Obama looks likely to cave in on offshore drilling.

Barack Obama has weighed in with modest support of the proposal, praising the bipartisan nature of the negotiations while still expressing concern about more offshore oil drilling.

" I remain skeptical that new offshore drilling will bring down gas prices in the short-term or significantly reduce our oil dependence in the long-term, though I do welcome the establishment of a process that will allow us to make future drilling decisions based on science and fact," Obama said. "But I’ve always believed that finding consensus will be essential to solving our energy crisis, and today’s package represents a good faith effort at a new bipartisan beginning.

You'd think he was running for President or something.  However, our fate may lie in Nancy Pelosi's career:

One of the Republicans' chief arguments for policy is to let the free market do its work.  Well, now it's time for us to game the free market.  If we believe as heavily in the concept of civil liberties, we need to take out ads and promote Qwest as the constitution-loving telecommunications company.  The company that values the individual and his or her freedoms.

This has made my forehead red from hitting it on the table.

Democrats harped on comments McCain made on the Today show this morning, repeatedly calling the 71-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee "confused," seeming to feed into concerns voters might have about the Arizonan's age."

I'm sorry, in what world does "confused" immediately mean "old"?  You know, I get confused, but the minute that happens, I don't say to myself, "Oh, I'm getting old, otherwise this new information would not confuse me."

"Fifty-*six* hard-fought contests, Wonderboy." was the lead on RedState.

Seriously, is this the best they could do?

From the comments:

In a desperate attempt to prevent Obama's delegates from being seated, Hillary Clinton visited Gail Rasmussen and deliberately sneezed on her in an attempt to give her pneumonia.  The Obama campaign sent out a statement saying they were sure she meant to pull a Kleenex out before she did this, and that they considered the matter closed.

We all know, pretty much by now, that very little Hillary Clinton can do will win her the nomination.  The rumors are rampant that the superdelegates have mostly locked this up for Obama already and just haven't gone public with it.  We will likely not have an official, media-endorsed decisive action on this until June.  But the proverbial writing is on the wall, and it looks as though Obama will be the candidate we send to the convention in Denver.

When that happens, look to Obama being extremely gracious to Hillary Clinton.  In fact, the great Karnak says that not only will he be gracious to her, but he will appear at times to be pandering to the Clinton legacy.

According to TPM, not only does the new House FISA bill draft not contain immunity, "it would give the courts authorization to hear the classified material at issue in the case -- in essence disposing with the administration's claim of the state secrets privilege."

Now, according to the article, this requires subpoena power, which it seems the House has difficulty in enforcing considering every justice official appointed under the Bush administration is basically a Bush lapdog, but it seems as if the bill has done everything it can to push oversight into the process:

According to TPM.

So if I'm reading this right, it means the House is holding fast.

The ostensible benefit that we're getting out of this is a vetted candidate, and latter-day primaries whose votes actually count.  In theory, I think this is all well and good.  But just as the primary fighting between Steve Westly and Phil Angelides was bloody and destructive in the California governor race, I think all this infighting isn't doing any of us any good.

Lake Mead could go dry in 2021.

The experts estimated that the Colorado River system which feeds Lake Mead and Lake Powell, is seeing a net deficit of nearly 1 million acre-feet of water per year — an amount that can supply some 8 million people. That water is not being replenished, they noted, and human demand, evaporation and human-induced climate change are fueling the growing deficit.

The system is already at half capacity because of a eight years of drought.

Today is the Washington caucus.  As a Washingtonian, I wasn't eligible for either the caucus or the primary because I've just moved here and the Department of Motor Vehicles screwed up my registration when I thought I was registered.  But in pondering the issue, I decided that I didn't feel like I have a stake in who becomes the Democratic nominee, as I'm fine with either.

Increasingly, as I read the blogs, I'm starting to feel like a sad, unloved minority.  However, I can't be convinced to move into either camp.  Hillary has her strengths and weaknesses, and would make a fine president.  She has experience, determination, and strength, and would fight for progressive causes.  Obama has vitality, courage and gravitas, and would also fight for progressive ideals.  I can't say as I'd have a problem with either of them, and would feel proud to see either Hillary or Barack take the oath of office on January 20.

http://www.cnn.com/...

On one hand, this is good news for some of my friends, who are going through serious withdrawal without Stewart and Colbert to mock the news of the day.  On the other hand, is this breaking principle?  Shouldn't I be disappointed?  

I'm of mixed feelings about this.  Because the political environment is so nerve-wracking, the Daily Show is almost a necessity in helping to ease the tension.  But that means it's a crutch.  And for all
I know, without their regular writers, the quality might dip severely anyway, meaning it's all for naught.  It's a tough question to resolve but I suppose in the end I'd wish they'd held out longer.  If more production companies follow their example, the writer's strike may fizzle out in favor of the corporate leaders.

EDIT:  Already diaried here.

The Democrats actually came out in full force against the hypocrisy of the right.  With all Kos's complaints that the Dems don't have an effective message machine, they've finally learned from the Republicans that a unified, constant message gets traction and thus spoke out against the double-standard of the Republicans who voted down the MoveOn ad.  I thought there might be something on the front page, or in the recommended diaries about it...

...huh.  There isn't.

Well, if we ride a wave at all, it may just be because those candidates didn't do just that.

Before the Senate vote, I had planned to give $25 to Bob Menendez, because his race was turning into a real struggle, and $25 to Jack Carter, simply because I love the man and I was born in Nevada.  

Now, all $50 is going to Jack Carter.  If Menendez thinks his wrong-headed vote this will keep him in his Senate seat, well, let him sort it out.  I won't be a part of it, but I will be a part of the larger goal of electing better Democrats. And from what I've seen, Jack Carter is one of those.  He spoke out against the torture bill forthrightly and without hesitation.  And he's in a difficult (some say unwinnable) race and could use more love.  I'm putting the power into the Democrats I believe in, and therefore helping the party as a whole.

I feel better about how I contributed while keeping my values.  The big picture and principles win again.

http://www.somethinghappens.net/...

One week after President Bush began his new economic growth program, Senate and House Democrats have been raising objections, referring to a policy that may create thousands of new jobs as "street executions" and "mass murder."

"It's a shame that Democrats want to play politics with the future of our country," said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). "It only shows that they have no ideas and are only interested in petty partisan bickering."