Sen. Barack Obama gave a major speech on energy yesterday in Michigan, laying out a number of proposals for reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil sharply over the next 10 years. However, the focus of the media coverage is generally not on the speech this morning, but on two changes in position Obama has adopted acceptance of some new offshore drilling and particularly on the release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. For example, the opening paragraph of the Washington Post coverage of the speech is typical of much of the coverage: "Obama called Monday for using oil from the nation's strategic reserves to lower gasoline prices, the second time in less than a week that he has modified a position on energy issues." NBC Nightly News said Obama is "refining a couple of key positions on oil supplies," while ABC World News reported that Obama "made a bold, perhaps unrealistic proposal - even he said it sounded pie-in-the-sky to produce enough renewable energy to reduce the US dependence on foreign oil from the Middle East within ten years. ... Obama, today, also shifted his position on tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, releasing seventy million barrels of oil as an emergency short-term way to lower prices."
A widely-distributed AP story also says Obama's proposal "includes two significant reversals of positions he has taken in the past," noting that "as recently as last month" he "argued against tapping into the petroleum reserve," while USA Today reports Obama's proposals include "two reversals of positions he has taken in the past." A widely-syndicated McClatchy pieces is titled, "In Another Switch, Obama Calls For Tapping U.S. Oil Reserve," and says "Obama's revised position on a key energy issue was his second shift in three days." Likewise, the New York Times titles its piece, "Obama, In Shift, Urges Tapping Oil From U.S. Reserve."
However, the Wall Street Journal reports that Obama aides defended the move, saying Obama "had met with economic advisers and business leaders in Washington last week, and they had advised him to call for tapping the government reserve." The New York Daily News adds, "Team Obama cast the proposal as a 'refinement,' rather than a flip-flop, on Obama's previous opposition to tapping the 770-million barrel reserve."
In an editorial, the San Francisco Chronicle says that Sen. Obama's "energy policy is offering more flip flops than a Lake Tahoe souvenir stand." The New York Post editorializes, "One more week, one more Barack Obama reversal on a key issue. Actually, make that two reversals. ... So much for principles."
McCain Pounces According to the Los Angeles Times, the McCain campaign "lost no time in criticizing Obama." McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds is quoted as saying, "The strategic oil reserve exists for America's national security strategy -- not Barack Obama's election strategy. ... The only crisis that has developed since Barack Obama last rejected this idea two months ago is a slide in his poll numbers."
The CBS Evening News, in its lead story on Sen. Barack Obama's change of position on the oil reserve, noted that Obama "says there's even a simpler solution" to saving gas and showed him saying, "But we could save all the oil they're talking about getting off drilling if everybody was just inflating their tires and getting regular tune-ups." According to CBS, "Republicans were quick to ridicule the idea, handing out tire gauges labeled 'Obama's Energy Plan.'" Sen. John McCain: "We're not going to achieve energy independence by inflating our tires." The San Francisco Chronicle adds that McCain's campaign handed out the tire gauges in front of the location Obama was giving his speech, and "Team McCain said doesn't plan to stop there: the GOP campaign is making up hundreds to distribute beginning this week in California, and next week when both Obama and McCain meet for the first time on stage at the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest." The Detroit Free Press adds that the RNC "offered today to send reporters tire gauges as a stunt to mark Obama's birthday, and McCain's campaign sold an 'Obama Energy Plan' tire gauge for a $25 donation."
In a story headlined "Speak Softly, and Carry a Good Tire Gauge," the Wall Street Journal reports that the move is part of an effort by the McCain campaign to draw attention during the summer months by resorting "to some unusual push-the-envelope tactics. This week, it's the tire pressure gauges. Last week it was a pair of videos: a television ad titled 'Celeb' that used shots of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton; and a Web clip that spliced footage of Sen. Obama's large rallies with images of Charlton Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea."
