Obama’s oil flip-flop about place as well as issue
posted at 12:00 pm on August 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Barack Obama has proven himself slippery on oil for the second time in his campaign. In April, he accused his opponents of taking money from oil lobbies, when in fact Obama himself not only did the same thing but had oil executives as major bundlers to his campaign. Now he’s reversed himself on drilling, and he did it in a remarkable place — Florida:
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said today he would be willing to open Florida’s coast for more oil drilling if it meant winning approval for broad energy changes.
“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.
“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,” Obama said.
Of course, this comes shortly after Obama called off-shore drilling “the latest scheme”, telling his supporters that drilling wouldn’t solve anything. How shortly? 48 hours! Here’s Obama in Springfield, Missouri, insisting that drilling wouldn’t work:
Now the latest scheme is well, we’re going to drill offshore. Now, I want to be absolutely clear to everybody about this. If I thought that I could provide you some immediate relief on gas prices by drilling off the shores of California and New Jersey, I - I … I understand how desperate folks are. I met a guy who couldn’t go on a job search that lost his job, couldn’t go on a job search because of the high price of gas. Just couldn’t fill up his tank. I met a teacher in South Dakota who loved her job as a teacher on an Indian reservation, she had to quit because the drive was too far, it was taking up too much of her paycheck. I know how bad people are hurting. So If I thought that by drilling offshore, we could solve our problem, I’d do it.
So what happened in the following 48 hours to convince Obama to drill? He probably looked at the polls, especially in Florida. The Sunshine State had fiercely opposed off-shore drilling for decades, and would normally be a safe place to rail against Big Oil and talk about alternative energy sources. Not any longer, though; 60% of Floridians now support off-shore drilling, ten percent of whom acknowledge that their position has changed with the rise in gas prices.
The 48-hour flip-flop also arrives with a rebellion in the Senate Democratic caucus on drilling. The Gang of 10 threatens to undermine not only the leadership of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, but also the policy stand of Obama in the presidential election. Their compromise proposal to open certain areas of the Atlantic seaboard and the eastern Gulf of Mexico threatened to put Obama on the fringe of his own party on drilling. He had little choice but to eat his words from Springfield on the stage in St Petersburg.
Obama once again reveals himself as a traditional politician, one that will swing like a weathervane in order to get elected. The only quality remarkable about Obama is his shamelessness in policy reversals, expecting everyone to ignore his obvious change in stance as Obama pretends that he has always supported what he used to oppose. It’s more than vaguely Orwellian, and without any real track record, it should make voters across the spectrum wonder what Obama would do once in power.
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Drilling off the coast of NJ? I presume he is referring to the oil from hair gel ;)
I wonder which way the wind will be blowing tomorrow?
William Teach on August 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM
He precludes his changes with “as I’ve always said” and the media says, oh, okay. Not hard to figure out why he does what he does. If the media ever start doing their job, he’s toast.
Sue on August 2, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Isnt Obama the guy who said he wanted prices to be higher, but do so more gradually?
lorien1973 on August 2, 2008 at 12:09 PM
It’s still early enough in the game so that Obama’s flip may pull in a few people not paying close attention yet to the presidential race. But they’ll still have to get past not only Ms. Pelosi — whose San Francisco constituents’ would prefer the entire Interstate highway system be turned into bike lanes — but also the platform commitee later this month at the DNC convention, where you’d assume they’re going to have to say something about drilling in general as part of the party’s position on energy.
jon1979 on August 2, 2008 at 12:10 PM
What amazes me is the consistent denial from Democrats that opening up drilling now will have no immediate effect. Bush revoked the executive order placing a moratorium on offshore drilling - which won’t even have teeth without Congressional backing - and the price of oil on the commodities market dropped more than 20 bucks in 10 days.
Just the possibility of future increased domestic production has an immediate effect on the market price.
flipflop on August 2, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Compromise is Obama’s hope on this issue. The Republican’s are ready to bust this issue wide open because the American people want them too. Compromise is the only way he can stop the bleeding, otherwise he would lose the election for sure.
Sadly, I’m afraid that by giving in to compromise, enough Republicans will let Obama back in the race. they will also end up limiting where we can drill, how many nuclear plants we can build, and how many refineries. Compromise will probably kill oil shale and drilling in ANWAR, the FIRST place we should drill.
Just say NO to compromise!
Ordinary1 on August 2, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Perhaps all this policy changing is an effort to manufacture a track record.
ThePrez on August 2, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Hey neat! I’m for everything too! Change! Everything! Yaaaaayyy!
ronsfi on August 2, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Maddening! “As I have always said”. He’s always said everything!
Cindy Munford on August 2, 2008 at 12:16 PM
After shafting Reid and Pelosi this way, what will await Obama when he returns to the Congress in January?
