A tiger doesn't change his stripes, but a tiger is the master of camouflage and so, I contend, is President Obama. As a senator from Illinois Obama had spoken out against offshore drilling when his opponent Sen. McCain proposed striking down the federal moratorium banning offshore oil and gas drilling to help alleviate high gas prices. Throughout the campaign Obama refused to cede any ground, calling McCain's proposal "a strategy designed to get politicians through an election."He went on to say: "It's not going to provide short-term relief or medium-term relief or in fact long-term relief. It won't drop prices in this administration or in the next administration or in the administration after that."
So what has changed?
Well, the Senate, which is controlled by a near overwhelming Democrat majority, essentially refuses to even vote on Obama's so-called Cap and Trade dominated energy bill. The economy killing carbon reducing rules in this plan is a huge detriment to passing the bill. With the credibility of the global warming alarmists in question the appetite to self impose draconian rules on energy consumption in the political class and in the general public is very weak. Especially at a time when the economy is this fragile.
So the President is engaging in crass political move to buy votes in the Senate. He has no intention or any real expectation that new drilling will ever take place. The coordinated effort in getting this apparent policy shift out into the public consciousness was designed to make Obama appear to be compromising. His allies in the environmental movement and minions in the EPA will make sure no new oil platforms will ever be erected.
The real strategy of the Obama administration - based on actions not words - is one of energy starvation. Obviously this will be done slowly, behind the scenes while maintaining the outward appearance that he is a reasonable centrist. This is his MO on all issues. Personally, I don't believe a word he says - about anything.
CW
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