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Why is Obumbler so bent on destroying more American jobs and livelihood?
Or is it O-Mumbler?
Judge blocks Gulf offshore drilling moratorium.
NEW ORLEANS – A federal judge struck down the Obama administration's six-month ban on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, saying the government rashly concluded that because one rig failed, the others are in immediate danger, too.
The White House promised an immediate appeal. The Interior Department had halted approval of any new permits for deepwater drilling and suspended drilling of 33 exploratory wells in the Gulf.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama believes strongly that drilling at such depths does not make sense and puts the safety of workers "at a danger that the president does not believe we can afford."
Several companies that ferry people and supplies and provide other services to offshore drilling rigs asked U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans to overturn the moratorium.
They argued it was arbitrarily imposed after the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that killed 11 workers and blew out the well 5,000 feet underwater. It has spewed anywhere from 67 million to 127 million gallons of oil into the Gulf.
Feldman sided with the companies, saying in his ruling the Interior Department assumed that because one rig failed, all companies and rigs doing deepwater drilling pose an imminent danger.
"The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an unprecedented, sad, ugly and inhuman disaster," he wrote. "What seems clear is that the federal government has been pressed by what happened on the Deepwater Horizon into an otherwise sweeping confirmation that all Gulf deepwater drilling activities put us all in a universal threat of irreparable harm."
His ruling prohibits federal officials from enforcing the moratorium until a trial is held. He did not set a trial date.
The Interior Department said it needed time to study the risks of deepwater drilling. But the lawsuit filed by Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, La., claimed there was no proof the other operations posed a threat.
Company CEO Todd Hornbeck said after the ruling that he is looking forward to getting back to work.
"It's the right thing for not only the industry but the country," he said.
Earlier in the day, executives at a major oil conference in London warned that the moratorium would cripple world energy supplies. Steven Newman, president and CEO of Transocean Ltd., owner of the rig that exploded, called it an unnecessary overreaction. BP PLC was leasing the rig.
"There are things the administration could implement today that would allow the industry to go back to work tomorrow without an arbitrary six-month time limit," Newman told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.
The moratorium was declared May 6 and originally was to last only through the month. Obama announced May 27 that he was extending it for six months.
In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal and corporate leaders said that would force drilling rigs to leave the Gulf of Mexico for lucrative business in foreign waters.
They said the loss of business would cost the area thousands of lucrative jobs, most paying more than $50,000 a year. The state's other major economic sector, tourism, is a largely low-wage industry.
Tim Kerner, the mayor of Lafitte, La., cheered Feldman's ruling.
"I love it. I think it's great for the jobs here and the people who depend on them," said Kerner, whose cons uents make their living primarily from commercial fishing or oil.
But in its response to the lawsuit, the Interior Department said the moratorium is needed as attempts to stop the leak and clean the Gulf continue and new safety standards are developed.
"A second deepwater blowout could overwhelm the efforts to respond to the current disaster," the Interior Department said.
The government also challenged contentions the moratorium would cause long-term economic harm. Although 33 deepwater drilling sites were affected, there are still 3,600 oil and natural gas production platforms in the Gulf.
Catherine Wannamaker, a lawyer for environmental groups that intervened in the case and supported the moratorium, called the ruling "a step in the wrong direction."
"We think it overlooks the ongoing harm in the Gulf, the devastation it has had on people's lives," she said. "The harm at issue with the Deepwater Horizon spill is bigger than just the Louisiana economy. It affects all of the Gulf."
Why is Obumbler so bent on destroying more American jobs and livelihood?
Or is it O-Mumbler?
He wants oil, he doesn't want oil, I don't know what the he wants.
Worse than a woman huh...
Rumor has it, he's gay.
Is that why Mrs. O dresses like she does? To find a lover?
he lost this one and he will lose again in court
If you are a wokie you might find her attractive.
still cruising, huh jack?
You want him to do something, just not this?
I don't know what the you want from Obama.
What are you talking about? He should have never banned offshore drilling. We have laws you know. His administration gave out 29 permits. Now because of an accident he wants to say " them". You can't do that. And the Judge told him so. I want Obama to hand out more premits and not have another knee jerk reaction to an accident.
Pay attention next time so you don't get confused.
It's pretty clear what jack wants from Obama.
This ruling really surprises me. I don't know if I'm actually too opposed to it since it seems to be a slap in the face of executive power, but I would think there is precedent for actions of this nature.
To me this would make actions like grounding the US air fleet after 9/11 impossible. Maybe FWDT will chime in with his opinion on some point.
A president can't do whatever he wants.
Wow - you're a straight up scholar. Thanks for that profound tidbit, Socrates.
You're welcome. Next time don't be so surprised at a judge upholding a law.
I'll remember this next time you about an activist judge.
Kewl. Also remember Obama can't bribe everyone.
What's funny is that if he didn't order the moratorium and another offshore rig went haywire all of the obama haters would have wondered why obama din't suspend drilling until we knew all rigs were safe.. why did he let another disaster happen..blah,blah,bleh,blah...
guy can't win either way..
Maybe next time his underlings that do the inspections will do their jobs right.
This is pretty true. Its been stated how corrupt these relationships have been in the past and I hope there is something done to change that.
so it isn't his fault..let jack know
kewl.
I'm still waiting for you to clearly state what the you want Obama to do in regards to cleaning up the spill.Pay attention next time so you don't get confused.
Well, for starters they could have let BP burn the oil off. Burn it 50 miles offshore and it never hits the beach/marshes. Couldn't have that air pollution and global warming though. Stupid assholes.
This is a victory for freedom!
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