Here are two reports, from the A.P. and from Jennifer Rubin of Commentary Magazine:

Obama shifts, says he may back offshore drilling
By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 50 minutes ago

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday he would be willing to support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that’s what it takes to enact a comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy sources.

Shifting from his previous opposition to expanded offshore drilling, the Illinois senator told a Florida newspaper he could get behind a compromise with Republicans and oil companies to prevent gridlock over energy. …. Read all.

From Jennifer Rubin, the sharp columnist for Commentary, in her story, “A Week Late“:

[…]

In a Florida newspaper interview he explained that he really had no objection to offshore drilling:

If it is part of an overarching package, then I am not going to be rigid in preventing an energy package that goes forward that is really thoughtful and is going to really solve the problem.

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Meanwhile, back in the United States, the US Senate is actually in session!! I bet you didn’t realize that since Obama is on his World Tour! But Obama not being in the Senate does not stop him from claiming credit, falsely, for one of the big committees in the Senate, the Banking Committee. He flat out said - with hand on his chest to make the point - that the Banking Committee is HIS committee! Here’s the kicker - he ISN’T EVEN ON IT!!! Wowie zowie - with all of the lies this man has told about his experience, especially his legislative experience, it is sure a good thing that his supporters have finally woken up and realized what a lying, conniving, scheming, Chicago-style politician he is!!! Oh, wait - that hasn’t happened yet. But we can hope that SOMEDAY they will realize they have been had. Of course, it would help if the media actually did their job to facilitate that awakening. This is me NOT holding my breath.
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Unexpectedly or perhaps surprising to me anyway, energy policy is actually getting debated. That’s a good thing even though I don’t really expected it to lead to the tough choices we need to make in the time frame we need to make them. To be honest, we are past the tipping point. We’re doomed. The only question left is when does it all unravel. A few wise investments and we might push out the end line a few decades but unless some new technology arrives on the scene in the next twenty years, our way of life will come to a sudden and crashing end.

I have never liked Barack Obama. In fact, I can’t stand Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois either. The reason? They voted for the Bush-Cheney Energy Policy, the worst piece of legislation ever to pass the Congress. Thomas Friedman referred to the bill as “the sum of all lobbies.” U.S. PIRG noted that the bill’s “heavy tilt toward big oil companies reflects the influence of Exxon Mobil and other oil companies on policy-makers in Washington, DC.” The Washington Post editorialized that the bill was a “piñata of perks for energy industries.”

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For background, see my earlier post, “Obama: The Geographically Challenged Candidate.”
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After yesterday’s revelations of Barack Obama’s plans to fix the Great Lakes of Oregon and take care of Oregon’s Veterans of Pennsylvania his campaign did what they do best. They scrubbed the information, made it disappear and then acted like it never existed.

But like all things on the internet, it is impossible to fully erase something. And wouldn’t you know it, a friend known as crimsonhaz3 found this today and sent it to me. So now everyone can see that Obama was serious about his stated plans to begin with. What fools we were to doubt him.

Don’t believe me? See for yourself!

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I’d hate to be a trucker right now.  Parts of DC were at a standstill today as truckers converged on town to demonstrate against the soaring gas prices.  They want action and they want it now (they’re not alone!).  Truckers spend about $1,200 every time they fill their tanks and when you think of how much of our food and goods are moved by truck in this country, that’s gonna trickle down to higher prices for everything we buy - not just gas.

Well… Hillary’s just released a plan today to do something about those higher prices.  Given the eejit in the White House right now we probably won’t see any action on this until she gets into the Oval Office next January, but at least she’s got a plan in place and will be ready on DAY ONE to put her plan into action.

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The invitation-only fundraisers will be at the Bonwood Drive home of environmental activists Bob Perkowitz and Lisa Renstrom. A “general reception” costs $1,000 a person. A “host reception” costs $2,300.

Perhaps these ostensible environmentalists should research Obama’s record on the environment before raising money for his campaign. (more…)

Yes, this is a response diary.  But it will be long enough to stand on its own.  Every on Daily Kos is going crazy for a diary entitled I Refuse to By Into the Obama Hype.  It purports to compare Hillary’s Senate record to Obama’s and concludes Obama’s is superior.  Why? Two reasons. First, in the diarist’s opinion his bills are better.  Second his bills have more sponsors than hers, and that demonstrates “leadership.”   Excuse me, but, well bullshit.  ”Leadership” doesn’t come from getting people to join you.  ”Leadership” comes from getting people to FOLLOW you, to DO things.  As in, pass laws.  Can we look at what they both actually achieved?  

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The fact is that Obama’s [economic] plan today is the most shameless piece of potential plagiarism that I have ever seen. He basically took Clinton’s words and Clinton’s policies and called them his own. If I were a professor I’d give him an F and try to get him kicked out of school for something this terrible…If I were on the Clinton team, I’d be prepping memos.

- Kevin A. Hassett, Senior Fellow and Director of Economic Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute, John McCain adviser (H/t AndreWalker08 at MyDD.com)

It must also be noted that John Edwards’ economic stimulus plans were also widely acknowledged to be vastly superior to Obama’s far weaker plans. NYT columnist and economist Paul Krugman, in January, wrote: “[L]ast month, before the economic consensus turned as negative as it now has, [John Edwards] proposed a stimulus package including aid to unemployed workers, aid to cash-strapped state and local governments, public investment in alternative energy, and other measures.”

“Those covering Senator Obama’s economic speech in Wisconsin today could be forgiven if it felt like déjà vu all over again. Voters may ask themselves that if Senator Obama cannot produce his own ideas on the campaign trail, how will he solve new problems as President?,” asks Neera Tanden, Policy Director for the Clinton campaign.

“Senator Obama’s only ‘new’ ideas were ones that Senator Clinton proposed months ago,” Tanden continues.

FOR STARTERS: His “new” proposal for a national infrastructure bank is one that Hillary proposed August 8, 2007. [”I’m proud to co-sponsor Senator Dodd and Senator Hagel’s National Infrastructure Bank Act that we just introduced to establish a federally-backed independent bank that will evaluate and finance large infrastructure projects by subsidies, loan guarantees, and bonds backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.” Rebuilding America speech, 8/8/07; S. 1926, 8/1/07]

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- If you want health care coverage for every woman, man and child, then DONATE TO HILLARY!

- If you want to end the war in Iraq in a responsible manner, then DONATE TO HILLARY!

- If you want to strengthen the Middle Class through progressive economic policies, then DONATE TO HILLARY!

- If you want to make college affordable and accessible to everyone, then DONATE TO HILLARY!
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Also from The Page: “Union-Backed Pro-Edwards Group Hits the Airwaves in Iowa“: Day after Christmas, Alliance for a New America $750,000 ad buy causing recent Obama-Edwards spat goes on the air.

That Lump of Coal: John Edward’s campaign issues section has a strong, clear message on coal, “Calls For Ban On New Coal Plants Lacking Technology To Capture Carbon Dioxide Emissions.” Sen. Clinton’s energy issues section calls for the “nation’s stakeholders” to contribute to global warming clean-up: “… oil and energy companies to invest in cleaner, renewable technologies; utilities to ramp up use of renewables and modernize the grid; coal companies to implement clean coal technology; government to establish a cap and trade carbon emissions system and renew its leadership in energy efficient buildings and services; individuals to conserve energy …” But Sen. Obama? Southern Illinois has massive coal reserves (but they’re high in sulphur). Obama joined Kentucky GOP senator Jim Bunning to introduce the “Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2007.” Writes the Grist’s Muckraker:

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