JiangxiDad on August 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
This is totally expected. Obama has flip-flopped on every issue that he has taken. After yesterday’s Republican stand, it is expected that he lie and try to divert the dims obstruction of drilling. Are Americans this ignorant to believe these delusions from the left? It is galling that Obama can get up and lie worse than even the Clintons and then be cheered as a leader he has never been. Vote as if your life depends on it, it does.
volsense on August 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Unctuous.
Akzed on August 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Impressive flipflop, but still not the masterbaiter’s best.
I believe Barry said Iran was both no threat and then a grave threat over a 24 hour period.
Chuck Schick on August 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM
“If I thought that I could provide you some immediate relief on gas prices by drilling…”
Translation: Hey, if I can’t do it with a word or a wave of my hand, it can’t be done.
Akzed on August 2, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Having lived in ChiTcago for over 2 decades this comes as no surprise to me. Those politicians will promise you anything, and everything, and deliver to you a crap sandwich that they deem fit for your consumption.
Nothing new to see here. Move along.
DannoJyd on August 2, 2008 at 12:20 PM
My guess is he’d do whatever he believed was necessary for him to stay in power. There’s a reason why he recently referred to the “eight or ten” years he plans to be in office.
AZCoyote on August 2, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Obama: “I am not the Barack I thought I knew”.
darwin on August 2, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Second Look at Dukakis!
ronsfi on August 2, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Y’all give him more credit than I do. I think he is so inexperienced that he will roll up in the fetal position. I just don’t believe there is anything there. He was in the Senate for 143 days before he announced for the presidency, does he even know where his house in Washington is yet? Not the one on Pennsylvania Ave., the one he has to stay in now!
Cindy Munford on August 2, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Wow, he wants offshore now. What will he want in the real world? Peace and prosperity?
This guys is becoming more the flipper at a burger king then a Presidential Candidate!
Obama, go away…. even hilary stuck to her guns more.
upinak on August 2, 2008 at 12:46 PM
He will get hammered by the wackos on the left over the week-end and he will emphasize Monday that he was insisting on “comprehensive” and “compromise”. That means only if we take everything else off the table. And he can blame the Republicans for not working with him to “get things done”. The truth is,is that when they do very little or nothing we are all better off. He stuttered and stammered through his press conference this morning saying he was worn out. This must be harder than he thought it would be. You can’t slip and slide into the presidency like he has done in every election before.
sheriff246 on August 2, 2008 at 12:48 PM
The Empty Suit strikes again.
originalpechanga on August 2, 2008 at 12:48 PM
“The only quality remarkable about Obama is his shamelessness in policy reversals, expecting everyone to ignore his obvious change in stance as Obama pretends that he has always supported what he used to oppose.”
Ed, that’s only because conservatives didn’t understand what the Chosen One said when He said it. “Nuance” is lost on conservatives. That’s why what He said is what He meant at the time and place that he said it; irrespective of what He MIGHT HAVE SAID at a different location at a different time and place before a different audience. And anyway, if you don’t support him it’s just because your a racist. Not that race has anything to do with His campaign. He said so Himself. See? “Nuance”.
GarandFan on August 2, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I think Obama just flipped again. I heard a bit this morning as he was on the trail somewhere speaking he referenced the thousand acres of leases need to be drilled before we (he) gives the oil companies any sweetheart deals on off-shore.
He’s making me really nauseas will all this flopping around.
Texas Gal on August 2, 2008 at 12:52 PM
His ears get bigger with each flip flop, soon he will be known as Barak Odumbo.
bopbottle on August 2, 2008 at 12:53 PM
With all due apologies to a fine small college in Pennsylvania, and to the home of Rolling Rock Beer, I offer a new appellation to be entered into the current campaign lexicon:
Slippery Rock Obama.
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 1:00 PM
“I wonder which way the wind will be blowing tomorrow?”
Whichever direction the wind is blowing, Obama will be blowing along with it.
Because if there’s anything we know about Obama, it’s that he blows. With the wind.
And soon he will be blowin’ the election.
NoDonkey on August 2, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Can one believe anything he says? No. Just the man we should trust with the presidency.
docdave on August 2, 2008 at 1:02 PM
YEP: Obama: Higher Oil Prices Are Good? What???
Should have sunk his campaign, but, of course, like everything else, he gets a pass. Had McCain said this, his campaign would be over, as the Democrats and mass media would nail him on it, over and over. But, because it is Obama… nothing.
Which is why Obama is going to win. Because he can made blunder after blunder, flip flop after flip flop, gaffe after gaffe, racist remark after racist remark, lie after lie… and either no one knows, because they aren’t paying attention or the mass media isn’t reporting it (or is spinning or covering it up)… or they don’t care, because they just are suffering BDS and hate Republicans no matter what or they are Obama cultists and nothing matters.
Michael in MI on August 2, 2008 at 1:15 PM
He doesn’t believe we can drill out way out of the energy crisis, be he is sure he can flip-flop his way through the election.
pedestrian on August 2, 2008 at 1:17 PM
“As I’ve always said” is just a code phrase meaining “I’m making a 180° change to my stated position.”
rmgraha on August 2, 2008 at 1:17 PM
More recently, just about every time Obama starts to speak, I remember that Cleavon Little scene in “Blazing Saddles” and that line:
“Ooh, baby, you are so talented! And they are so DUMB!”
