Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time

It takes all kinds of energy to contribute to the country's energy mix. Some oil and gas, some solar and wind, some nuclear and hydro, some conservation. For those ranting and raving about how bad this decision is, what responsibility do YOU accept for reducing dependance on fossil fuels ... or is solely the responsibility of governments and companies to provide affordable energy in a manner that satisfies your refined tastes? East coast has gas potential, not so sure about oil potential. OIl and gas drilling has taken place off the Texas and Louisiana coasts for decades. The Texas and Louisiana coast has bayous, barrier islands with sandy beaches, migratory bird sanctuaries... What is so special about the east coast that it must remain off-limits to oil and gas drilling? Why is the east coast 'environmentally sensitive'? Show me a plot of earth that is not 'environmentally sensitive' to one degree or another. It's not as if oil companies wilfully spill oil - every spilled drop is lost revenue. And lastly, many people probably imagine a forest of derricks like Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo. Even the North Sea, a major offshore oil and gas province, features small platforms (relatively speaking, deck area on a platform is one or two suburban lots) separated by miles and miles of open water.

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The drilling policy change will require an act of congress. If a presidential order were enough, the shrub would have issued it.

The GOP has promised noncooperation in all things. There are more than 41 Democrats in the senate who will oppose drilling under all conditions. If the GOP breaks their promise and votes for the bill it will be blocked and they will once again demonstrate their duplicity. If they vote against the bill it will never come up again, they will loose their oil based backers and not be elected.

This is not a Tea Bagging, it is a sand bagging. I say let it play out. I want to see this GOP die. We need a loyal oposition.