOR the Bush bill and McCain voted against it. Honestly, I have no idea how Obama folks can tell outright untruths so often, with such conviction.

Sir, you failed to mention that Obama said inflating our tires and tuning our engines would TAKE THE PLACE OF ALL NEW DRILLING. That is why folks are laughing their heads off....Something I'm noticing about the Obama folks and Obama himself. No sense of humor. None. McCain and his folks thought the Paris Hilton ad was a stitch (besides, she supports McCain's energy policy). Obama seems to have the self-effacement displayed by Richard Nixon. Just think. Richard Nixon's personality and Jimmry Carter's foreign and economic policies!

Correction: McCain dealt with Rove tactics during the 2000 campaign, certainly not during 2004 when there were no Republicans running against Bush. It has been established that Rove himself was behind the South Carolina smear tactics with Bridget, the McCains' adoptive daughter from Mother Theresa's orphanage who had a seriously deformed cleft palate. She was presented as a part black illegitimate daughter. Now the McCain camp has Rove as an "informal advisor" and some of his operatives running the show. It's chilling how hell bent McCain is on winning. Intellectual dishonesty as a descriptive doesn't do the situation justice.

I think you might be reading too much into this.

The Republicans need continued support from Oil based industries. They are trying to depart with a gift of off shore drilling and stable consumption levels. Period.

We don't need to shift dependence on foreign oil to dependence on domestic oil.
We need to delete dependence on any oil, one percent at a time.

Awareness measures like Obama's gage/tuneup comment are powerful, and the Republicans know and fear it. My gosh, these guys faked us into a war over oil!

Notice oil price is going down latey? That's because everyone is checking their gages, tuning up, commuting in groups, telecommuting, reducing trips, choosing alternates, just to name a few. Consumption is dropping, price too.

Republicans want that trend stopped; they think consumption levels can be maintained and create a price drop, thereby retaining more control in the future, thus the tactic.
Their economics are faulty, the grandstanding is shallow. Why keep oil at production at current levels when we know we don't need it?

JPT, I think you fell for the distraction.

The only way McCain can win is by adopting Karl Rove attack-dog tactics, defaming the character of anyone who opposes him, lying and distorting, and generally distracting the electorate from the issues. He loses on all the issues (Iraq, economy, energy, environment ...). So, we better get used to a very nasty Republican offensive every few days until this election is over.

A debate between Primary Obama and Election Obama would be even more interesting

McCain '08, are you serious. McCain said he wouldn't even vote for his own bill. How is that not a major reversal. He reversed himself on drilling, he reversed himself on the Bush tax cuts. You don't see these reversals, because you don't want to see them. Stevie Wonder could see them.

THE WORST PART OF MCBUSHS "TIRE INFLATION" SCHEME......IS HE INSULTS OUR INTELLIGENCE. SUGGESTS THAT AMERICANS BELIEVE THIS IS OBAMA'S COMPLETE PLAN.....HE HAS INSULTED ME!

"McCain has shown himself wanting to win at any cost."

I don't see him reversing on major positions. Unlike Obama.

Obama is comfortable using the same tactics as every other politician, what he is not comfortable with is getting called on it.

McCain has shown himself wanting to win at any cost. It's no secret that Karl Rove is an "informal adviser" and that his proteges are active on his campaign. He and his family were certainly treated cruelly by Rovian tactics in 2000 and 2004. There were apparently no scruples in presenting his wife as chattel to a horde of bikers last week. McCain has gone well beyond "intellectual dishonesty" and into the Faustian. He's on the Hell Express, not the Straight Talk one.

McCain said it from the get go that this economics thing is not his game so why are you surprised. Have you forgotten how republicans mocked Obama when he said we need to start conserving our a/c and SUV use. Thats economics 101, hypocrites. Your ability to choose between wants and needs.

> It's about what tactics the candidate is comfortable using.

Agree.

How much insolence and sense of entitlement does the candidate have if he placed 894th out of 899 at the naval academy?

Would that same insolence and sense of entitlement serve him well now, while he makes tactical choices in front of the whole country?

McCain doesn't want any air in the tires on which a discussion of the issues deciding the future of our country turn. He knows that the Republicans have broken through the rubber and been running on the rims for several years now. So, if his opponent tries to make a sensible point, however positioned it may be as only a partial answer, the corrupted McCain, these long decades separated from his heroic sojourn in the Hanoi Hilton, must ridicule any movement toward policies that would follow a rational path and use common sense to pull the nation away from his own party's calamities.

