[baronaaba]

LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...0,749716.story

President Obama will open Alaska's national petroleum reserve to new drilling, as part of a broad plan aimed at blunting criticism that he is not doing enough to address rising energy prices.

The plan, unveiled in Obama's weekly radio address Saturday, also would fast-track environmental assessment of petroleum exploration in some portions of the Atlantic and extend the leases of oil companies whose work in the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic Ocean was interrupted by the drilling moratorium after last year's BP oil spill.


The measures come as high gasoline prices and the resulting popular anger threaten the fragile economic recovery and, possibly, the president's reelection chances in 2012. Congressional Republicans and some Democrats have been clamoring for increased domestic production in response to the rising prices, which economists say vary with global demand.

...

The United States consumes nearly 25% of the world's daily crude oil output but is home to only 2% of its proven reserves, leading analysts to conclude that increased domestic output will not drive down prices substantially.

The plan will not require congressional approval. Obama will direct the Interior Department to hold annual oil and gas lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, beginning later this year.

[agrismhig]

Is this his colsolation prize to the Republicans?

[Zmniubqr]

It would seem so, yes. Give this up, keep ANWR off the table, push on ending oil subsidies.

[zU8KbeIU]

Just another talking point The president is taking away from the Republicans heading towards the 2012 election. A Republican friend of mine recently was chiding Obama for not doing this, now what?

[EnubreBense]

I don't know how I feel about this. His mind works in mysterious ways.

[NikkitaZ]

I do think it's designed to pull the rug out from under the GOP for next year. However, I also think it's a mistake to do this, a knee-jerk reaction to the current prices, and really won't have much impact over the long haul.

But I have to admit it's good to see the President recognizing political realities again, as well as downright funny that the GOP leadership probably didn't see this coming, even after they announced that their top priority was to see that he wasn't re-elected in 2012. Do they really believe that the man is stupid?

[shinesw]

.....downright funny that the GOP leadership probably didn't see this coming, even after they announced that their top priority was to see that he wasn't re-elected in 2012. Do they really believe that the man is stupid?

He has to be cuz he ain't in our old white man club