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 1:23 PM
“…his ears get bigger..” I would have thought it would be his nose!
jeanie on August 2, 2008 at 1:29 PM
“swing like a weather vane”.. haha good one!
becki51758 on August 2, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Mr Agreeable. The mirror to anyone standing in front of him, a mirror which, by definition, can hold no vestige of the past reflections, only present ones, so come here and look again.
It’s almost a perfection of political relativism: all things are true, all positions are correct. That could work to a significant extent (or to put it a different way, this thinking could be maximized), if Obama were to espouse maximizing the republican form of government on which our country was modeled, wherein 57 different states were allowed, by majority decision, to follow the the paths they so choose. But the character of the choices Obama emphasizes are the antithesis of this republican model; his proposals, almost to the dotted i and crossed t, reflect that of the Leviathan national government in which all actions are defined and regulated from Washington.
A man who thinks it’s respectable to, in all ways ambiguous, maximize his freedom to hold both all positions and no positions at all is a man who is a Lightworker. It is also a man no one should hire for President.
Dusty on August 2, 2008 at 1:32 PM
The only thing amazing about anything he says or does is the minimal effect it has on his poll numbers. That he isn’t trailing by 10 points is a tribute to something, I’m just not sure what exactly — his ‘eloquence’, the inattention of the majority of voters, a larger percentage of clueless younger voters, the strong leftward movement of the electorate since 2000, or something else.
JDPerren on August 2, 2008 at 1:38 PM
The commodity markets seem to react to a lot of things. While Bush’s action was the right one it probably didn’t have much effect on the futures contracts. Earlier this year he stopped filling the strategic reserve (another good move) and oil still shot up an additional $20. Probably the recent rally in financial stocks, the Saudis bringing more production online, and, probably most important, demand destruction here and in Asia has caused the recent pullback.
Later this year oil could maybe hit $100 or maybe hit $200–if we could guess which one we could all make some money. The drilling measures are positive but I’d be skeptical of their effect on prices this fall. I’d probably look more to the strength or weakness of the dollar as a driver of oil prices.
dedalus on August 2, 2008 at 1:50 PM
“I”?
WTF? Is The One ego-tripping a little bit, here?
Jaibones on August 2, 2008 at 1:52 PM
“As I have always said…” is Obama-speak for “Heads-up media, cue historical re-write…”.
What do you want to bet that this guy has never read “1984″? He lives in a rose-scented media bubble where he is a genius, where just waving to his adoring fans and mouthing platitudes will always produce fawning approval, and he doesn’t have even a clue how clueless he is.
drunyan8315 on August 2, 2008 at 1:58 PM
It’s more than vaguely Orwellian, and without any real track record, it should make voters across the spectrum wonder what Obama would do once in power.
100% correct. This election will turn on TRUST. We have had 20 years of Presidents not being trustful. With Clinton is was lying. With Bush 1 it was “read my lips” With Bush 2 is was the secret lock step of the administration. The Americian people (or at least myself and the people I talk too) are looking for an open honest President you understands that we are adults are treat us accordingly. No little children that can’t handle the turth
unseen on August 2, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Wouldn’t it be cool if Obama actually forced McCain to the right on domestic energy? Flop, Barry! Flop like the wind!
Sen. McCain? You are now free to revisit ANWR drilling with no political fallout. It’s not the Grand Canyon. There’s probably a nice lady in Alaska who’d give you a tour and explain it all.
Mr. Wednesday Night on August 2, 2008 at 2:08 PM
The Problem is that the Maverick has also been all over the spectrum on energy over the years. Which Maverick are we electing? The one who supports oil drilling? Or the one who opposes it. The one who supports the idea that States should have the say in drilling off their coasts? Or the Maverick who voted against that idea? Which Maverick are we pushing here?
Ed, this is one of those issues in which the Maverick has been all over the spectrum, and the problem with just highlighting Obama’s flips and ignoring the same thing from your own candidate makes you look like a cheerleader for the Republican instead of an honest Conservative.
Examples you demand, we got Examples. In 1999, McCain campaigned on no new oil drilling. This year, before he supported oil drilling, he opposed it. I guess you forgot his famous new battery promise. Then when Gas got to four bucks a gallon and people were screaming, then after years of opposing oil drilling, then he flips and is all in favor of it.
The honest answer and view guys? Easy, McCain is at least as hypocritical as Obama is on the issue, and on oil and energy, it’s now a tie. Both candidates are probably lying about what they’ll do.
That’s the problem with the decision of the Republicans to nominate the Maverick. He’s been opposed to almost everything that is needed, and has been for so long, that his own record works against him. How long before the Democrats wake up and start running face the nation interviews with McCain talking about how oil drilling is the wrong answer and then show him stumping for it? How long before people are advised of McCain’s real record instead of the Cheerleader version we’ve been getting from Ed and the rest of the Cool-aide addicted Republican Party pundits?
