Is Pres. Obama’s reversal of Exec. Order on Oil/Gas drilling supported by 70% of US the politics of change? ?
During the election, President-Elect Obama said he supported Oil/Gas exploration (including offshore drilling) under pressure from polling that showed 70% of Americans believed that oil/gas exploration was an important component in addressing our energy needs and foreign dependence on oil. Today he announced his intention to reverse the presidential order to permit such exploration despite his assurances from the past. No one is saying that such exploration is a substitute for alternative energy and conservation, but given that he is reversing a campaign promise so quickly after the election, what might we assume about the energy policies of this administration. Should this conversion to the traditional Democratic opposition to oil exploration cause us concern that the bi-partisan, transformational presidency is not what those of us who are withholding judgment might hope for?
It is the lead story on Yahoo right now. They were quoting John Podesta from Fox News Sunday who was speaking on behalf of the new administration.
For those of you who don't know, an Executive Order bi-passes the legislative process and can only be overturned by an act of Congress. It is a way to shelter the Congress from unpopular acts and is an Act of Executive Courage to protect his party.
Carpe Diem, let's stick to the facts. You are quoting June Obama. I am referring to September Obama. People are always calling for criticism of Obama in this forum to be factual. Defenses of Obama should be held to the same standard.
Mercer Devil, He never qualified it that way in the debates nor did his website offer such a qualification. Facts are stubborn things.
I am not trying to debate energy policy here. I was just wondering if this quick reveral of very public promise is telling us something about where we are going.
I don't want to believe that we will so quickly revert to the politics of the past. I would also point out that Obama supporters should be careful about comparing Pres-El;ct Obama to Bush, since Bush is the most venal corrupt, stupid, dangerous, worst president ever (in their minds) and not a good point of comparison. May I suggest that you stick to the comparison to JFK which was repeatedly made by Obama's admirers?
HC, the story on Yahoo and New York Times says they are reviewing all Executive Orders and are targeting stem cell and oil/gas for immediate reversal. Check it out. I used act of Executive Courage as a phrase because as much as we conservatives may resent such actions, when a Repub president has used this divise it was to advance the conservative agenda while taking all of the blame and public anger upon himself to shield the Congress from the political backlash. I think that is courage — however misplaced.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Get used to this.. he was for it.. now he’s against it.. he’s for it.. he isn’t.
He will be our best ” flip flop ” president yet… only thing I worry about is what he will do when he is ” tested’.. and he will be. Hope he can make a decision then!
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
The lead story said they are reviewing Bush's executive orders. They haven't said which they'd reverse.
"Act of Executive Courage"?? Funny name for "subversion of checks and balances."
EDIT: By interesting coincidence, I just read a story about recent presidential transitions (link below). It mentions:
'Carter had his revenge in the dying hours of his presidency when he issued numerous "midnight regulations" favoured by the Democrats. But even there Reagan had the last laugh; he promptly nullified them.'
Pretty much the same situation we're seeing develop here.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
He cant reverse anything or issue any orders or mandates or edicts hes not president yet. Although he sure acts as he is and its very disrepectful for him to think he is.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
"President-elect Obama's transition chief said Sunday the incoming administration is looking to reverse President Bush's executive orders on stem cell research, oil and gas drilling and other matters."
A liberal reversing himself once he is office? No way!
Like being the great unifyer and showing his bipartisan spirit by appointing a guy to chief of staff that once called out democrats by name who voted with republicans and, while listing their names, shouted "dead dead dead" while plunging a steak knife into a table? (the guy voted with democrats 98% of the time).
By the way, the oil companies can't use the leases they already have. They are tied up in court by environmental groups or by the government. Be real. If oil companies could get to oil don't you think they would?
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I expect he will honor mostly nothing that he promised, except the wealth redistribution.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Im a black democrat
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Did you feel this strongly about W’s agenda to find a way to start a war with Iraq? He had this agenda but never shared it with the American public during his election campaign.
Those oil reserves will be there in the future and be worth even more than they are now. We can solve our energy issues in other ways – isn’t that’s what is more important? Drilling now won’t lower the cost of your gas for 10 years – and there are many other strategies to lower energy costs that take 10 years or less.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I don't worry about it because Obama never promised to allow unconditional oil/gas exploration. His campaign promise was that he would allow it if it was necessary to garner Republican support for expanded funding for alternative fuel research. Bush's order does not call for such funding. Obama wants to make sure the horse is pulling the cart before giving it any carrots.
Edit: So is memory. Everytime I heard him bring up offshore oil drilling, he included that qualification.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Yes, Obama said all along the oil companies should use the leases they already have before going off shore.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Just his first of many broken promises and disastrous policies. Gas prices will now skyrocket. Just the fact that a president-elect said something like this will be enough to spook prices.
Obama's not even president yet and he's already a disaster!
Katrina:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081109/ap_on_el_pr/obama
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I hope gas goes to $30 a gallon…I can afford it….but, the little people will suffer.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
If it is legitimate, it can be passed legitmately. We have a legislative process, and it’s time we had a President who was willing to use it.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
It’s only the beginning of Obama enforcing his own agenda and not an agenda of the people. It is what I have been concerned about all along.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
No energy, no economy.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Do you have a link, please?
EDIT: Did you read the whole article? It's not the drilling itself, it's where they want to do it. Obama has said himself numerous times that drilling isn't the best way to move forward in alternative energy sources. He's never hidden the fact that he's not all that keen on it.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
He’s right to try to get us off a petroleum-based economy ASAP.
He could approve drilling, then tie it up for his whole time in office via the EPA. He’ll not let the Green Power thing become subject to the public’s ill-advised notion that more drilling is what the USA needs.
The politics of change is not continuing to do the self-abusive things that we have done for the last 50 years or more.