(emphasis mine)

I stopped reading at:
"Today on a segment of the "Glen Beck . . . "

When the thread's a joke to begin with, it's hard to have anything like a quality discussion.

Thank you, dippin. I understand.

Out of all this other bickering, this post makes the most sense and is probably closest to reality.

I quoted this not only to praise it but so that it wasn't lost in all the bickering and nonsense.

Thanks ASU.

You're right, Pan. Thanks ASU.

What do you believe? The empty words in his speech or the actions of his administration? The empty words during his campaign or his empty words in the state of The Union Address? My point has been that Obama's empty words contain something for everyone, you can walk away having heard whatever you wanted to hear. He is masterful at it, but what does he really believe? Do you know?

Va. officials upset by report that feds will delay sale of offshore oil leases | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

{added}


I would love an explanation, to help me understand Obama's position.

so the a priori that underpins the fabrication of this story is a conservative fave---that "we" should be drilling the fuck out of american territorial waters as a pathway to some illusory conservative version of "energy independence"...so the story in the op is constructed basically to trigger this response from amongst the conservative faithful. it doesn't matter that the story's a fabrication. what matters is that the conservative us/them boundary is activated on matters of energy policy. wouldn't want the troops to start agreeing with the obama administration about something sensible now would you?

I know what I am for, I know what I think will work. I could say the same for the politicians I support. I am clueless when it comes to you, liberals, and politicians like Obama. What is your solution? what do you want to do? What do you support? How do you think we should address our growing energy needs? I know I won't get any clear or coherent response, but I present the questions to make the point.

The obama and democrat lies continue. They say they want to end our dependence on foreign oil, but do nothing to end the dependence. We have all of the resources we need here in our own country. Besides the energy industry could lower unemployment.

Ending our dependence on foreign oil does not mean drilling for our own oil.

I can't say I know as much as I'd like. In the Canadian media, I get a few reports of what goes on in American discussions and policy. I get the sense that Obama is taking a multifaceted approach that includes conservation, alternative energy solutions, in addition to these "tough decisions" on oil projects. There is also the issue of incentives for developing current projects more than they already have. The other issue, of course, is doing all of this during a recession. It's difficult to use incentives as a tool when companies and individuals are in defensive mode.

Although I'd say it might be a part of the solution, it certainly isn't the "crown jewel." There are a number of areas that can still be explored: development of alternative sources of energy (not just "green" energy, but, perhaps, natural gas, which remains grossly underused); new technologies for improved efficiency on the consumer, commercial, and industrial levels; investment and development of the oil sands in Canada (though "foreign," Canada is a far more beneficial trading partner than other foreign oil sources); and, of course, the maximization of current oil projects.

The focus I see on offshore drilling I think is shortsighted, considering everything else that tends to get overlooked. It's a good thing its not overlooked by everyone.

Neither the outer continental shelf nor the Alaskan wildlife refuge have anywhere near the reserves to make the US "energy independent."