McCain has been more liberal than Obama on most of the issues at one time or another. With BO running right, and McCain running left, how long before our cheerleaders are telling us we have the Conservative Liberal while they have the Liberal Conservative?
Final question. Why should we believe McCain is serious about this position of this issue, and not serious about his votes of record on the issue previously? If we aren’t supposed to believe that Obama is serious, what makes McCain more believable? Other than wishful thinking of course.
Snake307 on August 2, 2008 at 2:12 PM
For BO it should be spelled “weather vain”.
forest on August 2, 2008 at 2:12 PM
How do insanely stupid statements like this get by the press without question:
He honestly met someone who wouldn’t pony up 50 bucks or so to gas up his car to go look for a job? If true he met the laziest, stupidest SOB I ever heard of. If you won’t invest a little money in yourself to get a job, don’t you dare come looking to me to help you out.
redshirt on August 2, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Snake nailed it. Basically every “flip-flop will-say-anything” charge hurled at Obama over this issue fits McCain as well when it comes to drilling. One man’s pragmatism is another’s pandering, depending on who you are pulling for.
And to Snake’s point about McCain running left and Obama running right, look at their Iraq/Afghanistan positions. They are inching closer every week and aren’t really all that different now, so much so that the points to be scored lie in who was right when instead of where we go from here.
okonkolo on August 2, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Yes, and even more proof of how calculating his campaign is in regards to their massive flops is how they always happen late friday or saturday, timed precisely for the low in the news cycle.
saus on August 2, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Did he say New Jersey? What a moron.
Agrippa2k on August 2, 2008 at 2:27 PM
redshirt on August 2, 2008 at 2:17 PM
I agree. If you need to get somewhere badly enough you can get a ride from a neighbor, collect aluminum cans for some gas money, take a bus, or whatever. If that guy missed a job interview, he wasn’t trying very hard to get there and probably didn’t really want a job anyway.
forest on August 2, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Is it time for an “Obama/Orwell 1984″ ticket?
Nothing Obama says can be trusted, so he is just a better liar than the Clintons.
Right_of_Attila on August 2, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Don’t talk to me about the short term! Day Trader mentality is not what we need in the White House.
- The Cat
MirCat on August 2, 2008 at 2:50 PM
I honestly can NOT remember any politician, not anyone anywhere that so blatantly and obviously lies thru his (or her) teeth nearly daily to the extent that obama does.
Even his surrogates lie for him beyond belief.
The obama campaign has never once said they were wrong, maybe they could change, or that bho has a fault.
Conservatives, for the large part, are honest about McCain and what we like and don’t like about him and his policies.
.
Dems and Barry can not and will not admit the slightest of a problem or a chink in the armor…maybe they know the whole obama thing will crumble like a house of cards in a tornado.
I am sickened and disgusted at the Dems, the left and Barry ( I’m not arrogant, prove it) SNOBama.
shooter on August 2, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I think Obama’s plan is that any big oil company that will start selling gas for $2.00 a gallon is welcome to drill off shore.
I’m sure they’ll be lining up…
alphie on August 2, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Again we agree, yet our own side, the Republicans, are just as guilty.
While we rally behind McCain’s position at the moment of Drill for oil at home, we forget that one of the major stumbling blocks over the last decade to this was McCain and his gang of 14 and his Maverick Persona. We pretend that this never happened. We ignore the truth, and the people remember that McCain was a Maverick, and most of them remember that he held up some of this stuff before.
We are in fact doing just what the Democrats are doing, while denouncing what they are doing. We are pretending that our political nominee isn’t pandering when he changes his position, while the other guy is pandering when he changes his position. Sauce for the goose. If Obama is pandering by changing positions, then our guy must be doing the same thing, yet somehow we hope that our guy is serious now.
This is the worst election I can remember, because both of the candidates are nothing more than finger in the wind political pander machines. We used to laugh about Dave Barry for President. “I believe in whatever you believe in.” Now, we see it first hand from the actual people running for President, and it’s not funny, it’s depressing.
Snake307 on August 2, 2008 at 3:09 PM
HEH!
I was wondering WHERE the ‘met’? At a $1,000 a plate dinner?
A $700.00 a night hotel, driving around?
Maybe at a speech of barry’s?
Then how did the guy get there?… yet he can’t get to a job interview?
shooter on August 2, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Maybe you should turn on your TV and get back to me in a week or so.
Conservatives have been beating on McCain for all those points you listed and MUCH MORE.
We are not happy with McCain, illegals, Kennedy, etc YET we say so.
Find ONE dem that will admit obama’s shortcomings out loud and on TV, or to utter anything negative about their “saviour” ( the false prophet)…..it wont happen.
shooter on August 2, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Snake:
McCain changed his position some time ago because the circumstances changed. He made it clear why he was changing his position. He still has not changed his position on ANWR.
