President Obama conducted an effective press conference (at this writing) in that he was well studied on BP and federal government responsibilities and responses.  He was articulate and patiently answered probing questions.  He took on the role of, "the adult in the room".  He set forth a series of lease sale and exploration delays and access withdrawals to OCS areas that could later be viewed as a tragic and unjustified overreaction to the GOM events.  In particular, suspending Shell's Alaska program is illogical, infair and damaging to the state and [...]

 Commentary:  Anyone who has reviewed the University of Alaska and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners studies will realize that Barack Obama's expected action today--combined with other Moratoria actions earlier taken by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar--could further slow America's recovery and endanger national security!  This summer's Alaska exploratory program has successfully overcome huge obstacles...only by the dogged determination of Shell, the expenditure of billions of dollars, survival of a gauntlet of legal challenges and--finally--by the recent approval of federal regulators.  The Alaskan exploration would occur in about 150 feet of water, unlike the [...]