Still No Permits Issued for Offshore Drilling

The announcement that the drilling moratorium in the Gulf had been lifted was nothing more than kabuki theater to fool the voters:

More than two months after the Obama administration lifted its ban on drilling in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, oil companies are still waiting for approval to drill the first new oil well there. Experts now expect the wait to continue until the second half of 2011, and perhaps into 2012.

The administration says it is simply trying to enforce new safety rules adopted in the wake of the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, which killed 11 workers and set off the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Environmental groups say the administration is right to take its time because the Gulf disaster exposed the risks of offshore drilling.

Yes, there are risks, but there are also tremendous rewards in terms of helping America towards energy independence. However, Obama is not interested in energy independence, he's interested in keeping Americans dependent on foreign oil at ever increasing prices. All that bowing to the Saudi king wasn't just for show.

And where'd all that oil from spill go?  It's pretty much gone now.  Between the efforts of the clean-up crews and the natural oil-eating microbes and properties of seawater, the devastation that we were promised by the activists never happened.  It's clear that even the worst oil spill in Gulf history is no match for Mother Gaia's natural clean-up ability.

There are going to spills from time-to-time and some sea life will be affected.  However, the rewards far outweigh the risks and it's time to get back to drilling.