Townhall.com’s Washington Beat
April 26, 2011
SHELL SHOCKED DRILLING BAN
As gas prices continue to soar while President Obama tells the American
people there is nothing he can do to solve the problem, the
Environmental Protection Agency forced Shell Oil Company to scrap plans
to drill in one of the most remote locations in the United States this
week. Shell had planned to drill 70 miles off the coast of Alaska’s
North Slope in the Arctic Ocean, but the EPA denied the company a
drilling permit after stating the company had failed to calculate
greenhouse gas emissions in their assessment of environmental impact.
Seems like the Obama Administration and the EPA have overlooked the
negative economic impact of this decision. Before the decision by the
EPA, Shell had invested nearly $4 billion in the project.
Meanwhile, President Obama has launched an investigation into evil
corporations because he believes speculators and oil futures traders
are driving the price of oil up through manipulation.
OBAMA GOLFING...AGAIN
President Obama took part in another round of golf over the weekend,
bringing the total of golf games played by the president to over 60
rounds since he took office. The golf game came after Obama spent time
in California schmoozing with big name actors and raising money for his
re-election campaign. The golf game also came just after tornados
ripped through the south, killing over 50 people and devastating
properties and homes. A brutal crackdown in Syria where government
forces slaughtered hundreds was also happening while Obama was out on
the green practicing his swing.
MCCAIN SAYS LIBYAN REBELS
ARE HIS…HEROES?
Senator John McCain made a visit to the kinetic military operation zone
of Libya this week and, while he was there, declared the Libyan rebels
as “his heroes.” Apparently McCain forgot that many of the so-called
“rebels” are actually jihadists and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
McCain also called for recognition of the rebels as the government of
Libya instead of Gadhafi. The operation in Libya is expected to drag on
for quite sometime despite the decision by President Obama to send in
two unmanned drones into the country.
HAPPY EARTH DAY FROM AL
GORE
Last Friday, some Americans and others around the world celebrated
Earth Day. Apple however, was not celebrating after Greenpeace named
the company the least green tech company around. Greenpeace justified
their label of Apple by pointing out the company uses coal power to
make products. Ironically, Al Gore is on Apple’s board of directors. It
is inappropriate for Greenpeace to demonize Apple for using coal as an
energy source to produce amazing products like the Ipod, Ipad, Iphone
and other top of the line products. Without coal energy, those products
would not exist; however, it is important to point out the hypocrisy of
Apple as a liberal-leaning company with their “green” agenda.
Considering Al Gore is at the head of the environmental movement, it
should be noted that he is once again practicing,”Do as I say, not as I
do.”
HALEY BARBOUR NOT RUNNING
FOR POTUS
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour officially declared this week that
he will not be running for president in 2012.
“I will not be a candidate for president next year. This has been a
difficult, personal decision, and I am very grateful to my family for
their total support of my going forward, had that been what I decided.”
The decision came after months of speculation that Barbour would in
fact run for the White House as he recruited top campaign staff members
and big donors. Barbour’s decision not to run will allow him to throw
his talent behind another candidate willing to take the leap into the
race and beat Barack Obama in 2012.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ron Paul threw his hat into the presidential
exploratory ring this week.
VIRGINIA DENIED EXPEDITED
SCOTUS REVIEW OF OBAMACARE
The Supreme Court made a decision this week denying Virginia Attorney
General Ken Cuccinelli’s request for an expedited review of ObamaCare.
Cuccinelli wasn’t surprised by the ruling but requested the review
because states are already feeling the pain and suffering the costs of
ObamaCare.
“We asked the United States Supreme Court for expedited review of our
lawsuit because Virginia and other states are already spending huge
sums to implement their portions of the health care act, businesses are
already making decisions about whether to cut or keep employee health
plans, and citizens are in limbo until the Supreme Court rules. Asking
the court to expedite our lawsuit was about removing this crippling and
costly uncertainty as quickly as possible.”
The case will now have to work its way through the court system,
starting May 10 in the Fourth Circuit Court. Many courts have already
ruled ObamaCare unconstitutional.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Rep. Allen West speaking with radio host Laura Ingraham discussing the
White House response to the downgrade of the U.S. economy by S&P:
“What you continue to see is a third-world dictator-like arrogance.”
-Katie Pavlich is the News Editor for Townhall.com
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