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2008/7/1-14 [Politics/Domestic/Election] UID:50434 Activity:low |
7/01 Obama's continuing flip-flops. This time on same-sex marriage http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1051404.html \_ hey guess what dittoheads: conservatives are the only people who care about "flip flops." The rest of us call it "reconsidering." \_ I don't think _anyone_ here listens to Limbaugh. You might as well put that one to bed. \_ No wonder you like Obama, he reconsiders his opinion each time he speaks! He's so nuanced! \_ I hate to sound like a partisan defender, but what do the failures cited in this article actually have to do with Obama or his proposed policies? Many of the failures began before he became a State Senator. (Aargh. Posted in response to wrong troll.) \_ The problem which keeps being hilighted is that Obama changes his opinion every time he's asked or talks to a different group. He's said in the past he's not for same-sex marriage. Just like he said he'd filibuster FISA, and now voted for it. Just like he said he felt the DC gun ban was constitutional, but now says the court made the right ruling. \_ What does this prove? That he's capable of being persuaded of another opinion? What makes this newsworthy? If we're going to go this route, how about McCain's flip-flops on the tax- cuts and off-shore drilling? \_ When the change is within a short time, it's a flip-flop. More time allows for 'persuaded'. \_ McCain in May: Off-shore drilling will not help. McCain in June: Off-shore drilling for life, yo. \_ I have no love for McCain--it's the worship of Obama I find confusing. \_ I just looked this up (HuffPo: http://csua.org/u/lu8 and I think you're a bit off the mark. He's argueing short vs long term, which I think is correct. \_ Agin' it before he was for it: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3zzkof (cbs) \_ This adds nothing to the HuffPo link, it's almost content free. Why did you post this? \_ It says that he was against off-shore drilling at all before he was suddenly for it. This was my original point. There was a month's time-difference here. \_ Haha "persuaded of another opinion." That's a pretty nice way of putting it. I'm not against people changing their minds, but Obama is flopping all over the map. He never seems to give a reason for the changes either. It just matches whatever the audience wants to hear. -!pp \_ Pfft. I thought, for a moment, that you had an actual point, but I see you're just trolling now. Looking forward to more bitterness when President Obama is inaugurated in '09. \_ How do those blinders fit? (Not same person BTW) \_ Willing to listen and talk, but not interested in childish characterizations like "flip-flops" especially when ignored in your own candidate. \_ Who said I ignore them in McCain? Did you miss the McCain thread a while back? But as the guy says above, time allows for persuasion. Changing your stance the NEXT DAY is a little extreme. \_ Potato, potato. If we're back to flip- flops, the election's already over. \_ Ummm... it worries me that they guy has \_ Ummm... it worries me that the guy has changed position so many times I can't even figure out what is position IS on most issues. You appear to just be complaing about the word. Ignore that. I don't think it's the right term for what he's doing anyway. \_ Then let's stop using the word flip-flop for anything apart from footwear. Given its historical use as propaganda against Kerry, it's a loaded term, and it needs to be retired. \_ Works for me, I never use it. I'm not the guy who posted the link though. I actually have no problem with Obama's position here anyway. It's a dumb link. -pp \_ GOP in 1996: VOTE FOR DOLE, he's a WAR HERO! GOP in 2000: Forget that this guy is a draft dodger, it's CHARACTER THAT MATTERS! GOP in 2004: Don't vote for Kerry, he's a FAKE WAR HERO! CHARACTER MATTERS! GOP in 2008: Vote for MCCAIN, he's a WAR HERO! \_ What, you mean the GOP backs its canidate? Sacre Bleu! \_ And throws logic and previous statements under a bus in his support? Quel shock! \_ This is not a flip-flop, you are just too stupid to understand his stance. He has said repeatedly that he believes that each state should set its own same sex marriage policy and that the the federal government should not set it nationwide. He has not changed on that. He also disagrees with the initiative to ban same-sex marraige in California. He can have an opinion on a CA state proposition, in fact I expect my elected officials to have opinions. That is not the same thing as trying to legislate your opinion. Your black and white view of the world is precisely why Conservatism is in the sorry shape that it is in. \_ I agree. This is a dumb link. -Obama hater guy !op |
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www.sacbee.com/111/story/1051404.html E-Mail | | | Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages. In a letter to the Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read Sunday at the group's annual Pride Breakfast in San Francisco, the Illinois senator said he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law." "And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the US Constitution or those of other states," Obama wrote. Advertisement Obama had previously said he opposes same-sex marriage but that each state should make its own decision. A spokesman for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who last week endorsed Proposition 8 on the Nov. "It just depends on where you catch him and what time of day ... whether it's public financing, town hall debates and now gay marriage," said Rick Gorka, a spokesman for the Arizona senator. Ben LaBolt, an Obama campaign spokesman, declined to comment on the McCain campaign's