Offshore Drilling: Obama vs. McCain

With gas prices beginning to affect more and more aspects of American life, a recent research poll suggestsedthat 69% of the US population support some form of offshore drilling. But are the 2008 Presidential nominees’ potential solutions sounding increasingly similar?

While John McCain supported the offshore drilling of previously untapped oil reserves early on, Barack Obama advocated for research into alternative forms of energy such as biodiesel fuels. With gas prices beginning to affect food and consumer prices and showing no signs of slowing down, however, Obama has changed his stance and recently advocated for limited & “responsible” offshore drilling. The McCain campaign has correctly accused Obama of altering his position on the energy crisis, but Obama still contends that offshore drilling cannot be the whole solution. While offshore drilling would eventually increase the domestic supply of oil, the Presumptive Democratic nominee states that we would not see the benefits of new refineries for “at least seven years.” McCain has been steadfast in his support of offshore drilling.

The End of Ron Paul’s 2008 Campaign

Ron Paul officially ended his run for the 2008 White House today, according to a personal letter on his website (www.ronpaul.com). Paul had originally run for the Republican nomination and after failing to clinch it, determined he would run as an independent. Paul most notably had been able to stir up passionate interest from a small portion of the youth vote through his uncompromising campaign against raising taxes and expanding federal control. Anything but a conventional Republican candidate, Ron Paul proudly noted that he voted against both the Patriot Act and the Iraq War, while asserting that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned by the Supreme Court.

However, Paul has decided to end his bid after 17 months of campaigning. Asserting that the momentum from his campaign must now be channeled into “long-term efforts” instead of a fight for the 2008 Presidency, Dr. Paul stated that the American people “don’t have to live” in the world that the two major parties “have in store for us.” It seems Ron Paul has no plans to silence himself.

www.ronpaul2008.com