Politics. On Point.

November Sale Will Offer All Available Unleased Areas in the Western Gulf of Mexico, Only Latest in a Series of Recent Major Offshore Oil and Gas Sales As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold an oil and gas lease sale that will make more than 20 million offshore acres available, and represents all unleased areas in the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. The Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale builds on two major Gulf of Mexico lease sales in the past year alone, a 21 million acre sale held last December and a 39 million acre sale held in June.“At President Obama’s direction, his Administration continues to implement a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy, expanding domestic production, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and supporting jobs,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “Developing public energy resources in the...

Bringing the Boys Home Two major announcements by the White House included the president's plan to deploy 10,000 troops from Afghanistan, beginning this summer. In keeping with his commitment to draw down U.S forces this July, President Obama addressed the nation last evening to explain: "Tonight, I can tell you that we are fulfilling that commitment. Thanks to our extraordinary men and women in uniform, our civilian personnel, and our many coalition partners, we are meeting our goals", the president said. "As a result, starting next month, we will be able to remove 10,000 of our troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, and we will bring home a total of 33,000 troops by next summer, fully recovering the surge I announced at West Point. After this initial reduction, our troops will continue coming home at a steady pace as Afghan security forces move into the lead. Our mission will change from combat to support. By 2014, this process of transition will be com...

Not even the title of Vice President can prevent one from getting out of jury duty. Vice President Biden was called to his home town of Wilmington Delaware where he participated as a private citizen in a jury selection at the Superior Court of Delaware at the New Castle County Courthouse. President Biden outside a Delaware court house today. President Obama was called to duty last year, but did not participate.  Coincidently, Biden who said he didn't "consider myself different than any other person" , said he hopes the president will participate this year. "I hope the president serves in Chicago if he is called", said Biden. Biden and the other selected jurymen and women, actually ended up being dismissed. --- In other VPOTUS news, Vice President Biden, Chair of the White House Middle Class Task Force, will travel to Greenfield, Indiana on Wednesday of this week where he will visit  Ener1 , Inc., a leading manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion batt...

President Obama and the Vice President Biden will travel to Beckley, West Virginia, to participate in a memorial service for the miners lost in the April 5th tragedy at Upper Big Branch mine. President Obama will deliver a eulogy honoring the lives of those who perished and offering his deepest condolences to the loved ones they left behind. Prior to the service, the President and the Vice President will meet with family members of the miners who lost their lives. Earlier this month the president issued a statement calling for safe working conditions for miners. "All Americans deserve to work in a place that is safe, and we must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that all our miners are as safe as possible so that a disaster like this doesn't happen again." Mining accidents are a common occupational hazard and vary in causes including leaks of poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulphide or explosive natural gases, dust explosions, collapsing of mine stope...

Oil Rig Catches Fire Off Coast of Mexico and Louisiana - Days After Nation Celebrates Earth Day Just when thousands celebrated Earth Day an oil rig catches fire off the coast of Mexico leaving 11 workers missing, seventeen workers suffering injuries including burns, smoke inhalation, and broken bones. Four people remain in critical condition. The crew of the Deepwater Horizon rig were performing exploratory drilling procedures some 50 miles off the Louisiana coast when the sudden explosion occurred. Environmental concerns have officials wondering if the crude oil on board the platform could begin leaking into the surrounding waters, reaking havoc on the environment. The Coast Guard's Petty Officer Katherine McNamara told reporters a day after the explosion that more than 300,000 gallons of oil per day could be spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.  An AOL news report tells a different story  featuring the Coast Guard's Rear Adm. Mary Landry giving ...