allegations. But LaBolt noted that the Illinois senator opposed a proposed federal ban on gay marriage. Campaigning in Pennsylvania in April, Obama said he would oppose a similar constitutional ban under consideration by the Legislature there. "Senator Obama opposes all divisive and discriminatory constitutional amendments such as the one in California," LaBolt said. McCain endorsed a 2006 Arizona initiative defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, which was defeated. But he voted against a federal constitutional amendment against gay marriage. Randy Thomasson of the Campaign for Children and Families - which backs the California ballot measure - called Obama a hypocrite. "He says he believes marriage is for a man and woman, yet he's promising he would undo federal marriage protection and oppose California marriage," Thomasson said. Thomasson predicted Obama "will lose votes in California due to his pandering to San Francisco extremists." About the writer: * Call Aurelio Rojas, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5545. Buzz: The Sacramento Bee Unique content, exceptional value. Advertisement BARACK OBAMA The Democrat said in a letter he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law." |
csua.org/u/lu8 -> www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/18/mccains-offshore-drilling_n_107872.html Comments It is hardly a secret that when it comes to offshore drilling, Sen. On Monday, the Arizona Republican told a crowd in Texas that he was abandoning his long-time support for a federal moratorium on drilling along the nation's coastlines in favor of allowing states to decide for themselves. In late May, during a campaign town hall, McCain was asked about the prospect of coastal drilling. His answer then was far more nebulous and skeptical of the idea compared to his recent, full-throated endorsement. campaign stop in Greensdale, Wisconsin, the Senator suggested that turning to the nation's coast for energy needs would be something of a waste in time and effort and do little to resolve America's broader energy needs. ith those resources, which would take years to develop, you would only postpone or temporarily relieve our dependency on fossil fuels," McCain said when asked about offshore drilling. "We are going to have to go to alternative energy, and the exploitation of existing reserves of oil, natural gas, even coal, and we can develop clean coal technology, are all great things. But we also have to devote our efforts, in my view, to alternative energy sources, which is the ultimate answer to our long-term energy needs, and we need it sooner rather than later." as a move that would "be very helpful in the short term resolving our energy crisis." "I believe it is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions and to put our own reserves to use," he said on Tuesday, "as a matter of fairness to the American people, and a matter of duty for our government, we must deal with the here and now, and assure affordable fuel for America by increasing domestic production." In part because of these limited benefits, McCain was far cooler to the idea of ending to federal moratorium on drilling offshore back in May Responding to an audience question, the presumptive GOP nominee stated his respect for states' rights while adding a healthy dose of concern about forcing states to open up their coasts. "Can I just say that this young man just pointed out that that he believes in states' rights, and so do I And the people of Louisiana decided that they wanted to drill off of their coast. The people of California and the people of Florida, those two states decided that they didn't. What I would like to do, frankly, is to maybe give them a greater source of the revenues to help maybe encourage them to allow some kind of exploration far off of their shores. But if I told the state of California, you've got to have drilling off of your coast, that would frankly be a contradiction of what were just talking about, about -- that's their land and that's off of their coast." That McCain would, two weeks later, offer a full endorsement of removing federal restrictions on the drilling practice seems hard to attribute to the high price of gas (after all, gas prices were similarly priced in late May), but rather political posturing. A Republican with an environmentalism streak, the Senator has long stood against drilling offshore, arguing that longer-term solutions were needed to end the energy crisis. On other issues as well, McCain has found himself back-tracking from his prior advocacy. the Senator was quoted saying he didn't "like obscene profits being made anywhere," and, as such, would be "glad to look" at a windfall profits tax on oil companies. Yesterday, however, he criticized Barack Obama for wanting "a windfall profits tax on oil to go along with the new taxes he also plans for coal and natural gas." seems at odds with a study recently completed by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) which in their Annual Energy Outlook 2007, reported: "The projections in the OCS access case indicate that access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Gulf regions would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030." I'm a Fan of tmckly If the US were to be on a war footing like it should be, the only market it be on would be the US market, so I could afford to drive to the market. I'm a Fan of Philson86 It is extremely unlikely the US will become energy independent anytime soon. It is even more unlikely drilling offshore and in Alaska will do much to offset our oil dependence. I think Obama needs to raise fuel standards, close the Enron loophole to get speculators out of the market and rethink nuclear power. I was against nuclear power plants in the past but I