Where's Iraq in all this mess? What going to happen to the McCain strategy?

And McCon, according to CNN, is going to announce his "new" support for drilling oil in ANWR. Congratulations McCon, you can now add Oil Hero to your list of "heroes".

Your headline does not reflect the content of your story.

The US has the worst environmental rating among G8 countries; it is time to do something about reducing pollution and support initiatives that create green jobs to improve the economy. The initatives could be available before any oil is actually flowing or capacity to convert it into gas in the US is even a reality.

McSame……..Lieberman spell economy for me ……….Thank you !!!

Wow, a poll! Wow, that's FACT we can believe in! Why, it's a poll, dontchaknow! We must take it as gospel… because the people (in the poll) have spoken! (and told you exactly the politcally correct thing they think you wanted to hear)

You have got to be kidding me. I don't know who you are talking to but why don't you stand next to a gas pump and ask people that question? The environment is important but you need to throw some common sense into the equation. Drill now!

Lets destroy the earth and dril, drill, drill! Who cares about the earth as long as we can drive our SUV's and trucks and get cheap gas.

It's a false choice.

Saving the environment can drive innovation and economic growth as opposed to being an obstacle to growth.

Yup, let's use it all up today and worry about the results later so we can complain about no one doing something to protect us from ourselves. I value the American people, children and lives above anything else in America. But, placing our pocket books ahead of our future is just plain stupid. We will survive this round of economic porblems. We can make a better future for us all if we plan without regard to favoritism and greed.

If we don't take care of the economy first, there want be any environment to worry about.

A quarter from 1964 contained about 90% silver and could buy about a gallon of gas. It took about five of those quarters to get an ounce of silver. Look at the value of an ounce of silver today and divide it by five. Ironically (sarcasm) it's about the same as a gallon of gas today. If our money were actually backed by something gas would still only be around 30 cents a gallon.

Wake up!!!

Our economy is failing because of horrible environmental practices. It's called a Malthusian catastrophe. Our farm land is gone our lakes, rivers, and oceans are trashed. Those of you who think we've conquered the world, your wrong. Birth rates are plummeting war, pestilence and famine are on the rise. Welcome to natural selection at it's purest.

can anyone tell me why they keep referring to the economy as a slump? seems they are out of touch…or am i the only one struggling?

If 49% believe the environment is most important, and 44% believe the economy is most important, then 93% should be voting for Obama, because the Republicans have spent years in Congress and in the White House screwing up both the economy and the environment.

Republican policies are the ultimate in shortsightedness.

So 44% of the people think a job is more important than food, water and air? Interesting ….

Great to have a wonderful environment and no economy or one that is so messed up, it will take a hundred years to fix.

Poll or no poll–Americans want a viable economy and believe this economy can include environmental safeguards. This cannot be accomplished through a Republican economy. The Republican economy just cost another 60,000 jobs this past month. Not only is this unacceptable, the Republicans are also impervious to the environment-global warming, the health, safety and wellbeing of people–as well Katrina victims know as do tomato lovers. The Republican economy has taken gas prices from $1 per gallon to $4, energy prices, and food prices unspeakable. The Republican economy will have caused the appropriation of over $2 trillion to Iraq, a trillion owed to China, a loss of homes to homeowners, college education affordable to the rich only, and likewise for healthcare.

The Republicans have fought regulation, environmental concerns and safeguards to increase corporate profits. Under the Republican economy in light of all of the foregoing, regular Americans will continue to suffer to make the rich richer.

please this polls are stupid to me.

Were in a depression no doubt about it..

Placing one before the other seems to be what each of the two major parties are doing.

Fact is they are both major priorities of the government. Sustaining our economy is needed for our survival, protecting and restoring the environment of our planet is necessary for our survival.

Every economic endeavor should be pursued in a manner to minimize it's ( and continously reduce if possible) impact on the environment. They are not different issues–but integrated into our economic model.

People never learn. We cannot drill our way out of this situation. There is simply not enough oil to continue to burn the candle at both ends. Consumers are always a selfish lot but wouldn't you think that by now they would realize that there are no more dinosaurs? If we fail to invest in renewable forms of energy, future generations will curse us and the darkness.

