It was March when Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pledged to “put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business,” and May when she explained during a CNN town hall that she “misspoke.” In fact, the future of coal mining was something she was “really worried about.”
Now it’s December, Donald Trump has been elected, and it’s very likely that Hillary Clinton isn’t spending much time worrying about the future of coal as she hikes around the woods of Chappaqua.
Environmentalists have taken heart, though, as a vacationing President Obama announced Tuesday a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along wide areas of the Arctic and the Atlantic Seaboard.
A ban on drilling in Arctic waters helps protect the planet we share. Proud to take this step with @JustinTrudeau & the Arctic communities. https://t.co/4Ry1goEakF
— President Obama (@POTUS44) December 20, 2016
President Obama permanently bans offshore drilling in the Arctic https://t.co/f0rGWiKMG0 pic.twitter.com/pjxBS2t44r
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 21, 2016
In conjunction with Canada, Pres Obama puts most US waters in the Arctic “indefinitely off limits” to future oil and gas leasing.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 20, 2016
National Review Online’s Charles C.W. Cooke noted just how impressed the New York Times seemed to be with the president’s unilateral action to “nail down an environmental legacy” before he leaves office.
"Obscure provision." "Breaking new ground." "Creative." I love watching the press try to cover for Obama's behavior. https://t.co/bj1jT4aPhF
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) December 20, 2016
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"Creative by supporters, abusive by critics" seems to be the lone nod to how insane this move is.
— gloomhauer (@gloomhauer) December 20, 2016
Abusive? Heck, according the the Times, even his critics and opponents call Obama’s efforts to create new climate change regulations “novel and audacious.” Could President Obama’s, um, audacious use of “new and legally inventive strategies” really keep Donald Trump at bay for several years?
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/811345483113316353
That’s how it used to work, yes. Maybe that’s just a carryover from the founding, like the Electoral College.
Obama really nailed his legacy with this legally dubious ban on energy production against the will of Congress and the American people.
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) December 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/811348460926566400
https://twitter.com/cerenomri/status/811353638107025408
The drilling ban is permanent, right? Funny, the American people don’t seem convinced.
Senior Admin Officials believe future presidents don’t have the authority to reverse Pres Obama's action on oil & gas leases in the Arctic.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/OscarGoldman10/status/811332096308510721
https://twitter.com/hereistheanswer/status/811358523883982848
for better or worse those senior officials are about to be kicking stones in the parking lot
— Shawn (@Shawn_on_Games) December 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/hereistheanswer/status/811357420912001025
He does know he doesn’t get to take the pen and phone with him, right? Well, maybe the pen as a souvenir.
Obama has a pencil, and the American people have an eraser….
— Cayuga Conservative (@dap260) December 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/TrustRory/status/811336109326221312
New President can reverse Exec Orders. Further, "mandatory" spending is "discretionary" with law change. @JamesRosenFNC
— mikewarder1 (@mikewarder1) December 20, 2016
If Obama did it, it can be reversed. A little thing called separation of powers. Poof! It's gone.
— A proud Cultist. (@jrussell20941) December 20, 2016
Even “Lyin’ Ted” is giving this permanent drilling ban a month, and that’s the truth.
Yet another Obama abuse of power. Hopefully, on that will be reversed…exactly one month from today. #TakingAwayObamasPen&Phone https://t.co/JuM8hm0ogV
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 20, 2016
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