McCain calls to lift U.S. oil drilling ban

[Dave Byrd]

McCain has screwed Republicans left and right. He's not really getting cozy with Bush and I doubt he will. Taking a few pictures with him does not qualify as anything special.

Believe it or not, Rebgirl, McCain hasn't "screwed" Rs as much as you think. Or if he has, he's been an equal opportunity screwer to Ds, too.

If you were able to look at what he's done in his history from both L and R sides equally and removing any degree of bias perspective on each side, you'd likely see that McCain has been an admirable straight shooter and someone who's not been afraid to call an ace and ace, no matter which side of the aisle the card was on. I think the more you learn about history and politics and the older you get, you'll begin to see and respect that level of guts. That's the centrism of maturity.

It is easy to tow a party line and blindly fall in with the general direction of a herd of sheeple and say what's expected or agree. Real courage and leadership often means going against the herd--sometimes even your own herd if you think it's misguided--and standing up for truth or justice or something you believe is morally right.

[rebgirl420]

Believe it or not, Rebgirl, McCain hasn't "screwed" Rs as much as you think. Or if he has, he's been an equal opportunity screwer to Ds, too.

If you were able to look at what he's done in his history from both L and R sides equally and removing any degree of bias perspective on each side, you'd likely see that McCain has been an admirable straight shooter and someone who's not been afraid to call an ace and ace, no matter which side of the aisle the card was on. I think the more you learn about history and politics and the older you get, you'll begin to see and respect that level of guts. That's the centrism of maturity.

It is easy to tow a party line and blindly fall in with the general direction of a herd of sheeple and say what's expected or agree. Real courage and leadership often means going against the herd--sometimes even your own herd if you think it's misguided--and standing up for truth or justice or something you believe is morally right.

I do respect him. I don't always agree with him but I respect him and his service for our country. With McCain I feel feel he bended to a lot of pressure when he was picked to lead the Republicans to victory. And that's a shame because I believe that there should be a mix of left and right. I mean that's why I'm Libertarian. I'm for gay rights and "drugs" which many on the right aren't for. And I'm certainly not religious and I feel that contradicts a lot with Conservative values.

I'm glad he's standing up for what he believes in but I don't agree with what he's standing up for. Especially now that he is throwing himself at the Conservative base for acceptance.

[dragonrider]

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone surveyâ??conducted before McCain announced his intentions on the issue--finds that 67% of voters believe that drilling should be allowed off the coasts of California, Florida and other states. Only 18% disagree and 15% are undecided. Conservative and moderate voters strongly support this approach, while liberals are more evenly divided (46% of liberals favor drilling, 37% oppose).

Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that gas prices will go down if offshore oil drilling is allowed, although 27% donâ??t believe it. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of conservatives say offshore drilling is at least somewhat likely to drive prices down. That view is shared by 57% of moderates and 50% of liberal voters.
Rasmussen Reportsâ?¢: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a presidential election.

Seems that this issue has strong support from both sides of the aisle....this is one fight the enviromentalists will lose with the price of gas and fuel oil climbing every day.

Have a good one!:s4:

One thing about this is that even if a vast majority of the country were to favor offshore drilling, people in the states affected are far more likely to be against it and in a position to prevent it. I don't think the Congress willl vote for what Bush and McCain are calling for. But even if they do, I don't think you will see any new drilling off of California, and Florida is pretty iffy too.

Another point about this information is that even if a person believes new drilling will bring down the cost of gas, they still might not personally be for it. I do not favor offshore drilling, even if it does bring down the price of gas. The full cost of extracting oil or coal is not reflected in the price we pay for the commodity. Usually that extra cost is in the form of environmental degradation as the point of extraction. So the economics may be that we all pay less for gas if we have offshore drilling, but the people along the coast pay for it in the form of polution, oil spills, erosion, etc. A lot of the people who actually live on these coasts don't want to pay that price so that everyone else can enjoy marginally cheaper gas.

[rebgirl420]

^ Drilling today is much more environmentally friendly than it used to be. Especially because they follow the EPA's strick standards.

But yeah I believe the actual state should control the final decisions but if they refuse they should have no right to bitch.

[Dave Byrd]

. . . . I believe that there should be a mix of left and right. I mean that's why I'm Libertarian. I'm for gay rights and "drugs" which many on the right aren't for. And I'm certainly not religious and I feel that contradicts a lot with Conservative values.

Gay rights
Legalization of drugs
Separation of church and state

Where do you stand on women's reproductive freedoms?
Environmental issues?

Just curious.

I'm glad he's standing up for what he believes in but I don't agree with what he's standing up for. Especially now that he is throwing himself at the Conservative base for acceptance.

Well, I think perhaps you do agree with some of the things he's standing up for, like lifting the moratorium on drilling and such. At least you seemed to agree with that earlier here. Perhaps there are others which you do not.

I agree that he is throwing himself at the conservative base. He has to win this election. With luck, I'm hoping he can bring some more sanity and moderation to that arch-right group in the process, even in this election. Republicans all used to be a lot more like McCain than what we see in modern-day Bush/Cheney. President Bush's grandfather Prescott, although a Republican, was one of the most reasonable and moderate senators this country has ever had. The media-influenced polarization we have is not good for this country. It's damaging here, too, but in the scheme of things, relatively uninfluential on this site.

[rebgirl420]

I am for complete women's right. Abortion, birth control, it's all a women's choice.

And I'm all for protecting the environment, only a fool wouldn't be. I really disagree with a lot of the Global Warming thing however I'm still for doing all we can. Like hydrogen cars and solar power and even simple around the home stuff.

I do agree with some of his views, like guns, no socialised healthcare, less welfare, low taxes, the war and a few other things.

And I agree, the media has gotten out of control. It's sad to say but people are very inpresionable and they will follow these news people's every word. Slogans define who our next president is.

Things have gotten out of hand.

[thcbongman]

If you don't think Global Warming is serious......

http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-re...yr/ar4_syr.pdf