Obama on the other hand, calls the whole thing a gimmick and then voila! in 48 hours he changes his mind with virtually no explanation. This is becoming a regular thing with Obama.
If you did not have a grudge against McCain you could easily see the difference.
Terrye on August 2, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Snake307 on August 2, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Bingo. This is the kind of analysis I would like to see from the likes of Ed and AllahPundit and the geniuses at NRO. Admit that the GOP candidate is just as flawed and we are screwed on this issue and the GOP nominated the wrong guy. At least that would be honest.
It’s just like the illegal immigration issue. People weren’t about to take the Republican Party seriously on the issue when the lead Republican, President Bush, was completely in favor of Amnesty.
We have the same situation here. So when it comes down to it, if people have to choose between two candidates who are bad on energy, they are going to go with Senator Hopenchange.
If the GOP wanted to win they shouldn’t have nominated someone bad on economy, bad on energy, bad on illegal immigration and bad on ‘global warming’.
Michael in MI on August 2, 2008 at 3:36 PM
It is not about whether we - extreme news and political junkies - can see the difference. It is about whether the casual American public person can see the difference. My guess? The average person doesn’t see the difference. They see the talking points and the headlines and see both politicians flip-flop and see no difference.
That’s the problem.
Michael in MI on August 2, 2008 at 3:41 PM
The difference between McCain’s and Obama’s’flip flops is that the republicans never branded McCain as a new type of politician. Obamas’ appeal was “no more business as usual” I really don’t recall McCain making that claim.
As politicians go, that makes McCain a more honest politician. If that makes sense…
redshirt on August 2, 2008 at 3:47 PM
****** How could anyone vote for a candidate who can’t reeeeally tell the public what he wants to do once he gets in office? I’ve known allll about Obama for some time now. For those of you who don’t, read ObamaNation. He’s hiding a lot of big plans.
marklmail on August 2, 2008 at 3:53 PM
It makes sense. Well, to you and me anyway.
From what I see among my personal anecdotes among the public, they still see Obama as a ‘new type of policitian’, even despite all his flip flops. The main reason I hear is… because he sounds better. I really can’t understand how this “Bush is an idiot because he can’t talk properly’ mindset has blinded people to facts and substance and policy.
Okay, well I *can* understand it, because it seems most Americans are ’style over substance’.
There is definitely something to having a leader who can articulate his/her policies properly (we all saw what piss-poor explaining did for the war effort support), however, there is also something to be said about speaking well about *good* policies. Sometimes I think people will accept bad policies, just because they are being explained in a flashy, sweet-talking way.
Michael in MI on August 2, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Entelechy on August 2, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Just one more thing for the Under the Bus Executive Summary.
I saw one comment that if Obama becomes President, all we need is a weather vane on the White House to know the position of the day.
michaelo on August 2, 2008 at 4:35 PM
I heard on the radio,during a news break,about Obama’s
flip/flop on the oil drilling,and how Obama was using the
polls!
So,Obama is going to make decisions,govern the country,
and anything connected to Obama politicaly,he will use
the Bill Clinton a la lick the ole’ finger and see which
way the electorate wants to see it!
Great,another gutless politician that will govern with a
wet finger,and another politician that will do only what is safe for his own presidency,terrific!!!!!
canopfor on August 2, 2008 at 5:12 PM
I’ve been warning people for several weeks about Obama: he’s not some easygoing Smooth Dude with a sunny disposition
–and it’s not a matter of him being just another flip-flopping political hack with no core values
He shows clear signs of what are usually termed “personality disorders”: pathological lying ( lying as a reflex ), disassociation ( different parts of his personality are not ‘connected’ to each other, so his personality changes with the situation or environment )……and being a sociopath
Sociopaths are not always criminals, but they are not people that you should ever trust with money or power–or anything of value to you
If you doubt my Grim Assessment, just keep watching him, and go back over his previous behavior. This is why I compare him to Dick Nixon: the similarities are striking, and Obama’s ‘charisma’ makes him even more dangerous
Nixon was obviously Not Okay, and rarely fooled anyone; Obama has a cult following
Janos Hunyadi on August 2, 2008 at 5:21 PM
I got some encouraging news today. Two of my BDS friends said today that they were voting against Obama because his tax policies will destroy the U.S…There is hope afterall. When moonbats are voting for McCain, looks like Barry is gonna be SOL…………..
adamsmith on August 2, 2008 at 5:38 PM
A vote for Hussein means plenty of drilling should occur: frontal lobotomies all around.
saved on August 2, 2008 at 5:42 PM
My wife called this on July 15th…
See here
And here
This is why she’s smarter than me.
Claypigeon on August 2, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Change
You can count on it.