think in the relative short term they have a place in reducing green house gases. More people in the enviromental movement are rethinking this too. I doubt we are a close to a majority but we do see it as the lesser of two evils (green house gases vs. Can't get past the nuclear waste issue - it's poisonous forever, and can be used to make bombs. Nuclear power plants are prime terrorist targets, I would think. Ideal for poisoning whole sections of the nation, and the terrorists don't need to bring anything with them. Same with offshore oil rigs - what could be easier to sabotage, harder to defend, and produce more disasterous results ? We need massive solar farms - the sun shines every day (and night, too). We need to perfect solar energy and make it CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. I'm a Fan of tmckly Not only should we drill offshore, but also in the Green River formation. Where the largest oil reserves in the world 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil 3 times the size of Saudi Arabia's 110 years of use If this all that oil on the market, the price has to go down. If McCain wants to win in November, He needs to flip on all if his energy policies and force the Dem's hand to vote against lower oil prises. Obama will be routed, the congress will back in Republican hands. I'm a Fan of demigod We don't have to ACT like a country at war - WE ARE AT WAR, thanks to the Republicans. We need to ABANDON oil, it is the heroin our country is addicted to. America needs an INTERVENTION, it can't clean up by itself so long as OIL MEN like Bush and Cheney are in charge. America is like Amy Winehouse, more drinks will NOT help. I'm a Fan of primitivedreamer The price of oil is not a supply problem it's a speculator problem. This article from the Daily Telegraph demonstrates that there is a daily average surplus of 25 million barrels of oil a day. That surplus has held constant for the last 10 years at least. Governments need to take over the markets and coordinate them like other international institutions. I'm a Fan of pjcpa Why is there no article here related to teh Dems proposal to nationalize the refineries? I guess Huffpo does not want to give fair coverage to the issues... I'm a Fan of jaschrod He not only flip flops, but is showing his lack of knowledge about off shore drilling. An expert concerning off shore drilling stated that it could take as much as a quarter of a trillion dollars to drill in most of these areas per hole, and would not be available for 5 or 6 years. I'm a Fan of TxAggie A qtr of a trillion dollars, so $250,000,000 yes that is sadly enough fairly common but the potential of the offshore reserves makes it economical to risk thoses dollars and it is totally at the discretion of oil companies to do that- it is their money to risk. Yes deepwater can take 5 years to bring the product to marekt - do you think we won't need it 5 years from now? I'm a Fan of Raymondf I thought he was very true in what he said, and he certainly wasn't owned. I think Russart was very good with the interview and all I saw from McCain was truthful answers. I'm a Fan of Charm17 I feel repressed that I cannot speak the truth as it comes to me at times. I know that as a nation, Americans are inherently kind and generous, especially to groups that are susceptible to being disenfranchised. But we are talking about the highest office in the land here. It's okay for McCain to be old, and we honor his old age. However, its evident that he is already going senile and will no doubt have demetia in a couple of years. I really do not think that we need to think long and hard on this one. Let us not fool ourselves either, age is an issue when we are talking about presidenc... |
preview.tinyurl.com/3zzkof -> www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/18/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4190852.shtml com (The Politico) Congressional Democrats ripped presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. McCain's positions are because they change so rapidly," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) on Wednesday morning. is certainly not the position he had just six months ago." As gas prices continue their steady climb past $4 per gallon, rising fuel costs are fast becoming a top tier campaign issue. Sensing an opening, Democrats pounced on McCain's Tuesday announcement that he would now support an end to the drilling ban, which was enacted by former President George HW Bush. Hoyer said McCain and other Republicans calling for a repeal of the offshore drilling ban should call on oil companies to "use what you have first" before opening up additional federal lands to drilling. Echoing the Democrats primary talking point on the issue. Hoyer said that oil and gas companies already hold leases to 68 million acres of federal land and water in which they are not producing oil and gas. But Hoyer didn't stop there, continuing his sollolioquy on McCain's alleged flip flops. McCain's position, whether its torture or what we are doing here, there or everywhere, I need an update on what he is articulating presently," Hoyer said with a laugh. The McCain campaign quickly responded to Hoyer's allegations. "Only an out-of-touch Congressman has the luxury of calling a bold move to defend hardworking Americans from potentially paying $6 dollars for a gallon of gas a flip flop,'" said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "If Mr Hoyer spoke for the commuters in his district instead of just the partisan politicians in his caucus, he'd be singing a different song." Al Qaeda Strong In Afghanistan(3:16) US coalition forces reportedly killed more than thirty al Qaeda militants along the Afghan border with Pakistan, but are struggling to combat the growing threat there. |