McCain still considering flip-flop on Alaska Refuge drilling.
By on Aug 16th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
McCain still considering flip-flop on Alaska Refuge drilling.
Jonathan Martin notes that John McCain “isn’t totally closing the door on dropping his opposition to drilling in ANWR.” In an interview with the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes, McCain said he continues to examine whether to endorse drilling in the Alaska Refuge. McCain earlier said he’s “more than happy” to consider flip-flopping on Alaskan oil drilling, but then quickly back-tracked, reiterating his position that the Refuge “is a pristine place and if they found oil in the Grand Canyon, I don’t think I’d drill in the Grand Canyon.”
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What’s wrong with flip-flopping? I think it shows intellectual integrity to be open to arguments for a certain issue and change one’s stance on complicated political issues like this.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:04 pmWhy not drill in the Grand Canyon?
Have you seen pictures of it?
It’s a desert. There is no wildlife. No trees, no water. Nothing.
I’d say let’s drill!!
/sarc off
August 16th, 2008 at 3:09 pmIt’s long overdue for some smart person to make a website that features a McCain Flip-flop meter that shows his current position, and his various past positions on a major topics of discussion. It could become a very popular website.
Ever so slightly O/T: here is one area with no McCain flip-flopping: the brutal slaughter of the South Ossetians by the Georgians last week. McCain is pure war-monger on this issue…
War-monger McCain has given birth to his very own war: the Georgian slaughter and invasion of South Ossetia, which started about a week ago. His buddy, Mikhail Saakashvili, President of the Republic of Georgia, is another strutting little fascist bully, cut from the same cloth as Bush.
And McCain has his advisor, who has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Saakashvili and Georgia to lobby for NATO membership and US support for his imperial adventure. Why is McCain supporting this Georgian war criminal?
Turn in to “Russia Today” television news to get a different viewpoint from that of Bush/Rice/McCain and our corrupt lying corporate media. Or visit their web site, http://www.russiatoday.com.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:09 pmUhm, Alpine, it’s ok to change one’s opinion as new facts come to light, or a better alternative is found.
McCain, on the other hand, flip-flops at the slightest provocation.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pmWhat about all that perfectly good land that we have tied up with golf courses? I say drill the country clubs. There must be some oil down there somewhere…
August 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pmMinnesota’s Bachmann insists on drill, drill, drill. I wonder if that means drilling in her community? If there is oil in Idaho’s trees, there must be oil in the frozen north.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:36 pmMcStupid needs to flip flop on billionair tax breaks…Us is on verge of bankruptsy. Bush/McLiar/Chaney/Republican Congress have bankrupted the US like Carter did to the USSR in 1970s.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:41 pmIndependence Hall is in Pennsylvania, the state where the American oil industry was born. Why not drill there. We could melt down the Liberty Bell and use that as the base for the oil rig. No one can tell me that there is no oil there.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:41 pmI’m tellin’ ya, McCain’s flips and spins would make Enrico Fermi envious.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:57 pmTo the repugs, its not a “flip-flop”, its strategic posturing. With the help of the MSM, the various “sound bites” on each different position get “target-marketed” to appropriate demographic groups.
Those that legitimized stolen elections in 2000, 2002, and 2004 certainly have no interest in seeing the “will of the people” prevail.
They have found a perfect pawn in mccain – a shameless panderer that stands for nothing.
This is right out of chimpy’s playbook – create so many different talking points that most don’t know what to think, so they choose to accept what is most “convenient” for their ideology.
Don’t get me wrong – I am glad bloggers and others point out the impossibly inconsistent positions and rhetoric. I think we also have to acknowledge these “flip-flops” are not a result of “incompetence,” a chaotic campaign, or changes in position.
They represent a deliberate tactic that has served the repugs well and will continue to do so as long as global corporate interests see their media assets as tools of propaganda instead of legitimate communications businesses (5 major corps own 80+ percent of media).
