While most of the country and pundits have been consumed with the healthcare issue, some members of the O-man's administration have been looking ahead to what they can screw up during the rest of his term in office.
Don't think our imperial leader is going to stop with healthcare.
Oh no.
There's more to do!
Remember "Cap and Trade", Immigration, and all the other things he spoke about when promising to "fundamentally change the United States of America"?
Let's look at just one small item, and where he intends to lead us.
Right now, he's poised to ban offshore oil drilling on the outer continental shelf until 2012 or beyond.
Supposedly, this ban will accelerate the process for the United States to shift gears to alternative fuels to battle the purported evils of carbon emissions.
This administration, however, views energy policy only through green glasses.
Every aspect of its approach to energy is subordinated to radical environmental concerns.
The O-man wants to force the country to shift its energy production to alternative sources, such as nuclear, solar and wind power.
In theory, there's nothing wrong with that, in the long run, assuming technology can catch up to demand.
But we're nowhere near the green utopia the libs envision, and we won't get there anytime soon.
America needs more oil now to bridge the gap.
So, while the O-man is banning us from drilling oil in offshore areas like the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, the rest of the world isn't waiting.
They're drilling now, and doing it right in our backyard.
And then, they'll sell our oil back to us at top dollar.
Right now, Russia is making a bold strategic leap to begin drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Soviets more sensibly view energy primarily as a strategic resource, as many previous U.S. Republican administrations have.
Energy is critical to Russia's economy, as fuel and as a source of profit through export.
Just like it is to us.
Russia also has used energy as a strategic weapon, shutting off natural gas piped to Eastern Europe in the middle of winter to make a point about how dependent the countries are that do business with the Russians.
Now Russia is using oil exploration to establish a new presence in the Western Hemisphere.
It recently concluded four contracts securing oil-exploration rights in Cuba's economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
A Russian-Cuban joint partnership will exploit oil found in the deep waters of the Gulf.
Oil that we could be exploiting as well.
But, the Carter administration recognized Cuba has rights to the area in which drilling will be conducted, in the same era as it gave away the Panama Canal.
From Russia's perspective, this is another way to gain leverage inside what traditionally has been America's sphere of influence.
It may not be as pointed as attempting to use Cuba as a missile platform, but in the energy wars, the message is the same.
Russia is projecting power into the Western Hemisphere while the United States retreats.
And now, Russia will erect oil derricks off the Cuban coast.
Derricks that, on a good day, will be seen from Florida waters.
American offshore oil production makes economic sense anytime, but especially in these economic times.
It creates jobs and helps fulfill America's vast energy needs.
It contributes to the gross domestic product and does not increase the trade deficit.
Higher oil supply helps keep a lid on rising prices, and greater American production gives the United States more influence over the global market.
American production, refining, and distribution secures a vital national security asset.
And, Americans want our country to drill, in many areas.
A Pew Research Center poll from February showed 63 percent of Americans support offshore drilling for oil and natural gas.
Americans understand the fundamental points:
The oil is there, and we need it.
If we don't drill it out, we have to buy it from other countries, giving them control of a major component of our economy.
The current price of oil makes drilling economically feasible, so why not let the private sector go ahead and get our oil?
Because the O-man would rather apologize to every other nation for American greatness, and give our strategic advantages and economic growth away to the rest of the world.
Just last year, the he even helped Brazil underwrite offshore drilling in the Tupi oil field near Rio de Janeiro.
That;s right, he gave away U.S. tax dollars to fund Brazil drilling for oil that we will eventually have to buy back.
Tax dollars that could have funded drilling here, and put Americans back to work while
helping our oil independence.
So the next time you fill your tank, remember why it costs so much.
And whatever you do, save your change.
You're going to need it.
"In ten years, we can reduce our dependence so that we no longer have to import oil from the Middle East or Venezuela. Number one, we need to expand domestic production and that means telling the oil companies the 68 million acres that they currently have leased that they’re not drilling, use them or lose them. " ---- Obama, 2008 third presidential debate against John McCain Oct 15, 2008
"Over the last 30 years, countries like Brazil have used a mix of regulation and direct government investment to develop a biofuel industry; 70% of its new vehicles run on sugar-based ethanol." ---- Obama: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.167-169 Oct 1, 2006
