Obama's Off-Shore Drilling Program Managing to Upset Everyone -- Time.com

Update

I noted that one of the president's problems is all the uncertainty he causes for the oil and gas industry. Today, IHS CERA said the same:

The US Department of State’s Nov. 10 decision to delay a final recommendation on the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline’s cross-border permit application so alternative routes can be considered will create new uncertainties for Canadian heavy oil producers as well as US refiners, an IHS CERA specialist said.

Original Post

Link here.

Unfortunately for the President, no one's likely to cheer him. Conservatives and the oil industry won't be happy until just about every square foot of the country is available for drilling — though it is worth noting that oil production offshore has actually increased under Obama — and environmentalists aren't going to rally to support any sort of expanded drilling. With energy, as with so many other issues for Obama, it's lonely at the center. 

Both sides of the aisle are upset with the president, not because of his policies (assuming he has one on energy), but because of his inconsistency, waffling, flip-flopping, indecisiveness,capriciousness, and lack of science-based decision-making in the field of energy.

I don't think "conservatives and the oil industry" want every square foot of the country available for drilling: we simply want consistency and a level playing field.

Consistency: quit slow-rolling the industry; either say "yes" or "no" on permitting, so we can plan the next move; the permitorium is a great example of slow-rolling the industry; if anyone can tell me exactly the status of the permitorium, I would be impressed. Telling me that a permit has been issued for the Gulf is a great example of slow-rolling the questioner: that's a snapshot in time but it doesn't tell me anything more. If you are going to nix the Keystone XL, then say so, so we can move on. If you are going to ban fracking, then say so.

Level playing field: wind energy advocates get free pass for killing unlimited number of whooping cranes and migratory birds; it's jail time and/or $15,000 for the death of a single sandpiper in the oil patch.

With regard to environmentalists not willing to rally to support any sort of expanded drilling:  I consider myself an environmentalist, but not a member of Greenpeace or the Sierra Club. And as an environmentalist, I very much favor the appropriate use of drilling. Somehow, using wood instead of natural gas to heat our homes doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's my impression that if it came down to those two choices, the Sierra Club would vote "No" on natural gas.