Until we are willing to collaboratively apply pressure by withholding the only “vote” that is guaranteed to be counted, we will get more of the same – that “vote” being the dollars we choose to spend or withhold from the corpocracy.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pmAll these oil drilling propositions is nothing but a distraction from free-energy. Fact is the new Japanese water powered car was already reported by Reuters in Japan; I wonder why it didn’t make CNN and FOX???
Here’s the Reuters news video.
Also read this article to learn what’s really going on:
The 9/11 Truth Movement, Free Energy Suppression and the Global Elite’s Agenda
August 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm“…if they found oil in the Grand Canyon, I don’t think I’d drill in the Grand Canyon.”
– - If it wasn’t in your home state of Arizona, you would.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:12 pmI am 100% in favor of More Drilling…but not for OIL.
from the Dept. of Energy:
More than 100,000 MWe of economically viable capacity may be available in the continental United States, representing a 40-fold increase over present geothermal power generating capacity. This potential is about 10% of the overall U.S. electric capacity today, and represents a domestic energy source that is clean, reliable, and proven.
And Geothermal Energy Wells provide Clean, Carbon Free Energy FOREVER!
August 16th, 2008 at 4:15 pmWhy not flip-flop on this issue. He’s flip-flopped on everything else, so why not this one also. He’s batting 1.000 so far.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:17 pmbratboy:
August 16th, 2008 at 4:23 pmSorry as this is OT but I have always wondered about batting averages. Understand that I find basesball super boring and don’t know a whole lot about it but to each their own. Anyway why do they do it as ppt rather than a simple percentage? Is it to inflate the numbers as Americans like larger numbers in sport or what is that all about. Do they need to draw it out more so as to try to show comparisons between hitters?
Holding out for a bigger pay day?
August 16th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI once hated “the rich”..until I seen the amount of taxes they paid…Enlightened Progressive.
An enlightened progressive would know to use the word “saw.”
And as a percentage of overall income, “the rich” pay less that average workers.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:24 pmdbadass Says:
——————————————————————————–
bratboy:
Sorry as this is OT but I have always wondered about batting averages. Understand that I find basesball super boring and don’t know a whole lot about it but to each their own. Anyway why do they do it as ppt rather than a simple percentage? Is it to inflate the numbers as Americans like larger numbers in sport or what is that all about. Do they need to draw it out more so as to try to show comparisons between hitters?
I’m not sure how that started either. I was never curious enough to find out why they do it that way. It, to me, doesn’t matter. What I do find interesting that if a batter gets up to the plate ten times and gets three hits, he is doing well. Even better if he gets four hits. Anyway you look at it, it’s well below 50% (I could have used .500, but you get my meaning). :^)
I used to like baseball, but it has gotten rather tedious to watch, much less listen to on radio like I used to do.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmI still hat e the rich but it has more to do with their condescending attitude and excessive consumption…
August 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmBatting averages are based on (Hits * 1000)/(AtBats – Walks).
August 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmWhy not just a simple percentage of successful at bats?
August 16th, 2008 at 4:37 pmThe Straight Talk Express. Your one-stop, flip-flop shop, with a Thirty Minutes or Less Guarantee: any campaign position will be flipped in thirty minutes or less, or your next special-interest pander is free!
August 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pmBecause, baseball originated in the late 1800’s as a national sport. Pitchers were so poor at that time, baseball scores read like football scores.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:45 pmThe new paradigm of $100+ oil is cutting consumption. Giving out new leases, in a panic driven by election-year politics, is insane.
But, since Flippy McSpin helped create the problem with his career voting record, he has no choice but to adopt the party line. And as a pandering, fundamentally dishonest SOB, he will simply deny his intimate connection with the oil industry.
Plus, one should realize that anything McSpin says which suggests he’s a moderate is a bald-faced lie. He’s as much a reckless radical as any PNACer or Bushbot. And his voting record as a True Neocon(TM) is much more consistent than his hyperbole has ever been.