TroubledMonkey on August 2, 2008 at 5:53 PM
He’s trying to throw himself under the bus now too…
Wyznowski on August 2, 2008 at 6:04 PM
The games afoot said Sherlock holmes. This attack video sequence has BO off balance. Now lets see how tough the McCain leadership style can be.I expect we will be surprised to see good ole John’s killer instincts on display.
jimw on August 2, 2008 at 6:22 PM
They claim Obama has no relationship with Islam, but Obama practices the law of abrogation.
Maquis on August 2, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Claypigeon on August 2, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Wow, nice prediction, she nailed it. I made a prediction about three months ago that I will reiterate here:
Obama’s going to lose this election by a substantial margin.
Maxx on August 2, 2008 at 6:34 PM
My wife called this on July 15.
claypigeon on Aug 2,2008 at 5:53PM.
claypigeon:Excellent call,kudo’s to your wife,
and lets all bask in Obama’s glory
of his ongoing,and neverending Flippinzee
der Flopponzee gaffes!haha:)
canopfor on August 2, 2008 at 6:41 PM
BHO, greased pig with a flap jaw.
Why Barry, what large teeth you have…
He ate his own grandmother.
maverick muse on August 2, 2008 at 6:46 PM
To Obambi’s followers, it makes no difference what he says, or what ‘positions’ he takes. They know he has to say whatever it takes to get elected, and they don’t care about policies anyway. This is an election about Change, a New Way, when all of the sins of the past will be magically washed away. Obambi is the Prophet who will lead us (well, them anyway) to a new Promised Land.
I predicted some time ago that Obambi would turn on a dime and endorse drilling. I’d be willing to bet he offers up ANWR before John McCain comes to his senses, too. It doesn’t matter. The enviro-nuts will scream a bit, but most of them know it doesn’t matter. In the Promised Land we won’t need any energy, at least not any nasty old oil and dirty old coal, or any scary nuclear power. All that matters is following the Prophet into the White House.
Of course, the ones really following Him into the White House will be Mao-Bill Ayers, the not-so Reverend Wright, and a whole gaggle of Marxists intent upon turning capitalist American into the new Workers Paradise. Just wait.
MrLynn on August 2, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Janos Hunyadi on August 2, 2008 at 5:21 PM –
If I may dispute your analysis of Nixon…I’ve followed Nixon’s career, cast my first vote for him, am old enough to remember him, was a groupie of sorts when the Nixon campaign rolled through town, shook hands with him a few times, was at number of events where he spoke as President, knew and worked with a number of people who worked directly for him, especially later on in my career. After 1972, yeah, there was a noticable difference in the man, and I beleive most competent observers know why. But I would not put Nixon on the sociopath list. I will certainly put him on a psychological/personality disorder list, and for good reason, because it was apparent in his demeanor, his eyes, his speech, his behaviour after 1972…painfully obvious.
Now, to Obama. Horse of a different color. [Ooops, can't use that term, can I?]
Let’s see.
Absent father. [A father he was reluctant to speak of, even now.]
Raised by women. Treated like a little prince. Catered to by women. [Other than a distant and older grandfather, can we find a single strong male figure in his life before meeting up with Reverend Wright?]
Raised in a social setting that pandered to similar kids but was an outcast within that same group…token black sort of thing. [His Hawaii/Indonesia phase of his life].
Lived most of his younger life in a fluid socio-economic status, sort of in between cultures, was consistently of a class but wasn’t really of that class. Went from a largely mixed race/mixed class background to a more pronounced elite less mixed milieux in the second part of his legal training. [His Ivy League years.]
Married a strong female figure.
Moved to Chicago. Was part of the Chicago elite, but really wasn’t part of the Chicago elite. [Chicago is a different sort of place, ask anyone who lives there...and not so much in a good way most of the time when it comes to politics. It started long before Hizzoner{Daley} and continues today...it is a tough place to be, politically...a very tough place.]
As a politician/local organizer he represented a socio-ecomomic class but was not really part of that class. Depended on power-players/hustlers/con men of that class in order to be accepted in that same class, gain credibility within that class. Until his meeting up with Reverend Wright of that class. That’s why that church was so very important to Obama. It wasn’t about being Christian. It was about being accepted. Believe me, your average Christian from the church down the street in your neighborhood isn’t easily going to become a member of Rev. Wright’s church. Anyway, Obama moved upwards in socio-economic status, and became deeply connected to, dependent on, a far lessor socio-ecomomic class…save for the Wright connection…the acceptance. [Let's not ever underestimate the effect of Reverend Wright on Obama. It is a singular event in his life on the psychological level. ]
There is more…but this is getting too long…
Now, based upon this snippet of Obama’s background, I am not willing to say Obama is a sociopath, either. But, if he did not become a politician, imagine what he’d be today?
He may well have developed singular sociopathic tendencies…or at least serious identity issues that would push him toward a true psychological event or series of events, perhaps a mental disorder…he’d be one hell of a frustrated “employee” to say the very least. It is perhaps best that he never became a postal worker.