Mr. Tapper,

McCain is clearly comfortable using the tactic of lying. He did so when claiming Obama refused to visit troops overseas and again while attacking Obama's suggestion to improve mileage by inflating tires. He's proven he'll lie about anything --until he gets busted.

Only after Triple-A, NASCAR, and others publicly said Obama was right and McCain wrong about inflating tires did he flip-flop. Remember Bush's tax cuts, amnesty for illegals, drilling, etc., etc. --it's McCain's entire flip-floppin' career in a nutshell.

The amount of energy we would save by keeping our tires properly inflated is more than the most optimistic estimates (read: George Bush's) of what we'd get from drilling in the long term (decades from now).

That's the debate between John McCain and John McCain:

Reducing our demand by X barrels of oil a day will not help us achieve energy independence, while adding Y barrels of oil to our supply will. But X > Y.

American Observer said: "Net net, inflating tires won't replace drilling, not even close."

Well that test would be in opposition to the EIA, the NHSTA, AAA and NASCAR to name the majority of those who say inflating tires helps. But the point was never replacing drilling, it was what individuals can do to save fuel and this was a patial answer in addition to keeping your engine propery tuned. Like so many other dittoheads, you believe that this is the sole policy of the Obama Energy Plan. Unfortunately for you and McCain, it isn't. Read and learn.

trusthesky said: "Barack Obama is actually very immature when he pokes fun at people. Remember when he teased Hillary Clinton for trying to be an 'Annie Oakley'?"

Immature? I thought it was very astute of him to reference someone OLD people would remember.

Jake, your critique of Obama, while essentially accurate, is really parsing his words with a fine tooth comb.

This just serves to underscore the real double standard in our politics. The disparity in the treatment of Obama and McCain recalls the media's treatment in 2000 of Gore and Bush. Namely, that the clearly more intelligent candidate gets held to a much higher standard than the less intelligent one.

Presidential politics should not be reported on a sliding scale. I, for one, wish the media would cover McCain more, so as to get the truth out about his gaffes (Sunni/Shia), untruths (see many of his political attacks), political misdeeds (Keating Five), personal problems (recklessness, temper, marital infidelity), underachievement (bottom five of Naval Academy), privileged upbringing (son of admiral), etc.

Edmunds tested various tires to see if inflation really had a significant effect on gas mileage. They lowered the pressure by as much as 8 psi and found no measurable difference in mileage - today's tires have excellent rolling resistance properties even when underinflated. There is a significant safety issue at such low pressure because the tires can overheat and blow out. Net net, inflating tires won't replace drilling, not even close.

I've read so much crap on here about Bush somehow being behind the price drops in oil. Get a clue. Oil dropped because the number of people driving and flying dropped....PERIOD. It's simple supply and demand, and the President, as well as Congress had NOTHING to do with it.

As far as McCain's energy policy is concerned...it's laughable. I love the part about 45 new nuclear plants by 2030. How? Please let me know. How are you going to get the money for that? How are you going to get people to agree with THAT much nuclear waste disposal when people already don't want it? All the while, he's making fun of Barack Obama and his energy plan, claiming it's all about inflating tires. As with EVERY OTHER issue that has been brought up, McCain's only response is to smirk, make fun, and act like a 3rd grade student.

Wow. People STILL think Obama's plan is just about inflating tires?

Seriously, you need to go read his energy policy. There's a pdf on HP that's easily downloadable. It has a lot more to say on the issue of energy, and guess what? There's nothing about inflating tires in it.

If you can't educate yourself before posting, you really can't be taken seriously.

As for Obama stealing McCain's ideas... thanks for the laugh, i haven't really had a good one all day. That did the trick, tho.

McCain intellectually honest?? Why not start with his involvement in the Saving and Loan rip off of the Amercian taxpayer; and take a look at his military record while you are at it, you can start with the Forrestal..

Here in California, Chevron has a radio spot saying that we could save gas by inflating our tires properly. Even BIG OIL agrees with this.

al4mcattack-
Why should Obama even appear in the same room as Sean Hannity? What could he possibly gain by talking to a sensationalist that will smear ANY democrat over ANYTHING? The only person Obama should be debating is John McCain, and we'll get to see that as November draws near.