Pretty much everything he says can be assumed to be untruthful because, if he told the truth, he would be kicked out of the club. The reason he sounds so confused once he goes off script is because he’s making crap up as he goes. He’s just “scatting” to cover himself and the other guilty parties.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pmIs anyone really taking that demented old fool seriously… isn’t this all about multi national corporations moving forward using an old fart such as McCain?
August 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
Oops, O/T:
Obama raises $51 million in July
Democratic presidential nearly doubles McCain’s fundraising for month
And most contributing to Obama do not have a land line phone to be polled in this so called tight race.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:05 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
Oops, O/T:
Obama raises $51 million in July
Democratic presidential nearly doubles McCain’s fund raising for month
August 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
You remind me of a conversation I heard about polls. One group that doesn’t even get counted in most polls is occasional voters or “people who only vote when they’re pissed”. And they also tend to ignore the fact that many people just aren’t paying attention this early in the campaign. It tends to be more active people, like ourselves, who can manage to worry about who says what before the nominations are even official. Most people responding to a cold call haven’t given it much thought.
Fortunately, as the coverage expands, awareness goes up. I can’t imagine McSpin fairing well among people who have yet to see him unedited. And I don’t imagine that many occasional or first time voters will turn out in Flippy’s favor. I think that, barring catastrophe, polls and results will be closer to that 2-1 margin in fund raising than the current 5%-10% lead in the polls.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:16 pmOT
Let’s not forget the senate race.
* A few weeks ago Merkley was ahead of Smith from OR… I believe he could recapture
* Franknn is now tied with Coleman in Min
* Min and NC are close
How predictable are these polls as so many voting dem do not have a land line phone?
We may be able to make the 60 mark.. stop the obstructive congress we have now and begin to make real changes.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:22 pmAlpine Jones Says:
What’s wrong with flip-flopping? I think it shows intellectual integrity to be open to arguments for a certain issue and change one’s stance on complicated political issues like this.
Yes it does. However we cant give this double standard to the rightwing hatemongers so that every time there is the slightest inconsistancy by a Dem its flip flopping because they have no principles and whenever a GOPer changes his mind it is because they have studied the issue and and come to a new conclusion based on a complex and changing policy issue. So we keep pointing out the changes because it is at the very least hypocrisy. Look at how often Grampy McCretin has accused Obama of having flip flopped. Letting them have it both ways is taking a knife to a gunfight.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:43 pmMcCain doesn’t flip flop on one thing. The conflict in Georgia (as well as his Bomb Iran solo) show us that it is still the 1950s. The Cold War is Still On.
Quick, everyone build your bomb shelter. Hold Duck and Cover Drills. Sing the Tommy the Turtle Song about Duck and Cover to your children. The Soviets are coming, The Soviets are coming.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pmSo far off topic but have to share: Crooks and Liars, Midday open thread, “Dick Cheney Blues” A MUST watch.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:08 pmElection ‘08:
Corporatist BIG money using MSM and a few cheating voting machines left
VS:
We the People using the internet and some improvement of the voting system since ‘06
August 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pmAlpine Jones Says:
What’s wrong with flip-flopping? I think it shows intellectual integrity to be open to arguments for a certain issue and change one’s stance on complicated political issues like this.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
That’s why the right respected and admired John Kerry’s apparent flip-flop, right?
August 16th, 2008 at 6:20 pmWhile being able to revise a position or strategy is an important part of successfully navigating difficult journeys and situations, that is not what we are talking about here.
The flip flops in question here are part of a deliberate strategy to confuse and manipulate.
No, I don’t think mccain is smart enough to have mastered deceptive politics – he is a useful moron, just like the chimp was.
But that is irrelevant – our elections should not be about the personalities of the idiots that stand in front of the cameras and microphones.
They need to be about the interests they represent and the outcomes of their politics.