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So far in this campaign, it has been Barack Obama addressing the big, raucous crowds, but it was John McCain's turn yesterday. The AP reports, "Thousands of motorcyclists greeted" McCain "with an approving roar Monday" in Sturgis, SD, "as he sought blue-collar and heartland support by visiting a giant motorcycle rally. 'As you may know, not long ago a couple hundred thousand Berliners made a lot of noise for my opponent. I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day,' McCain said, referring to" Obama's "recent visit to the German capital." The Rapid City (SD) Journal adds, "In his first-ever stop at the always-raucous Buffalo Chip Campground," McCain "had thousands of boisterous supporters -- and more than a few loud motorcycles -- rocking and rumbling Monday night as he slammed" Obama "for being weak on energy and national defense." The Washington Post puts the size of the crowd at "about 20,000." The Politico adds that McCain's appearance "was unlike any other campaign event to date -- some sported signs like 'Show UR [breasts] for McCain.'" However, "it wasn't just the crowd that McCain hoped to win over at Sturgis. The appearance gave him some much needed local media coverage in the Great Plains states, typically blood red states that appear vulnerable for McCain."
Yesterday was Barack Obama's birthday, and he celebrated it with a high-dollar fundraiser in Boston. The AP reports Obama "turned 47 on Monday and shared his special day with hundreds of friends and other admirers, who paid up to $28,500 for the honor. Introducing Obama, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry said: 'I asked Barack Obama what he wanted for his birthday. He said, 'Indiana, Colorado and Virginia,' said Kerry, referring to three potential swing states Obama hopes to win in the Nov. 4 election." The Boston Globe reports that the factions of the Boston-area Democratic party that had supported Clinton and Obama "united last night to throw Barack Obama a 47th birthday bash that doubled as a major campaign fund-raiser. The event, held at the swank State Room near Faneuil Hall, was expected to bring in close to $5 million for Obama and the Democratic Party, which organizers say would make it the biggest political fund-raiser ever in Boston."
The Wall Street Journal reports that Sen. John McCain's "decision to vet" Rep. Eric Cantor, "a little-known, 45-year-old Virginia congressman, as a potential running mate suggests he may be looking outside the traditional vice-presidential framework to find a new-generation leader to help revive the party." Though Cantor "is popular in his Richmond-area congressional district and in Beltway Republican circles, he is virtually unknown on the national political stage. Yet as a young Southern conservative from a swing state, Rep. Cantor is increasingly listed alongside up-and-coming Republicans, including Govs. Sarah Palin of Alaska, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota -- three reform-minded governors also rumored to be on Sen. McCain's list of potential running mates -- as the next generation of Republican Party leaders."
Two new national polls show John McCain eking out a single point lead over Barack Obama, while a third shows Obama up by three. A Zogby International /Associated TV poll of 1,011 likely voters taken July 31-August 1 shows McCain leading Obama 42%-41% with Bob Barr (L) and Ralph Nader each taking 2%. The Rasmussen Reports automated daily presidential tracking poll for August 4 shows McCain and Obama tied at 44%, but with leaners McCain leads 47%-46%. However, the Gallup daily presidential tracking poll of 2,659 registered voters taken August 1-3 shows Obama leading McCain 46%-43%, up from a 45%-44% lead yesterday.
In other polls:
Two Polls Show McCain With Wide Lead In Arizona A Rasmussen Reports automated poll of 500 likely Arizona voters taken July 30 shows McCain leading Obama 52%-36%, up from a 49%-40% lead a month ago. Including leaners, McCain stretched the gap to 57%-38%.
A Public Policy Polling survey (D) of 1,000 likely Arizona voters taken July 30-31 shows McCain leading Obama 52%-40%.
McCain Up 6 In Florida A SurveyUSA automated poll of 679 likely Florida voters taken August 1-3 for WFLA-TV Tampa and WKRG-TV Pensacola shows McCain leading Obama 50%-44%.
McCain Up 5 In Missouri A SurveyUSA automated poll of 1,479 likely Missouri voters taken July 29-31 shows McCain leading Obama 49%-44%.
Obama Up 15 In Connecticut A Rasmussen Reports automated poll of 500 likely Connecticut voters taken July 31 shows Obama leading McCain 51%-36%.
Obama Up 9 In Massachusetts A Suffolk University poll of 400 registered Massachusetts voters taken July 1-August 3 shows Obama leading McCain 47%-38%. The Washington Times reports that Obama led by 23 points in a similar survey taken in June.
