The rope-a-dope was made famous by Mohammad Ali, used most famously against George Foreman. Ali would make an opponent think that he was helpless and the opponent would punch himself out. Once the opponent has punched himself out, Ali begins a thunderous attack. Is this what we’re going to see from President Obama?
Yesterday President Obama announced that he was going to open new areas to offshore drilling. Offshore drilling? Is this progressive president we voted for? Offshore drilling is not a progressive position. This is something that Republicans have been asking for for years. More domestic drilling… is this part of an overall strategy for climate change because, if so, we’re heading in the wrong direction, unless Barack Obama has an ace up his sleeve.
Is it possible, from a political standpoint, that Barack Obama is giving away something in order to pressure the Republicans into giving up something on climate change? This is the only reason I can think of for offshore drilling.
As if to balance out the awful news of more drilling, the White House announced several new initiatives today. The EPA is going to put new restrictions on mountaintop mining. Think of mountaintop mining as stripmining on steroids. Mountaintop mining is extremely destructive to the environment. This restriction is something that progressives have wanted for a long time.
The White House also announced new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. Average fuel efficiency should be 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. This is intended to save oil and push more car manufacturers to hybrids.
So, what do you think? Is Obama trying to outsmart the Republicans or did he just cave in?