In the case of mccain, there is a long track record that should demonstrate he is a disaster waiting to happen and stands for nothing.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:35 pmIn the case of mccain, there is a long track record that should demonstrate he is a disaster waiting to happen and stands for nothing.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I must disagree. His actions have placed him in the extremity of the Reichwing. His “straight talk” and “maverick” image are effective fabrications but, his voting record is there for any curious enough to ask. The question is, will anybody bring that record to the attention of the incurious masses?
Lord knows there’s plenty of evidence. Johnny posted a great list here:http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/11/did-mccain-campaign-lift-georgia-speech-from-wikipedia/#comment-5151630
August 16th, 2008 at 6:54 pmOops! Please note that McSpins “flip-flops” almost always result in his “moving right” on the issue.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:56 pmI think Sen. McCains position on Georgia will come back to bite him. I don’t believe most Americans will think they are “ALL Georgians Now”. They are sick of War, and aren’t eager to let Sen. McCain get us into another one in the Caucases.
And Russia is set to demonstrate to the World that Bush’s Promises and Backing for Georgia are meaningless.
So far, nothing in what we’ve seen towards Russia lately makes any kind of sense. Bluster. Sanctimonious bullshit. Mindless invocation of long trashed concepts like “freedom” and “democracy”. Needless provocation. Threats that cannot be backed by anything real. Appeals to higher sentiments. And, above everything, appalling double standards and breathtaking hypocrisy.
Sen. McCain is trying to seperate himself from Bush by running to the Right…but that’s not where the Voters are.
The best part , is that there are no Democrats to Blame for any of this.
Want more Wars? Vote McCain
August 16th, 2008 at 7:26 pmOk, another ad. Show McBush flip flopping on issues and then speed things up and finally he’s not only flip flopping, he starts spinning round and round. It’s really too bad that the majority of the people in this country don’t get this kind of information. If they did, McBush’s poll numbers would be in the teens.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:28 pmJohn Kerry Says:
I’m sure all you libs just LOVE this from San Fran Nan!
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Saturday when the U.S. Congress returns next month from its summer recess, Democrats will offer legislation that could give oil companies drilling access to more offshore areas.
And you and your ilk are going to love all the conditions that are going to be put on that drilling, along with all the clean renewable energy incentives that will be attached to the bill.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:30 pmJohn, you beat me to it:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080816/ap_on_go_co/democrats_energy
August 16th, 2008 at 7:31 pmAlpine Jones Says:
What’s wrong with flip-flopping? I think it shows intellectual integrity to be open to arguments for a certain issue and change one’s stance on complicated political issues like this.
Yes, there is something to be said for a politician changing his mind on an issue as conditions change, like Obama has done a couple of times. But it is altogether something else when a politician changes his mind twice in one day and says one thing in front of one crowd and the entirely opposite thing in front of another crowd…..that’s called pandering. Not to mention that McBush has changed his stance on every substantial issue and all the changes have been to the right, as an attempt to woo the evangelical right.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:34 pmIolair Says:
John, you beat me to it:
So, trolls, if the Democrats consider allowing some drilling, here what they will get in return:
Actually, I think this is a clever move on the Democrats part. They will be getting what they want for energy and the oil companies will be forced to drill on their current holdings before they will be allowed to drill off-shore. Since the oil companies have no intention of drilling on their current leases, I guess there won’t be any off-shore drilling either.
Sounds like a “win-win” for the Democrats. Because how can the Republicans object when the Democrats are bending on off-shore drilling. The people in this country know that just drilling is not the answer to energy independence and that just drilling is short-sited because oil is a finite resource.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:42 pmCome on John Kerry. Pull up a chair. I’ll put the kettle on…
August 16th, 2008 at 7:43 pm#pete Says:
I think that, barring catastrophe, polls and results will be closer to that 2-1 margin in fund raising than the current 5%-10% lead in the polls.
Another thing that the polls don’t take into consideration is the fact that there are so many more Democrats than Republicans. When they compile their polls, they usually pick half Democrats and half Republicans and then ask them the question. Well, this election will not be based on the votes of 1,000 hand picked Americans (thank god). The polls also don’t take into consideration all the newly registered young voters. If they actually show up and vote, and I can see no reason why they won’t, it’s going to be a rout.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:48 pm#dbadass Says:
Come on John Kerry. Pull up a chair. I’ll put the kettle on…
I suspect he has already split. He’s more of a “hit and run” kind of troll.
