The supreme court is mostly the only reason I have to vote for Obama as the day goes by .

He is shifting on the drilling issue after arguing against it for weeks , even though he is shifting to a position I agree with.

Its hard to argue he is a principled politician....

I am yet to feel re - assurred he is ready to lead or has the experience to in any case.

On a whole host of issues he seems to hold on to  ideological position which I don't agree with and when he his pressured he simply can't even hold on to these positions .

From Iraq surge , Iran , talking to dictators without preconditions , Israel , oil drilling he has had the wrong judgement in my view.  

The supreme court might not be enough of a reason for anymore .

That said I would wait to see who he picks for VP and how the elections play out .

Just days ago he was saying it was a political gimmick etc .

I didn't hate on you before, but I'll give you kudos anyway.  This position is significantly different than out and out supporting it, but it effectively puts him in the position of supporting it, since the Republicans will try to get it pushed through.  I'm not opposed to it if it could be safe, but I don't like the argument that its somehow a quick fix, b/c its not, its a bullshit argument.  So I'm not really pissed by this move, but if he starts saying that it will help gas prices short term, then I'll be disappointed.

it HAS been barack's position all along, o ye of little faith. if you remember differently, that's just a sign that your resolve is weak.

ok, are we all sold out now? is anything left? FISA, social security, public campaign financing... the bargain table is pretty picked over, if you ask me.

This is unreal, surreal.  Is there any position this guy has left that he hasn't done an about-face on?

Is there a single one?

Even though I'm against offshore drilling I'm actually relieved Obama is hedging the issue. His opposition could have been lethal in the 4th quarter, and by basically saying "Hey I'm not enthused about it but if necessary I won't block it" it takes one more attack off the table. The fact that McCain did a complete flip on this issue is going to give Obama some cover over any flip-flop charges, which will likely come from the coastal editorials and not the McCain camp.

Sigh.  It pains me to say you were right, Jerome.  For more reasons than my pride.  I don't like a pander.

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

"Comprehensive energy policy" != "bring down gas prices."

For one thing, there's absofuckinglutely nothing that any President can do to lower gas prices aside from helping to shape demand over the long term.

For another, gas is on its way out.  Right now.  A comprehensive energy policy would be looking towards the next evolution of transportation, not trying to prop up our gas habit for another few years.

"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."

There is no such thing as a "careful, well thought-out drilling strategy."  United States oil production peaked thirty years ago, and nothing we do or don't do can change that.

And even if there were such a thing, that "well thought-out drilling strategy" would not include meaningless restrictions about where the oil can be sold, since oil is a fungible good with a global market and where it gets sold makes exactly zero difference.

And as for the "avoid significant environmental damage" bit?

It opens up fucking ANWR.  You know, that place we've been trying to protect from the oil vultures for three decades now.

I can understand the politics of this move.  He knows the bill is going to pass the Senate with the help of the five Democrats in the Gang of 10.  He doesn't want to appear to be on the losing side and look like he can't even control his own party, and he wants to give cover to those five Dems.

But it's still a bald-faced pander.  The House better not touch this bill with a ten-foot pole.

I'll have pretty much lost hope for the Democrats if, with Bush at one of the lowest approval ratings in history, and with them in control of both houses of Congress, they still manage to be unable to stop this attack on our environment that we defended against for 30 years from Reagan, Bush Sr., and Newt Gingrich and his cronies.

America needs an intervention, we need to kick the gas habit, and Obama has suddenly become a passive enabler.

(For the record?  I'm still an Obama supporter, and I'm still going to vote, volunteer, and donate.  I'm just deeply disappointed in this action.)

1. What does HRC have to do with anything? The primary is over. I'm not sure why she is still part of the discussion unless you're searching for hollow vindication. My suggestion: let it go and try to keep on topic.

2. The central theme of Obama's candidacy has not been adherence to liberal/progressive dogma. Sorry, but no, his central theme has been bi-partisanship. That means, almost by definition, compromise. Obama is a pragmatist, not a partisan progressive. Perhaps more importantly his still has this minor hurdle of actually getting elected. Something like 60+% of Americans support drilling. That's getting harder and harder to ignore.

3. Why is offshore drilling a non starter for some progressives. If offshore drilling can alleviate some of the burden on the American people and can be done in such a way as to maximize benefit and minimize environmental harm then I say go for it. Moreover, if the issue can be used as leverage to get some concessions from Republicans regarding a long-term energy package, then all the better. In fact, I say flip the issue on the GOP. Say, "yeah, you'll get your drilling on OUR terms, but only if you agree to XYZ on long term energy policy"--then when the (almost certainly) balk at that, take it to the American people just like the GOP is (effectively) doing right now. Bam!

4. Curse the day when the catchphrase "flip-flopper" was coined. The concept actually REWARDS people like Bush for staying "principled" in the face of overwhelming contradictory facts. Gotta hand it to the GOP on that one. Getting people to disbelieve their lying eyes is an amazing accomplishment.

5. I only post here occasionally and more often in the last 4 months or so. I don't know who Jerome Armstrong is, but he's always on the front page and since I've been here he's been nothing but negative regarding our nominee. Is this guy an actual liberal/democrat/progressive? What's his deal? Its like all snark/concern trolling--in a very subtle way. Maybe its taboo to criticize a front page diarist, but its frustrating to say the least.