I just heard Truman Burgess talked to Sean Hannity. He did not exactly tear up Hannity as Obama said. He couldn't even provide a direct answer why he is supporting Obama. Sean treated Truman well. Truman seemed to be a cool guy. Barrack Obama is a total coward. Why send Truman Burgess to tear up Sean Hannity? He challenged Hannity so he should debate Hannity and answer the tough questions.

I agree with your analysis, Jake, although I think Sen. McCain is also having an ongoing "interior dialogue" about which Rovian tactics to use in trying to discredit his opponent without compromising his "integrity" too much. Or, to put it another way, McCain is trying to figure out just how much mud he can sling without becoming too uncomfortable.

Well at least McCain is man enough to debate!

I wonder if John McCain will turn out to be the new John Kerry. If Obama can make the flip flopping unproncipled thing stick, he might just have a chance in painting McCain as that.

I do thnk McCain has made a lot of compromises with himself to run this campaign. Does he really want to go after Obama, the person, agressively. The 'Is he ready to lead' mantra might easily he answered yes. And I think the compromises he makes might end up with him looking like the Bush 3rd term candidate that Democrats want to make him out to be.

"Saw the townhalls on CNN website for both Obama and McCain today. The McCain one was a some plant in Ohio and the crowd was obviously employees who where not enthusiastic. There were about 20 people standing behind him looking like they did want to be there. It seems McCain can't attract a crowd himself and needs to go to places where an audience can be compelled to be there, like at work, or someplace where a crowd is already there and he can shoehorn his way on the stage, like that biker thing in South Dakota. No wonder he calls Obama a celebrity, jealous much?"

It's because real working class people are ACTUALLY AT WORK in the middle of a work day! Yeah those were plant workers, who else would be at that plant? Like Paris Hilton would say... "duh!"

The reason why Obama has bigger crowds is because they're students or well-paid YUPPIES who don't have jobs to go to.

"The best the conservative can do is attempt to be high school cut down artists, and that routine is getting very tiresome and lame."

That's ironic because the Obama campaign loves to say the word "OLD" whenever they mention McCain. Like "same old policies", "same old this" and "same old that". It's vieled AGISM, quite frankly.

Barack Obama is actually very immature when he pokes fun at people. Remember when he teased Hillary Clinton for trying to be an "Annie Oakley"?

Saw the townhalls on CNN website for both Obama and McCain today. The McCain one was a some plant in Ohio and the crowd was obviously employees who where not enthusiastic. There were about 20 people standing behind him looking like they did want to be there. It seems McCain can't attract a crowd himself and needs to go to places where an audience can be compelled to be there, like at work, or someplace where a crowd is already there and he can shoehorn his way on the stage, like that biker thing in South Dakota. No wonder he calls Obama a celebrity, jealous much?

Obama VOTED FOR the Bush-Cheney energy bill in 2005 written in secret by Vice President Cheney and the energy lobby(that's 3 years ago, he already forgot?)
McCain did not.
Hillary Clinton didn't.
What is it, McSame or O'Same?

Gallup poll shows:

Whites for Obama 39%
Whites for McCain 49%

Blacks for Obama 91%
Blacks for McCain 3%

Obama supporters want you to believe he is unique, a new kind of leader, unlike all other politician, blah, blah.
Yet, when you point out any inconsistency (there are so many) the inmediate reaction is: "but...but...McCain!"
He's not supposed to be like Hillary, or McCain, THAT's HIS WHOLE POINT! If he's not 'different' he's got NOTHING!!!

Obama, did not make a big deal out of this issue, it was the McCain campaign in typical fashion taking something out of context and playing dirty childish politics, to create a diversion from the real issue. Surely, they know this is not his ENTIRE energly plan. McCain has completely let his campaign sink into the netherworld of negativity and it's astonishing how he has turned on himself and his values in the desperate attempt to become president. There is a disconnect between the intellectually honest McCain and the presidential hopeful McCain.

Obama VOTED FOR the Bush-Cheney energy bill in 2005 written in secret by Vice President Cheney and the energy lobby(that's 3 years ago, he already forgot?)
McCain Voted AGAINST.
Hillary Clinton voted AGAINST.
Now, ist it McSame or O'Same?

notafool, thanks for the response.

So we complain about the sad state of affairs our country is in, namely our domestic and international economic woes but cannot shake our overdependence on hate and adulation.

