UPDATE (4/1/10): My esteemed colleague W. B. Picklesworth has convinced me that half the premise of this post is faulty. The President's announcement on oil exploration turns out to be a bit of a crap souffle on closer examination. Apologies to all for being a rube on this one -- Mr. D
We certainly bash the President around here rather a lot, primarily because much of what he does deserves bashing. But fairness requires that we praise the President when he does the right thing. And today, he did the right thing twice.
First of all, he has cleared the way for offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia. Later on, we learned that the U.S. test-fired a Trident missile in military exercises with Saudi Arabia, which was a clear message to Iran that clowntime is over.
Two good moves -- the environmentalists on Obama's side will go as ballistic as the missile that was fired, but too bad. There's no good reason to leave oil or natural gas in the ground. Meanwhile, the whackjob Iranian government gets a welcome reminder that while they might have designs on blasting Israel or immolating some Sunnis, there would be a fearsome price to pay. It's a clear message that should have been delivered a long time ago, but at least the message is clear. We take what we can get these days. Good show, Mr. President.
10 comments:
Mr. D, I am not buying the energy decision just yet, especially if it is part of a larger energy policy that otherwise restricts domestic energy exploration and usage. The proof and pudding and all that. He's not exactly built himself a reputation for straight shooting (pardon the violent imagery.)
Why only off VA? What about the West Coast and in Anwar and in the Gulf of Mexico?
Half assed effort by Obama, getting used to it.
half good, anyway.
drill here.
drill now.
i hear ya, cuz dan.
if i were pres, i'd be drilling in yellowstone.
I hear ya, WBP. It's a start. If it's an end, then we talk further.
Dan, I don't disagree. Maybe we can get more later.
Gino, LOL. I want a derrick in every national park.
Reclaiming the oil from Charlie Rangel's dome will reduce dependency on foreign oil by 10%.
"When you cut through the hoopla, here is what Obama's announcement added up to:
* Cancelled five lease sales off the Alaska coast that were planned over the next 2 years. One of the areas is estimated to hold up to 77 billion barrels of oil, or more than 3 times US reserves.
* A study of the southern Atlantic OCS, with the findings due back next year....no leasing.
* Delayed a planned lease sale off Virginia until at least 2012."
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/03/025970.php
The president is a con man.
WBP, you've persuaded me. I hereby retract my praise for Mr. Obama on this issue.
Dan, that seems a conservative estimate.
This is best to be played in a partisan fashion as Obama does best.
Conservatives need to know this really is a plan to drill here but drill much much later.
Liberals need to be told that Obama is supporting MORE domestic drilling!
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