Destroying the environment will only result in depleted oil supplies AND environmental disasters because the oil will be depleted. There may be as much as 10 billion barrels total in ANWR according to geologists. The U.S. uses nearly 8 billion barrels every year. Even if we owned all the oil in the world, it will be gone in the near future. Think! I know it's a strain but think!

A Mccain Presidency Will Hurt The Environment And The Economy!

people still have to eat
heat homes
and pay other bills

we do not live in the darkages anymore and these types of environmental support people do frost my cheeks.

at $4 a gallon, I would drill through a caribous' head in alaska

its survival of the fittest, remember that

jerks

That is where the Republicans have the edge. We believe we can save the environment AND the economy.

The democrats believe we must destroy the economy to save the environment.

For the sake of our future generations, environment should absolutely be the utmost priority. But the problem is, where does one draw the line. At what point does one of the above two become a priority over the other?

If breathing cleaner air was able to substitute for milk, gas in the car, was able to eliminate the need for a roof that one needs to live under, would somehow get rapped around your body so no clothes would be needed, then it would be a no brainer. Then, economy won't matter because better environment and subsequently cleaner air would substitute the necessities of surviving. Will IT?

Disappointing, but predictable. My fellow Americans are too concerned about right now instead of five or ten years down the road.

McCAin is QUALIFIED to lead our country

Obama is NOT qualified - for anything!!! - he is a FAKE

…. just like the republican's like it … rape the environment for some short term cash …. short sighted, narrow minded and destructive.

If we drilled up all the oil in America, all we'd have is more oil sold to the highest bidder - no drop in the price of gas at all - but at least we woudn't have any oil left as a reserve to have to protect.

The price of gas in the US is no different than in Taiwan - a country that imports 100% of its gasoline.

I would agree.

Much of the US economy is based on agriculture. A devasted enviroment would mean a destroyed US economy. Some feel that recent weather damage to crops and farm lands are a result of global warming.

The real question is how do you kill 2 birds with one stone? Reduce dependence on fossil based fuels.

They don't have to be separate issues. Our economy can thrive and aid the environment if we stop ignoring green energy sources and start investing in wind and hydrogen powers.

The very question poses a false dichotomy. Actions can be taken to promote jobs within the context of improving the economy.

While I think fixing the economy is a high priority, I'm glad most people think that saving the environment which we've screwed up is more important.

I hope they can still say that after they loose their jobs!!!!!!

It is hard to be environmentally fiendly when you can't put food on the table.

Saving the environment and going green will give the US and edge over India and China who are now destroying their own environment. This is how we will stay a superpower by going green and no longer being dependent on oil.

Cause it will effect our generation.

I would imagine that people's response is skewed by how the question is asked.

If I were asked if fixing the economy was more important than polluting the Alaskan wilderness or the Pacific Coast as championed by John McCain and George Bush then I would have to say that the environment was more important.

If I were asked if were asked if fixing the economy in a meaningful way as proposed by Barack Obama and the Democratic leadership then I would have to say that it was more important at this time than the environment.

Americans (the ones who can still read and think) should realize the amount of acreage that the oil companies already have that they aren't drilling…And let's not forget the deals being made in Iraq for their oil, the oil our children died and were maimed for. Forget all the jive about "spreading democracy." That was just another of the Decider's lies. Just ask his ace buddy and Pioneer Ray Hunt.

From the Washington Post:

"Bush administration officials told Hunt Oil last summer that they did not object to its efforts to reach an oil deal with the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq, even while the State Department was publicly expressing concern that such contracts could undermine a national Iraqi petroleum law, according to documents obtained by a House committee. "

SCREW BIG OIL!

It has been already proven that there is minimal to no real damage done where oil drilling is done. The AK pipeline is normal for the animals and terrain.
My late husband did reclamation work behind drilling in MT in the late 70's to early 80's. At that time there were all kinds of capped wells both oil and natural gas. Every place he worked you could drive to in a pick up. It was mostly private property. They capped wells so not to have to pay the ranchers and farmers royalitys.
It is time people got smart and let the oil companies and countires stop controlling our lives. If we don't demand immediate action we and our children are going to end up living like the people in the middle east under the wrong thumbs. We are loosing our country and freedoms because of this mess.
I am not against all ecology or even trade with other countries. We just don't have to keep letting both ruin the American life style and control the way we live. It is happening and no one seems to be paying attention or maybe you know it but no one cares enough.