By mentioning low employment numbers as proof our economy is solid is plain and simple limited and severly myopic. Gas prices are fueling the economic debate between McCain and McCain, the mortgage crisis didn't just affect those who reside in the "COMMUNITY" ask Ed McMahon and a well to do friend of the family who's husband is a broker and wife is in Real Estate. Americans are paying a hefty price. Look at CA where a Republican Governor Arnold the Terminator is poised to cut 200,000 jobs and downgrade pay for state employees to minimum wage.

Then for you to travel to China stating they are pro-America. Hell yeah, when we have mortaaged our souls to them in the name of paying for a war that never should have been authorized and never been waged since the wages are TOO HIGH!

A plan is a map of executable steps to achieve a certain goal. It's different from a vision. The central question here is how much in what Obama has offered is practical, reliable and adequate. And it's a legitimate question concerning Obama's leadership rather than cheerleadership.

It's easy to say we go for world peace.

Tommy Thompson:

"The fact of the matter is that Richard Nixon has cornered that market. In 1968 his campaign slogan was "Nixon's the One" "

You think Obama will follow more of Nixin's doings?

This is why Obama does so poorly in debates. he always has to have the last word in. Instead of answering the current question he frequently goes back to the previous question and changes his answer. he cannot let something go. He is losing badly on this issue but realible Obama must continue to hammer home that he is right or thinks he is.

Obama:

"A light will shine down... from somewhere. It will light upon you. You will experience an epiphany... You will say to yourself, 'I have to vote for Barack' "

Rev Wright's man alright..

pt: "All the experts have already weighed in. mccain has lost this one, air pressure and tune-ups have a significant effect on saving fuel"

now we know what a liberal considers significant.

Bush lifts the executive ban on drilling...oil drops 15%.

Obama suggests inflating tires. If EVERYONES tire needed to be inflated, maximum gain 3%.

This is called "liberal math".

Automobiles after 1985 don't require tune-ups. Shady mechanic's will convince you that your car needs a tune-up, then when nobody is watching- they will over inflate your tires and tell you that you'll see the auto is getting better gas milage when you leave the shop so if you believe in the "air theory" make sure you ask to see all of the parts that they replaced.

obamaalltheway: "I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DEBATES"

Obama can. He refuses to go do townhalls with McCain. Why's that?

Also, it's not that experts don't agree with the air pressure issue or that McCain disagrees. But, it just "sounds" like a foolish solution. And, that's part of getting one's message out to people--not making it sound foolish. Why even make a huge issue of tire inflation at this point? It makes Obama look silly.

tom-
Because god knows that Barack Obama is the only politician to EVER do that. Good god, every time I turn around, Obama's detractors seem to have grown a little more desperate, and are pointing out exceedingly feeble arguments as to why he's not the guy for the job

I think McCain might have to change course a bit because the media is so overwhelmingly in the tank for Obama. It's no secret. The media doesn't care about objectivity. It's all Obama all the time. That's why a Rasmussen poll shows that the American people are tired of hearing about Obama. So, McCain may not be playing nice, but it might be what he has to do in this "in the tank" for Obama media/political context.

McCain 08! PUMA Democrat

Appparenty most Obama supporters were unlike the rest of us unaware they should have thier tires properly inflated. Look how impressed they are with such a well known old school tip. Change?

geevill,
Get with it. All the experts have already weighed in. mccain has lost this one, air pressure and tune-ups have a significant effect on saving fuel. And the air is free, you are just paying for the equipment to have it delivered to you, you can always use your own pump.

It still amazes me that the Republicans after being in power the last 8 years, have the nerve to try and change the debate from real important issues challenging America right now and if not rectified will send America down the road of history like ancient Rome.
I for one want dialog pertaining to the issues, not lies, distortions, character assasination and Paris/Britney.
We should expect and demand more from our politicians. The I don't care attitude gave America 8 years of Bush. We can't afford to sleep in this election.

Obama 08

tom - Do you have a point or are you just spewing out the current memes from the right wing noise machine ("Chosen One" "Tire gauge")?

Yes, Obama was chosen by the Democratic voters to be our nominee. That is called democracy. Do you have a problem with it?

Can't wait to hear how McCain surrogate, Hannity spins this and McCain pimping out Cindy in Sturgis, as I drive to work today.

Obama ditched women's right issues during his term in the Illinois's State Senate in order to avoid controversy so that he could climb the political ladder.

Only the Chosen One can cut the line and be President without having to make any contribution to this country or the democratic party.