August 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pmBilbo,
Ever seen Hacking Democracy?
August 16th, 2008 at 8:01 pmpete – what I am trying to say is that mccain will consistently support for whatever the group you refer to as “Reichwing” that is behind his candidacy demands.
In and of himself, he is just an extremely old man with diminishing mental capabilities.
The things he support are not ideas of his own making nor does he represent any kind of “leadership” in terms of policies or governing.
This is like having a senile ol’ man stand in front of the 4th of July parade, pretending that eveyone is following him.
But in this case, it serves a useful purpose for those that actually organize and direct the charade.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:01 pmBilbo says,
“Lawmakers will be able to “consider opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling, with appropriate safeguards, and without taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil,” said Pelosi, D-Calif.”
A Democrat with a spine would take away the “taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil” AND refuse to drill oil holes in the Outer Continental Shelf!!!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 8:30 pmNancy’s suckin’ big time on dat environment thang!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 8:31 pmNancy is a complete sell out to corporate, fascist Amerika or not bright!
If she had a brain she would take back the “taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil” and put it into renewables, etc.
But, she’s sold out or stupid, either way it sucks!!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 8:40 pmWhy is Nancy always behind the curve ball? She’s never out front on any issue!
She’s always reacting and not leading the way!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 8:51 pmDixie,
remember, Nancy took impeachment off the table, just before Democrats got control of the House and Senate. She has been true to her word ever since, and Bush has gotten nearly everything he has wanted (with the glaring exception of privatizing Social Security).
August 16th, 2008 at 9:46 pmbilbo – the dems announced to the world that they have no spines when pelosi declare impeachment off-the-table in 2006.
They have continually reinforced that message, clearly demonstrating they have no spine when they caved in to the most unpopular president in modern (and probably all of) US history on FISA.
And don’t forget, “yes we can” obama also capitulated to dur chimpfurher, even though his supporters overwhelmingly were against telecom immunity.
Was ralph right?
August 16th, 2008 at 9:48 pmDixie – just like it took a dem to eliminate the social safety net and welfare, it will take a dem to eliminate social security.
Unfortunately, obama has already started “catapulting the propaganda” that the most successful federal program of all-time, Social Security, is in “crisis”.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t like what I am seeing. The political/economic interest behind dur chimpfurher may get their ultimate wet-dream yet.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:51 pmOOPS! not DIXIE – meant Iolair
August 16th, 2008 at 9:52 pmIolair –
“remember”
I will never forget the sell out that Nancy PollLoser is, period!
And there are several many other DemoRats that need to be removed if law and order is to be reestabilished(sp?)!!
And this great Democracy returned to the people!!!!!!!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 9:54 pmA troll am I? Are you sure?
August 16th, 2008 at 9:57 pmIf you want some insight on what the f— is going on, look here:
http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/andrew-bacevich-on-bill-moyers-journal/
August 16th, 2008 at 10:01 pm(In your best Reagan impression)Well, McCain won’t drill, but his oil buddies will.
August 16th, 2008 at 11:12 pmRe: drill, drill, drill.
The ignorance continues. A Republican gentleman who contributes a weekly article to the editorial pages of our local newspaper once again has parroted the line about China drilling off our coast
Oh, and he doesn’t just refer to “Chinese,” but “Communist Chinese.” Red Scare, anyone???
I have sent him an e-mail asking him to cite his sources, and also advised him that if he could not prove his claim, I trusted that he would be offering a retraction in an upcoming article.
Here’s a link (left off the prefix; my posts always get flagged when I offer links) for anyone interested in responding to the Chinese drilling claims:
mcclatchydc.com/251/story/40776.html
August 17th, 2008 at 5:25 am