Bayoubuzz

Friday, 30 July 2010 12:41

For most people, political election season comes and goes, but in the Obama White House, it is permanent. As we approach mid-term elections and get ready for the next presidential election, team Obama is working on the swing states, solidifying their support in blue states and ignoring or opposing the interests of voters in conservative red states. Two perfect examples are the states of Arizona and Louisiana.

Ever since the oil started leaking in the Gulf, the Obama administration has been delaying local efforts to attack the problem by creating unnecessary bureaucratic roadblocks. The spill has been an environmental and economic disaster for Louisiana. Our state has been severely impacted by this catastrophe, but, instead of working with state leaders to lessen the pain, the Obama administration has made it much worse by issuing a moratorium on deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. This measure was not supported by the President’s own scientific advisers, his oil spill commission or any member of the state’s congressional delegation. It has already led to several rigs leaving the Gulf and many more may follow in the days ahead. The state could lose 140,000 jobs if drilling does not resume soon. Despite near universal opposition in Louisiana and opposition from 73 percent of Americans, according to a recent Bloomberg poll, the President refuses to reconsider his moratorium. Not only does it lack public approval, but the moratorium lacks court approval as well. The moratorium was struck down by U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman, who ruled that it was both arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding the wishes of the federal courts and the court of public opinion, the Obama administration issued a second moratorium and the legal battles continue. With permitting hurdles and the moratorium, drilling is essentially shutdown in the Gulf of Mexico, delivering a major blow to the people of Louisiana. Thus, it is mission accomplished for the administration.  

Louisiana is not the only red state to receive the wrath of team Obama as Arizona is also being targeted. In a bid to win support from a growing bloc of Hispanic voters, President Obama viciously attacked a law in Arizona designed to deal with the growing problem of illegal immigration. In fact, the administration went further than just demagoguery; it actually filed a lawsuit attempting the block implementation of the Arizona law.

Never mind that the borders are open and there are 500,000 illegal aliens in the state. The state had to act because the federal government refuses to deal with the problem. Illegal immigration is encouraged by employers who want cheap labor and Democrats who want cheap votes.

After decades of inaction, the people of Arizona reached their limit and overwhelmingly supported the new law. They are clearly sick and tired of the lawlessness. The controversial law only enforces existing federal law. Incredibly, Judge Susan Bolton, a Clinton appointee, ruled on Wednesday that the Arizona law would “impermissibly burden federal resources,” so she blocked many of the law’s key provisions. As the Governor appeals, the chaos and will continue and the people of Arizona are the losers. Once again, mission accomplished for the Obama administration.

So, Louisiana cannot drill offshore and provide jobs for their people and Arizona cannot deal with an invasion of illegal aliens that the federal government refuses to stop.

Is it any wonder that many people in both states consider the federal government their enemy?
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Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m.weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

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