What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race - We'll start with John McCain... John McCain said the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their own coasts. The current drilling moratorium is a perennial cause for controversy, pitting those who favor additional exploration on the one hand against environmentalists on the other. The current ban on offshore drilling covers an estimated 80% of U.S. coastal waters. Shows how much I know about this. I didn't even know there was a moratorium. McCain also suggested giving the states incentives, including a greater share of royalties paid by companies that drill for oil, as an incentive to permit exploration. Critics would point out that McCain's plan doesn't go far enough to address the broader issue of reducing America's dependency on oil, but rather offers (at best) a short term solution for increasing our domestic supply. Which, if past market trends are any indicator, will serve to drive up demand for gasoline and wipe out any potential reduction in prices we pay at the pump. Yeah, I guess you could classify me as a critic.

So what's Senator Obama up to these days? Al Gore announced his endorsement of Barack Obama and promised to help the Democrat achieve what eluded him — the presidency. In 2000, Gore won the popular vote but lost the disputed 2000 election to George W. Bush, who captured Florida and its electoral votes after a divided Supreme Court ended the recount. So basically, Obama got the endorsement of the dude who won the popular vote but lost the election. I'm not sure I would ask Gore for too many tips on how to win the November election. Usually the guy with the most votes win, but somehow Gore managed to buck that trend. (Of course, the Supreme Court basically handing the election to Bush didn't help, but that's a different conversation).

Afghanistan - Hundreds of Afghans demonstrated in support of President Hamid Karzai's threat to send troops against Taliban militant leaders in Pakistan, with many protesters saying they were ready to take up arms. Across the border, Pakistan summoned the Afghan ambassador to lodge a protest, saying it too would defend itself. Karzai's threat — the first time he has said he would send forces into Pakistan — comes only days after a sophisticated Taliban assault on Kandahar's prison freed 870 prisoners, including hundreds of Taliban militants. Karzai has long pleaded with Pakistan and the international community to confront Taliban safe havens in tribal areas. And we all know how successful NATO has been so far in that regard. Heck, I say give the Afghans a shot. It's their country; they should have the opportunity to defend themselves. Although Afghanistan appeared unlikely to follow through on the threat, the spat marked a new low in relations between two key nations in the U.S.-led war on terror, often strained over allegations of cross-border militancy. Now that's saying something, because U.S. relations with Pakistan have been in the toilet for quite sometime now.

Marriage - Dozens of gay couples planned to rush down to their county clerk's office this evening to be among the very first to say "I do" under the historic court ruling making California the second state to allow same-sex marriages. The May 15 decision by the California Supreme Court was set to take effect at 5 p.m. While Mondays are not exactly a big day for weddings, at least five county clerks around the state agreed to extend their hours to issue marriage licenses, and many gay couples planned to get married on the spot. I hear most of these folks were lured by the promise of an "early bird" special. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of couples from around the country are expected to seize the opportunity to make their unions official in the eyes of the law. Unlike Massachusetts, which legalized gay marriage in 2004, California has no residency requirement for marriage licenses, and that is expected to draw a great number of out-of-state couples. The turnout could also be boosted by New York state's recent announcement that it will recognize gay marriages performed in other jurisdictions. A UCLA study estimated that half of California's more than 100,000 same-sex couples will get married over the next three years, and an additional 68,000 out-of-state couples will travel here to exchange vows. The study estimated that over that period, gay weddings will generate some 2,200 jobs and $64 million in badly needed tax revenue for the state, which is ailing financially. The skeptic in me wonders whether or not if the state wasn't facing a $20 billion budget shortfall if this ruling wouldn't have different. Basic human rights as outlined by the state constitution are one thing (hell you can change the law anytime you want), but we're talking some serious cash here at a time when revenue outlooks are rather bleak. Plus, I don't know about you, but I'm thinking 100,000 weddings are going to generate a lot more economic stimulus than some $300 tax rebate checks. When was the last time you saw anyone throw a wedding for $300?

Golf - Let me preface this story with just 7 words--YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME... With a throbbing knee and a pounding heart, Tiger Woods made one last improbable escape Monday and won the U.S. Open in a 19-hole playoff over Rocco Mediate, his 14th career major and maybe the most amazing of them all. One shot behind after a collapse no one saw coming, Woods birdied the 18th hole to force sudden death at Torrey Pines against Mediate who was trying to become the oldest U.S. Open champion at 45 years, 6 months. It capped a remarkable week for the world's No. 1 player, who had not played since April 15 surgery on his left knee and looked as though every step was a burden. But the knee held up for 91 holes, and the payoff was worth the pain, even if doctors had warned him that he risked further injury by playing the Open. It was Woods' 65th career victory, passing Ben Hogan for third all-time, raised his playoff record to 15-2 and made it 14-of-14 in majors when he had at least a share of the lead going into the final round. He now has won every major in a playoff except for the British Open. Umm...yeah...like, wow.