While I support offshore drilling, am I'm disappointed that Obama is running away from the issue he argued against. He took a principled position and now he is running away from it.

There is a huge opening here- tie the drilling to alternative energy.  The oil companies are like the military in Iraq and Afghanistan- they only have so many resources in personnel and equipment to move around- so its not like every piece of land between Maine and Seattle will have an oil rig.  No one likes it- but it calls their bluff.

I gotta give it to you Jerome, you called it.  Do you think this will bite him in the long run or was it the right call?  I sort of think he should have waited a couple weeks to see where his $1,000 relief package went...Maybe it would have grown legs...

I have supported a moderate increase in offshore drilling all along, so I am pleased to see Obama coming around.  We are at or near a peak in global production.  Ten years from now, when there may be virtually no oil available to import, an extra 1-2 mbd could make a very big difference indeed.  We are going to be forced to turn away from oil for transportation in the next 10 years anyway.  But we still need a feedstock for things like plastics, fertilizer, etc.  I want to add that we shouldn't open the most environmentally sensitive areas, and we should dole out the rest of our reserves very gradually.  The U.S. is the most explored territory in the world, there's not much more oil to be found other than offshore.  We should also only agree to allow a bit more drilling as part of a broader energy plan, probably using revenues to fund alternative energy.  This move allows Obama to shift the energy discussion back to his alternative energy plan.

I don't think McCain will be able to make much of this issue after his timetable and ss taxes flip-flops this week, not to mention the fact that his pro-drilling stance is a flip-flop by itself.

OMG. Compromise! C O M P R O M I S E!!!!!!

Ugh do not let him in a room alone with Putin.

I'm gonna put my two cents in.

Anybody who has read Obama's books, or seen his legislation, who is surprised by this is a goddamned idiot.

Get over yourselves,  you lunatics.

I'd like to see what legislation they hammer out before passing judgment.  At the moment, this is the one issue that McCain has.

I believe it was only two weeks ago that some of us more moderate Democrats were singing this tune...

Is there a specific bill in question? Or is this just a theoretical point?

The problem is that the oil companies might not even explore off the coasts given the high costs of refining gas.

I think this is politically smart for Obama. It's not like McCain can say he was for this all along; he just flip-flopped a month ago so he only wins points for doing it first.

The only question is if progressives start flirting with Nader again. My guess is, just like with FISA, they'll scream about it and then go back to Obama again.

Slip slidin' away
slip slidin away
you know the nearer the election the more he's slip slidin' away

 He won't get their votes regardless.

There isn't going to be any offshore drilling. It's all hot air.

So don't waste time getting your knickers in a knot over it.

You do not know what you're talking about if you think "If you do it right, it doesn't hurt the ecosystem. Hell, why don't we make these rigs double as natural reefs?"

First of all, oil rigs aren't "naturaly reefs."

Second of all, ocean floors, especially nearshore, are pretty much the most sensitive kind of ecosystem there is, and building an industrial facility in the middle of them is brutally disruptive to ecosystems that are already under a lot of stress from pollution and climate change.

Third of all, oil spills are inevitable.  There are thousands of small spills, and some large ones (New Orleans 2 weeks ago) every year.

So don't feed me the right-wing bullshit lie that "If you do it right, it doesn't hurt the ecosystem."  They say that same shit about drilling in ANWR or doing any kind of massive industrial or commercial development in sensitive ecosystems.

Fortunately, Nancy Pelosi gets this better than you or Jerome or Obama and is not going to let such a shortsighted and stupid policy get out of the House as long as she is speaker.

I agreed with Jerome back when he first brought this up, and so I'm glad to see Obama showing flexibility on this. Post election day he can always change his mind, but first he must be elected.

Continuing to be dragged down by firm opposition to more drilling is a losing strategy. We need to win first and then show America that there are other ways to lower energy costs.

Did anyone really read what he said?

If necessary to pass a comprehensive energy bill, he would be open to some compromise. He would not be "rigid".

He is not for open season for off-shore. He is not for ANWAR drilling at all.

If it isn't necessary he won't.
(Let's get those Democratic Senators elected)

I don't think McCain wants to get into attacking Obama for flips..I am sure there are more by now...but a reminder of a month ago.

http://www.alternet.org/election08/90956 /

I think that Obama is a genius.  He is a political genius.  I am so proud that we have a democratic nominee who is a politician and a man who has integrity but who loves america by understanding that everything is not black or white but sometimes grey.  I love this guy.

You know who you are-- ya little jerks...

Way to stay classy.

Like Gun Control.

You're not going to win it and you may lose everything by standing behind it.

Only thing I would add is that they should give the individual states veto power and should make individual states responsible for any accidents.

I'm voting for Obama but I just refuse to let go of the lines he used to trash Hillary Clinton.  The above is my favorite.

A phrase in your posting leads me to believe you do monitor the diaries.  In any event, I have been trying to come to terms for myself on what I believe is the best solutin for America.  Between Pickens, Gore, McCain, I am glad to see your pragmatism which I personally have to support whole heartedly, and thus, support Obama on this "pivot".  Pelosi and Reid need to read your posting.  This is a "chip" to bargain with.
P.S. Happy blogger, google, whoever, fixed the glitch.