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The Capitol sit-in arranged by House conservatives demanding an up-or-down vote on lifting the ban on new offshore drilling received just a smattering of coverage this morning. The Hill, however, reports the Republicans "believe they have struck political gold with American voters angered by high gas prices through their unusual revolt on the floor, which Democrats on Monday tried to dismiss as a 'political stunt.'" Republicans "said they would continue to speak from the floor about the need for Congress to act on high gas prices through the August recess -- even if no one is watching."
According to The Politico, "If Friday's impromptu House protest session had all the passion of a revival meeting, Monday's Episode II was more like a prayer circle -- intense but smaller, with shouts of glory replaced by wishful thinking." The Politico adds "the GOP lawmakers, many of them among the most conservative in the Republican Conference, clearly felt energized by their demand that Speaker Nancy Pelosi call the House back into session to vote on offshore oil drilling." AFP notes that "the efforts of the Republicans...were getting little news coverage as cameras in the chamber were turned off in line with official practice during a recess."
Fox News' Special Report reported Sen. John McCain "also turned his fire on majority Democrats in Congress, blasting their decision to send lawmakers home for August vacation, rather than debating and voting on energy policy." Sen. McCain: "The Congress, doing nothing, decided to go on a five-week recess without addressing the energy challenge that is affecting Americans every single day." Fox added that in response to calls for the President to call a special session of Congress, White House officials "have made it very clear that Mr. Bush wants lawmakers to spend August at home, so they can hear just how fed up voters really are."
Oil At Three-Month Low, Gas Prices Dropping The AP reports, "Oil prices plunged to a three-month low Monday, briefly tumbling below $120 a barrel in another huge sell-off after Tropical Storm Edouard seemed less likely to disrupt oil and natural gas output in the Gulf of Mexico." The Los Angeles Times, meanwhile, notes the Energy Department "says the average gas price dipped to $3.88 a gallon nationally and $4.205 in California."
The Washington Post reports in a front-page article, "Three days before his arrival in Beijing for the Olympics," President Bush "offered a mixed assessment of China's role in the world, praising its efforts to curb the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, expressing disappointment over its recent move to help scuttle global trade talks, and saying that it is 'really hard to tell' whether human rights in China had improved over the past eight years." The President also "said he speaks candidly with Chinese President Hu Jintao about human rights, particularly religious freedom, and said he has shared his own religious beliefs with Hu and his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, urging them to lift restrictions on underground churches." The Post adds, "Even critics of the president say he has emerged as an unexpected diplomat on China, conducting a personal campaign to woo the senior Chinese leadership."
According to the New York Times, "Aides organizing...Bush's trip...considered having him worship at a house church, one of the underground religious institutions that routinely face official harassment, but the Chinese authorities refused. ... The idea of giving a Reaganesque 'tear down this wall' speech on human rights in China -- as members of Congress and others are calling on Mr. Bush to do -- has been abandoned as potentially insulting to the president's hosts."
The New York Times reports from Beijing that in the run-up to the Games, "after two years of intensive and often secretive overtures, Taiwan and Japan, two neighbors long viewed as the most likely to face a military threat from a rising China have been drawn closer into its orbit." The Times adds, "Improved relations...helped showcase China's frequent claims to be a new kind of global power that intends to rise on the world stage without engaging in military conflict." McClatchy, however, notes that Chinese officials "have not lived up to key promises they made to win the right to host the Olympics, including widening press freedoms, cleaning up their capital city's polluted air and respecting human rights." ABC World News also reported on "a rare sight, a protest near Tiananmen Square, staged by a small contingent from the 1.5 million Chinese who lost their homes to pre-Olympic development."
President Bush stopped briefly in Alaska on his way to Asia yesterday. The AP reports that in remarks there Bush said that "US troops going to Iraq soon will find a country dramatically different from the one that was 'hopeless' before his troop buildup." The AP notes that "beginning a weeklong Asian tour with a refueling stop in Alaska, the president offered thanks to units from this base near Fairbanks and nearby Fort Wainwright that have done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan." President Bush said, "About a year ago people thought Iraq was lost and hopeless. People were saying let's get out of there, it doesn't matter to our national security. Iraq's changed -- a lot. ... The terrorists are on the run." The Daily News-Miner of Fairbanks, AK, runs a similar report.
