The gulf between Obama and Senate Dem leaders on offshore drilling issue.

Barack Obama has made it quite clear that he is opposed to allowing areas once deemed off limits to oil exploration off the coast of Florida to being open for exploration. It is a sensible position to take. There are good reasons why such areas have been restricted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/us/politics/25campaign.html?ref=environment

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/06/16/daily41.html?ana=from_rss

Senator Obama has also laid out a plan that will move this country away from fossil fuel dependency and toward a more environmentally and economically friendly direction. While it doesn't go as far as what I would like to see, it is a good start in the proper direction, and a breath of sanity, juxtaposed against the eight years of freewheeling insanity called the Bush/Cheney energy policy.

But as always there are storm clouds on the horizon. Few actions in Washington make any sense these days. There could and most probably will be trouble brewing within ranking members of our own party on the issue of offshore drilling, and it may well be another test of Senator Obama's leadership. Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin have shown a willingness to come to an agreement, which would allow companies to begin drilling in now restricted areas, including ANWR. They seem to be feeling pressure, most likely from the oil companies. The Republicans believe they have Democrats over a barrel on this issue, and it looks as though we could be headed for capitulation on yet another important issue.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/07/10/congressional-dems-getting-nervous-about-drilling-bans/

I fully realize that Senator Obama is in campaign mode, but none of us really get to choose the time when it comes to making a stand. I think it is vitally important that we write, email and call the Senator's office, to let him know how important it is to stand tall and show the real leadership he is capable of showing on this issue. This is the kind of leadership we expect, deserve and will also respect from our candidates.

Many years ago I used to work in the oil drilling business. I know what these companies do, and I know the impact on the environment. I know that when oil is found the wells are capped off (cemented) as they wait for the price of crude oil to go even higher. I also know that a great deal of what we produce and refine domestically gets shipped overseas. Where is our benefit?

Experts agree that the benefit to Americans will be negligible, while the potential for environmental disaster is significant. I believe the impact to the state of Florida would be disastrous. This issue is going to accelerate in the coming weeks and months. Please let Senator Obama know that me must stand on the correct side of this issue. With strong leadership, he can change the tone of capitulation.

While I am firmly convinced that the proposals which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sets forth are the most responsible approach, I can get behind the Senator quite comfortably on his energy policy. But he needs to stand firm.

Obama (the secret Muslim sleeper candidate) doesn't want America to have its own oil supply, independent of those A-Rab Muslim countries! He wants us beholden to the Muslims!

It's ridiculously stupid, and as the OP points out this has nothing to do with developing our own oil reserves, but that is how the corporate media will spin it. And GREAT chunks of the American people are going to buy into it.

Oil companies are using this opportunity to grab more leases for future profits ~ it's been covered in a few places over the last few months, but Obama has to keep repeating it for people who don't know.

...to use the leases they already have ~ that's a start.