Wow, American's are finally getting a brain. YEAH!

More important is helping the people in Zimbabwe and stopping Robert Mugabe.

People, people, please … listen to me.

YOU CAN DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!

Sheesh, why do people feel that is either one or the other?

What an incredibly loaded survey question. One wonders if the CNN pollsters are deliberately disengenuous, or simply do so many of these things that they forget about bias effects. Perhaps they should try to remember their training from basic survey methods…

barack has a plan for both.mccain cant find his rear with both hands.

The Bush administration is just hoping the public will sacrifice the environment because of the bad economy, It is SO obvious one of their main goals is to get approval to drill along the currently protected CA & FL coastlines and in the ANWR before they leave office. Then they can continue to line their pockets & their corrupt fat-cat friends pockets for years & years to come.

Don't be duped by these snake oil salesmen. Don't sell out our most prime protected ocean fishing grounds & the ANWR for these snakes. Read the research– sacrificing these areas won't save 75 cents per BARREL on the price of oil, and you wouldn't see any results at all for probably five years anyway.

Are you willing to risk the main ocean seafood supply areas & the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve for about a PENNY off per GALLON at the gas pump? Think about your kids & grandkids & great-grandkids. Don't sell out their environment for the benefit of the corrupt Bush administration.

It’s pretty sad to hear that support for the environment has gone down in favor of driving the economy. It is proof positive that most Americans don't understand that the economy and the environment are linked and are inevitably intertwined in creating a good standard of living. Our economy is in the gutter because we are simultaneously consuming large amounts of resources at unsustainable rates while not generating any real value (i.e. the finance industry, real estate boom etc.). Scarier still is that people think the government is somehow the responsible institution for the health of both the economy and the environment. The government may have some influence over these elements of our society through policy, but it is ultimately up to the citizens of this country to do what is right and educate themselves on how their decisions affect our future as a society.

It's the Planet stupid!
2 solutions come to mind insofar as saving the planet:

1. Global birth control
Earth cannot sustain unrestrained and rampant overpopulation.
Our resources are finite. Not infinite.
2. Actually, # 1 would solve more problems.
Less hunger, less violence, etc..
I have said it many times.
Put too many rats in a cage and they will destroy each other.
Desperate people do desperate things. They cease to be rational.
Animals have more sense. When food is short the breeding slows.

Obama's plan includes green collar jobs, so that would help both - ideas and changes for the environment and create American jobs.

When will everyone realize that you can't have a sound economy without a healthy environment?

Economy vs environment is NOT an either/or issue, so it shows how stupid the American people have become

My guess is the 44% are republicans who can care less about the environment as long as the oil companies are making profit and as a resualt Bush and the rest of the republicans are getting richer, but what they do not understand is if the environment is not protected they will die with disease before they enjoy the money.

Obama is the least electable democratic candidate, in a year when a democrat can NOT lose the election.

That is why the DNC and the left wingers worked SO hard to install him as nominee. EVEN an unqualified, ineperienced left wing socialist radical elitist has a running chance in today's political climate.

It was NOW or never for Obama- a country that is in such a bad way that even the worst democrat appears to be better to many people than the best republican.

Winning by default- that is the Obama way since he has no merits and no track record.

All the issues matter.

The disapointment is that out of all the highly qualified democrats running, the DNC selected and installed the least worth and the least qualified, with the most questionable judgement and character.

So Obama is not a show in as expected… He is the first and only candidate that will force millions of democrats to NOTvote for the party nominee.

What a shame to play these dirty tricks and fix a primary… at this important time in our nation's history.

As the person quoted in the article said, this is a false dichotomy. However it is still sad that so many people are willing to sacrifice the environment for so-called economic growth. What about our children and grandchildren - what kind of world do we want to leave for them?

I told you CNN. This election is going to come down to two issues:

The first issue is energy independence. What makes sense to the American people? Sit on our thumbs. I think not. It's time to not only push for drilling, but to:

Invest in Nuclear Energy
Mandate higher gas milleage on all cars being sold in America
Reduce the Speed Limit to 55
Tax incentives for going green (hybrids, electric cars, etc.)
Investment in Coal research (We are the Saudi Arabia of Coal)

The second issue is taxes. Is it smart to raise taxes on anyone in the midst of a recession? I think not.

