Types of Off-Shore Drilling Platforms

On Wednesday Steve Hilton, a retired federal government worker in Lebanon, Missouri, implored Obama during a tour of a diner to consider off-shore oil production. To which, Obama replied:

“I’m in favor of solving problems. What I don’t want to do is say something because it sounds good politically.”

But with John McCain scoring points on energy and on the issue of limited domestic off-shore oil drilling and production coupled with Obama’s own sagging numbers in national polls that show the race in a statistical dead heat, Obama reversed course.

”My interest is in making sure we’ve got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices,” Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

”If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage — I don’t want to be so rigid that we can’t get something done.”

Can it be any clearer that Obama shifts with the wind-blown sands and that the only thing that matters is his own political expediency?

The before and after below the fold. (more…)

Don’t you just hate it when they use your own words, and hyperbole at that, against you? But what can one say about an ad that goes:

“In 2008, the world will be blessed. They will call him ‘The One.’”

The ad is Internet-only but of course it is now being shown on the cable networks. I will say this McCain is certainly getting a bang for his buck. He’s buying minimal air time but getting free coverage of his ads as they are replayed over and over again on the cable networks. I don’t think it matters that the pundits then try to attack the merits of the ads. The ads are pure satire but they quote Obama ad naseum, the only way to quote Obama in my book, and paint him as well as a narcissistic and holier-than-thou Messiah who lacks any relevant experience. Mocking Obama may yet become the new national pasttime.

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Here is the Friday, August 1st, 2008 edition of news and interesting reads from around the world.

Pakistan’s ISI Linked to Terror Bombings
American intelligence agencies have concluded that members of Pakistan’s powerful spy service, the ISI, helped plan the deadly July 7 bombing of India’s embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. It wouldn’t be the first time. The conclusion was based on intercepted communications between Pakistani intelligence officers and militants who carried out the attack, the officials said, providing the clearest evidence to date that Pakistani intelligence officers are actively undermining American efforts to combat militants in the region. More from the and India’s Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis. Meanwhile, the reaction in Pakistan can only be termed rabid. The UK Guardian covers the Pakistani reaction. Does anyone believe Pakistan is the better question? The ISI has ties to the Taliban that run decades. The ISI has hijacked planes. What’s a bombing?

Belgian Crisis Lingers
Belgians will have to wait at least another six weeks before they hear any proposals on how to solve the country’s constitutional crisis. King Albert II had given a panel of three ‘Wise Men’ until mid-September to come up with a reform program that satisfies both the Dutch- and French-speaking communities. The original deadline had been the end of July. More from Euro News.

China’s Food Crisis And Its Ripple Effects
China’s rise as an economic superpower has been at the cost of its traditional agricultural base. Annual gross domestic product growth of at least 6 percent since 1997 has fueled a shift in demographics that has moved millions of rural people off the farms and into the cities. Arable land is disappearing due to the construction of factories and homes, while desertification and pollution also shrink available agricultural tracts. China’s official Xinhua news agency reported in April 2007 that during the 2000-2005 five-year plan the country lost an average of 1.23 million hectares of land annually. Three million hectares of rice land were lost between 1996 and 2006.

The upshot is that China is finding it increasing difficult to feed the people while at the same time growing industrial crops for biofuels and rubber. Recognizing a need to conserve domestic food supplies, for the first time China made a pronounced shift in its economic policy in 2007 from net exporter to net importer of rice and wheat. Export tariffs on both staples were raised while import tariffs were removed to give easier access to the world market. Beijing is also strongly encouraging investment in overseas commercial agriculture projects to meet growing demands for food and raw materials. Chinese multinationals are involved in growing rice, corn, sugarcane, cassava and rubber, among other crops in Africa and even Cuba.

The full article looking at the reprecussions of China’s agricultural policies is at the Asia Sentinel.

Japanese Cabinet Reshuffle
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Friday picked a new Cabinet that was a mix of old-guard legislators and several reappointments to restore confidence in his leadership amid flagging public popularity. More from the Daily Yomiuri.

Tonga Crowns a Monarch
The Kingdom of Tonga has a new monarch. King George Tupou V has been crowned in a spectacular four day event that included three coronation balls, a military parade, traditional dancing, a fireworks display, a rugby match and an open-air concert. There were two coronation ceremonies. Coronation Ceremony at the Centenary Church in Nuku’alofa on Friday 1st of August 2008 reflects the Christian nature of the Kingdom of Tonga. The Taumafa Kava or the Traditional Installation Ceremony of Kings was held on Wednesday 30th July 2008. Tonga was the only island group in the Pacific to escape colonization.

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