While I was out running this morning, training for the Chicago Marathon, former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge was a guest on ABC's This With with George Stephanopoulos.
Here's a transcript of the exchange:
Tom Ridge: "Well, the point of this ad is energy policy is a serious deficiency in this country vis-a-vis an energy policy. We've been waiting 20 or 30 years to get one. John McCain has suggested that we have an all above approach. Let's talk nuclear. Let's talk drilling. Let's talk biofuels. Let's talk biofuels in a way that's smart and doesn't disrupt the agricultural community, but let's get it all on the table. And Senator Obama said no nuclear, no drilling."
ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "He seems open to drilling right now, as part of a comprehensive package."
Ridge: "Well now, he said that in the morning and later on in the afternoon he clarified his position. He said I am opposed to drilling. He is opposed to drilling."
Stephanopoulos: "But he said he would accept it as a part of a comprehensive package."
Ridge: "That he clarified later in the day. I mean it's typical. You know every once in a while, we see him playing basketball. And he's obviously a pretty good athlete. And probably has a pretty good head fake. So the head fake is 'well I'll deal with a compromise' but later on depending on the audience too, he's saying 'I don't favor drilling.' And he doesn't favor nuclear. So at the end of the day, you say to yourself, this is a competitive issue, short-term and long-term. At the end of the day, I think members of both parties are moving closer and closer to Senator McCain's position by saying, 'Look, we need to put it all on the table. Let's figure it out. We need both a short and long-term energy policy.' And by the way, the windfall profits tax that Senator Obama feels is pretty popular -- politically popular -- doesn't reduce the price at the pump, doesn't reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and doesn't increase produ ction. So that ad was about energy. And let's get serious, let's recognize who he is -- very charismatic, gives great speeches, but it's substance time. Ninety days left to go, let's talk issues."
Drill here, drill now, pay less.
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4 comments:
Drill here. Oil cos will sell it to China. Pay the same unless we use less...
That oughtta be your motto, John.
Doesn't matter how often you repeat your bumper sticker, the gas going into the car whose bumper it's on isn't going to go up or down in price based on magic oil rigs off the East Coast. The oil cos have 68 million acres in available, already leased land that they are not drilling.
Even they aren't buying the "drill here, drill now" bunk. Pres. Clinton famously talked about a fairy tale during the primaries...
Your hollow slogan, John, is the "biggest fairy tale of them all" because it's based on partisan pixie dust and little else.
The oil cos. aren't using the 68 million acres they already have. Why are conservative partisans clamoring to give them more when it so clearly won't have any effect on price this summer (or even this winter)?
What are you not understanding about the 'free' market?
I'm not sure what Obama's position is today on offshore drilling, but if he decides to oppose it--again--McCain will win 40 states. Maybe more.
Count on it.
By Nov the democrats will be riding stick horses and going Woo, Woo, Woo, I'm a train. They have circled the wagons so many times they have to look at their drivers licenses to see who they are, and where they live. Spin and spin some more, Hussein O is still dumber than a box of rocks when out of sight of his teleprompter with a remark written by the white man hiding in the corner.
Firefighter 16
John, given your adoration I'm surprised you don't think he'll win 57 states ;)...
Over the past week or so, Obama has increased his lead in the composite Electoral College polling. But keep hope alive, my man. Keep hope alive.
As you noted earlier, Sen. McCain also opposed off-shore drilling and even after he changed his mind he admitted that he still didn't think it'd do any good. (He's since brought in about $2mil in donations from Big Oil. I suppose that more than makes up for the loss of money from the Hilton family & friends.)
I may disagree with opening up previously protected off-shore zones (why can the oil cos. not use the existing 68 million acres of oil zone leases?); but I at least understand that Obama is seeking to engage a decent compromise which works for Big Oil, people who believe in protecting Creation, their various interests and, most importantly, the American people... such work on actual progress is something that's been sorely lacking these past 8 years as ardent partisanship all but forbade the brooking of mutual agreements.
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And I'll note that the ad hominem remarks of your 3rd commenter here could be just as easily made of Sen. McCain... Doesn't make them any more true.
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