John McCain is right on both issues. I was going to vote for Hill, but experience doesn't matter to half the democrats, so I will cast my vote for McCain.

Hey, who needs competition!

Do like Obama did - challenge all of the petitions so you are the only one on the ticket. It's that simple! That way, the people have no choice but to vote for you.

Change the Rules
Change your Stance
Change your Religion
Change your Close Friends
Change the Party

Change Obama can make you believe in! I believe it!

The Environment and the Economy are equally important issues. I hope that as we find alternative means for energy we pave the way for new industries that will eventually boost our economy. The U.S. should be a leader in innovation and technology, so maybe the federal government should establish a few grants to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit of our countries top scientists, engineers, etc…

Obama '08

YES, WE SCAM!

It isn't the environment or being green. It is the ecology of Earth. Every aspect of life as we know it is governed by Earth's ecosystems, which are essentially, the living, physical body of Earth. From oxygen to fresh water to the gaseous composition in the atmosphere and inluding governing the climate, mankind and Earth are ecosystem dependent for life. The artifacts of civilization are dead planet and are much hotter than a dense, biologically rich ecosystem, and this heat is reflected. Science refers to cities as heat islands.

It is stupendous news that Americans care about their home, Earth, but ecological literacy should be their top priority as this is the path to take to save Earth. Every American should learn what an ecosystem is, what biological diversity is and why they should care. The protection and salvation of ecosystems is man's number one environmental issue above all else because our lives depend upon them.

Its sad that the average person is too ignorant to realize that investing in environmental tech and jobs now will help the economy in the long run. It is funny or sickening that a majority of people think that re-opening off shore drilling will have any effect on the price of a gallon of gas. It will take years to set up, drill, produce, and refine the oil. Wake up people, this is yet another ploy to get the oil companies more profits. Where is Teddy Roosevelt when we need him??

I don't think its one or the other, i think you need a balance. It's good to have ideas about energy and all these great ideas but at the same time you have to look at all the environmental factors as well. But we have to come to some agreement. Because i could care less about the migration patterns of animals in Alaska, just route them another way for goodness sakes. If you can drill off the coast SAFELY then find a way. It's obvious it can be done China is already drilling mere miles off of OUR coastlines. Of course that won't help the immediate prices but maybe it would curve the speculations and yield benefits in the future. But other alternatives should definately be persuaded as well.

If we fix the economy the right way it will fix the environment. If we fix the environment the right way it will fix the economy!!!! Jobs in solar, wind, electric cars, etc. Repair our infrustructure like the old CCC camps. Build high speed trains. See, they fix each other!!!!! It's the economy stupid!!!! Check Obama's website for all the right things to do for our economy under his energy plan. WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

Finally, people are getting their prioritys straight.

As the science behind global warming and general devestation of Earth's ecosystem reaches the general public and has the chance to sink in, the more we are able to realize that money compared to life on Earth has much less weight. Even if people are selfish and ignorant enough to value money more than the sanctity of life, they must realize that the refusal to invest in the environment now bears much harsher financial retributions later than any economic depression we may be experiencing now. Either way you look at it, the environment is our number one priority.

Economic downturns happen quite frequently and are usually of relatively short duration. Even during deeper recessionary period people adjust their lifestyles to fit the situation. Tough times spur innovation and eventually standards rise again to pre-recession levels.

Environmental degradation, if not permanent, is extremly long term (generational, in fact) . One should never lose sight of the fact that knee-jerk reactionary tacticts designed to deal with one or two of the symptoms contributing to the problem may contribute to a larger problem that could prove difficult (or impossible to fix).

We need energy now! We need nuclear energy and domestic oil natural gas and coal to stay strong and become energy independent. We can't just stop using oil, and we can't save the environment and develop new technologies with a crumbling economy, food and gas riots, and/or spiraling poverty, etc.

Only a fool is going to buy into the "Let's go drill everywhere off the coast and Alaska".

Increase the MPG on cars, build power generating - non polluting windmills off the coast like every other civilized country is doing! Most of our electrical need could be supplied that way, then our oil from the US wells could go into all the other things it's needed for like fertilizer, plastics, pharmaceuticals.

