Like the cavalry riding to the rescue, another federal judge has shot point-blank into the heart of the beast that is the Obama administration. U.S. Federal Judge Martin Feldman has ruled the administration acted in contempt by continuing its deepwater-drilling moratorium after the policy had been struck down. Bloomberg reports that the judge ruled that the Interior Department acted with "determined disregard" by lifting and then reinstituting policies that have effectively shut down offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Each step the government took following the court's imposition of a preliminary injunction showcases its defiance," Feldman said in the ruling. "Such dismissive conduct, viewed in tandem with the re-imposition of a second blanket and substantively identical moratorium, and in light of the national importance of this case, provide this court with clear and convincing evidence of the government's contempt," Feldman said.

It would certainly be ironic if his policy blunders in the Gulf last summer help to doom his efforts for a second term. He willfully exacerbated the problem by not accepting non-union foreign assistance with the clean up. Then he compounded the disaster by halting off-shore drilling-destroying the jobs of thousands of innocent Louisiana workers. His minions then cavalierly ignored court orders to lift the ban. Now, the lack of production is contributing to rising pump prices. If the $4.00 a gallon level is breached this summer angry Americans will certainly connect the dots. As Joe Louis observed of an opponent, "he can run, but he can't hide."

Additionally, spikes in gasoline prices almost always lead to recessions. Such a slow down could hit in late 2011 or early 2012-just in time for his re-election push. Mr. Obama may not be terribly worried about that though, since by then his administration could have additional contempt charges for ignoring Judge Vinson's ruling this week overturning ObamaCare. It's fascinating how often "what goes around; comes around."

Bill Weckesser

E. Lansing, MI