So Obama's telling people something simple they can do themselves that could end up making a big difference--we need more of that these days, good for him. Everyone was asked to pitch in for World War II, and guess what? We won the war. We can win our independence from foreign oil too, if we have an active and involved President helping and encouraging us all to do our part. Keep your tires inflated and tune up your engine, and you'll burn up less gas, save more money, and it'll do a lot more to help our trade situation than just buying up more oil from Saudi Arabia and Russia, and more cheap crap from China.

The republicans have never looked so stupid to me. It's like I'm looking at a bunch of drowning blondes who can't swim and are trying to stay afloat by their implants. This is hilarious. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DEBATES. Mccain is going to give new meaning to the word gaffes...

I disagree in Obama's energy policy except for when he said, strategic oil reserves are for emergency only because I believe high cost of fuel is not considered an emergency but Obama has also changed his view on the use of strategic oil reserves. I am also surprised in the number of his flip-flops within the span of one week. He is now advocating the Clinton's energy policy he criticized during the Democrat primary. Is this how Obama going to lead this country? I also disagree in his latest ad "in the pocket of big oil" because both him and McCain are on the receiving end of big oil contributions. In addition, Obama, not McCain, was the one who voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill. Furthermore, it seems Obama and the Democrats are not consistent with each other. -------------------------------------------------------------------***Obama is becoming more confusing, the more he changes his energy policy.

Obama, give us some new ideas besides inflating our tires.

The Tire-Gauge Solution: No Joke... Reports show that Obama (once again) was right. Even some republicans now admit he is right on inflating your tires properly and doing the upkeep regularly on your vehicles will help bring the gas prices down lightyears compared to off shore drilling. Go Obama, they are following your lead every day boo... You go boy!!!

Republicans must love flip floppers because they love McCain, The Ultimate Flip Flopper. Flip flops on his own bills. Flip flopped on offshore drilling over a month ago after 26 years of supporting the ban. Flip flopped on taxes. He just goes on flip flopping like crazy, does anyone really know what McCain is? He's a shapechanger. He changes to the flavor of the day as quick as you can say flip flop, doesn't even think about it. Poor leadership.

So, to all of you who think McCain's foolish, mocking ads are going to work against Obama, keep hoping. They just make McCain look like a clown, and a stupid one at that. His campaign stinks. Wait until the debates. You will feel so sorry for the "old, white-haired, wrinkled guy" that you'll turn your t.v.s off and cry yourselves to sleep. Oh, and that Sturgis thing yesterday, that should help McLame with his "base". Real class, there!!

jpt: "my theory is that Obama’s right in that there’s a debate going on there .... It’s about what tactics the candidate is comfortable using."

I like you Jake. You are one of the few "journalists" who doesn't have a mush-crush on Obama. But you are wrong about what the debate is.

The debate is about whether the country is allowed to criticize Obama. He says no. The country is beginning to wake up and say yes. McCain has found a way with humor to point out a few of the many painfully obvious gaping holes in the Obama mystique. Obama doesn't like it.

Obama has now basically adopted Hillary's platform. I hear he is now supporting nuclear power. Obama now wants all the FL and MI delegates fully seated at the convention. When fully seating them would have hurt him, he fought to keep them out, now that they might help him, he wants them counted. He is much more than a typical politician!

"So we complain about the sad state of affairs our country is in, namely our domestic and international economic woes but cannot shake our overdependence on hate and adulation."

Just for the record, unemployment is near historical lows (the recent uptick is seasonal because employers won't pay the new incrased minimum wage to students for the summer); we haven't had even one quarter of negative growth; core inflation is about 2.5%; 98% of Americans are having no problem paying their mortgages (you know, the Americans who bought houses they can afford);four countries (England, France, Germany and Italy) have recently elected pro-American governments. The populations of India and China are also pro-American. Al Queda is defeated in Iraq. There has been no terrorism attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. Illegal immigration is declining.

If liberals hadn't forced their dumskull "Communiity Reinvestment" plan on the mortgage industry, we wouldn't have had the recent financial problems.

If liberals hadn't blocked drilling for 20 years, gasoline prices would be very reasonable.

And if liberals don't get their way, the resultion of Iraq will be beneficial to all parties.

Elect Obama and it will be back to the success of the Carter years. Remember those halcyon days?

McCain is a sensible politician. He is not all about drilling, but as most people open for alternative energies. But one task is to drill and rely on new technology. It's Obama who has flip-flopped from no plan, to "people must shower less" and now open for lifting drilling ban.