Windmills could be built and online in 3 years, oil drilling off the coasts wouldn't start helping before 10 - 12 years from now.

Are you better off today than 8 years ago? If you are you must be a Republican and rich.

Saving the environment is GOOD for our economy. Developing alternative energy sources at home will make us independent of the Middle East and other nations we depend on for oil, create thousands if not millions of new jobs for Americans and fix the environment. Plus it can all be handled by American companies. Why would we NOT pursue these goals?

OBAMA '08!

It starts with the invironment, we need it to produce and function properly. If we can't breath clean air and the toxins fall to the land then how can we grow pure healthy foods? If we stop throwing up gases in the air we will sufficate that in which we caused. If most of these things can be corrected then our economy should feel the difference, this is my opinion.

If you care about the lives of your grandchildren then it's a no brainer. Either we set the environment as a priority now or future generations won't have to worry about the economy at all because there won't be one.

If our planet and it's environment go to pot, there'll be no need for and economy. We'll all be dead.

73% of the 1,000 Americans that took the poll thought we should be drilling more off the coast, huh? Sigh. Why? Oil and the technology that surrounds it is akin to VCRs when DVD players first came out. Our country is addicted to oil, just like any junkie addicted to any drug. If you are addicted to heroin, the answer is not more of it! We should be using this opportunity to get off of oil entirely. The effort will take just as long as it would to see any benefit to the extra drilling. So why should we dump all this money into a dying and inherently limited technology when we could be spending it on energy sources that don't pollute our shores and warm our climate?

it' simple why americans are more concerned with the environment, because we won't really need money, if we destroy the planet in the process of fixing the economy.

Ok, I am all for the envrironment, but we have to stop living in this dream where we think that we can do without tapping our own resources. Drilling is not what it was 30 years ago, it's cleaner and more effecient. And we are also going to need more nuclear reactors, it's either that or keep burning the coal which is polluting our air, water, etc. gotta make a choice folks…

One of the main problems is that saving the environment is often confused with overburdensome bureaucracy and paperwork. The environmental regulations in place now already are stifiling our economy and keeping us from building new refining capacity, drilling, etc. It seems every year the EPA is coming up with new standards and regulations with a small basis in science and a large basis in hype and confusion. Just because you relax some regulation does not mean the environment is going to be harmed. Even the evil corp execs live in the same communities you do and breathe the same air, drink the same water, etc. They want it clean too! Look at CO2, it is NOT a pollutant, but starting to be regulated as one by the EPA. Maybe we could stop breathing for a while…..

I knew it was a matter of time before we started burning environmentalists for heat and fuel.

cool.
the earth will be here for future generations.
the economy isn't real - it's a name for something that doesn't really exist - and certainly has less of an impact on future generations than the ground we walk (or drive) on.

If we don't stop messing with the air we breath and the ground we walk on, Planet Earth will shake the human race and off like a tick.

why not do both. there is alot of money in saving the panet . it just the 1% @ the top has all there money in distroying the planet. and they dont like to lose money.

If we don't get our economy working there won't be any financial resources to take care of our environment problem.

These survey are not really helpful for the planet. These two issues are directly related and should not be pitted against each other. The economists need to do a better job illustrating to "Joe American" that there are economic benefits to behaving environmentally and protecting what resources we have left.

Whaaat!? Whose poll was that? No Thank you. Fix the economy now before we go into a depression and starve.

We will ignore the warning signs that mother Nature is giving us. It will be to our peril. If we want our children to have a decent Earth left to live in, let us all pitch in now, a bit of pain now for us, and our children will be able to live healthier and wealthier lives.

Yay!

Down with human civilization!

Up with spotted owls!

If we don't drill here for oil soon, we will be freezing in the dark–let the democrats live off the land–the rest of us like to stay warm. They can all go and live at the North Pole where they say the ice is melting–(another political Hoax). They will have to be nice to Canada, though as they claim to own the Artic. Better keep nafta for a while!

It is time our country pays its bills like we did in the 1990s.

We would be paying about 80 dollars a barrell for oil if the dollar was as strong as it was in 2001. Instead, since we overspend, cut taxes on the extremely wealthy, and give money back to americans we are hugely in debt.

It is time we have a president who pays the federal deficit off. Remember how the economy functioned in the 90s?

