Calderon speech, oil

In "his" speech before Congress, Mexican President Calderon lied about the AZ immigration law, and he lied about assault weapons. As if on cue, Congressional Democrats leaped to their feet to give standing ovations to both lies (link). One commenter nailed it:

"This Calderon speech was an orchestrated campaign event by the White House and the Democrats in Congress. They are solidifying the Mexican and broader Hispanic vote."

I really don't have a problem with this sort of thing. It's just politics as usual, and the Dems would have been remiss not to have utilized their opportunity. Visits by foreign leaders are always useful to somebody, or they wouldn't happen.

But then BP had its accident, and that is beginning to ooze crude oil all over the playbook.

The gorgeous Gulf Coast is not Alaska. If it takes a secondary well to stop the flow, and if that can't be up and running until August at the very earliest (no way, try October), then this administration can go ahead and schedule the moving vans. Stuff like Calderon's little tap dance won't count for a thing. Unemployment stuck at 9%, enormous budget deficits, foreign policy fiascos in Iran and elsewhere are all bad enough. Now add an environmental catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. Obama's current 42% approval rating will be a shimmering, golden fantasy.

Byron