:shrug: obama didn't cause the problem there - a long history of a foolish policy that forced the drills out beyond the safe reach of the technology did. if we had allowed closer drilling years ago, I agree, no disaster.
Obama is only responsible for his response.
Making sure it was safe to resume drilling after the worst off-shore drilling disaster in history was prudent for those of us concerned with safety.
This is due to safety issues as well. From your own article:
"Salazar said the seven-year ban is being imposed as a result of lessons learned from the April 20 explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf, which killed 11 people and triggered one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
An estimated 4.9 million barrels (206 million gallons) of oil gushed into the Gulf before the broken well, 5,000 feet below the surface, was capped.
There is a broader recognition of the need for a more "robust safety regime" and additional environmental analysis in the Gulf, Salazar told reporters.
He dismissed concerns that the decision will seriously damage efforts to further develop domestic energy resources, noting that roughly 29 million acres already under leases in the Gulf have not yet been developed.
Rep. Ed Markey, one of the most vocal BP critics in Congress, said the announcement shows the White House "has heeded the lessons of the BP disaster."
"This plan will move America forward on a prudent path until we can ensure that when an oil company drills ultra-deep, it is ultra-safe," the Massachusetts Democrat said. "Opening up wide swaths of our coasts to oil drilling before we put the proper regulatory measures in place would have been a mistake."
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, said it is "good the president is listening to the people of Florida."
This again was the temporary ban due to safety concerns following the worst oil disaster in history.
LOL! This is simply an opinion blog from the RNC. :sun