Hustling, organizing, playing the political game became his forte…it is the only milieux in which he is truly comfortable…learning to be a chameleon actually is a major plus in this game. Obama certainly isn’t of the typical Old Boy/Old School “let’s play golf” set, even being a US Senator, and having the cash to do so. He,instead, has adapted to the “hood. adopted the “hood,” and has to maintain that image of being of the “hood” in order to maintain street cred…and power, but most of all — acceptance.
In this campaign, however, he cannot afford to be associated with “the hood” [the turf in which he has become accustomed but still not really part of.]
Obama has had to change masks daily, not just for this campaign, but his entire life. Obama is able to orate…and quite well…with a teleprompter and notes. Obama without notes, extemporaneously, stutters, and his demeanor changes noticeably…follow the eyes. The words and body movements don’t often match when extemporaneous.
Now does all of this mean Obama is a flake, sociopathic, mental?
No. It does seem to indicate a chameleon personality. Forced to live as a chameleon for most of his life, he probably no longer notices the disconnects…has no sense of real self…thus the ease in which he can say something at 10 a.m. and contradict it with the same conviction at 4 p.m.? When he says “…and I as I always said…” he believes it. Sociopathetic? No. But a psychological characteristic we should look into? Yes.
Will the “real” Barrack Obama please stand up…as they used to say on “What’s My Line?” when I was a kid.
That is a question all of us should be asking.
(I apologize for the length of time it took to get to this question.)
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 7:01 PM
I don’t like many of McCain’s policies and have zero excitement about his candidacy this year. But surely you concede that Obama’s positions are far more malleable, and that Obama changes his position in order to conceal far more dangerous views. McCain’s views are much more stable, though I concede he is not above some pandering.
However, I’ve come around to McCain’s view on the Gang of 14, which only applied to judicial nominees. Now that Democrats control the Senate, and we will probably have Obama as President next year, we’re going to need the filibuster to try and keep socialists off the federal bench. The Gang of 14 preserved that while simultaneously allowing two conservative Supreme Court justices and a bunch of conservative Court of Appeals judges appointed.
Outlander on August 2, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Thanks, guys. My wife appreciates the comments.
She’s an attorney so naturally I never win an argument. And now this… I’m screwed.
Claypigeon on August 2, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Why don’t we ask all politicians to take an IQ test………..?
Seven Percent Solution on August 2, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Did he just throw himself under the bus?
exhelodrvr on August 2, 2008 at 7:41 PM
With the contradictory campaign rhetoric that OhBummer has trotted out on this issue, as well as the others that he “has always ‘firmly’ held,” the lad’s pencil neck must look like a corkscrew by now.
With the prima donna of the House back home stomping the produce of her vineyards in a lively tarantella, there should be plenty of “whine” when the citizens express their wrath as the idiot season continues.
Hey, CW, it’s mighty exciting here in my retirement stomping ground with the Steeler camp adding to what’s on offer. Associating OhBummer with the fine folks of this area curdles the stomach juices.
onlineanalyst on August 2, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Yeah, that would be within the last year? A year ago, he supported the position of not drilling in and around Florida. Less than a year ago, He claimed States Rights, yet two years ago he voted against the idea of states rights regarding drilling.
So some time ago was what? Perhaps you should spend a little more time researching your candidate than you do cheering for him.
Some time ago, six months before he decided to drill, he was still opposed to it. January of 08 he was opposed to drilling in Florida and around Florida. July of the same yaer, he’s for drilling off the shelf. Some time ago he says.
McCain is a punk, and nothing but a Liberal Politician in Wolf’s clothing. Give him a hard look, and you can see he’s nothing but a liberal sheep.
Snake307 on August 2, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Okay, coldwarrior, voting for Nixon gives you no Special Insight into the man, before or after 1972.
I didn’t call Nixon a sociopath. On a different earlier thread I said that Nixon was Not Okay, and I repeated that evaluation here. He did have some good qualities, including the ability to “take a licking and keep on ticking”–and was apparently a Primo poker player
I said that OBAMA is showing clear signs of sociopathic behavior, and I predict a ‘meltdown’ during the next 95 days–esepecially when he gets behind and stays behind in the polls ( especially of LIKELY voters )
We’ll see ( or won’t see )
no offense, but I think there are significant aspects of BHO that you do not know / can not yet know
Janos Hunyadi on August 2, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Janos Hunyadi on August 2, 2008 at 7:56 PM –
“no offense, but I think there are significant aspects of BHO that you do not know / can not yet know”
INo offense taken. I distilled many many pages of notes on Obama I’ve been working on since his announcement in Springfield into a post here. Like I said, there is more.
It is a hobby of mine, profiling, something I learned professionally. Was a matter of my job at one time. Now a hobby.
A meltdown with Obama? Most certainly possible. It is starting to show already. Compare his speech and mannerisms from last Spring through his Primary victory to today…that chameleon existance is starting to wear on the man.
His various associations over the years, and today, are not being read by most observers for the net effect they are having and have had on him. Very telling, when put in context and time.
With that alone, there is no way I could cast a vote for him…for any office.