Providing evidence in favor of the President's view, NBC Nightly News reported that "there is a success story to tell in Basra as Iraqi forces have managed to stand up. ... Basra is on the mend. Just months ago this waterfront was a battlefront, where militias ruled for more than three years. ... Change came at the point of a gun -- a massive Iraqi offensive in late March, with a lot at stake. ... It was a huge gamble for Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki and his new army, but they took the city in just two weeks." AFP reports Colonel Ted Martin, a US brigade commander "in what was one of the most violent sectors of Baghdad just months ago," now says he "believes US and Iraqi forces are 'on the cusp of achieving durable security.'" Colonel Martin "tied the turnaround in Baghdad's Rashid district to a 'decisive defeat' of Iranian-backed Shiite forces in May and June. Since then, he said there has been a dramatic drop in levels of violence, signs that the civilian populace is turning away from the Shiite militias and growing confidence in the Iraqi security forces."
In an op-ed for the New York Times, Stephen Biddle, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Brookings Institution's Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack, agree that Iraq "is indeed much more secure than it was two years ago." The authors add, "Yet having recently returned from a research trip to Iraq, we are convinced that a total withdrawal of combat troops any time soon would be unwise."
Mahdi Army Out Of The Terrorism Business? On its front page, the Wall Street Journal reports, "Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr...intends to disarm his once-feared Mahdi Army militia and remake it as a social-services organization." The move "would represent a significant turnabout for a group that, as recently as earlier this year, was seen as one of the most destabilizing anti-American forces in Iraq." However, "disarmament is far from certain," as "the group is ridden with internal strife, and Mr. Sadr now is believed to spend significant time outside the country, in Iran, taking part in religious studies there."
The Washington Post reports on its front page that the Bush administration "informed all foreign intelligence and law enforcement teams visiting their citizens held at Guantanamo Bay that video and sound from their interrogation sessions would be recorded," according to documents obtained by The Washington Post. The policy, adds the Post, "suggests that the United States could possess hundreds or thousands of hours of secret taped conversations between detainees and representatives from nearly three dozen countries." If such recordings exist, "they would reveal how representatives from countries such as China, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia treated detainees in small interrogation booths at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- sessions that some detainees have said were abusive and at times contained threats of torture or even death."
Jurors Deliberating Hamdan's Fate. The AP reports, "America's first war crimes trial since World War II went to the jury Monday as a panel of six US military officers began deliberating whether to send Osama bin Laden's former driver away for life." Salim Hamdan "faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of conspiracy and supporting terrorism." McClatchy says that "under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, it takes a two-thirds majority" of jurors to convict. AFP reports that Hamdan's defense "submitted written testimony from top Al-Qaeda leaders in detention, including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who said Hamdan had no advance knowledge of attacks orchestrated by bin Laden." Under the headline "Lawyer Says Detainee Helped US," the New York Times notes Hamdan's attorney told the jury that "secret evidence...showed that Mr. Hamdan offered 'critical details' to American forces 'when it mattered most' in the early days of the war in Afghanistan." However, the Washington Post reports the defense "appeared to acknowledge a key part of the prosecution's case: that Hamdan had pledged a loyalty oath, or bayat, to bin Laden. Such oaths were reserved for only a small percentage of bin Laden devotees, according to previous court testimony by al-Qaeda members."
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Jay Leno: "Congress went on a five-week vacation starting today. And boy, they deserve it, don't they? They got so much done this year -- solved the energy crisis, healthcare, Social Security, immigration. Whew! Take a break, fellas."
Jay Leno: "You ever notice that Congress doesn't even call it a vacation?" They "call it" a recess. You "ever notice the only people that get recess are Congress," kindergarteners, and juries, the "three groups you can't trust to make an adult decision."
Jay Leno: "Paris Hilton's mother very upset because John McCain has put Paris in his campaign video. ... Isn't that amazing? Of all the videos Paris Hilton's been in, this is the one Mom's upset about?"
David Letterman: Top Ten Things Overheard at Barack Obama's Birthday Party. 9. 'Hillary, get me another drink.' 7. 'John McCain has demanded we start drilling for oil in the punch bowl.'
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