Sacrificing long-term environment stability for short-term economic stability is the equivalent of eating our seed corn. We'll feel good for the future but have even greater problems later. The structure of the economy is shifting, "green jobs" are where growth is (pure-play solar companies were the largest growth sector of the global stock market in 2006), and we need to get aboard the new economic train instead of trying to push the old one down the track. The tired old argument of "economy vs. the environment" is the wrong frame to cast the discussion in. The right question is, "how do we leverage environmental values and opportunities to grow our way into the 21st century instead of trying to cling to the 20th?"

I don't believe this for a minute. If helping my pocketbook helps the environment, fine…but I am not going to put myself out for something that I don't believe is in peril to start with. Climate change? How about weather patterns, everybody!

Again the headline is misleading it should say "Americans STILL support the environment even with failing economy". While it is expected for those who think instant relief from any uncomfortable condition is somehow their right to say that we should further destroy our ecology in order to save them a few cents in oil/gas prices the remarkable thing about this article is the fact that more Americans still understand that being good to our environment is better for us than saving those few cents. maybe the 30something years of environmental education is beginning to sink in to Americans. We CAn have a better environment and NOT put ourselves in the poor house to do so. Fuel prices are high (I buy gas just like everyone else) but are still significantly lower than elsewhwere in the world, we, as Americans, have to learn to reset our priorities, if we still want to drive large gas sucking cars by ourselves we might just have to give up having a new one every two years and maybe not eating out as often or maybe just getting by with less, we really do not need a cell phone for every person in a family, each child in their own bedroom or 4 TVs per household (US average!)

Its the Environment Stupid!

When are politicians going to wake up and realize that we are humans BEFORE Americans.

Has anyone noticed that the price of copper has increased 400% during the Bush Administration and it just so happens that copper is the primary component of solar panels?

Has anyone noticed that acetone as a gasoline additive increases engine efficiency and decreases carbon emmissions and that American Auto Manufacturers are now making engine parts more susceptible to damage by acetone when they were before resistant?

Has anyone noticed that the WTO ruled that a municipality providing clean forms of natural energy to help decrease the electric bills of their citizenry was ruled an illegal trade barrier and is now prohibited?

Has anyone realized anything?

My, my, my, so it's the economy. Then why is everything that used to be made here is now made overseas? We are no longer anindustrial nation, we are more like a third world country and I don't see it getting any better in the near future. We cannot sustain ourselves any longer.

Through good times and bad, the environment will always be with us. If we start screwing up the environment, drilling in the Gulf, etc. we will be stuck with the problems even if the economy improves. Our environment is like money in the bank. It is important even if we have to go through difficulties. We need to keep it safe.

It's been said we're addicted to oil, and the willingness of so many people to drill in our remaining Wilderness areas really does appear as if the addicts are desperate to get one last fix. We simply don't have the oil reserves to change the fact that we need to switch to alternative energy sources and emphasize conservation. The USA needs to find a cure for it's addiction, and we need to protect our environment.

SO we are successfully being STARVED into letting Bush have his way with the Oil Drilling? Who didn't call this one when these ENRON style Oil Traders started this artificial speculation ( That Bush has allowed to go on unregulated I might add)

It doesn't have to be either/or. Environmentalism can be good for the economy. This pitting of economy versus environment seems to feed into the President's push to drill domestically to improve the economy. I'm unclear if he has any other ideas for improving the economy that don't involve oil.

everyone says this until it effects them. talk is cheap.

In which way saving the environment is risking the economic growth?
and in which way the economic growth is hurting the environment?

your reserch poll don't give us much to support one or the other?

Also, in which way "fixing of the economy " what are the "fixing" ? drilling for oil? banking? emigration? tell me what government focus on economic growth your poll said>?

To phrase the question this way is a false choice … this is not a PICK either / or situation.

We must fix both together.

We need to focus more on creating "green" solutions. Drilling for oil will only temporary help us, but once that is gone, or destroyed by a natural disaster (hurricane/earth quakes) Then we will be right back to square one, high oil prices and no/outdated "green" technology

Just what is going on that youre not posting anything here. You have places there are over 1000 and then cut a bunch off at 10 or 30 and now nothing here. People take their time to put their thoughts and feelings down and send to you and you really have a strange way of treating your fans. You don't seem to really want anything anti Obama among ot things.