Obama: Hey, Let's Start Drilling in Alaska!

I eagerly await his next campaign speech (should be the next time he opens his mouth) when he comes up with a novel slogan for his sudden about face on domestic drilling. His crack team of savvy ad men will probably come up with something unique and original like Drill, Baby, Drill.

The White House will take a series of steps — including expediting drilling plans on government lands in Alaska — designed to show that the administration is serious about expanding domestic oil production and lowering gas prices.

President Obama announced Saturday the government would hold annual onshore lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve; extend the life of leases in the Gulf of Mexico and in some areas off the coast of Alaska for one year; speed up ongoing Interior Department testing in the mid- and south-Atlantic to gauge the level of resources; and establish an interagency task force to coordinate permitting for offshore drilling in Alaska.

The White House is making the policy shifts after taking intense criticism from Republicans in recent weeks over energy policy as gas prices have topped $4 per gallon in some parts of the country.

A week ago Obama said something entirely different.

“We can’t just drill our way out of the problem,” Obama said during an energy policy speech in Indiana Friday. “If we’re serious about addressing our energy problems, we’re going to have to do more than drill.”

That was last Friday. I guess demonizing the oil companies isn't having the desired effect.

Longtime drilling proponent Nancy Pelosi is all aboard with Obama's sudden policy shift.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised Obama’s actions, calling them consistent with House Democrats’ goals.

Those goals change every day, so of course Obama's sudden shift is consistent with them.