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Posted on 05/14/2011 12:41:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
You know, in about 15 years or so, Barack Obama might actually come up with an energy policy that increases energy and grows the economy. After five months of escalating political heat, Obama finally decided that we could drill our way out of our problems — or at least his problems:
Facing continued public unhappiness over gas prices, President Barack Obama is directing his administration to ramp up U.S. oil production by extending existing leases in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska’s coast and holding more frequent lease sales in a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska.
Obama said Saturday that the measures “make good sense” and will help reduce U.S. consumption of imported oil in the long term. But he acknowledged anew that they won’t help to immediately bring down gasoline prices topping $4 a gallon in many parts of the country.
Is this leadership? No, it’s more like covering one’s party mascot:
His announcement followed passage in the Republican-controlled House of three bills — including two this week — that would expand and speed up offshore oil and gas drilling. Republicans say the bills are aimed at easing gasoline costs, but they also acknowledge that won’t be immediate.
The White House had announced its opposition to all three bills, which are unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, saying the measures would undercut safety reviews and open environmentally sensitive areas to new drilling.
Wow — sounds bad, huh? Why would anyone listen to Republican policies that do all that?
But Obama is adopting some of the bills’ provisions.
In fact, most of this action deals with extensions for existing leases, rather than new drilling. Instead of approving extension requests individually, Obama will issue blanket one-year extensions in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. The lease sales for the Gulf that Obama announced were supposed to take place last year. They’re not new leases. Obama did pledge to hold annual lease sales in Alaska’s North Slope area, where they had been ad hoc in the past, which is the only hint of new expansion in his remarks.
This isn’t leadership. It’s a threadbare attempt at triangulation that doesn’t add much new capacity at all, nor does it speed up the process of exploration and extraction. The White House will drag its heels on expansion of American production as long as possible; this announcement just buys Obama some time and a respite from the political fallout of high gas prices. Still, the fact that Obama had to protect himself in this manner shows how politically damaging his refusal to expand American production has become, and how damaging it will continue to be.
It’s amazing how quickly a leftist can move when political expediency demands it.
What’s this? I thought it was all Big Oil’s fault?
Maybe the public isn’t falling for the Democrat meme anymore.
He has decided nothing of the kind...his aides have decided that it is merely advantageous for him to be seen talking about increasing oil and gas production in an effort to curry favor with the ever fickle independent voter. Actually increasing domestic production is an entirely different matter and would work counter to the ‘green’ agenda.
As of this week, 60% of all drilling rigs in the world are drilling right here in the USA.
And over the last two years, oil production in the US has increased for the first time since 1991.
Maybe he can get the pimps at the Fed to stop murdering the dollar now too.
“Actually increasing domestic production is an entirely different matter and would work counter to the ‘green’ agenda.”
Domestic oil production has increased.
And production has increased, not because of Obama policies, but because of market pressures which have caused the price of oil to increase.
Obama is continuing the lie!
He set’s out conditional criteria and will continue a policy ensuring no applicants are compliant.
Actions speak louder than words. I have absolutely no reason to believe anything he says... he now has a track record of deceit.
“Obama finally decides to drill soon, drill here and there”
Everything he says is a lie. This would be no different.
He is looking for votes.
Bingo! The Liar in Chief is never going to take his boot off the line supplying our energy.
Throw the bum out.
Like everything else, he’s lying. Obama bin Lyin will mouth the words, but watch his minions interfere.
Don’t believe it.
Sad. Obama Official Salazar Lies to Congress About Gulf Oil Production (Video) …Update: Obama Repeats Lie
Posted by Jim Hoft on Friday, March 11, 2011, 11:46 AM
Maybe the public isn’t falling for the Democrat meme anymore.
Heh... all that nonsense about investigating high fuel prices. Witch-hunts don't work too well when everyone knows that the "witch" is the person initiating the hunt.
I never believed anything that sack of s—t has said.It’s all about statements made for political effect at a given moment.Not a grain of truth in any of it.
Italians are already on the North Slope.
Communist Chinese and Brazilians in the Gulf.
Russia has uranium deal in Wyoming.
Ubama and his EPA GAVE THOSE COUNTRIES drilling rights, and the deepwater rigs to Soros and the Africans.
...
Communist Chinese have Canadian oil sands tied up.
“The offshore drilling proposals Obama outlined in his radio address represent an effort to build political momentum as Republicans are pushing for a dramatic expansion U.S. oil production, but the plan does not represent a major change in overall policy for the White House.
Still, the announcement represents Obama’s response to a series of GOP-backed bills that passed the House in the last week that would require the Interior Department to hold new lease sales and speed up the permitting of drilling projects. While Obama opposes those bills, this proposal is an effort to show he is in favor of safe and limited drilling.”
White House bashes GOP drilling bills but doesn’t threaten vetoes
By Ben Geman - 05/05/11 09:51 AM ET
“The White House is attacking a pair of GOP offshore drilling bills that are on the House floor, alleging they would “undercut” safety and environmental reforms established after the BP oil spill.”
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