As for Nixon, my youthful association with him, his campaign, and later, in DC, professionally with people who worked directly with him, and my readings of his books and his columns and articles and various interviews, my understanding of Nixon goes way way beyond merely casting a vote for him.
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 8:14 PM
I think that you have nailed OhBummer’s personality quite aptly.
Too much of his life has been spent trying to figure out who he is, and he is not done with the process. Beneath his chameleon personality is a person still foundering with adolescent issues. The people shaping his personna either had a negative influence and/or fostered his sense of special entitlement.
Obama has negligible achievments in his resume for a person of his age. He appears to be unable to take responsibility for his words or decisions. His walkbacks and emptly voting record underscore a his being a very hollow person.
onlineanalyst on August 2, 2008 at 8:16 PM
onlineanalyst on August 2, 2008 at 7:45 PM –
Well, I did offer my apologies right up front.
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Does anyone know if Barry O has a TS security clearance or higher? I assume he had a background investigation as a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland and Governmental Affairs?
Would a BI include verification of registering for the Selective Service? When do the two presidential nominees start receiving daily intel briefings?
luckybogey on August 2, 2008 at 8:25 PM
As an elected federal official - Senator - by courtesy, unless there is something glaringly wrong evident, clearance is granted at at least the Secret level, and most likely he has been cleared at the Top Secret level. If Bela Abzug could be granted a Top Secret clearance, in the days when standards were much more restrictive, it is fairly safe to assume that Obama has been cleared for Top Secret.
Now, “access” to various programs, bigot list programs, that is an entrely different matter altogether. Clearance and access are not the same.
As for the BI…again, as an elected Senator, there is a streamlined process that would preclude the sort of background investigation performed on the average citizen applying for a federal job requiring a clearance, so his having registered for the draft is pretty much a non-issue from the clearance point of view. But, from the political point of view, it’d be a nice thing to discover.
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 8:32 PM
I watched CNN’s Alex Marquarht lie through his teeth about Obama’s flip. He was asked specifically whether this was a flip or was it a slight shift and the liar said it was a minor shift.
They do their best to massage Obaam’s flopping around into something more acceptable.
Of course you cannot place a comment anywhere on the CNN site as the comment section is always “closed.”
drjohn on August 2, 2008 at 8:40 PM
That would disproportionately impact African-American politicians, assuming they follow the results of the general population. Obviously that makes you a racist for daring to question the intelligence of The Messiah.
Besides, then the country would be run by me and a bunch of Asians…
Be careful what you ask for. :-)
Right_of_Attila on August 2, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Thanks CW…
I thought access to TS required a full blown BI and not MBI? If this is the case, then he would have been required as a minimum the completion of SF-86 which must detail drug use and all foreign visits. His trip to Pakistan in 1981 might have not been disclosed due to the length of time since the visit?
luckybogey on August 2, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Even so, what was the state of affairs vis-a-vis the US and Pakistan in 1981?
In 1981, General Zia al-Huq was the military leader of Pakistan, Pakistan was an ally of the US, the US was involved in a fairly heavy military assistance program to Pakistan. Travel to and from Pakistan for Americans was not at all restricted by them or us. So, even if Obama were applying for a federal job, that Pakistan trip, if disclosed on SF-96, would have been a very minor blip on the screen, of no consequence.
coldwarrior on August 2, 2008 at 8:57 PM
[Right_of_Attila on August 2, 2008 at 8:45 PM]
Just so long you folks don’t wear white socks with black dress shoes, I’m fine with it.
Dusty on August 2, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Money talks…
whitetop on August 2, 2008 at 9:02 PM
I’ll bet Fran Nan and Scary Hairy ain’t have’n ole Barry over for din din tonite.
The key words uttered by the most liberal nominee evah are bi-partisan compromise.
The key words Republicans need to blast out loud is hell no, we won’t go…compromise.
The only reason compromise has even come up is the left side of the isle knows they’re screwed, if Obama knows it the rest of them do too.
Go get’em Righties! Don’t let’em off the hook.
Speakup on August 2, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Intel should hire this guy. He can flop faster than their best CPU!
OldEnglish on August 2, 2008 at 9:25 PM
“On the national level, bipartisanship usually means Democrats ignore the needs of the poor and abandon the idea that government can play a role in issues of poverty, race discrimination, sex discrimination or environmental protection,” Mr. Obama said.
Obama didn’t believe in bipartisanship as a professor. Why would he believe in it now? It’s all for show/votes.
“He’ll do and say anything to win” ~ ~ the Rev. Wright.
His reverand is the more honest of the two men, no doubt about it. He said that Obama is a politician like all others - the only reason why he was finally shoved under the bus. But the ‘good’ reverand will release his book this October.
jgapinoy, take note of the flip on bipartisanship. Your list is getting impressive. Must change the name though - flip-flopping os passe, and so Kerry. Call it what Obama calls it “Inartful Speech”.
Entelechy on August 2, 2008 at 9:28 PM
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