Next step is what Obama's done all along. Now, as he finally has a defensible position - which by the way is similar to McCains issue, he attacks McCain on a bogus nuance. Postering and in fact gambling that he wins on style.

And when the politics are similar, guess what: Obama wins on style. He is stylish, likable and totally wrong to be a leader.

speculation without something to base
it on is a very fast way to lose a lot of
money.... Hey call your broker and
try it for yourself....

Principal,
I have one more thing to say to you and than I have to go because I have a life and can't be in here all day like you. Keep up the good work for the McCain campaign. People have told the Hillary Supporters Count too group that it is this kind of behavior that is propelling them to not just stay home on election day, or not just write in Hillary Clinton's name on election day, but it is actually tilting the scales enough for them that they are going to vote for John MCCain in November. On behalf of John McCain, I thank you for your unsolicited help! lololololololololol

Anybody realize one thing - Air expands when it is heated ok, so now people who follow Obama's dangerous instructions are looking at Blown tires.

The only solution is All of The Above!!
Drill here Drill now
Build Nuclear Power plants
Build Windmills (which was opposed by Kennedy in Mass.)

The minute the Dems lift the law baning drilling oil will drop to below 100$ over night.

Flip Flop Obama does not like to be questioned, a reporter questioned him and the Messiah struck him down!!

The way Obama changes his opinion, means that he will not do anything he says if he wins.

Just for fun, over my lunch break today, while driving, I looked at the tires of other cars to see if they appeared properly inflated. Mostly at stop lights. Anyways, I must have ultimately seen about 200 other cars, and not one - not one - appeared to have tired that were not properly inflated. These stats Obama supporters are throwing out there presume everyone has flat tires, etc. It's obviously not true! I'm going to keep doing this the next few weeks for fun, just to keep proving this point!

Hey Mauri Yambo - POTUS means President of the US - not the World! Which countries are you speaking for!

Mary Anne has some pure thoughts based on truths. It is good to know there are informed voters.

Obama was offering a suggestion to someone in the audience asking how she could help save on energy costs today. Obmama, short of telling her to drill her own well, gave a logical reasonable conservation-type answer. McCain's an idiot and thinks we're all idiots too. Very tired of McCain's horse and pony show. He supports off-shore drilling...since June that is...and before that he didn't...for 26 years!...so by what right does he have to mock Obama for not supporting/supporting off shore drilling? And how does more drilling solve the global warming problem which threatens to wipe us all out? McCain's an idiot.

McCain has a "dry" sense of humor. It is a little more subtle than Obama, so don't just assume that he doesn't know what he is saying.

Give it up, B0 - if you really do want your silly gaff to go away! Or could it be that you looking for McCain's approval! Two gaffs don't make a right!

Mauri Yambo "rocks" !

You are a smarter and better analyst of the campaign than 75 percent of the Americans commenting on this board.

Thank you for sharing from overseas! Too bad you can't vote in the election.

I wish all of you who keep using "the One" comments would shut up. The fact of the matter is that Richard Nixon has cornered that market. In 1968 his campaign slogan was "Nixon's the One" and there is no indication that he gave that up to Obama or anyone else. Try history my friends. Its a good thing.

My view, as a non-American observing from a distance, is that McCain is trivializing the energy debate to the point of trivializing his own candidacy, and -- worst of all -- Us Presidential elections (and the very Presidency to which the elections pertain). He seems rather like a Third World who has no respect for logic and reasonableness.

There's plenty of those around. HE should be different -- for Pete's sake!

As I see it, amid all the buzz, he has roughly a 50-50 chance of being the next US President. Alright, let's correct that to an eventual 47-53 chance, or thereabouts.

Consequently, leaders around the world must have begun to wonder -- they would be wondering despondently were it not for the general thrust of those stats --if that is the same style (if style it be) he would use in prosecuting US foreign policy, and in particular dealing with world leaders who may happen to have strongly held opinions different from his. Will he seek to demean -- and even to intimidate -- them. Can he succeed? Will they let him? His first challenge might be Iraq itself, where the leaders are likely to call for a specific timetable for withdrawal, to be completed by the end of 2010. He asserts that Iraqi leaders will NOT insist on such a deadline -- presumably if McCain in the White House, and presumably if it is the kind of Iraqi leaders a President McCain will insist on after January 20th.

McCain seems inclined, in a da