Drill, ba...oh, screw it

Now, I'm guessing oil and gas companies haven't exactly been clamoring to drill off the coast of New Jersey, so maybe this is all optics by the Kenyan three-dimensional chess master. But, really, shouldn't we have a real chance at climate change legislation out of the Senate before he starts compromising?

And before you get all, "I thought McCain/Palin lost," Obama did say he was open to drilling during the campaign and he has set aside a huge area off the Alaskan cost as off-limits for drilling. But making this announcement without anything in return from Republicans is a bitter pill for conservationists to swallow.

The Senate is expected to take up a climate bill in the next few weeks — the last chance to enact such legislation before midterm election concerns take over. Mr. Obama and his allies in the Senate have already made significant concessions on coal and nuclear power to try to win votes from Republicans and moderate Democrats. The new plan now grants one of the biggest items on the oil industry’s wish list — access to vast areas of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling.