Seems that our benevolent leader has seen fit to implement his will via executive order once again. Over the weekend, as the news toadies were obsessed with secret service agents and hookers, the Dear Leader signed an executive order forming an inter agency commitee to oversee the "Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources".
Thirteen plus bureacracies will now determine the fate of the natural gas industry in the US. These agencies are:
(i) the Department of Defense;
(ii) the Department of the Interior;
(iii) the Department of Agriculture;
(iv) the Department of Commerce;
(v) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(vi) the Department of Transportation;
(vii) the Department of Energy;
(viii) the Department of Homeland Security;
(ix) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(x) the Council on Environmental Quality;
(xi) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(xii) the Office of Management and Budget;
(xiii) the National Economic Council; and
(xiv) such other agencies or offices as the Chair may invite to participate.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/13/executive-order-supporting-safe-and-responsible-development-unconvention
So lets see, since the Dear Leader, (Holy is His name) assumed office he has:
Ended drilling for oil in the gulf of Mexico. (Funny that the "highly modified" in China blowout preventer which caused the BP incident has fallen down the media-memory-hole, hmmm?) Of course the ban only applies to domestic companies, foriegners are more than well to drill in the gulf, including the Chinese. They are more than happy to avail themselves of this opportunity.
Vetoed the construction of a pipeline to bring oil from our friends in Canada, saying he needed time to study it's possible impact. (The EPA approved the pipeline 3 YEARS AGO!!!!)
Poured several billion dollars into "green" energy startups, (all with major contributors to his campaign on the board or in ownership positions) which have turned out to be little more than shell companies and gone bankrupt (after paying out hugh bonuses, of course).
Placed crippling restrictions on coal fired electrical generation, literally forcing the shutdown of 13% of our electrical generation. BTW, how's that effecting the economy in the coal mining regions for those of you in PA and WV, hmmm?
I could go on, but the point is, the Dear Leader is WILLFULLY doing everything in his power to make energy more costly in the US. This at a time when the economy is already in freefall. Why would he possibly be doing this?
BTW, regular unleaded was $1.84/gal (national average) on Gorge Bushe' last day in office, it is now $3.90.