Here's a scenario spun by a FutureofCapitalism.com reader-community member-watchdog-participant:
The "moratorium" on new offshore oil drilling will start to affect both gas prices and unemployment rates upward as existing wells are depleted and the cleanup work for people who otherwise would be working in oil services abates. President Obama is tempted to lift the moratorium, but he needs some political cover from Republicans to do so. Do they provide it? Or would they prefer to see Mr. Obama saddled with the high gas prices and high unemployment rates?